Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Okay so I talk to my animals as if they were humans. So what! Does that make me crazy? NO, not at all. It’s just that talking to a chook is more relaxing than talking with a human sometimes.

I talk to the ones here, cat and chickens and human alike. I speak English, my native language, and they speak chicken, cat and English respectively. Hopefully we understand each other most of the time but I’m still learning chicken so they have a lot of explaining to do sometimes. The chickens are pretty much always talking. They seem to be narrating whatever’s going on and I do my best to follow it. Immersion learning is the best kind!
Our cat talks to us, he’s the most talkative cat we’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, though nothing like Siamese cats; he’s fairly straight-forward and right to the point. Cat I know pretty well. Big Boy already knew English when we got him.

 

[Marie2020]

I talk to the ones here, cat and chickens and human alike. I speak English, my native language, and they speak chicken, cat and English respectively. Hopefully we understand each other most of the time but I’m still learning chicken so they have a lot of explaining to do sometimes. The chickens are pretty much always talking. They seem to be narrating whatever’s going on and I do my best to follow it. Immersion learning is the best kind!
Our cat talks to us, he’s the most talkative cat we’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, though nothing like Siamese cats; he’s fairly straight-forward and right to the point. Cat I know pretty well. Big Boy already knew English when we got him.
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He's the double of my boy, I wonder which one of these two talks the most.

 

[GregnLety]

More baby pics

 

[Marie2020]

Thanks Marie. Very interesting.
Like @bgmathteach I was surprised that they don't list the different bacteria it contains - but it does say it is over 200 different strains. There is also an implication that the way they make it is culturing healthy chicken poo - in which case they may have no clue what is in it - they just know it doesn't have anything nasty!
Although that sounds scary, it is much like Kefir - you never have a clue what is in Kefir - just that it is a lot of stuff that may not even have been characterized. With Kefir you generally have to trust some random person who will let you have or will sell you a culture (and your instincts about whether it smells OK and looks OK) and with this you have to trust Beryl and the BHWT. I believe the BHWT is a reputable place and who knows about Beryl.
@Marie2020 I think what you have there is probably a good thing. In theory you may not have to give it very often. I am sure they will say that you cannot freeze it because it will kill the bacteria - it may kill some but I think it may well be fine - I have successfully woken up Kefir grains after freezing them for several years and I suspect this is similar. It might lose a few colonies but it won't do any harm to freeze it. Just guessing.

I'm having exactly the same thoughts and as I don't have 15 chickens and spent over £23 on the stuff then it's going to have to be frozen. I'm hoping the good stuff comes to life as it defrosts

 

[Marie2020]

More baby picsView attachment 3614109View attachment 3614110

So cute and I like your set up there

 

[Marie2020]

My boys

 

[Gigachad poultry]

This photo is of a really cool hyprid of the California Valley Quail and the Bobwhite! If I can find a bobwhite in my area I will definitely be trying to create this hyprid.

 

[bgmathteach]

It is funny you should say that about impacting her eating time. Babs got almost all the leftovers from my lunch because Bernie was so busy chasing everyone else away. Silly Bernie.
Have you ever had a kitten? They know more ways to get into trouble even than young chickens. I am not sure I, or my older cats, are ready for the chaos that a kitten unleashes on a home!

Yes, I have had kittens - they are adorable, spunky, and trouble - but most of all, adorable and cuddly as littles. Maybe it is just what your older cats need - somebody to shake up their routine and bring life back into their old, cranky mind-sets. (I do say this partially tongue in cheek and partially seriously - both parts equally!)

And I was mostly serious about the Roo. You are getting to a real, full flock size, and Bernie could use some help. And, another look-out/protector for the flock would really be a welcome thing, too. I'm assuming you have enough space so the morning crows would not be too disruptive to neighbors - it seems like you have a fair amount of wooded/brushy space to muffle the sounds a bit - enough to take the sharpness off the crow sounds.

 

[featherhead007]

I talk to the ones here, cat and chickens and human alike. I speak English, my native language, and they speak chicken, cat and English respectively. Hopefully we understand each other most of the time but I’m still learning chicken so they have a lot of explaining to do sometimes. The chickens are pretty much always talking. They seem to be narrating whatever’s going on and I do my best to follow it. Immersion learning is the best kind!
Our cat talks to us, he’s the most talkative cat we’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, though nothing like Siamese cats; he’s fairly straight-forward and right to the point. Cat I know pretty well. Big Boy already knew English when we got him.
View attachment 3614107

I find that body language has a lot to do with the communication between the animals and their humans. Coco for example, will come up and want a snuggle and cuddle with me. That’s saying “I love you daddy!”

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I'm going to do what @RoyalChick suggests. I made a yogurt that way once. Yes it was thin but it really worked

If you add dry milk powder, 1/2 - 3/4 cup for each three cups of milk, that works to make it thicker. I use dry whole milk powder.