Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lilion]

Thanks for the happy birthdays all! I appreciate it.

What a rascal! Has she ever been groomed before?

She has! Even by that groomer! Little stinker.

I was gone all day yesterday. Went back to the big town, sans doggo, and we got a few stops made and lunch...again...and then home. Dog got to stay home alone nearly 7 hours, which is the longest we've ever left her, and she was a very good girl! So now we know that's something we can do and leave her home when we need to, so there's that.

Today we did a bit more work on the run. We moved their ladder, put on the shade cloth, and tossed in some quite composted wood chips that the love to scratch in.

Now we have a dilemma. The automatic chicken door (we bought a cheaper one) seems to be starting to malfunction. We were planning on putting their old feeders in the run, and their water. But if we're out of town and the door doesn't open, they'll be stuck inside with no food and water. It closes fine...hangs up opening. The neighbor who watched the hens is the one who moved. So not sure what to do.

They've really slowed down on the laying. Is it really late enough in the year for that? Seems early. But then again Sheba laid all winter last year, so I guess I don't know what's "normal." I ordered a role of nest liner coco coir stuff. They need something better than ive got. Hoping they'll like them.

I guess that's it for my pony Sunday. Have a good one all!

 

[bgmathteach]

Thanks for the happy birthdays all! I appreciate it.



She has! Even by that groomer! Little stinker.

I was gone all day yesterday. Went back to the big town, sans doggo, and we got a few stops made and lunch...again...and then home. Dog got to stay home alone nearly 7 hours, which is the longest we've ever left her, and she was a very good girl! So now we know that's something we can do and leave her home when we need to, so there's that.

Today we did a bit more work on the run. We moved their ladder, put on the shade cloth, and tossed in some quite composted wood chips that the love to scratch in. View attachment 3939199



They've really slowed down on the laying. Is it really late enough in the year for that? Seems early. But then again Sheba laid all winter last year, so I guess I don't know what's "normal." I ordered a role of nest liner coco coir stuff. They need something better than ive got. Hoping they'll like them.

I guess that's it for my pony Sunday. Have a good one all!

If they have started moulting, they will llikely slow or stop laying - depending on how hard they pult, the age of the hen, and the hen itself.

Until you can get the door thing straightened out, i do think it is best for food and water to be in the coop - just in case. But, long term, I think it best if they aren't in teh coop. That is just. my opinion, though. I know plenty fo people that have food and water IN the coop, and plenty that don't...so I guess whatever works for you is what you should do!

The run looks good! They will appreciate a good layer of woodchips - it will attract more bugs and while it will drain, it will also keep the layer of dirt beneath them a bit more moist & give something for worms to work on decomposing - so they will have more bugs and worms to scratch around for!

 

[bgmathteach]

Raven is a momma again. The first chick successfully hatched about a hour ago. It is still partially wet so when it is fully dry and fluffed up I will take a photo. Raven is a old pro at this and trusts me. Without so much as a growl she allowed me to reach under her and pull the chick out while still wet. With Marans you can tell a lot from their appearance if you can see them before they fluff up. I saw a flat non-existent comb and while still big compared to some breeds little slender feet and legs. Feathered legs though coming from the clean legged Corona. I do believe Lilly has a baby sister. After I gave the chick back to Raven I then pulled the Holly egg out. Nothing happening yet but I maybe heard some scratching inside the shell. Not entirely sure as I had Owly scratching around the hay stack.

Oh, what a wonderful b-Day gift for you I do hope Holly's egg hatches - both because you should have another Holly chick, and for the hatched chick's sake - I hate to see a lone chick - they need a playmate & also a companion for when Mom abandon's them!

 

[Sylvester017]

Back then, women ALWAYS rode side-saddle - since they wore dresses, they had to. (My grandmother - to her dying day - refused to put on slacks - had to be a dress (preferred) or skirt). And my mom played basketball in HS. They were forced to wear short skirts (think like tennis skirts) to play Basketball, as women weren't allowed to wear pants/shorts in school. I find it ironic that they had to wear SHORT skirts to play - but were sent home from school if their skirts were too short to hit a chair when kneeling on it!!

