Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

They went outside for about 10 minutes to peck at some grass that showed through where I shovelled. It was nice and sunny and +1C.

I also took Truly’s blanket off as she was looking warm.

Not 10 min after I removed her blanket we had a blizzard/snow squall tear through here ! The chooks ran for cover and I ran to close the front barn door, and get the horses in - it was gone 5pm so time to come in.

Poor Truly had 3” of snow on her by the time I put the feed buckets in their stalls and opened the back barn door for them - ooops! But I was not expecting that snow squall it blew in so fast and furious, then about 10 min after I got the horses in it was over!

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All this and you have a rotten cold.

 

[rural mouse]

I am not an experienced dog person, but I think your idea of not playing every time while outside might be good. His training could also involve more “work” oriented things maybe, as in accompanying you on chores while behaving properly. He might be confusing the chickens with play, you suggested? I haven’t seen anyone note yet that Sherlock (seems to me) though terrifying the chickens actually demonstrated some training with this incident, right? He restrained himself enough to not actually kill anyone, just mouthed them, as in play (the soggy chickens). Just a guess but I’ve seen that in kittens, with dogs who recognize them as some degree of family members.

He did restrain himself. We have been working on the chores aspect (difficult with winter weather). Once gardening can start, I plan in doing lots of trimming, digging, etc with him there and leaving them alone. The feathers scattered around the house initially were instant targets of scoop it up and suck on it. No chewing on it. He got to the point of mostly leaving them alone....until temptation became too great....but also started spitting them back out when told. He did better about leaving Castor alone too. And Castor has done better about "speaking up" ie charging Sherlock. We have more work to do, but it's coming.

 

[RoyalChick]

They went outside for about 10 minutes to peck at some grass that showed through where I shovelled. It was nice and sunny and +1C.

I also took Truly’s blanket off as she was looking warm.

Not 10 min after I removed her blanket we had a blizzard/snow squall tear through here ! The chooks ran for cover and I ran to close the front barn door, and get the horses in - it was gone 5pm so time to come in.

Poor Truly had 3” of snow on her by the time I put the feed buckets in their stalls and opened the back barn door for them - ooops! But I was not expecting that snow squall it blew in so fast and furious, then about 10 min after I got the horses in it was over!

View attachment 3751857View attachment 3751858View attachment 3751859

Oh no! Will Truly be OK? I don’t know anything about horses but that sounds chilly.

 

[Ponypoor]

If you were this handsome, wouldn’t you have many girls too? View attachment 3751838

Is Jaffar a bantam Cochin?

I would have got some Cochin bantams if Hoovers offered them through Peavey.

Today I will call Hoovers to see if they will add chicks I want to Peaveys orders. Only issue is Hoovers has a minimum of 5 chicks, I noticed that Peavy has a 3 chick minimum. That really doesn’t work for me just getting 2 Brahma and 2 Appenzeller- but I guess I can always sell them when they get POL (ya we know how that goes!).

But gosh I could get a bunch of Banty chicks and they really only count as half a chicken - right??

 

[RoyalChick]

Is Jaffar a bantam Cochin?

I would have got some Cochin bantams if Hoovers offered them through Peavey.

Today I will call Hoovers to see if they will add chicks I want to Peaveys orders. Only issue is Hoovers has a minimum of 5 chicks, I noticed that Peavy has a 3 chick minimum. That really doesn’t work for me just getting 2 Brahma and 2 Appenzeller- but I guess I can always sell them when they get POL (ya we know how that goes!).

But gosh I could get a bunch of Banty chicks and they really only count as half a chicken - right??

The minimum is about staying warm during shipping. They may not worry about that is part of a larger shipment to Peavey.
But since when was your mind focused on the minimum? I assumed you were going to add at least 10.
And remember, if they have names they don’t count at all in your numbers.

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh no! Will truly be OK? I don’t know anything about horses but that sounds chilly.

She’s ok, she has a winter hair coat of over an inch deep, and the outer layer of her winter hair sheds water really well.

But she hates being wet and cold so I blanket her - and Reenie too - with a water proof blanket, but it’s insulated so she gets too warm, I had no idea we would have a squall go through - they happen so fast here sometimes.

Anyways she was ok, and I brought them inside anyways at that point.

Today it’s -14c right now but going up to -2 so I put a light un-insulated blanket on her.

This morning the chooks took one look outside and ran to the other end of the barn when I opened the door to empty the wheelbarrow. Brrrrr! I think this is one of the chilliest mornings this winter.

Truly’s stall and the straw in there is always a big hit

 

[RoyalChick]

She’s ok, she has a winter hair coat of over an inch deep, and the outer layer of her winter hair sheds water really well.

But she hates being wet and cold so I blanket her - and Reenie too - with a water proof blanket, but it’s insulated so she gets too warm, I had no idea we would have a squall go through - they happen so fast here sometimes.

Anyways she was ok, and I brought them inside anyways at that point.

Today it’s -14c right now but going up to -2 so I put a light un-insulated blanket on her.

This morning the chooks took one look outside and ran to the other end of the barn when I opened the door to empty the wheelbarrow. Brrrrr! I think this is one of the chilliest mornings this winter.

Truly’s stall and the straw in there is always a big hit

View attachment 3751997

Glad about Truly. I had no idea horses got such a thick winter coat!

 

[Ponypoor]

The minimum is about staying warm during shipping. They may not worry about that is part of a larger shipment to Peavey.
But since when was your mind focused on the minimum? I assumed you were going to add at least 10.
And remember, if they have names they don’t count at all in your numbers.

Hahahaha yes I keep telling myself that - but no 10 is too many, I was thinking 4 maybe 6.

Remember - my niece is hatching all those silkie eggs, and that incubator hold 24 eggs. So I might load it up for them. And of course I won’t know pullets or cockerel - my plan is to sell the majority of them when I first get them home. Keep only 6 and see if any pullets in that bunch.

 

[rural mouse]

Glad about Truly. I had no idea horses got such a thick winter coat!

Horses that winter outdoors get a very fuzzy look to them with their winter coat...and shed in in clumps kinda like deer do. The sleek look seen in movies is usually summer coat

 

[Ponypoor]

Glad about Truly. I had no idea horses got such a thick winter coat!

Just wait till next month when she really starts shedding I get piles of it! The chooks try to steal it and eat it, so I have to put it in garbage bags right away. Crazy chickens!