Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Eeeeeeeee today is the day!
We decided on Nocturne (nox) for the black hen. Nyx and Nox, both names for a night goddess.
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Nyx
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Nocturne (Nox)
My mother in law is also excited to get Cookie and Cream, she's never had chickens before and I'll be doing the work for her so she can just enjoy the fun bits haha. Dad-in-law wants to get a small coop in town but I don't think they'd have good luck, right beside a school and there are lots of raccoons in the town they live in.
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Cookie
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Cream
Hubby says we can just get hatching eggs a few times a year to raise meat birds, that way we can let them be broody-raised. It is SO much easier having a mama hen.

Looking forward to photos of the new chooks!!!!!!

 

[LozzyR]

Hi LozzyR,

Hope your Spring weather is good and you and your chooks going well.

Hey PP!

We are doing well, thank you for asking! Angel is broody at the moment and Snowy starts yelling to be let out just after 6am.

I hope everyone is well at your place.

 

[Ponypoor]

Reassurance please.
I don’t know anything about snakes. Just met this beauty in the chicken run. The chickens are going out of their way to avoid it and it was aggressively lunging at me when I walked past.
I will leave it be unless it might be dangerous.
Any insight?
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The only one of us safely out of its reach is of course Tassels. Still broody, after all this time. Still broody …
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Looks like a freshly moulted garter snake and a beauty too!

Not venomous- but the put out a smelly musk (pee) when picked up

 

[rural mouse]

@RoyalChick

Says there are only 2 venomous snakes in new jersey: a copper head and a timber rattler. Neither of those is yours. From pics, it has similar markings (different color) to a corn snake or a rat snake. I'm not stating that it IS, but it appears to be in that general grouping.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snakes_of_New_Jersey

https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/ecosystem/wildlife/pine-barrens-reptiles/

 

[Ponypoor]

Hey PP!

We are doing well, thank you for asking! Angel is broody at the moment and Snowy starts yelling to be let out just after 6am.

I hope everyone is well at your place.

Have two broody ladies also

All good here!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks @rural mouse, @Ponypoor, and @notabitail on quick responses on the snake.
I am feeling more confident it isn’t dangerous and will leave it be to go about its snake business.
I just heard a kerfuffle and I think Bernie told it to leave the premises. She may be greatly diminished by her molt, but she is still an intimidating bird.

 

[Marie2020]

Thank you!
I found this from NJ fish and wildlife. We only have two venomous snakes in NJ and based on this I don’t think it is either of them.
I am leaning towards Eastern Garter Snake based on the pale line going down the length of its back.
https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/snake_id-avoid_confusion.pdf

Please get someone to get it away from your area

 

[RoyalChick]

Please get someone to get it away from your area

Bernie told it to relocate and it has! Unharmed I believe.

 

[Marie2020]

Bernie told it to relocate and it has! Unharmed I believe.

Good, I was worried for you and your fluffies, now I can relax

 

[RoyalChick]

It is a perfect foraging day today. The grass has all gone to seed and there are yummy things hiding under fallen leaves.
They may not all be visible but everyone is in this frame.
Well everyone except little miss broody of course.