Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

It's the latest design trend. We already have rounded corners on our phones, why not rounded heads as well?

He’s got a point!

 

[Sylvester017]

I need elaboration on this. Rounded heads?

Yep, the little extra taller poof atop the skull taller than the other chicks.

One has a vaulted skull the other does not

 

[SimpleJenn]

@BY Bob I believe this is what they meant
https://www.swpoultry.com/CindySite/Sexing_Polish.html

 

[Ponypoor]

I wondered about that vaulted poof myself. There are pros/cons to everything in life. Be informed is the best way to handle any situation. Silkie chicks will peck one another in dominance yet the chicks run away from each other instinctively to avoid pecks from their chickmates. Now, we never put our Silkie chicks to mingle w/adult birds until they were 4 to 5 months old nearly full size & their eye fluff trimmed.

The group of Silkie breeders (below)aren't terribly worried about vaulted chicks as long as they aren't in a situation to get pecked on the head. This applies to Polish & some other crested breeds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/silkie-hatchling-vaulted-skull-huge-normal-pic.492710/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/vaulted-skulls-are-they-actually-a-curse.377428/

Silkie vaulted skull compared to a normal skull

I normally have all the chicks (mama raised and me raising) running with the main gang around 1 week supervised and from 3 weeks on their own during the day.

Unfortunately this winter is cold for Georgia and the dumplings so they have been stuck in the crate mostly, I let them roam the feedroom floor mornings and evenings when I am home, so they get to stretch their legs.

Last winter was so mild Henny Penny was able to raise her kiddos with the main gang pretty much.

Lunar gets ahold of the suet hang...

Hahaha

Hope she got some sort of treat for all that exercise!

 

[RoyalChick]

Lunar gets ahold of the suet hang...

Great video!

 

[Sylvester017]

That is cold. Not that cold here - but nasty with the wind. Mine only have the panels when they roost. So far they seem OK even though most of them are molting (only Tassels and Piglet are fully feathered).
Speaking of which, when I went out with fresh water just now, I got hit in the head by a flying Tassels. I don't know what got into her, but she launched herself off the ladder right at my head!

The floor is cold. Your head is warm!

 

[Sylvester017]

I guess comparable to here…. Though we sure haven’t had anything near freezing in a week (32F), since Sunday it’s just been consistently cold at -11c and snow.

Not overly worried about the chooks, being inside the barn it’s still around the freezing mark. And at night the Hem House was at +4C last night. Just my older ladies and Mr P and the ones moulting who are miserable.

The cold & snow makes me wonder how 1800's farmers kept their livestock & poultry from dying in the freezing climates?

 

[Ponypoor]

Its amazing that broom stays standing w/all the horses & chickens that could knock it over! Georgie sure turned out a good mama accepting chicks she didn't hatch herself

Silkies I don’t have any issues with regarding raising chicks. Hot and miss with others…..

Don’t worry I pick the sucker up off the floor at least 20 times a day from Reenie knocking it over.

The chooks don’t normally knock it over, but have been clobbered a few times when Reenie knocks it over.

 

[Sylvester017]

Mugs Monday.
Gaby.
View attachment 4022420

Pretty penciled feathers. Penciled, right, @rural mouse ?

 

[RoyalChick]

The cold & snow makes me wonder how 1800's farmers kept their livestock & poultry from dying in the freezing climates?

I have a book of mid 19th Century farm building designs. Many of them have diagrams showing how to keep chicken and other livestock housing warm.
I will dig it up and share some pages. Some are quite ingenious and I wish I had found the book before building the Chicken Palace.