Old-tymie dress code Tax:

goslings went from this (1-2 days old):
View attachment 3939138
To this in just a couple of weeks: (Had to find a bigger box to put them in while I cleaned out their brooder!)
View attachment 3939139


And, true tax:

Members of my local tree sitters guild:
View attachment 3939137

The boy in the center is, I'm pretty sure, daddy to Georgie's genetic offspring. Still not sure about the chipmunk chick (mom would have most likely been a Welsummer, but daddy could have been any one of 4 boys. I am now questioning if the chipmunk chick is a girl as I first thought, or a boy. They are only 4.5 weeks old, and the comb is starting to pink up. No real waddles yet - but that may not mean much, depending on daddy. I'll have to try to get a recent pick of her/him to show the comb - it has only been in the last few days it has started to show and pinken. (is that really be a word????)

Cute little goslings ~ they grow so fast. My Mom had a pet Talousse

As for the 1930's when women only wore skirts my Mom sure transformed once she became a farmer ~ I guess jeans were becoming the big fashion statement in the rock-n-roll 1950's ~ even our visitor was in jeans too Teehee!
c. 1952

 

[Sylvester017]

Happy Pony Sunday everyone.
I present Raven's guard horse.


Smart hen. Her nest is right beside Dirt's stall. Dirt takes his duties very seriously. I was having to smack his nose away trying to take this picture.
View attachment 3939066

A Welsummer egg? Very pretty!

 

[SimpleJenn]

It's "hawk bouncing off the chicken run netting" season already. We put up some aluminum trays and we have more for the rest of the panels if it isn't enough.

Also this darn polish is definitely a boy, barely 5 weeks and look at the comb and wattles!!!


Dangit he's such a beautiful color too!

 

[Ponypoor]

Off topic but I have to admit this mistake.
Last night late, it was dark in my kitchen. I had a plate of tortillas with cheese, and while opening the microwave door, I hit the plate against the door. The safety glass shattered into thousands of pieces.
Weird listening to it crack. Started out slow but progressed slowly until it was all shattered.
Oh what fun, having to replace a $345 microwave oven. My options are limited in a small town like mine.

Oi, yep I put a bowl with a spoon in it, into the microwave - it was spectacular, sparks everywhere! Caught fire….. ugh.

Not fun

 

[Ponypoor]

It's "hawk bouncing off the chicken run netting" season already. We put up some aluminum trays and we have more for the rest of the panels if it isn't enough.View attachment 3939361

Also this darn polish is definitely a boy, barely 5 weeks and look at the comb and wattles!!!
View attachment 3939364
View attachment 3939363View attachment 3939362
Dangit he's such a beautiful color too!

He’s a beauty! Seems the nice ones are always boys.

 

[Ponypoor]

Raven is a momma again. The first chick successfully hatched about a hour ago. It is still partially wet so when it is fully dry and fluffed up I will take a photo. Raven is a old pro at this and trusts me. Without so much as a growl she allowed me to reach under her and pull the chick out while still wet. With Marans you can tell a lot from their appearance if you can see them before they fluff up. I saw a flat non-existent comb and while still big compared to some breeds little slender feet and legs. Feathered legs though coming from the clean legged Corona. I do believe Lilly has a baby sister. After I gave the chick back to Raven I then pulled the Holly egg out. Nothing happening yet but I maybe heard some scratching inside the shell. Not entirely sure as I had Owly scratching around the hay stack.

Congratulations! More babies - I can’t wait to see her

 

[Ponypoor]

No pony photos today - had a crazy busy day cleaning stalls, scraping the aisle floor, throwing down hay for the week. Then I drove to town for feed, then when I was dumping feed into the bins I noted I had bought whole oats not rolled - duh. So I started mixing it with the rolled- went to dump more whole oats in the bin and stopped… what’s that in the bag? Scooped it up - BLAHHHHH! Dead dried up mouse !!!!

Threw the bag aside, checked the oats I had poured in, looked ok, smelled ok…. And am sure the horses will let me know if they are bad. Called the feed store to let them know. They were totally sorry and told me drop the bag in for a replacement.

Finished unloading the rest of the horse and chicken feed. Swept the floor (again) fed the horses (they ate the oats), chased down the chooks and brought them in, put out the garbage and went in to have supper. 6pm.

The cat had loose poops and so had to clean her up and the floor, got all scratched up cleaning her up. Finally able to have a very HOT shower (my back is really aching today), supper…. Now need to do evening chores and Go To Bed!

Gosh I am getting too old for all this monkey business.

So my plans to take some awesome autumn pony photos did not happen.

So here is a rerun from a couple weeks ago.

Tip toe through the goldenrod….