Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I was only away from Tuesday late at night to Thursday morning but in that time Eli did not leave the nest.
She did eat the little bowl of chick starter crumbles I left her.
I just hauled her out. She was very grumpy with me but consumed almost an entire bowl of cat food and Rice Krispies. Babs got some of it.
In that one day away I swear the little chicks doubled in size! They have also honed their skill at getting lost in inappropriate places and shrieking loudly for help.

Tax

 

[BY Bob]

I would have to get my head around them not being pets. I would need a lot of them and there would be high losses.
I am not sure I could handle that.
And then what if they were wildly successful and took over the neighborhood? Would I have to deploy Guinea-hunters to control the population?
It feels complicated!

Exactly why it would be a great story. There is also the chance they would just leave you to live somewhere else like I think someone ducks did.

 

[BY Bob]

I was only away from Tuesday late at night to Thursday morning but in that time Eli did not leave the nest.
She did eat the little bowl of chick starter crumbles I left her.
I just hauled her out. She was very grumpy with me but consumed almost an entire bowl of cat food and Rice Krispies. Babs got some of it.
In that one day away I swear the little chicks doubled in size! They have also honed their skill at getting lost in inappropriate places and shrieking loudly for help.

Tax

View attachment 3501380View attachment 3501381View attachment 3501382

Lots of open mouths in those pictures.

 

[Marie2020]

This is my kind of police emergency.


https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-find-upset-goat-responding-person-crying/story?id=99247611

I hope this man/goat found his friend

 

[GregnLety]

Exactly why it would be a great story. There is also the chance they would just leave you to live somewhere else like I think someone ducks did.

I would love to let our guineas free range but Lety is against it

And we all know that I'm not in charge

 

[bgmathteach]

That is an interesting theory.
It seems more likely than anything else I have read. So far my reading suggested two possibilities. One was that their shells can get lighter and lighter in color and then reset when they molt. It feels a tad early in the year for that to be the case.
The second was various mineral deficiencies but that too seems very unlikely.

Edit: oh. Just read that it started before we lost Betty. I am stumped.

But it may have been the changes in tribe pecking order that was going on. Lots of stress, imho, when those changes are occurring. Remember Hattie had to stand up for Betty? I felt like everyone seemed 'on guard' when this was all going down. Even Aurora was on high alert watching the shenanigans. At least that is what I 'read' into the videos and @BY Bob subtext. This would be stressful for all! And, Glynda was taking a huge risk - though she won, I can't imagine it not being stressful, for her, too. I could very well be wrong, but it did seem to change a lot of the flock dynamics. Maybe Bob can comment on his thoughts about this?

 

[Marie2020]

These girls loves courgettes but Tina always wants princesses

 

[RoyalChick]

Exactly why it would be a great story. There is also the chance they would just leave you to live somewhere else like I think someone ducks did.

Oh yes. I read about the ducks moving home.

There are so many ticks to be had here I think they would be very happy!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes. I have had Lyme a couple of times and found a tick on me on Tuesday. I really hate those things. It is why I keep toying with the idea of some fully free ranging Guinea fowl.

Ticks are bad this year, too, ALREADY! I suspect it was because we, overall, had a mild winter. That said, I'm surprised the week of the deep chill, especially with no snow cover, didn't kill more off.

You can try Guinea fowl, but I suspect they won't last too long due to predation. You might want to try getting some pheasants, grouse, or quail - all raised specifically to be released, so they have a chance. All of them are good at eating ticks (quail are supposedly really good at this) and I think have a better chance of survival and reproduction success in this area. I think you can get quail that are native to the region. Bobwhite quail are, and I think there is another species that is, also. Just a thought!

 

[bgmathteach]

Molting

Penelope is molting. This seems very early.

View attachment 3501344

Some do a spring 'soft molt' (partial molt)