Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

A Quick 2fer

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If it wasn’t for that one grey feather I would say leghorn. But maybe leghorn crossed on something else..?

At any rate she is simply adorable

 

[Ponypoor]

WOW! That thing would mince a chicken in 2 seconds if she got in the way!

….or a bunny! Oooo bunny bits….



I lock everyone away when I mow the grass, horses, chickens, cat, mum…..

 

[BY Bob]

Any high egg producer can get laying issues. It's a research fact that 45% Leghorns develop ovarian cancer and therefore have been used in human cancer research. Ovarian tumor/cancer issues so far has no cure. Oddly enough we had a prolific egg-laying Silkie still laying into her 6th year who had a bleeding ovarian tumor and had to be put down at the vet ofc.

I'm so sorry. That's very sad.

 

[Ponypoor]

Speaking of Marans and egg laying. I have also noticed high heat and or humidity affects them in a negative manner. Each and every one of them lay a different hue or spotted pattern. No two of the girls lays the same exact egg. If I take broody Holly and Goose out of the mix I should still have more brown eggs then I am currently getting. For example, Lilly. She is one of my two spotted egg layers. Lilly was broody back in February into March. I have not gotten a Lilly egg in over a month. Her eggs are heavier spotted then her mom Corona's. Lilly is also definitely NOT broody. Squirrel, she lays a medium brown, heavier egg with light spotting. She has never been broody a day in her life but for a few weeks now all I am getting from her is about 3 eggs a week. The same can be said about Bunny and Karen at most 3 a week. Raven, Blueberry, Corona and Grackle are picking up the slack for the brown egg laying girls. Each one on target for 5 eggs a week. The heat is also affecting my non marans girls as well. 19 hens, 3 are broody. For over a month now I am down to 8 to 10 eggs a day. For the first time yesterday I got 11 in a while. Once it cools down though, you cannot beat them for laying into the winter months.

I thought the heat would slow down my kiddos but they are fairly steady, but I have been keeping the fans going pretty much nonstop here; it’s cooler now, much cooler in fact - brrr!

My 6 oldest chicklets are 15 weeks old so they should be laying in another month or so. The cool weather will be here by then. I wonder if they will lay through the winter..?

 

[Ponypoor]

Knock Knock

Glynda was back to knocking at the back door first thing this morning like before she went broody. Guess who she brought with her.

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Lady Featherington did NOT come with them.

Good girl Glynda! Teach those babies right!

 

[Ponypoor]

All but 1 of my silkies have been some type of partridge. Poppy my first pullet and Branch's sister was a true black.

Poppy
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Branch, the first year he was solid black. Then I noticed a few gold feathers coming into his hackle's. They never progressed into his wings or the rest of his body. I suspect he could have been a partridge. He threw partridge with both Chiquita and Poppet. I met his dad, he also looked like Branch did.
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I then bought Chiquita. She was sold as a buff. She came in terrible shape, but once she molted out and a few months of care she blossomed. She was also not a buff, but a partridge.
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Branch and Chiquita produced Ezzie
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They also produced the infamous "Tiger Chicken". I can kick myself over her to this day. I jumped the gun when the colors came in and assumed to early cockerel and let my cousin and her grandson have her. Told them I suspected cockerel. I let go of a pullet dang it.
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Now I have Poppet
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I got 6 chicks from her and Branch. 4 of them are showing signs of Partridge. 1 appears to be a true black for now, the 6th could go either way.

I would say Clyde is a black except for the white feathers coming in on her head like a set of horns, and Georgie is a Partridge in this case.

 

[Ponypoor]

Walk Like a Supermodel

Someone is practicing her Phyllis walk.
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Wow yes indeed she is! You show them girl! Strut your stuff!

 

[featherhead007]

I'm so sorry. That's very sad.

Sadly some things are just sad

 

[Sylvester017]

….or a bunny! Oooo bunny bits….



I lock everyone away when I mow the grass, horses, chickens, cat, mum…..

I'm sure you take precautions !!! I wouldn't mind seeing it mince down a few rats though !!! TG for the neighborhood cat hunters and our newest rat trap purchase! One huge rat caught by a stray cat YAY! and 4 medium rats in the trap!!!! We were trying to humanely catch a baby squirrel but caught a bunch of rats instead. Of course DH didn't humanely save the trapped rats !!!

 

[featherhead007]

Rudy, my Wyandottey is doing a great job with the ladies. But he’s not the snuggly type that Sir Jaffar was. I am a bit disappointed
I think I need to work with him more. But it’s a toss up between me or his ladies.