Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

That's how it is with my husband too. He wants to make a village of those premade coops from the farm stores. I told him the ladies will make such a fuss over who gets to sleep in what cabin but he thinks it's a cute idea.

Hold up, are you my mom? My dad wants to make a chicken village My dad wants a western chicken village…

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Mine lay eggs in boxes, shaving bags, in the middle of the floor…. Hahaha

Haha. Right now the two or three who are laying are laying in the old broody cabinet. Bolt used to lay on the floor. It’s funny how they are!

 

[Sally PB]

My parents forsythia bloomed again, so late in the year!

I saw a few blooms on a forsythia last November. Never seen that before.

Last year and the year before, I saw some lilacs blooming in the fall.

 

[featherhead007]

The Rockstars are not interested in hanging out with us guys anymore today. Sir Jaffar has been sitting on a dirt pile created by a gopher. I brought him inside and put on a movie. But…… on a Sunday afternoon, he’s not at all interested in watching a movie .
Now what?

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

The Rockstars are not interested in hanging out with us guys anymore today. Sir Jaffar has been sitting on a dirt pile created by a gopher. I brought him inside and put on a movie. But…… on a Sunday afternoon, he’s not at all interested in watching a movie .
Now what?

Poor guy. I know that this was a while ago, but is he completely healed from the rooster fight?

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yes, he does. Wish he was a bit heavier in body type. Since I process all the extra boys and older hens, dual purpose is important, and the one 'extra' roo I kept last year (#8's dad) is far too slight - but he was just so good with the girls, I couldn't process him last year.

Anyways, I personally like the black one - but that is somewhat clouding my judgement, as he is too slight.

Either of the 2 nicer Cuckoo Marans really could be a keeper so far - the Red leakage one is generally friendlier/calmer but still watchful/alert.

If I take a step back and don't let emotions in, either the Red leakage or #1 should be the option -both have pros and cons.

Red leakage boy has the disposition and body type.

#1 Is also good with the girls, but not a personality of 'commander in chief' like the Marans boy. He is medium build, but, in theory, carries the blue egg coloring gene.

One of the big selling points of my eggs, other than being farm fresh & organic, is the variety of colors in a dozen. Light brown, dark brown, blue, green, olive, and, yes Aurora, even PINK! (until they are washed!)

So, I want to breed BRs, the others, I just want a variety of egg colors with decent layers (not high production) and a decent sized body for use when they are processed. My retirement plan is that I will get a special exemption license and process the extra roos & older hens and be able to sell them, plus a few pullets each year along with the eggs, so maybe they will actually pay for themselves or create a slight profit. (As opposed to now where I am working to support them!) I also want to create my own line of meat birds - like the red ranger type, not the cornish cross type. i.e. slower growth than the cornish, but still decent size - yet also able to act like chickens and have a decent life until that fateful day. (Note, neither of these boys would be used for the meat bird line, I don't think -if I keep the marans boy, we will see how he fills out. But, I plan on using a DC boy.)

So am I understanding you have a Marans boy already from last year? I will say the Marans will add the size you are looking for but it will take time to get it. They are slow to mature, 18 to 24 months before they are fully mature. If egg color is a big selling point having a Marans roo will darken any of his offspring's eggs. If he is crossed over blue or green girls you will be able to market chicks as olive eggers. Now one thing I have came to learn genetically the darkest eggs come from the black copper variety. The cuckoo variety tend to be a little lighter but still brown. If you have a Marans from last year that is a Black Copper that you like then I would go with #1. Is there the option of hanging onto both #1 and the red leakage Marans to let them grow out some more? How do those 2 interact with each other? If they do not hate each other they may end up working together as a team to protect the girls. Truthfully though you see and interact with the boys every day. We can all say this one or that one is prettier from a picture, but deep down you know which ones will work with your flock.

 

[featherhead007]

Poor guy. I know that this was a while ago, but is he completely healed from the rooster fight?

He lost his eye due to the fight eventually , but other than that he’s good.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Hello everyone. It has been a rough 2 days and probably will continue to be so for a few more. Grandma is not taking her brother's death well. She has admitted she is not physically able to go to the funeral and she is finding that very difficult to accept. 2 of her sisters came to visit this afternoon. Truth be told they made it worse after they left.

 

[bgmathteach]

I am worried about Sylvie.
Either the bullying by Piglet was worse than I realized or she has some feather issue.
She is all bald around her neck - it is hard to get a close look but I think she has pin feathers coming in. I hope that is what I am seeing.
She has not returned to laying since she was broody and her comb is not nice and red.
Do you think she has just stopped for the winter maybe?
She is sleeping in the nest box and I am not trying to stop her if that is where she feels safe from the demon Piglet!
The odd thing is I don’t see anyone pecking her during the day - this is all about roosting time.
It makes me sad.
But at the same time I hope that is what is going on and not some weird genetic disease that goes with her weird coloring.
Any words of advice or reassurance from all you more experienced chicken people?View attachment 3687081View attachment 3687082

How long has it been since she stopped being broody? Maybe a post broody molt? She shouldn't be doing a regular fall molt given her age, but a post broody molt would make sense.

If she never reddened up after her broody phase and she is molting, she might not lay again until late January/early February.

If Piglet isn't bothering her during the day, and it is only roosting shenanigans, then I wouldn't worry too much about it; especially if she is indeed molting - many of my girls take to the nest box when molting and then return to the roost once done/mostly done.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Hold up, are you my mom? My dad wants to make a chicken village My dad wants a western chicken village…

Well it would be awkward if I was haha
My husband and I just think the little premades are cute. Boy are they hard to use though! Mine is kind of hard to clean, so I started weekly spot cleaning instead of emptying and refilling the whole thing every two weeks. And the runs get a bucketful of leaves whenever it looks low.