Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Just some tax
Onyx before she passed and her daughter.
How similar are they to you all?

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They are beautiful - so sorry for your loss, it’s always hard losing our pets.

 

[Ponypoor]

Nacho and her babies View attachment 4028794

They are growing fast aren’t they?! Super cute

 

[Ponypoor]

I know, right? A weird guy walked up to me and said he was missing six red Angus cows (exact same number of red Angus the owner has), I said, nope haven't seen any extra cows wandering around and he left. There are signs all over the gate saying "No Trespassing" and this guy just walked right on. I called the owner and told him about it. Oh well, not my choices to make. I'm only making sure they have water and food.

Are you hauling square baled hay to them?

Or do they have round bales dropped off for them. It’s a lot of work with small squares for that many animals!

 

[Sylvester017]

I know, right? A weird guy walked up to me and said he was missing six red Angus cows (exact same number of red Angus the owner has), I said, nope haven't seen any extra cows wandering around and he left. There are signs all over the gate saying "No Trespassing" and this guy just walked right on. I called the owner and told him about it. Oh well, not my choices to make. I'm only making sure they have water and food.

Too bad you can't padlock out trespassers. We built Fort Knox around our property which most people respect but there's always an oddball that doesn't respect. Here in the city suburb we had to lock our water supply cuz homeless would come into the yard to fill their containers & leave the hose on which in our drought restricted area is a costly no-no! One homeless bold-faced lied to my face & said they asked permission... from who?... not ME! I happily share as I've done before but not to sneakies or liars or those that don't turn off the water .

Water spigot lock

 

[Ponypoor]

Still working on ‘training’ the youngsters to roost in the Hen Houses, once they are on there they go to their spot and settle in for the night.

Shirley has been roosting with the big ladies now, he sure is a big boy next to those hens!
No one wants to be near him poor fella hahaha, were as everyone wants to snuggle with Mr P.

It’s currently +5C in the Hen House, it’s -7C (19F) outside. The main barn is around 0C maybe +1C with the horses in there.

 

[rural mouse]

Research says that because of its prolific egg-laying reputation, the Leghorns are the most extensively used cross-mix to breed ~ especially in current poultry industries. The Legbar is just one example of a specific breed, & dozens of production breeds. Scots Dumpy or Dorking are not exactly a production hen to find in a backyard mix nor are their combs massively long.

Bela (white) & Danni (buff) 2 long floppy combed Leghorns
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In THIS country, yes. As I said before, Princess is in Britain. She's not exactly a production hen anyway (she's outlived the norm for those).

@Marie2020 I don't recall how long you had Princess (and Flexi and the other (sorry, her name escapes me at the moment)) when you rescued Tina and Agatha. I do remember they were production birds and under your care, did amazingly well. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you have Princess for close to 5 years before finding her a place at the farm animal sanctuary?

Dorking's aren't a production breed either. I don't know as much about the Scots Dumpy as they're almost non-existent outside of the UK, but I have had a Dorking. When I realized what she was, I started a little research on the breed. They were bred more as a meat bird than an egg bird (although they produce those too) and are known for being good mothers, too.

 

[rural mouse]

I think Ijak carries a single comb gene, and that's why almost of his children have one.

You're likely correct. He's gorgeous and so is Lunar. Onyx was a beauty also.

 

[rural mouse]

The heater in your waterer might be shot. Is it one of the heated dog water bowls from TSC?

That's what I have. My first one lasted two seasons. The second one is into its third. That's how I know when they've died... a skin of ice on the water sometime during the day.

I bought a new one last fall to keep on hand, in case this one dies. Because you know it'll do it during this upcoming cold snap!

Highs of 7° F and lows in the single digits below zero.

2 of mine are on second season. Last winter, they kept water thawed at -40. Frost up the sides, but water stayed liquid.

 

[Sylvester017]

Just some tax
Onyx before she passed and her daughter.
How similar are they to you all?

View attachment 4028787

Two sweetpeas in a pod

 

[Sylvester017]

Nacho and her babies View attachment 4028794

She is a good mom. I love the way she adopted you. How does she & chicks blend w/ your regular birds?