Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I am sorry Martina turned out to be a boy. Until that last week before he crowed I would have swore he was a pullet. Those late blooming cockerels get you every single time. Actually the silkie influence could be one reason why he took so long to reveal gender. I bet you would have no trouble rehoming him, advertise him as a Polkie. People love the polkie cross and he is so unique that I would see him being snatched up in a instant. I thought I would have a hard time placing Twig. With his looks I was wrong. Now, playing devils advocate here. I know you want to keep Rico, understandably. Watch his and now Martins behavior. You may find Martin may be the better fit to keep out of the boys attitude wise. It is good Dorothy beat him, good for her. It may take a few beatings from older hens to get through a young boys thick skull. Mr P will step in and whip him if he truly gets out of line. Give it time, he will cross that line of his at least once. Also remember, until he is over a year those hormones will make him do stupid things, he cannot help it. As long as he does not turn on you and does not hurt one of the girls I would give him a little leeway. Bubba and Branch are angels, best boys ever right now. When they were young while they never crossed the line and attacked me they had their stupid moments with the hens. Branch especially was rough with the hens when he was younger. We never got to hear of it but I can guarantee you that even Jaffar had his "moments" as a young cockerel as well.

Funny you should mention Martin… I was thinking the same thing about keeping him. In many ways he is much like Mr P, he is stand-off-is and stays clear of people.

Not to say Rico has been bad he hasn’t with people - he stays clear.

I have time to figure things out, the school chicks need to grow i more before I make any moves with the boys.

Meanwhile I have a bunch new babies to amuse me, I had Sophia out a bit with her babies, and Rose got too close so Sophia beat to tar out of her - they had good flap and I almost intervened but Sophia took care of it. The babies took off for safety, they are quick little monkeys!

 

[Ponypoor]

@RebeccaBoyd

Did you candle the silkie eggs last night?

 

[BY Bob]

I'll confess, hoping this doesn't anger @BY Bob, that they also irritate me a bit with their superior attitude (not to mention the way they fly over any type of fence ).

I'm so glad you stopped by. Why would you think I would be angered by their personalities? They are individuals and as such will react in their own way. Not all leghorns are nice to everyone else. aussiechookmum's hen Tsuki was an absolute terror, much like Aurora. That does not mean that all Leghorns are terrors just like Aurora does not represent all EEs.

However...............

.................I must say...........

I find it hysterical that they now feel they are superior to all of your other hens. Chickens just crack me up sometimes.


You had to know they were actual fliers, right? I have been telling anyone who will listen for years about how well they fly.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

@RebeccaBoyd

Did you candle the silkie eggs last night?

I did. I set them on the 24th so they were at 10 days incubation. I am going to do it again on Saturday to confirm my suspicions. I did not wait until it was completely dark out to candle the eggs and could not find my best flashlight either so I want to repeat the candling. Also these eggs are tiny and it is hard to hold them just right to the light and not completely cover the egg with your hand. With all that being said from last night I feel confident in saying that for sure 3 black eggs and 1 white egg is developing. 99% sure 1 white and 1 black is clear and the other black I am iffy on.

 

[featherhead007]

An AC unit in the window

Of the hen house

And a second job to pay the electricity bill

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Pastel (the actual) rooster is in trouble!

I went out this morning and brought the girls some food. I always grab Pastel and put him in a smaller coop or throw him out the door so that he doesn't bother Mom.
He is normally perfectly fine with me.

I entered the coop, and went to grab Pastel. He walked into Willow's pen, and so I went to lock him in there because no one else was in there.
As I was closing the door, he spun around and charged at me. I will say, I screamed because it shocked me.

I have VERY strong reflexes and so my leg kicked him. He got pushed away, and before he could ready himself for another attack, I was there.

I "attacked" him. I grabbed him, started whacking him (gently) and scolding him. I then pushed him into the ground, and pinned his head down. After a minute, he jumped up, but I still had him.
I thought about pinning him again, but I decided against it because his heart was beating so quickly.
He better watch it! Naughty Pastel.

 

[featherhead007]

Poor Hen-Rietta, I found two June bugs and presented them to her. She snapped them up and ran, followed by five Barred Velociraptors (who quickly stole them away from her) she came back to me crying!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I'm so glad you stopped by. Why would you think I would be angered by their personalities? They are individuals and as such will react in their own way. Not all leghorns are nice to everyone else. aussiechookmum's hen Tsuki was an absolute terror, much like Aurora. That does not mean that all Leghorns are terrors just like Aurora does not represent all EEs.

However...............

.................I must say...........

I find it hysterical that they now feel they are superior to all of your other hens. Chickens just crack me up sometimes.


You had to know they were actual fliers, right? I have been telling anyone who will listen for years about how well they fly.

I just want to say my Marshmallows are causing mayhem at the moment. Enclosed the Pepper plants in a cage so they would stop being trampled on. Every chicken on the place respects the cage and leaves the peppers alone. EXCEPT the Marshmallows. Rules are not meant for them. They fly up, land gracefully on top of the wire and then with their svelte bodies drop down onto the peppers. There is something in the potting soil they are determined is delicious and that they must eat.

 

[RoyalChick]

Keeping Cool

I have tried the following 2 hacks:

Fan with a wet towel (done in one of the horse stalls):
- Starting temperature 23C no wet towel
- Ending temperature 23C with a wet towel hanging in front of the fan

Jug of ice water in front of fan (done in the Hen House):
- Starting temperature 25C no fan or ice this morning around 9am
- Ending temperature 27C with fan and frozen jug of water (noon now)

The fan being on moves the air around and helps with keeping the birds cool (and me and the horses in their stalls - they have fans), but the use of the wet towel and the ice didn't make any difference.

Maybe I am not using the ice properly??

View attachment 3566770

FYI there is a gap behind the fan for air flow

When I hung damp cloths they were further from the fan and more where I wanted it cool.
But my bigger question is what you mean by ending temperature. If it is getting hotter and hotter and the swamp cooler kept the temperature steady, then that is success.
I counted mine a success because it kept the area I had it in below the temperature of a nearby area without it.

 

[featherhead007]

I just want to say my Marshmallows are causing mayhem at the moment. Enclosed the Pepper plants in a cage so they would stop being trampled on. Every chicken on the place respects the cage and leaves the peppers alone. EXCEPT the Marshmallows. Rules are not meant for them. They fly up, land gracefully on top of the wire and then with their svelte bodies drop down onto the peppers. There is something in the potting soil they are determined is delicious and that they must eat.

What is it with chooks and pepper plants ? Mine destroyed all my peppers in one day