Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Thanks, that's very interesting ! I've yet to see if Chipie will lay again this year- usually she lays for two or three months in spring and goes broody once she has laid ten eggs.

When Chipie crows, Gaston climbs up next to her (she's usually perched in the coop) and he does the herding wing shuffling to her .


Yes, but it wouldn't be as simple as I thought some time ago.
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I think I already talked about Chipie's lineage, but I'm not sure if it was on this thread ? I apologise if I'm being tedious rambling on and on . About 15 years ago our friend Gaston was given two pair of bantams from a man in a village higher up our valley. Both couples hatched many chicks, and Gaston then gave a few bantam pairs to other villagers. The hens all look like Chipie and were used as broodies, and the males all look like Théo but smaller.
His closest neighbours in particular let the hens hatch whenever they turned broody, so there used to be many bantam couples looking like Théo and Chipie, with armies of chicks, free ranging on the road in front of their house all the time.

But, things have changed. These villagers are all elderly, and some of them have died in the past two years or have serious health issues. On top of that, there has been a massive increase of fox presence, and many chickens killed, much more than usual. Our friend Gaston lost his three remaining bantam couples, including a broody with chicks, to foxes.

I believe that his neighbours still have some of those bantams ; I haven't seen any for a long time, but sometimes I hear a rooster crow in front of their house. We're in a place where there was a lot or rural poverty and hardship, these people like many elderly here don't read or write, the woman only speaks the local vernacular, and since they have been having health issues the past two years they live completely secluded. My partners family is not friend with theirs ; they used to be shepherd and there was an old feud about rights of way for the sheeps...70 years ago..you know.

So, I have this fantasy of either buying a pullet from them, or getting eggs to hatch but... We would need to find someone to act as an intermediary...and we're not really in the dynamic of getting more chickens, more downsizing, for a number of not very pleasant reasons.

I hope you're not sorry you asked . It's something that's been on my mind along with letting Merle raise chicks since she's such a stubborn broody...but I don't know if it will happen.
View attachment 4036677
I don't have any ponies today but some nice landscape pictures. I went running down the valley for a change this morning to what is modestly named here "le point sublime"... they did not hesitate marketing our valley as "le petit Colorado Niçois" (the small Colorado in Nice )

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Penelope crowing, she is the second crow, at the start.

I took this from the barn cam one morning.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks, that's very interesting ! I've yet to see if Chipie will lay again this year- usually she lays for two or three months in spring and goes broody once she has laid ten eggs.

When Chipie crows, Gaston climbs up next to her (she's usually perched in the coop) and he does the herding wing shuffling to her .


Yes, but it wouldn't be as simple as I thought some time ago.
View attachment 4036673View attachment 4036675

I think I already talked about Chipie's lineage, but I'm not sure if it was on this thread ? I apologise if I'm being tedious rambling on and on . About 15 years ago our friend Gaston was given two pair of bantams from a man in a village higher up our valley. Both couples hatched many chicks, and Gaston then gave a few bantam pairs to other villagers. The hens all look like Chipie and were used as broodies, and the males all look like Théo but smaller.
His closest neighbours in particular let the hens hatch whenever they turned broody, so there used to be many bantam couples looking like Théo and Chipie, with armies of chicks, free ranging on the road in front of their house all the time.

But, things have changed. These villagers are all elderly, and some of them have died in the past two years or have serious health issues. On top of that, there has been a massive increase of fox presence, and many chickens killed, much more than usual. Our friend Gaston lost his three remaining bantam couples, including a broody with chicks, to foxes.

I believe that his neighbours still have some of those bantams ; I haven't seen any for a long time, but sometimes I hear a rooster crow in front of their house. We're in a place where there was a lot or rural poverty and hardship, these people like many elderly here don't read or write, the woman only speaks the local vernacular, and since they have been having health issues the past two years they live completely secluded. My partners family is not friend with theirs ; they used to be shepherd and there was an old feud about rights of way for the sheeps...70 years ago..you know.

So, I have this fantasy of either buying a pullet from them, or getting eggs to hatch but... We would need to find someone to act as an intermediary...and we're not really in the dynamic of getting more chickens, more downsizing, for a number of not very pleasant reasons.

I hope you're not sorry you asked . It's something that's been on my mind along with letting Merle raise chicks since she's such a stubborn broody...but I don't know if it will happen.
View attachment 4036677
I don't have any ponies today but some nice landscape pictures. I went running down the valley for a change this morning to what is modestly named here "le point sublime"... they did not hesitate marketing our valley as "le petit Colorado Niçois" (the small Colorado in Nice )

View attachment 4036629View attachment 4036630View attachment 4036631View attachment 4036632View attachment 4036633

Gorgeous views.
Tricky rural feuds but maybe the language of food and smiles can win them over.
Here we just got above freezing for the first day in weeks. But the wind has picked up so it feels colder.
Some of the surface snow in sheltered sunny spots is melting - but it is on solid ice so it is treacherous. And in colder shady areas the wind still blows the snow.
The chickens want nothing to do with any of it!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Good afternoon everyone.

