Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I separated the Wyandottey from the rest of the group. They needed a break, and wherever the Rockettes are, that roo is right there beside them. He attacks them if they go to the ground.
I’m going to have to build another run for him to stay in. I’m hopeful that he will eventually calm down and leave the girls alone. His actions are unacceptable and not fair to the other chooks.

 

[Sylvester017]

A month ago prices were down for corn and feed.
Today prices are sky high.
$28 dollars for a 50lb bag of feed
$ 80 cents per ear of corn
$ 50 cents a can for canned corn (on sale at Walmart)
Even meally worms used to be $7.00 a bag
Now they are $8.95 at Walmart
And I’m not getting any richer lately.

Rant over. Here’s some tax

View attachment 3999585View attachment 3999586

You are so good at getting me into Calif rants !
I remember corn growing FREE in my back yard 50 yrs ago until I discovered stalks & husks did not decompose well in compost w/o a chipper. Then we decided the following year to buy 10 to 15 ears of corn/99 cents for the lot at the supermarket! Dang ~ a small packet of corn seeds for a whole crop was less than $1.00 !!!

Then along came GMO pro/con controversies.

Today we're reduced to buying at $1.49 one small can of GMO-free organic corn equal to barely one ear of a whole corn husk ~ the Silkie's smaller beaks don't like to peck at whole veggies so it's got to be mashed or cut-up for them.

Our 2-lb feed store bags of mealworms you can imagine that price every couple weeks. & then there's the price of New Zealand grass-fed ground lamb fluctuating from $8 to $12/lb & shelled sunflower seeds. You feed steak, we use ground lamb. Rather than flock feather feed we use direct protein foods. In all recollections though we never had one hen in 13+ yrs ever have a hard moult. Mostly we'd see pillow feathers in the coop or yard yet no bald hens so they obviously were replenishing feathers but no baldies.

For years we've been buying organic Scratch & Peck feed which is not cheap. An open field range is probably best for foraging hens but we have a small yard & have to compensate w/ supplementation.

But ~ at least I get nice orange eggs for breakfast every morning!

 

[Sylvester017]

I separated the Wyandottey from the rest of the group. They needed a break, and wherever the Rockettes are, that roo is right there beside them. He attacks them if they go to the ground.
I’m going to have to build another run for him to stay in. I’m hopeful that he will eventually calm down and leave the girls alone. His actions are unacceptable and not fair to the other chooks.

Remember ~ Ponypoor had problems w/ her roos too & had to do some isolation. You may be thinking the right thing. As owners we all do what works best w/the chicken personalities we're dealing with.

 

[Sylvester017]

I AM!!!!!!

today's weatherView attachment 3999440

LOVE your pics!

 

[Ponypoor]

I separated the Wyandottey from the rest of the group. They needed a break, and wherever the Rockettes are, that roo is right there beside them. He attacks them if they go to the ground.
I’m going to have to build another run for him to stay in. I’m hopeful that he will eventually calm down and leave the girls alone. His actions are unacceptable and not fair to the other chooks.

Silly youngsters - in about 6 months he should be good.

 

[featherhead007]

Silly youngsters - in about 6 months he should be good.

 

[Ponypoor]

I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Ponypoor]

You are so good at getting me into Calif rants !
I remember corn growing FREE in my back yard 50 yrs ago until I discovered stalks & husks did not decompose well in compost w/o a chipper. Then we decided the following year to buy 10 to 15 ears of corn/99 cents for the lot at the supermarket! Dang ~ a small packet of corn seeds for a whole crop was less than $1.00 !!!

Then along came GMO pro/con controversies.

Today we're reduced to buying at $1.49 one small can of GMO-free organic corn equal to barely one ear of a whole corn husk ~ the Silkie's smaller beaks don't like to peck at whole veggies so it's got to be mashed or cut-up for them.

Our 2-lb feed store bags of mealworms you can imagine that price every couple weeks. & then there's the price of New Zealand grass-fed ground lamb fluctuating from $8 to $12/lb & shelled sunflower seeds. You feed steak, we use ground lamb. Rather than flock feather feed we use direct protein foods. In all recollections though we never had one hen in 13+ yrs ever have a hard moult. Mostly we'd see pillow feathers in the coop or yard yet no bald hens so they obviously were replenishing feathers but no baldies.

For years we've been buying organic Scratch & Peck feed which is not cheap. An open field range is probably best for foraging hens but we have a small yard & have to compensate w/ supplementation.

But ~ at least I get nice orange eggs for breakfast every morning!
View attachment 3999677

Gonna need tax

Good excuse to see more pics of your lovely chooks

 

[rural mouse]

Where did you get that postcard?
Very pretty picture

Took the pic out my glass doors

 

[featherhead007]

I do actually feel a bit sorry for Mr Wyandottey. He’s alienated all the hens in our tribe. The only hen that seems to want to hang out with him is that scrawny little game hen from next door. She comes over the fence to eat our food and treats. I don’t care anymore. If I attempt to scare her back to her yard, she’ll be right back in ours within minutes.
She only sleeps back in her yard.