Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I really am. It is fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
She is getting more and more dedicated - she really flares at me when I grab her off the nest and she stays out only a few minutes each time.
I don’t know why she has it in for Babs - but she goes at her even when they are way away from the nest.
One blessing is that she is too preoccupied to pay any attention to the littles.

May be a good thing: Bernie and Babs may integrate (as best can happen with ages) fairly well with the littles before Eli gives up the broodiness. Should be interesting to see.

How are the littles doing? Let's see, names: Piglet, Winnie, Tassels, I thought I saw another name, but can't come up with it. Is Winnie the other legbar or the welbar?

 

[RoyalChick]

May be a good thing: Bernie and Babs may integrate (as best can happen with ages) fairly well with the littles before Eli gives up the broodiness. Should be interesting to see.

How are the littles doing? Let's see, names: Piglet, Winnie, Tassels, I thought I saw another name, but can't come up with it. Is Winnie the other legbar or the welbar?

My thinking exactly which is why I am not rushing to mess up Eli’s nest until the littles are a bit more established.
I will do a formal introduction to everyone soon. Winnie is the Legbar - best friend to Piglet also a Legbar. We will see if they really are friends but they are the only ones wearing fascinators.

Tax - Piglet and Pooh, I mean Winnie, separately.

 

[Ponypoor]

Garden planting done. Sticking with above ground plants this year to give the wood time to really start breaking down. Nellie tried to join me in the garden. Those who can fit through the fencing cans till get in, but now that the gate is closed, I'm hoping the interest is minimal. They spread the compost quite well. Planting list: pole beans, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, dill, zucchini, and summer squash.

Out in the rest of the yard: Johnny jump ups and lupine under the trees in the middle.
View attachment 3504913

Doesn't look like the birch survived the winter (wasn't doing well anyway), so going to try taking it down with the wood hauling. Eventually would like to replace it with an oak of some sort, but meanwhile focused on the lupine at that end. The planter under the favorite lilac lounging spot
View attachment 3504915(Not much for leaves yet, but pops late, drops early)

got the hollyhocks (hoping to keep the deer off them) and the bed near by got the purple coneflower.
View attachment 3504910(Under the wire, spread it more and rock on it to keep Twirp out).

Columbine went in by the water spigot and Canterbury bells between a couple of boulders.
View attachment 3504916(Whiskey at the Columbine, , raked patch the bells)


Also planted a couple of dwarf Mungo pines. 1 below the birch, and 1 across that drive, hoping to create some wintry wind baffles.
View attachment 3504912(It really blurred) dark patch in the grass and darker patch farther out in the brown

MAY SOMETHING GROW! So far the only things coming back are a FEW struggling strawberries and 1 beebalm. View attachment 3504911Some of the struggling strawberries, planted last fall as I was give them from someone's hanging basket. Surprised they made it.

The list that hasn't made it: elderberry, walnut, decorative almond, asparagus, chokecherry, raspberry, strawberry, (rhubarb was moved and is struggling, but coming back this year), mint, crocus and a myriad of veggies that have shot up and died or been eaten by deer. (Planted over a variety of years)

Nox making almost as big a ruckus in the coop as Nellie does. Someone laid a white egg in the corner ground nest and Mera working on one in the TINY nest box.


View attachment 3504921Blanche checking out the area I turned over to steal a bucket of last year's compost for each of the pines. (Left side of pic)

Good job! You can drop by any time to help mum with her flowers

 

[RoyalChick]

The Great Escape
I have to do some repairs to the electric fence netting. That stuff is more fiddly to work with than darning socks (not that I actually darn socks).
The ladies took the opportunity to broaden their horizons and go on a road trip.
Bernie has been on road trips before and marched up to the front door of the Chicken Palace and demanded to be let back in that way.

 

[BY Bob]

I doubt these are true Italian leghorns. We are getting them from a very local breeder whose mission is to supply layers for all the rural households around us. I just asked her to pick four of her more healthy hens, and she said two would be leghorns (the other two are dark hybrid layers, which are Marans crossed with a high production type I think).

I will definitely update you about them, it's the least I can do!

Thank you so much. I am very curious a to how many eggs a week qualifies sa layer over there. Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[BY Bob]

The Great Escape
I have to do some repairs to the electric fence netting. That stuff is more fiddly to work with than darning socks (not that I actually darn socks).
The ladies took the opportunity to broaden their horizons and go on a road trip.
Bernie has been on road trips before and marched up to the front door of the Chicken Palace and demanded to be let back in that way.

View attachment 3505205

I'm laughing but I bet you were scared.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm going to say they turn 16 weeks old tomorrow. Rural king gets their chicks in on Wednesdays, so I am estimating a Monday hatch day. I know we are close, been saying I would start looking for eggs the end of May with them. You told me, but I was not prepared for this rapid comb growth. They had nothing in the comb and wattle development 2 weeks ago....nothing. Now they have red faces and combs and wattles are growing fast. I really did not think I would like them as much as I do, and they are not lap chickens. I am amazed every day on how smart they are. I cannot believe I am saying this, but, it is a shame broodiness has been bred out of them in general. Their intelligence is up on Momma Hen level. Momma Hen is a good mom in part due to her intelligence, and she passes it on to her chicks. It will probably never happen, but if one of them ever decides to go broody, no matter what time of the year I will have to let her sit. I also told mom last night I should not allow that one to roost in Holly's spot. Mom told me to leave her alone, she thinks when Holly returns she will not be able to throw her down. Time will tell I guess.

I agree with you. I think they would be Fabulous parents. You never know. At your place there are plenty of broodies to set the example. Perhaps they can be taught.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm laughing but I bet you were scared.

I was OK because I was sitting nearby darning socks. I mean electric fence netting. So when Bernie asked to go in the front door I just walked over and let her in.
I think they had a good trip and saw lots of sights.

 

[BY Bob]

Lots of Doings

I'm going to break up today's activities into a couple of posts. First we will start with the saddest one. I moved Betty's silhouette to the run today and advanced Glynda and Lady Featherington up the rankings.

 

[BY Bob]

I was OK because I was sitting nearby darning socks. I mean electric fence netting. So when Bernie asked to go in the front door I just walked over and let her in.
I think they had a good trip and saw lots of sights.

I'm glad. That makes me feel better.