Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

My broody is so nice, sorry y'all have angry ones!
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Gramma M (dad's mom) is going home today so most of the family is arranging when they can be with her. She will need 24 hour help for a few days at least, and someone to keep grampa from freaking out over her doing anything.
It's super sloppy sleet outside so that's no fun for her getting home.

I picked up 2 bags of Kalmbach full plume, the last two they had. Hubby griped because it was a couple dollars more, but he still bought it kiddo also got to pet a duckling, some sort of fuzzy leg bantam, and a jersey giant chick yesterday. She also wanted to use her Easter money to buy chickies.
I told her next year, then we can go to a farm and get a pompom chicken just for her. The current plan is to add two next year depending on how much the girls slow down on laying.

Your chookie is super pretty, love her colour also.

Glad Gramma M is able to come home. I am sure everything will go smoothly, it sounds like everyone has a part to help out - love that

 

[featherhead007]

I’m not sure.

They look great, and who knows maybe he sees more than we can tell. He sure looks good with his harem

He was walking into polls and staggering around aimlessly when his girls walked away from him.

 

[featherhead007]

Hahaha and so it starts glad I am not the only one

I am sure they used chicken sounds for Jurassic Park if you heard those sounds and didn’t know what it was you would be afraid I am sure! Heck I am afraid when I know what it is

“What was that sound?”

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

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.
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Forgive me please, but I have to say it.

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Ok, I feel better. I remember at some point telling you last year when the princesses were mere chicklet's that Tassels would be 4 things. Big, Black, Beautiful and Broody. She cannot help it, it is the Marans in her. This year is out, next year if timing is better let her have some chickies or eggs. Marans are excellent mothers.
I want to give a warning as I know some members on this thread have Marans chicks at the moment. Prepare yourselves. They WILL go broody. I read some breed reviews on them before and when I first got mine. In general it said they may go broody, false information. Correct information should say "prone to chronic broodiness." My girls have proved it, @knoturavggrl Brownie has proven it. I also read that they were average mothers, again false. Digging into the average mother theory I found many did not trust them to raise their chicks because of their huge feet and fear of stepping and squishing chicks. Those first few days any hen is going to possibly step on a chick until they learn to stay out from under momma's feet. Chicks are sturdy and you will see, day 2 of being off the nest they have learned.

Ok, enough gloating, but I love it that BBB *Big, Beautiful, Black* Tassels is living up to her Marans genetics.

 

[featherhead007]

My broody is so nice, sorry y'all have angry ones!
View attachment 3791218
Gramma M (dad's mom) is going home today so most of the family is arranging when they can be with her. She will need 24 hour help for a few days at least, and someone to keep grampa from freaking out over her doing anything.
It's super sloppy sleet outside so that's no fun for her getting home.

I picked up 2 bags of Kalmbach full plume, the last two they had. Hubby griped because it was a couple dollars more, but he still bought it kiddo also got to pet a duckling, some sort of fuzzy leg bantam, and a jersey giant chick yesterday. She also wanted to use her Easter money to buy chickies.
I told her next year, then we can go to a farm and get a pompom chicken just for her. The current plan is to add two next year depending on how much the girls slow down on laying.

You’re lucky. Every time my children were disappointed about something, they would always say “then let’s just go to Disneyland!”
Yeah, we went there a lot!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Somehow I didn't see that.

Congrats @ChicoryBlue!

Congrats to both of you!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Haha, oh that was a mad broody sound.

Velociraptor...

 

[RoyalChick]

Forgive me please, but I have to say it.

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Ok, I feel better. I remember at some point telling you last year when the princesses were mere chicklet's that Tassels would be 4 things. Big, Black, Beautiful and Broody. She cannot help it, it is the Marans in her. This year is out, next year if timing is better let her have some chickies or eggs. Marans are excellent mothers.
I want to give a warning as I know some members on this thread have Marans chicks at the moment. Prepare yourselves. They WILL go broody. I read some breed reviews on them before and when I first got mine. In general it said they may go broody, false information. Correct information should say "prone to chronic broodiness." My girls have proved it, @knoturavggrl Brownie has proven it. I also read that they were average mothers, again false. Digging into the average mother theory I found many did not trust them to raise their chicks because of their huge feet and fear of stepping and squishing chicks. Those first few days any hen is going to possibly step on a chick until they learn to stay out from under momma's feet. Chicks are sturdy and you will see, day 2 of being off the nest they have learned.

Ok, enough gloating, but I love it that BBB *Big, Beautiful, Black* Tassels is living up to her Marans genetics.

I know! I thought of you the minute I figured it out.
And look at how magnificent she is!

 

[featherhead007]

I realize that soon, my precious little rooster friend will be leaving this world, and it makes me sad to think about it. But he’s had the best time of his life with both his life family, and then my family and his new harem of which I am so happy that he adopted as his own.
Sir Jaffar has been having trouble keeping his eyes open. And he stands still and doesn’t move around much.
But then, he wakes up and tries to mount his ladies (instant energy I guess)
He still takes the time to groom himself. And he eats and drinks, if I put him right over his feed bowls.
I really love that rooster!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I know! I thought of you the minute I figured it out.
And look at how magnificent she is!
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She is stunning. Her green is really popping in that light.