Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Leghorns were a staple on my folks' farm and I loved the 3 we had for our backyard flock too. Mid-sized sleek body, intelligent, great pals if socialized as chicks, and very trainable. Our white leg flew to the top of the coop. I went up to her, helped her down again, and she figured out to never do that again. Never had to say a word or scold her but she just picked up on not flying to any rooftops again. Very smart birds when given the proper credit/respect.
Our young "Bela" (Bay-lah) 2011
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Beautiful - the quintessential hen

My Azurs (leghorns x araucana) are much like that - they are not good fliers though - thank goodness. But they look just like a leghorn - though Topsy does have a small crest. Pretty birds and friendly.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thirsty Thursday

Ruth my Hoover Hatchery chick from last year - she is really lame again so she is back on the aspirin.
And Little Grey a Mr P daughter.

And Flopsy, one of my Azur.

 

[SimpleJenn]

This "butterbird" is one of the polish, she has been adopted by them as their tiny friend.
A cuddle puddle. The sebright is so tiny it scooched wayyyy back under by itself and would peek the beak out to see what was up.

The cuddle puddle from the front. These lil babies are all happy here


I was reading chicken facts and apparently female sebrights egg song sounds similar to a peacock call! How cool!

 

[Sylvester017]

I resisted silkies for so long. Now I cannot imagine not having them. If they can see, silkies are wicked smart. They may not fly well, but give them steps, they can get up high when they want. You do not even have to offer steps, they will make their own. Before we redid Russ's stall and the roost Branch used the stall boards to get up onto the big roost. I never showed him, he taught himself the way up. He was hands down the best rooster I have ever had around chicks. He KNEW when a hen was hatching and before the first external pip would be right there in front or beside her. Even if he had ignored her the entire incubation process, he was there when those chicks hatched. I may have never had hens co-parent, but Branch was involved with every gang of broody raised chicks. They hopped on him, huddled under him for warmth, he found food for them. When the momma's were done, he took over parenting himself for a few more weeks every time. He watched the skies and was always first to spot a hawk. It still shocks me that I lost him to a hawk. The devil bird either had to catch him totally by surprise or went after a hen and he tried to intervene. I lost my best buddy, but in truth my flock lost so much more. He was irreplaceable. I hope I have a son of his. Honestly though, it might be best if I don't. Branch set that bar high. If I do have a son, I will love him but I will unfairly judge him against Branch. If he is even 1/10 of the boy his daddy was he will be great. It is to be seen if he is special.

So glad you brought up the parenting skills of Silkie roo's. Some will even bring food to a nesting broody.

We've had a few terrific breeds in our backyard flock but since our Silkie hens have been great then I imagine Silkie roo's are great too. But we aren't zoned for roo's so we can't experience the joy of a good boy like your Branch. Good roo's sacrifice for their flock and a Silkie roo is no different from any other roo in that role.

Many people can't believe the little fluffballs are a smart bird. Because Silkies don't have flight skills they've developed great survival awareness while foraging. They always seem on high alert and move fast if needed. Like any chicken breed a yoyo can turn up in any flock but so far in 13+ yrs ours have been pretty smart and backyard savvy.

And we've had a special Silkie or two that have excelled above others in the flock. Our current smarty is also our youngest Silkie. When we brought her home with two other slightly older chicks she was the first to find the feed and nipple waterer and showed the other chicks, she didn't have to be coaxed to use the coop ramp, she calmly found her own way to a nestbox to lay her first egg, she figured how to steal a treat, just an all-round first-at-everything girl. She's our littlest Silkie too.
BETTA -- Blue Silkie

 

[Sylvester017]

Thirsty Thursday

Ruth my Hoover Hatchery chick from last year - she is really lame again so she is back on the aspirin.
And Little Grey a Mr P daughter.
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And Flopsy, one of my Azur.
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Lame? Bumblefoot? Injury? poor baby

 

[BY Bob]

I am just dreading Mr LC getting a thumping from Mr P - he is so tiny!

He is still trying to have his way with my hand

That must be one sexy hand........

........ well sexy to a chicken.

 

[BY Bob]

Hopefully it isn’t rotten and make him ill

I can’t tell you how many dead disgusting things my dog ate or rolled in

Not to mention horse poo I would imagine

 

[Sylvester017]

Beautiful - the quintessential hen

My Azurs (leghorns x araucana) are much like that - they are not good fliers though - thank goodness. But they look just like a leghorn - though Topsy does have a small crest. Pretty birds and friendly.

I do appreciate smaller combs. I feel a regular Leghorn has some vision impairment on the eye that gets covered depending on which side it flops over. The tendency for large combs to get frostbite is another issue that's always bothered me. I feel so sorry that the combs are so huge and floppy.

 

[Ponypoor]

So glad you brought up the parenting skills of Silkie roo's. Some will even bring food to a nesting broody.

We've had a few terrific breeds in our backyard flock but since our Silkie hens have been great then I imagine Silkie roo's are great too. But we aren't zoned for roo's so we can't experience the joy of a good boy like your Branch. Good roo's sacrifice for their flock and a Silkie roo is no different from any other roo in that role.

Many people can't believe the little fluffballs are a smart bird. Because Silkies don't have flight skills they've developed great survival awareness while foraging. They always seem on high alert and move fast if needed. Like any chicken breed a yoyo can turn up in any flock but so far in 13+ yrs ours have been pretty smart and backyard savvy.

And we've had a special Silkie or two that have excelled above others in the flock. Our current smarty is also our youngest Silkie. When we brought her home with two other slightly older chicks she was the first to find the feed and nipple waterer and showed the other chicks, she didn't have to be coaxed to use the coop ramp, she calmly found her own way to a nestbox to lay her first egg, she figured how to steal a treat, just an all-round first-at-everything girl. She's our littlest Silkie too.
BETTA -- Blue Silkie
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She’s a cutie pie, and I agree they are smart little birds. And can be very devious - Marty is just a little terror, she used to hunt down the chicks last year and try to attack them. Luckily she has pretty much got over that.

 

[Ponypoor]

Lame? Bumblefoot? Injury? poor baby

Seems she broke a bone in her foot. Since it wasn’t displaced I let it be and just supported her with pain meds. But she seems to have aggravated it.

I will give her some Tylenol in the morning and if it continues to bother her I might lock her in the summer house with Mr P and the silkies. Try to keep her a bit more quiet rather than running around.