Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LhickenChicken]

I hope you saved the maggots for your chooks!

Yeah, my chooks LOVE maggots. They didn't eat some of the meat I threw to them, and the maggots decided to grow on it. I was cleaning those pieces up and ya look under them? A writhing mess of maggots. Chooks loved it.

 

[LhickenChicken]

I just noticed Hattie’s beak and a tomato have lined up perfectly! I thought she had a berry…
View attachment 3578454

You're right! If you zoom in, her beak has a tomato in it.

 

[Ponypoor]

Eggs everywhere!

I was cleaning the eves troughs - and when I climbed up the ladder to check them these are what I found.

Not sure if a Mourning Dove or Blue Jay laid these, they are pink and they were warm so someone was sitting on them, but the location is rather sketchy!

I doubt an eves trough is a good place to lay eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

I want mine raise by the rest of the chickens. They can (and will) educate them on chicken survival much better than I can. They also educate them on what to eat vs what NOT to eat (I'm not eating bugs, grubs, and grass seed, thank you). Yes, I have extra roosters as a result. If I happen upon someone needing a roo for their ladies, I will quite happily give them one. If not, freezer camp will happen. I know they've had the enjoyment of life and lived to its fullest before that happens. If a predator (ground based) hits, I know my chooks have a good chance at survival (evade, escape, ruckus) and life will go on. They've called us out to deal with things before.

taken while typing this
View attachment 3578442

O. My. Gosh! that is both amazing and scary! I would worry about it crashing through the window - have heard of that here on the News. I love it's neat tidy little hooves

This year I noted that as soon as I turned everyone out with the Grups they followed them around and learnt from them. They are quick to steal food from them and surprisingly enough they don't get pummeled - even now that they are older and the Roos are crowing - they will take food from the Grups and not get attacked - the Grup will just ignore them.

It was a big surprise to me to see them watching and following the Grups around, even with the Tweens when I first introduced them when they were just a few days old and Henny Penny was interested in them, they watch eveything they do, and they would watch me also. Very smart these little velociraptors!

And I think the ones following the Grups were integrated faster and were quicker to just get on with being a chicken. I found that the Mama hens 'coddled' the chicks too much and those chicks weren't as adventuresome.

The newest ones I have are just the past couple days, running away from mama and investigating things. Just now I say them running away from Sophia to check something out and Sophia was running after them!

Of course sitting here in the Barn all day means I can monitor them closely and make sure they are integrating fine, and I have a ton of hiding places to get away from crazy grumpy Grups. It may not work for someone who isn't able to let them roam about unattended.

 

[Ponypoor]

More of the porch invasionView attachment 3578443View attachment 3578444

Time to go feed chooks and see if Indigo came in after last check. If not, I'm going to be on broody watch again so I can follow her to her nest. (She is NOT on the one Lark gave away at the top of the olive trees.

Amazing

I used to have lots of deer running along the back fence near the horses, but my nieghbour is out there now doing heavens know what, making so much noise back there, all the deer stay away now Not even anymore Turkeys.

 

[Ponypoor]

True, but it is THEIR choice that way - so they can self regulate as opposed to being forced to eat the calcium as it is in the feed.

Yes true - I figure everyone looks good, and the eggs are good. I am worrying for nothing I guess.

 

[rural mouse]

Amazing

I used to have lots of deer running along the back fence near the horses, but my nieghbour is out there now doing heavens know what, making so much noise back there, all the deer stay away now Not even anymore Turkeys.

They'll come back when the racket stops...or find another way around to get into your pastures.

 

[Ponypoor]

They'll come back when the racket stops...or find another way around to get into your pastures.

Been a couple years now and this summer I haven't seen one deer or Turkey anywhere near here.

Maybe crowing roosters are scaring them off hahahaha!

 

[LhickenChicken]

Been a couple years now and this summer I haven't seen one deer or Turkey anywhere near here.

Maybe crowing roosters are scaring them off hahahaha!

I got deer. In the winter they came about 10 feet from my house- two does, on Christmas

 

[featherhead007]

Eggs everywhere!

I was cleaning the eves troughs - and when I climbed up the ladder to check them these are what I found.View attachment 3578537View attachment 3578539View attachment 3578538

Not sure if a Mourning Dove or Blue Jay laid these, they are pink and they were warm so someone was sitting on them, but the location is rather sketchy!

I doubt an eves trough is a good place to lay eggs.

You need to get your gutters cleaned ! Wow. The things that we don’t think about!