Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

My pup is a "designer dog" - she's a Sheparddoxiepoo! Mama was a German Shepherd. Dad was a very sneaky (and apparently quite brave) Doxie-poo.

Is Henny Penny copying Sheba with the torpedo eggs?

All this talk of high production hens makes me worry for poor Sheba. She's never taken a break, not even thru the winter. I really wish she'd stop, moult, and go back to her pretty self.

Springers are nice size dogs. Our Ellie is about 35 lbs...but short, thanks to the sneaky Doxy-poo dad.

Maybe we could start a salon? Like those places that have fish eat your dead skin off your feet.


You just haven't reached that age yet!

Once she gets past 2 she will slow down, my silkies have this year, and I noticed my other hens who are over 2 now, slowing down.

 

[Ponypoor]

She did… sort of. (Top egg is ceramic)View attachment 3941801

Whoa! Double yolk and soft shell - poor girl! That’s hard work pushing that out

 

[Ponypoor]

Grandma is wrapped in lights.
View attachment 3941686
View attachment 3941689

She lights up your life

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, equines are a long-lived animal & quite a hefty weight to dispose of when they pass. Another very long-lived animal are the parrot species & they get so attached to their owner that they go into deep depression when the owner is gone/passes. Parrots can sadly outlive their owners.

We took care of a friend's parrot "Rosie" for a couple weeks while he was hospitalized for Covid. Our friend died but we knew enough of Rosie's habits that we wrote them down to give to the son when he took possession of her. He was thrilled that we had composed a diary of Rosie's favorite people foods, her vocabulary, her favorite scratching points she liked (or disliked), her bedtime routine, etc etc.

Although we're experienced w/parrots we had our hands full w/backyard hens so Rosie was too much added responsibility to keep in our old age. She was a character & very loved by her owner.
View attachment 3941695

I am sorry to hear at your friend died. And poor Rosie, parrots are extremely intelligent.

Of course I find chickens also very smart - devious little velociraptors!

 

[Sylvester017]

She did… sort of. (Top egg is ceramic)View attachment 3941801

Poor baby! It won't hurt to put out an extra dish of just oyster shell. It's amazing how layers will consume the calcium on the side. They instinctively know when they need to eat it to form egg shells. We feed an all flock feed for chickens but keep oyster shell separately for the layers to have access while the non-layers will leave it alone.

 

[Logar]

Poor baby! It won't hurt to put out an extra dish of just oyster shell. It's amazing how layers will consume the calcium on the side. They instinctively know when they need to eat it to form egg shells. We feed an all flock feed for chickens but keep oyster shell separately for the layers to have access while the non-layers will leave it alone.

We actually already do! I feed all flock as well. She is the first ‘problem child’ I have had. All my others that have started laying seem to understand what to do except her

 

[Logar]

Of course I find chickens also very smart - devious little velociraptors!

I consider chickens to be selectively intelligent. They can be smart but only when it makes your life harder or annoys you

 

[notabitail]

I consider chickens to be selectively intelligent. They can be smart but only when it makes your life harder or annoys you

Selective Intelligence.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Is there anyone around that can teach you to check for gender in the Marans? They are large enough chicks to check, the silkies of course too small (though there is always DNA if you wish).

Vent sexing is not 100% reliable as what you are looking for is so tiny. Honestly I would not be comfortable doing it. With the Marans and Maran crosses truth be told I had a fairly good idea what I had by 3 weeks. 1 problem with that though is people wanted day old prices for 3 to 4 week old pullets and complained if the price went up. I really think I am leaning towards focusing on silkies. I could have sold all 6 the day they hatched. I still could sell them all unsexed if I want. I do not want to and have had to tell several people no. Silkies move and move fast. People may wish for pullets but are willing to take the chances of getting a rooster or two. With my history of producing mostly boys for me that is a plus. I love my marans and my big stock hens and will keep them. I just do not think I will keep breeding or selling hatching eggs of those.

 

[featherhead007]

We have a saying in the horse world

“It costs just as much money to feed a good horse as a bad one”

Some dogs are not trainable due to genetics, etc. it is better for them and the safety of others if they are euthanized. Big small doesn’t matter. If it’s a bad behaviour animal it should be removed from society.

In the wild animals who are unstable do not survive.

TAX
Ok and here is the tax for non chicken chit chat
(FYI TOMTE when we get off topic and chat about anything other than chickens we must pay a tax - photos of our chooks , I look forward to seeing more of your beauties )

Grabbed some photos this evening.

One of the youngest chickies - not sure if it’s Patches or Icy - I think Patches, isn’t her little topknot cute?! I have no idea what she is, I thought Sapphire Gem, but they don’t have crests.
View attachment 3941778

And Daisy’s look alike Little Mouse the wee chick who I was afraid would perish from coccidiosis, one of the Hoover Americana chicks.
View attachment 3941779

And hey Fluffy where are you going?!
View attachment 3941780

I did my utmost to remove the “bad behavior from society” just seems like a hopeless attempt. The crime rate has been on increase for years now.