Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Princess tried telling the old boy to hand over his chew
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The old lad said I'm not the push over cat

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It’s so wonderful seeing them out and about enjoying themselves isn’t it?

 

[Ponypoor]

Pony Sunday

The spicy honey bees are everywhere now.

And this pretty creature was on the loft floor in the doorway, I tried to put it in a safe place but it fluttered away, fell into the run and Sharpie was quick to make it lunch.

It wasn’t flying too well so it likley had something wrong with it..

 

[Ponypoor]

A different perspective

I moved the hay in The loft getting ready for this years hay. These photos I took from up in the loft. A different view of the chooks.

Zoom in on sleeping beauties

 

[SimpleJenn]

@Ponypoor you know it. We're doing backyard-mix meat birds next year so I will need a roo...

We're thinking of putting the new coop on the 3x5 run extension and giving that to the broodies and chicks to grow up safe and sound, but still see the rest of the ladies. I have to wrap the gaps with wire as it is, I'll make a temporary door. And if a broody rejects the babies we just pop her on the other side and she can be with the rest. The polishes will be close to two weeks old by saturday...if the lady still has any. Hubby says to message her Friday and see if she has any left, and if she doesn't he'll take us to the farm store to get chicks unless I find anything else at the swap. (And he wants to get a barbu d'uccle if we do)

So we have our plan. Dad thinks we need a meatbird rooster to put over the hens and get dual-purpose babies. I think I want a smaller one so my silkies don't get hurt!

Pony sunday: old man hasn't had much of an appetite. Hopefully he starts eating again soon.

Shenron the Magnificent.

 

[bgmathteach]

Thursday evening I agreed to help Rosie clean out Russ's stall. I get out there and my Branch let me know he wanted to sit in my lap and held. So I did. I held my little buddy for 30 minutes while Rosie did the stall herself complaining the entire time. She was playing music, and me and Branch both criticized her song choices and her stall cleaning. Once it got almost dark as she was finishing up Branch hopped down and put himself in the coop for the night. I have held fast to that memory this afternoon and evening while I was working at the concession during the horse show. I could not fall to pieces. I am home now, and I am shattered. I had my first hawk attack this morning. My buddy, my best friend, my tv watching Monkey Man was the one taken. It killed me when I lost Drumstick, but this, this hurts worse. Through my tears I am staring at 6 little Branchlets. Please, please let one of these be a boy. I do not think I have prayed so hard for a rooster chick ever.

Rest in peace Branch. The last 2 months you have been stand offish since you have taken over the brunt of rooster duties now that Bubba has slowed down. Thank you, thank you for chest bumping my leg Thursday evening in your way of telling me you wanted picked up.

My Monkey man Branch
5-15-2021-7-6-2024
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oh, @RebeccaBoyd , I am so sorry to hear this. I know just how much you loved him - and how much he loved you. I can not imagine what you are going through - the past year or so has been so filled with struggle and loss for you, my heart goes out to you and the girls.

I am sure Brach is looking down from Chicken Heaven saying 'It's alright, mom. I am happy here with Poppy, and can still watch you while you watch TV. Take good care of my babies - I know you can't do as good of a job teaching and protecting them as I would, but do your best with them for me - I loved being a Daddy - make me proud, Mom."

Oh, gosh - now I am crying.. I just want to reach through the screen and give you a big hug and let you sob on my shoulder.

 

[bgmathteach]

Can't Stand

Glynda's Polish chick doesn't seem to be able to stand. Any idea on what might be going on?

It sort of looks like it has wry neck (my eyes are really bad at the moment - so spotted fluff-balls may make me think I am seeing something other than what I am - but it appeared the neck is twisted and the head is pointing ?up?)

Poor Glynda knows it isn't behaving like it should - but is at a loss to help it....

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor you know it. We're doing backyard-mix meat birds next year so I will need a roo...

