Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Why is it that when I bring one of my chooks inside, they lay on my chest and fall asleep ? It’s the middle of the day. Do they party all night in that coop or what?

 

[featherhead007]

Oh, now she wakes up. She found the ear of corn that I shucked for her.

 

[featherhead007]

Oh, now she wakes up. She found the ear of corn that I shucked for her.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

For what it's worth, I had to go play with the genetics calculator. Bearing in mind that "tolbunt" isn't one of the choices for color/pattern markings and I'm totally unsure what the actual genetic markers for it are, there's a high chance of tricolor offspring (with Julio style crests) if Versace crossed with the speckled sussex. If the tolbunt pattern is a variation of mottled, then most offspring will be split to mottled and have a chance of passing it to subsequent offspring. What solid color offspring might be....? Possibly mother's color, possibly Versace gold, black, or white....possibly have mottling pop in adult moults. Gorgeous offspring no matter what....now, for the roundabout road trip rooster shuffle.

I am tempted already but I cannot.

Already right now I am asking myself daily, "What about Randy".

Randy was never in the cards. I set out to hatch the silkies expecting 1 or two roos. I was open to 1 or 2 roosters and I probably have them. I at least have 1 with Julio.

What about Randy though? I do not want a game chicken or game genetics. It is not in the plans. Randy is a GOOD rooster. He is proving it time and time again. The obvious answer is catch him and list him. Can I live with myself knowing what type of home a game rooster would most likely end up in? Nope, Randy deserves better. Randy is just making it hard being such a good boy. I have given him every chance to fail and cross a line that is un crossable to me. Instead he does the exact opposite and makes himself more endearing.

There is 1 more solution and it could be a possibility. It also comes with some very hard choices and sacrifices on my end. Betty would take Randy. Betty would also need a few more hens as she currently has the stray black boy and only 2 hens. Ok, who would go with him? I think of a possibility and then quickly say nope she stays.

 

[featherhead007]

Raising chickens is a sad, sad, exhausting job. The benefits of raising chickens are obvious. Love and eggs (and if you love eggs, then there you go!)

 

[featherhead007]

@BY Bob, what kind of spicy food do you serve Queen Aurora?
My Blue wants to look just like her.

 

[rural mouse]

I am tempted already but I cannot.

Already right now I am asking myself daily, "What about Randy".

Randy was never in the cards. I set out to hatch the silkies expecting 1 or two roos. I was open to 1 or 2 roosters and I probably have them. I at least have 1 with Julio.

What about Randy though? I do not want a game chicken or game genetics. It is not in the plans. Randy is a GOOD rooster. He is proving it time and time again. The obvious answer is catch him and list him. Can I live with myself knowing what type of home a game rooster would most likely end up in? Nope, Randy deserves better. Randy is just making it hard being such a good boy. I have given him every chance to fail and cross a line that is un crossable to me. Instead he does the exact opposite and makes himself more endearing.

There is 1 more solution and it could be a possibility. It also comes with some very hard choices and sacrifices on my end. Betty would take Randy. Betty would also need a few more hens as she currently has the stray black boy and only 2 hens. Ok, who would go with him? I think of a possibility and then quickly say nope she stays.

The rooster shuffle sounds better and better. @RoyalChick needs a King (or Emperor) in the Palace. As a game fowl, he's highly active and alert. He's demonstrated he's a GOOD boy, too.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m missing my special Rooster today. Sir Jaffar was a most excellent rooster. I miss him very much! My whole tribe does.

 

[bgmathteach]

I am tempted already but I cannot.

Already right now I am asking myself daily, "What about Randy".

Randy was never in the cards. I set out to hatch the silkies expecting 1 or two roos. I was open to 1 or 2 roosters and I probably have them. I at least have 1 with Julio.

What about Randy though? I do not want a game chicken or game genetics. It is not in the plans. Randy is a GOOD rooster. He is proving it time and time again. The obvious answer is catch him and list him. Can I live with myself knowing what type of home a game rooster would most likely end up in? Nope, Randy deserves better. Randy is just making it hard being such a good boy. I have given him every chance to fail and cross a line that is un crossable to me. Instead he does the exact opposite and makes himself more endearing.

There is 1 more solution and it could be a possibility. It also comes with some very hard choices and sacrifices on my end. Betty would take Randy. Betty would also need a few more hens as she currently has the stray black boy and only 2 hens. Ok, who would go with him? I think of a possibility and then quickly say nope she stays.

I have a solution:

Hatch more chicks - knowing most of the pullets are going to go with Randy. if you start incubating now (read within a week), then they would be okay to go in 8-10 weeks (when they are 5-7 weeks old and 'momma' gives them up).

Raising more chicks is always fun...and if you know ahead of time that you will not be keeping them - then you can brace yourself and all will be good. Since they should be quarantined/slowly integrated at the new place...Randy would have a couple of weeks to solidify that those chicks are 'his', and, generally speaking, Astralorps are pretty easy going (not quite as much as Buff Orps, in my experience...but still pretty easy going) so he should get along okay with another Roo as long as there are enough hens and is enough space for both.



Nope, I'm not an enabler...repeat after me: bgmathteach is not an enabler, bgmathteach is not an enabler...

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All the above said - I still really like the idea of @RoyalChick taking a Roo. I think, given her situation on free ranging and all the wildlife around, if @RebeccaBoyd is willing to give up Randy, he would make a really good look-out, predator savy, alert Roo for the girls. But, that still leaves Versace. Versace would be a good addition as well.... any alert Roo would be good for RC's situation - a dedicated look-out man that is also a good boy!


So, @RoyalChick - that begs the question: which one of the boys are you going to take?

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m missing my special Rooster today. Sir Jaffar was a most excellent rooster. I miss him very much! My whole tribe does. View attachment 3946699