Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I had 54 hens. And then one died so I had 53. Then I sold 17. What does that add up to, as a total, with three roosters? 39 chickens, total. Less, for sure!

Do they have names? If so, then the rules of chicken math say that you don’t have any. Just like @Ponypoor has no chickens at all!

 

[Ponypoor]

Nooooooo!
I cannot add babies this year whatever the Princesses have to say on the matter!

Oh yes that’s right I remember you saying that, well guess you’ll have to just do what I do and haul their fluffy little butts off the nest couple times a day.

I have three running around going BUK BUK BUK - I tell them forget it kiddo no babies!

 

[Ponypoor]

In a few weeks I will be heading off to Africa and then Europe and then Asia.
I am anxious enough about leaving animal care to others for such a long time without having to worry about babies as well.
And that is not even counting the fact that I have Marek’s in the flock (that is what killed Eli) and so introducing unvaccinated chicks risks their lives.
So no. Not gonna happen.

Yes that would be stressful for sure. I know how you feel, it was always a huge stressor going out west for work.

Ok well hope you have an uneventful trip.

 

[Ponypoor]

A late 2fer
View attachment 3790053

Everything looks so nice and green and lovely

 

[featherhead007]

“Some chicken”

“That’s some roo’

 

[featherhead007]

In a few weeks I will be heading off to Africa and then Europe and then Asia.
I am anxious enough about leaving animal care to others for such a long time without having to worry about babies as well.
And that is not even counting the fact that I have Marek’s in the flock (that is what killed Eli) and so introducing unvaccinated chicks risks their lives.
So no. Not gonna happen.

But Sir Jaffar says “” never mind

 

[Sally PB]

In a few weeks I will be heading off to Africa and then Europe and then Asia.
I am anxious enough about leaving animal care to others for such a long time without having to worry about babies as well.
And that is not even counting the fact that I have Marek’s in the flock (that is what killed Eli) and so introducing unvaccinated chicks risks their lives.
So no. Not gonna happen.

That's the responsible thing to do.

My chicken sitter is very ill, so I won't be going on any trips in the foreseeable future. Not to NC/PGH this spring, not to a friend's wedding in CO in October, and not to NC for Thanksgiving.

While I am sad about missing the get togethers/celebrations, I know I'd be a nervous wreck if I had my neighbor do the chicken sitting duties. Our management styles are just too different.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yesterday

Forgive the long post and general grumpiness. It was a bit of a miserable day yesterday and I need to let off steam.
For context, I had agreed to do some project work - come out of retirement for a few days over the next few weeks - and yesterday was one of those days.
It was a good choice of day because the weather here is atrocious - someone forgot to turn off the faucet in the sky. I have running water in the Chicken Palace run again and everywhere is just mud.
I spent the day glued to my computer - either doing stuff for the project or on video calls with the people involved.
I barely got a break, and certainly not one long enough to go out and visit the Princesses. In good news, it reminded me why I retired!
I glanced at the cameras a couple of times - but only enough that I knew a bear hadn't wandered by and destroyed the whole structure.
It was not until I was in my PJs after a long day, that I looked at everyone roosted and realized I was missing a Princess.
And as you saw from my post last night - she (Tassels) was to be found looking very broody in one of the nest boxes. I pulled 4 eggs out from under her (one was hers) and went back in.
Once back in the dry, I looked through the video footage for the day and what was revealed was a high level of drama going on with the Princesses.
The whole event seems to have started at about 6:30am with this encounter. All you experts - that looks quite odd to me - does it look like broody behavior to you? She left the coop with Babs, but returned later and went into the nest box where I eventually found her when I went out at night.

The drama was the other Princesses. It was like a crowd gathering at the scene of a crime. Everyone wanted to look in to the box she was in. Some even squeezed in with her for short periods. As they gathered outside they all were shouting excitedly about the event going on inside.
Piglet and Sylvie were particularly interested and must have visited the nest box at least 30 times while the cameras were on!
They were certainly not giving Tassels any peace and quiet to contemplate the meaning of life.

 

[rural mouse]

Yesterday

Forgive the long post and general grumpiness. It was a bit of a miserable day yesterday and I need to let off steam.
For context, I had agreed to do some project work - come out of retirement for a few days over the next few weeks - and yesterday was one of those days.
It was a good choice of day because the weather here is atrocious - someone forgot to turn off the faucet in the sky. I have running water in the Chicken Palace run again and everywhere is just mud.
I spent the day glued to my computer - either doing stuff for the project or on video calls with the people involved.
I barely got a break, and certainly not one long enough to go out and visit the Princesses. In good news, it reminded me why I retired!
I glanced at the cameras a couple of times - but only enough that I knew a bear hadn't wandered by and destroyed the whole structure.
It was not until I was in my PJs after a long day, that I looked at everyone roosted and realized I was missing a Princess.
And as you saw from my post last night - she (Tassels) was to be found looking very broody in one of the nest boxes. I pulled 4 eggs out from under her (one was hers) and went back in.
Once back in the dry, I looked through the video footage for the day and what was revealed was a high level of drama going on with the Princesses.
The whole event seems to have started at about 6:30am with this encounter. All you experts - that looks quite odd to me - does it look like broody behavior to you? She left the coop with Babs, but returned later and went into the nest box where I eventually found her when I went out at night.

The drama was the other Princesses. It was like a crowd gathering at the scene of a crime. Everyone wanted to look in to the box she was in. Some even squeezed in with her for short periods. As they gathered outside they all were shouting excitedly about the event going on inside.
Piglet and Sylvie were particularly interested and must have visited the nest box at least 30 times while the cameras were on!
They were certainly not giving Tassels any peace and quiet to contemplate the meaning of life.
View attachment 3790221View attachment 3790222View attachment 3790223

It does sound like broody buk-buk, as does the fluffed figure. If she's doing that anytime she's off the nest (for short periods), then yes, she's broody.

 

[featherhead007]

Wow! That reminds me of how Xzit acted when she turned broody last year. She transformed into a villain, biyatchy little monster! Her bites were real and painful!