We're thinking of putting the new coop on the 3x5 run extension and giving that to the broodies and chicks to grow up safe and sound, but still see the rest of the ladies. I have to wrap the gaps with wire as it is, I'll make a temporary door. And if a broody rejects the babies we just pop her on the other side and she can be with the rest. The polishes will be close to two weeks old by saturday...if the lady still has any. Hubby says to message her Friday and see if she has any left, and if she doesn't he'll take us to the farm store to get chicks unless I find anything else at the swap. (And he wants to get a barbu d'uccle if we do)

So we have our plan. Dad thinks we need a meatbird rooster to put over the hens and get dual-purpose babies. I think I want a smaller one so my silkies don't get hurt!

Pony sunday: old man hasn't had much of an appetite. Hopefully he starts eating again soon.
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Shenron the Magnificent.

Two weeks is too old to try to put under a hen. Ask if the lady has any day olds.

If not find out from the feed store when they get chicks in, they likely get a shipment every week, then pop over when the shipment arrives and grab some.

Have to say I have less trouble raising them myself and integrating them than having a broody raise them, now having said that the next hen to go broody will get 2 blue eggs to hatch seeing as how I have issues breaking them, and pretty much chickened out with the chick fostering last couple times. They can sit on eggs, and I’ll rehome the chicks when they are weaned.

I would not get a meat Roo, they will be too big for your silkies. I now keep my silkies separate from the flock during the day when I am not home; having the two Roos is hard on them. When I get home they go outside and they can get away from the Roos.

If it were me I would get day old meat birds and raise them up for meat. I would skip the whole broody step, and just brood them myself and raise them.

Re: Mr Magnificent - what’s wrong with him? Is he old? I guess they get I’ll just like we do. My cousin had one who she named Spike - turned out to be a Spikette. She laid eggs every now and again.

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor you know it. We're doing backyard-mix meat birds next year so I will need a roo...

We're thinking of putting the new coop on the 3x5 run extension and giving that to the broodies and chicks to grow up safe and sound, but still see the rest of the ladies. I have to wrap the gaps with wire as it is, I'll make a temporary door. And if a broody rejects the babies we just pop her on the other side and she can be with the rest. The polishes will be close to two weeks old by saturday...if the lady still has any. Hubby says to message her Friday and see if she has any left, and if she doesn't he'll take us to the farm store to get chicks unless I find anything else at the swap. (And he wants to get a barbu d'uccle if we do)

So we have our plan. Dad thinks we need a meatbird rooster to put over the hens and get dual-purpose babies. I think I want a smaller one so my silkies don't get hurt!

Pony sunday: old man hasn't had much of an appetite. Hopefully he starts eating again soon.
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Shenron the Magnificent.

Wish I were closer I would give you some beautiful blue and green eggs and have some pompom chickies

 

[bgmathteach]

We're doing backyard-mix meat birds next year so I will need a roo...

I agree, a meatbird rooster will be way too heavy for your girls & will hurt them.

I assume you are speaking about 'Redbro/Freedom Ranger/etc. type of meat bird (not the cornish crosses, as they can't reproduce naturally - even if they lived long enough to mature)


My suggestion would be to get a 1/2 doz. or so straight run meat birds and hold back a trio (one roo, 2 girls) to keep and hatch from in subsequent years, and process the others for meat this year. I do suggest getting at least double what you want to keep (well, since we are talking small numbers, anyways), so you can pick the best/healthiest to hold back.

Good luck with the Polish - I hope the Lady has some still!

 

[Ponypoor]

It sort of looks like it has wry neck (my eyes are really bad at the moment - so spotted fluff-balls may make me think I am seeing something other than what I am - but it appeared the neck is twisted and the head is pointing ?up?)

Poor Glynda knows it isn't behaving like it should - but is at a loss to help it....

I initially thought that also but it’s a new hatch so I would say not likely. I wonder if she was stepped on or pecked. Gosh I sure hope she is ok, being young may be a good thing, they heal fairly fast if an injury.