Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

Pics
Date sort Score sort
@Ponypoor
Here are the London Rockets.(Wild Arugula?)
Some are skinny...
1000006546.jpg

And some are a bit larger...
1000006547.jpg

They are very annoying and grow in your landscaping...

I saw your post once and you said that they call it Arugula where you are, and you want to try it with your gang. I did some research and I guess they are of the same family.

The upside is, they are good food for chickens!
1000006545.jpg


Here is a close up of the leaf. Does it grow wild in spring where you are?
1000006539.jpg
 
bgmathteach said:
Chicks in the house - as long as secure/safe when you aren't with them will be a VERY GOOD idea and training tool. When we got our dog as a rescue (8-9 mos. old), he would chase anything that moved. Shortly after getting him, i got chicks they were in the mud room - like a breezeway - so not in the house. I would spend a lot of time - every chance I got -to hold a single chick and let him sniff. If he sniffed aggressively or licked hard, Chick would be pulled away. I would constantly admonish him to be gentle. When he did gentle licks or sniffs, the chick stayed. I again, would do this every chance I got for about 5 min. After about 1-2 weeks of this (and, yes, I alternated which chick - wanted them to get used to him & not run, either) I brought a couple in the house, laid on the floor, and corralled them in my arms, and would let Elroy come over an sniff. If he got too excited or 'aggressive (i.e. too rough) - I would tell him 'Gentle', if he didn't 'calm down', I would say 'leave it'...and 'sit'. This would get him to sit and calm down - but not get close. It took no time at all really for him to understand 'gentle' and that he needed to be careful with them. If he didn't calm right down, I would scoop up the chicks and away they wouldgo. Granted, I think he was a bit older than your Sherlock is now - but he had absolutely NO training prior to me getting him - none at all. By the time the girls were 8weeks and outside full-time...he could walk right up to them - as they learned to trust him/be comfortable around him - AND he learned to be gentle with them - and that they were 'cherished' by us and to be respected. That summer - if the older girls ran when free ranging and he got too close, the chase instinct would kick in some and we would have to do stern 'NO/Leave it" and pull him back with the leash.

While I don't 100% trust him with the chickens - if I put him int eh run with the chickens while I am futzing with the coops and runs (I have 3, he would be int eh main run - I might be working in that one, or in one of the other two - which are across the way a bit. Both he and the chickens are good with each other. They will do a 'fast walk' out fo his way if he chases a rat or something towards him, but he doesn't chase them, and they aren't freaked out by him.....I would love it if I could trust him while they are free ranging - but he gets excited by something and will take off...so it isn't so much chickens, as him not letting his nose and excitement get the best of him.

long story short: Yes, have chicks in teh house - at least for the first couple of weeks, expose Sherlock to them daily with appropriate complimentary or stern commands/reprimands as appropriate, and let him know these great smelling, interesting things are beloved by you and to be 'gentle with', and that they disappear if he isn't good with them...stay longer if he is. A great way to build trust and a relationship BOTH ways. AND: Yes, you chickens will discern the difference between him and a strange dog, so don't worry about that aspect, either. Our chickens clearly know him - but still send out the warning calls if another dog comes onto our property/near the coop.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Good info. Going to start setting up brooder....with feathers woven into the window a bit to star work on that early.
 
Desertvalleychickens said:
@Ponypoor
Here are the London Rockets.(Wild Arugula?)
Some are skinny...
View attachment 3750415
And some are a bit larger...
View attachment 3750416
They are very annoying and grow in your landscaping...

I saw your post once and you said that they call it Arugula where you are, and you want to try it with your gang. I did some research and I guess they are of the same family.

The upside is, they are good food for chickens!
View attachment 3750418

Here is a close up of the leaf. Does it grow wild in spring where you are?
View attachment 3750420
Click to expand...
Not sure if it grows wild, but people grow it for food, makes a great salad.

Your kiddos are looking great 😃
 
Hmm, Samara has a lumpy thing on the side of her beak. I think that's what Shep has been picking at.
20240217_120044.jpg
20240217_124851.jpg
20240217_115642(0).jpg
20240217_120048.jpg
Doesn't seem to be bothering her. It reminds me of when my fingernails seperate into layers and peel up a little. I'll keep an eye on it.

In other news, Samara would like to be reconsidered for the "bearded ladies" club. She was already in the "cheeky poof chicks" but she says she really does have a beard, she just needed a good bath to show it off!
20240217_124407.jpg
 

Similar threads

Sparrow-Song
    • Love
April Showers—Intro for the newest members of the flock
Replies
5
Views
155
Sparrow-Song
Sparrow-Song
PrettyBirdRocky
    • Love
Story of our raising and hatching own to process of mixed flock
2 3 4
Replies
39
Views
3K
PrettyBirdRocky
PrettyBirdRocky
speckledhen
    • Love
    • Like
The Omega Rocks: The Last & Ultimate Barred Plymouth Rock Flock
25 26 27
Replies
264
Views
10K
speckledhen
speckledhen
Kewpieteef
    • Love
Feather Heaven Flock & Friends
Replies
5
Views
366
Kewpieteef
Kewpieteef
thudson
    • Love
    • Like
Why We Raise Chickens
Replies
8
Views
3K
Daisy June
D

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom