Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

They look to be English orps which will run a bit more then American style. Very fair price for those chocolate laced. Good price for the blue ones too. While the price may seem steep to some for eggs, it is the cheaper way to go. I shudder to think what a day old chick costs. If I were looking orp hatching eggs I would be very tempted at those prices.

$11/chick here, buff and lavender. Of course unknown now if I will ever get Hoover chicks anymore.

 

[Sylvester017]

She is beautiful.

I have had several dogs over my 40 years. I think in total I have been dog less for maybe 6 of them.

I have had mixes, beagles, a lab, shih-tzu and a dalmatian. They have each been good dogs and hold a special place in my heart even if they were not the right fit. CeeCee is a wonderful dog, I adore her. None of them have held such a special place in my heart as my 2 Golden Retrievers. For my and my families needs they just fit and are my heart breed.

I miss the smiles, your right they always have a smile on their face. I miss the love and I even miss the constant tumbleweeds of hair floating around on the floor.

I am ready for another one as soon my doctor's get their heads out of their butts and get my shoulder fixed. I am ready for the cutest ball of fluff puppy. I am ready for the 1000 midnight to 6 am walks to potty train. I am ready for the landshark phase when they are teething and want some part of you in their mouth. I am ready for the teenage phase where they forget everything I have taught them and give me the furry middle finger for a few months. I know what will await me on the other side. I am also ready for when I have a wise grey face looking back at me. The one downfall to the breed, the only one in my opinion is they do not live long enough. I am ready if I go the puppy route to prepare myself. To hope for 10 years and count every day after that as a blessing and a gift. When they have left me they have taken a piece of my heart and soul with them.

These 2 girls are together again waiting for me.
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Tax

Hope your shoulder improves. I'm in the throws of getting my arm up to speed after surgery but it's slow.

You're right about the short lifespan on Goldens. They used to have a lifespan in the 15+ yrs span but if you believe there's rotten stuff included in commercial dog/cat foods there's been a decline in big dog longevity & a lot of health issues in smaller size breeds. My Florida friend has resorted to preparing her own fresh meats & veggies, no filler grains, for her 3 dogs & 2 cats & stopped buying toxic bagged or canned pet foods. She pulled one cat out of renal issues just taking the cat off processed food switching to fresh & the cat got a clean test result at the vet ofc .

 

[Ponypoor]

Good evening everyone ! I'll post the synopsis shortly, it's been a very nice week to read about. I loved seeing all your pictures and stories of snow - all the more as we have had a very mild dry winter .
(I do remember from our second winter here that too much snow is just too much to be fun !)

I wanted to reshare something that I already posted on my thread. Since a few weeks, little Chipie has started crowing !

Chipie_crows_20250124.mp4

• ManueB
• Jan 24, 2025

I know it's not that unusual for hens to crow. However, Chipie is a senior hen. She arrived here three years and two months ago ; and old farmer Gaston who gave her to us doesn't remember exactly, but he says she was at least four or five then.

So, has anyone heard of a hen starting to crow at seven or eight years old ?
I wonder if it's a dominance thing (but she only dominates the two hens she brooded and is dominated by all others). Or maybe it's hormonal ?
I find her so funny especially since she weighs 800 g.

I sort of regret not hatching her eggs while she was still getting mated by Théo. She only lays around 40 eggs a year, and no rooster mates her now.

Pictures from the last days with Léa (she's eating a persimmon, no animal was hurt in these pictures !)
View attachment 4035905View attachment 4035906
View attachment 4035910
BFTP when she was sitting in June 2022
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Yes I have two here that crow, Penelope and Sophia, I do think it’s an age and hormonal thing.

 

[Ponypoor]

Good evening everyone ! I'll post the synopsis shortly, it's been a very nice week to read about. I loved seeing all your pictures and stories of snow - all the more as we have had a very mild dry winter .
(I do remember from our second winter here that too much snow is just too much to be fun !)

I wanted to reshare something that I already posted on my thread. Since a few weeks, little Chipie has started crowing !

