Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

They have been spotted a few times in the last 20 years and every time it seems it was either a mistake or they were birds held in captivity that escaped. So I was indeed talking about golden eagles.

Here in Montana, we have both. Goldens are much less common than Baldies, but are only slightly smaller. The one I distinctly recall seeing was actually on the ground. It was standing next to a fence post (Had stood up tall, looking around). The fence was running down a hill with the bird on the lower side of the post.

For those unfamiliar with American fence posts, they're usually about 4 feet (just over a meter) above ground. The bird was AS TALL as the fence post.

Golden eagles can easily take a fully grown chicken, up to and including jersey giants which can reach 13 pounds (almost 6kg). Goldens are creatures of the mountains and plains, liking open vistas. Bald eagles will quite happily eat fish, while Goldens rarely will. Goldens got hit hard with all the poisons used for killing rodents. They don't do well in suburban settings either.

Juvenile bald eagles do look similar to Goldens. The white head and tail feathers only come with the adult moult.

They are gorgeous birds, but ones I would rather see on my drive to work, not from my driveway. Seeing the bald eagle, I'm less concerned about. It flew up the creek, so was likely looking for fish. The creek flows into one of the rivers that forms the Missouri River, and likely has a nest site near the mouth of the creek.


Bird tax

 

[RoyalChick]

This afternoon I will get time to start the black-out process on the Chicken Palace. I am going to use a combination of carboard, black landscape fabric and fix it all with painter's tape. All stuff I have kicking around.
I realize it is a big job: 5 windows and 3 glass doors - all human size.
As if to warn me that my efforts will be wasted Babs got up at 3am last night and went to lay an egg. There was no moon so it was really dark.
I plan to also turn off the cameras at night - in theory their detectors are of a wavelength that she cannot see - but just in case!
Wish me luck!

 

[RoyalChick]

Here in Montana, we have both. Goldens are much less common than Baldies, but are only slightly smaller. The one I distinctly recall seeing was actually on the ground. It was standing next to a fence post (Had stood up tall, looking around). The fence was running down a hill with the bird on the lower side of the post.

For those unfamiliar with American fence posts, they're usually about 4 feet (just over a meter) above ground. The bird was AS TALL as the fence post.

Golden eagles can easily take a fully grown chicken, up to and including jersey giants which can reach 13 pounds (almost 6kg). Goldens are creatures of the mountains and plains, liking open vistas. Bald eagles will quite happily eat fish, while Goldens rarely will. Goldens got hit hard with all the poisons used for killing rodents. They don't do well in suburban settings either.

Juvenile bald eagles do look similar to Goldens. The white head and tail feathers only come with the adult moult.

They are gorgeous birds, but ones I would rather see on my drive to work, not from my driveway. Seeing the bald eagle, I'm less concerned about. It flew up the creek, so was likely looking for fish. The creek flows into one of the rivers that forms the Missouri River, and likely has a nest site near the mouth of the creek.


Bird taxView attachment 3704275

We have both Golden and Bald Eagles here. I have only seen them circling very high above my place and I hope they are satisfied with all the wildlife in the Great Swamp nearby.

 

[Sally PB]

He certainly does not like my refrigerator!

Does he like what you take out of it?

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

The first year they start laying they can lay through the winter. You will likely find that next winter they stop.

Chickens that are known as production layers which lay eggs every day can have reproductive issues. It is natural for them to stop laying over the winter and replenish the nutrients in their bodies. No matter how much they eat while laying they slowly deplete their reserves. That is why in the late fall you might notice that your hen's beak is lighter in color than it was in the spring.

Check out Sydney’s Beak

This is from April of this year. It is almost all black.

View attachment 3704068

And this is from a few weeks ago. It is much paler with streaks of yellow right now.

View attachment 3704070

You know what they say: No two beaks are the same.

 

[bgmathteach]

I also feel responsible for a terrible chicken death. I try to balance that feeling by reminding myself that she had mostly a very good life.

I suspect this is very true for any conscientious chicken keeper - even for those whose chickens are not pets. It certainly is a true sentiment for me as well. While it is hard to follow my own words, remember this:

All you can ever do is your best based on your situation, knowledge, and ability at any one given time.

Be kind to yourself, know that your knowledge is improving al the time, and hence your ability to help them - both in general keeping and in times of illness or injury. Know also that, regardless of what you can or can't do in terms of medical assistance and treatment - you can and do give them love, comfort, and freedom (in the sense that they are relatively safe, but can roam and forage and, in general, be a chicken) You are a wonderful chicken tender (no, Alex, not the food, the occupation!!!)

Chickens are not unlike people in many ways: my father used to frequently say "You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" That is true of any sentient being. Give them the best you can, and let them choose where/how they are happy within certain bounds. That truly is the best you can do for them - and whether they actively show it or not - they are comfortable with you and love you.

 

[featherhead007]

I suspect this is very true for any conscientious chicken keeper - even for those whose chickens are not pets. It certainly is a true sentiment for me as well. While it is hard to follow my own words, remember this:

All you can ever do is your best based on your situation, knowledge, and ability at any one given time.

Be kind to yourself, know that your knowledge is improving al the time, and hence your ability to help them - both in general keeping and in times of illness or injury. Know also that, regardless of what you can or can't do in terms of medical assistance and treatment - you can and do give them love, comfort, and freedom (in the sense that they are relatively safe, but can roam and forage and, in general, be a chicken) You are a wonderful chicken tender (no, Alex, not the food, the occupation!!!)

Chickens are not unlike people in many ways: my father used to frequently say "You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" That is true of any sentient being. Give them the best you can, and let them choose where/how they are happy within certain bounds. That truly is the best you can do for them - and whether they actively show it or not - they are comfortable with you and love you.

Why mention me? What do I have to do with this?

 

[featherhead007]

This afternoon I will get time to start the black-out process on the Chicken Palace. I am going to use a combination of carboard, black landscape fabric and fix it all with painter's tape. All stuff I have kicking around.
I realize it is a big job: 5 windows and 3 glass doors - all human size.
As if to warn me that my efforts will be wasted Babs got up at 3am last night and went to lay an egg. There was no moon so it was really dark.
I plan to also turn off the cameras at night - in theory their detectors are of a wavelength that she cannot see - but just in case!
Wish me luck!

Happy sunsets to your birds!

 

[featherhead007]

Does he like what you take out of it?

No doubt about that!

 

[BeastBaby]

Oh, thank you so much for letting me know, I have been making this stupid translation mistake forever ! (And likely I have yet to discover a bunch of others. I am still not over calling my track barrow a thermal barrow ). No, then you are definitely right, we don't have bald eagles here. They have been spotted a few times in the last 20 years and every time it seems it was either a mistake or they were birds held in captivity that escaped. So I was indeed talking about golden eagles.
Gaston
View attachment 3704214

You are so gracious! And I wouldn’t worry about those mistakes- you 100% read as a native English speaker.
I’m raising my son bilingual as well (I speak French, but it is very clearly “second language” level because it sucks), but so far he sounds fluent. Thanks to tv? Anyways at 3 he’s already becoming frustrated at words that don’t translate into both languages!
And I had to look up track barrow- had never heard of it

Gaston’s wattles look as though Gaudi could have built them- so much texture