Chipie_crows_20250124.mp4

• ManueB
• Jan 24, 2025

I know it's not that unusual for hens to crow. However, Chipie is a senior hen. She arrived here three years and two months ago ; and old farmer Gaston who gave her to us doesn't remember exactly, but he says she was at least four or five then.

So, has anyone heard of a hen starting to crow at seven or eight years old ?
I wonder if it's a dominance thing (but she only dominates the two hens she brooded and is dominated by all others). Or maybe it's hormonal ?
I find her so funny especially since she weighs 800 g.

I sort of regret not hatching her eggs while she was still getting mated by Théo. She only lays around 40 eggs a year, and no rooster mates her now.

Pictures from the last days with Léa (she's eating a persimmon, no animal was hurt in these pictures !)
View attachment 4035905View attachment 4035906
View attachment 4035910
BFTP when she was sitting in June 2022
View attachment 4035915View attachment 4035916

She is just adorable, can you get any more like her?

 

[Sylvester017]

I would say dual purpose like Bielefelders and also Orps, and birds like that would be your best bet. If you want meat and eggs those are the best bet. Also Chantclair if you can find them, they are cold hardy.

I am finding my Orps (both the buff and lavender) are all handling the cold better than most of my other birds (esp my silkies).

And a smaller flock of eye candy like Polish and Silkies of course!

Yep, all those birds are great. Even the little Silkie has the heart of a big chicken though common sense we do monitor them out of the cold/rainy weather.

Chantecler are a pretty good layer for a meaty cold climate bird & Cackle Hatchery (MO) will have straight run chicks available February 12 w/a limit of 20 per order. I wanted Chantecler in the past but they have only recently been available in USA.

 

[Sylvester017]

Newton was a lovely dog, he was 13 when he passed. He was my partner in crime for sure

Did your snow all melt? Looks like your creek is open and running now.

View attachment 4035829

I am betting Newton would have been a wonderful livestock dog.

Newton was gorgeous! Duck hunters like these Retrievers for their "soft" mouth around retrieving game birds. They carry birds gently ~ goes w/ their sweet gentle nature.

 

[Ponypoor]

Newton was gorgeous! Duck hunters like these Retrievers for their "soft" mouth around retrieving game birds. They carry birds gently ~ goes w/ their sweet gentle nature.

He wanted me to take him for ‘walkies’ he was such a good dog.

 

[featherhead007]

Orps and the gang

Honestly Kelly, I’d probably peck you on your knee too!

 

[featherhead007]

Yep, all those birds are great. Even the little Silkie has the heart of a big chicken though common sense we do monitor them out of the cold/rainy weather.

Chantecler are a pretty good layer for a meaty cold climate bird & Cackle Hatchery (MO) will have straight run chicks available February 12 w/a limit of 20 per order. I wanted Chantecler in the past but they have only recently been available in USA.

 

[Sylvester017]

Good evening everyone ! I'll post the synopsis shortly, it's been a very nice week to read about. I loved seeing all your pictures and stories of snow - all the more as we have had a very mild dry winter .
(I do remember from our second winter here that too much snow is just too much to be fun !)

I wanted to reshare something that I already posted on my thread. Since a few weeks, little Chipie has started crowing !

Chipie_crows_20250124.mp4

• ManueB
• Jan 24, 2025

I know it's not that unusual for hens to crow. However, Chipie is a senior hen. She arrived here three years and two months ago ; and old farmer Gaston who gave her to us doesn't remember exactly, but he says she was at least four or five then.

So, has anyone heard of a hen starting to crow at seven or eight years old ?
I wonder if it's a dominance thing (but she only dominates the two hens she brooded and is dominated by all others). Or maybe it's hormonal ?
I find her so funny especially since she weighs 800 g.

I sort of regret not hatching her eggs while she was still getting mated by Théo. She only lays around 40 eggs a year, and no rooster mates her now.

Pictures from the last days with Léa (she's eating a persimmon, no animal was hurt in these pictures !)
View attachment 4035905View attachment 4035906
View attachment 4035910
BFTP when she was sitting in June 2022
View attachment 4035915View attachment 4035916

Yes, my friend had an older Australorp hen that crowed at about 5 yrs old ~ although she would still occasionally lay an egg or two in later yrs.