Oh the things you find out at work. While I am only working 2 to 3 days a week at the moment, Mom is working the other days the diner is opened.

My coworker Val asked me yesterday how were my hens doing and if they were laying good. They want to buy my eggs for their baking, they prefer to use fresh eggs when making their cakes. Not yet, girls are currently on strike due to freezing weather. It is supposed to warm up this week so maybe, just maybe they will get their butts in gear.

Then she told me she had talked to mom about them and let slip mom's plan. My mother, "Mrs. We have enough chickens", wants to get a dozen buff orps this year. Wait, what? For months after we lost Butter and 2 of her sisters you fought me and wanted me to sell Siri my last buff orp. It hurt to much to see her walking around without Butter. Now she wants a dozen more? We need to have a long talk. I'm all for another buff or two, but there are other colors of orps. How does she plan on accomplishing this as well? It has been guaranteed by the end of March when the new restaurant is opened where it is bigger I as well will be full time along with her. Who is going to raise those chicks? If mom seriously wants some more orps this spring I guess I need to find some eggs. I will not have time to bring up chicks myself, I will need a broody hen. I'm looking at you Raven or Holly. If she wants Buffs, I also want either jubilee or silver laced orps as well. I'm also for sure getting my silkie rooster now at some point this year if she plans on adding to the flock.

 

[RoyalChick]

13:30 hrs…. And still haven’t had lunch. But I have finally finished shovelling snow and poop.

The wind it up, which means blowing snow. And maybe more snow squalls. Yay….

This morning…

They are hilarious all looking out at the snow!
I have been bringing a big bowl or shovel of snow inside for them as it saves me needing to bring out unfrozen water. They chow down with great enthusiasm!

 

[RoyalChick]

Good afternoon everyone.

Oh the things you find out at work. While I am only working 2 to 3 days a week at the moment, Mom is working the other days the diner is opened.

My coworker Val asked me yesterday how were my hens doing and if they were laying good. They want to buy my eggs for their baking, they prefer to use fresh eggs when making their cakes. Not yet, girls are currently on strike due to freezing weather. It is supposed to warm up this week so maybe, just maybe they will get their butts in gear.

Then she told me she had talked to mom about them and let slip mom's plan. My mother, "Mrs. We have enough chickens", wants to get a dozen buff orps this year. Wait, what? For months after we lost Butter and 2 of her sisters you fought me and wanted me to sell Siri my last buff orp. It hurt to much to see her walking around without Butter. Now she wants a dozen more? We need to have a long talk. I'm all for another buff or two, but there are other colors of orps. How does she plan on accomplishing this as well? It has been guaranteed by the end of March when the new restaurant is opened where it is bigger I as well will be full time along with her. Who is going to raise those chicks? If mom seriously wants some more orps this spring I guess I need to find some eggs. I will not have time to bring up chicks myself, I will need a broody hen. I'm looking at you Raven or Holly. If she wants Buffs, I also want either jubilee or silver laced orps as well. I'm also for sure getting my silkie rooster now at some point this year if she plans on adding to the flock.

Love it!
Can you add a chocolate orp to the list? I have never met one in person but they look very pretty!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Love it!
Can you add a chocolate orp to the list? I have never met one in person but they look very pretty!

I might, it depends on where I source eggs from. I am going to go down the rabbit hole looking for orp eggs it seems. I could swap out chocolate for the laced. I still kick myself for 3 almost 4 years ago passing up the chocolates I spotted at Rural king. I have never saw them again at either TSC or Rural king. If I do this, I want at least 6 Buff eggs for mom. Silkies and Marans hold my heart. For my mother, it is the Buff orps. Butter was her Branch. Those 2 had a connection and I know it hurt loosing her. It hurt me as well. We've always had the American style orps, I would like to introduce her to the English Buff orps if possible.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks, that's very interesting ! I've yet to see if Chipie will lay again this year- usually she lays for two or three months in spring and goes broody once she has laid ten eggs.

When Chipie crows, Gaston climbs up next to her (she's usually perched in the coop) and he does the herding wing shuffling to her .


Yes, but it wouldn't be as simple as I thought some time ago.
View attachment 4036673View attachment 4036675

I think I already talked about Chipie's lineage, but I'm not sure if it was on this thread ? I apologise if I'm being tedious rambling on and on . About 15 years ago our friend Gaston was given two pair of bantams from a man in a village higher up our valley. Both couples hatched many chicks, and Gaston then gave a few bantam pairs to other villagers. The hens all look like Chipie and were used as broodies, and the males all look like Théo but smaller.
His closest neighbours in particular let the hens hatch whenever they turned broody, so there used to be many bantam couples looking like Théo and Chipie, with armies of chicks, free ranging on the road in front of their house all the time.

But, things have changed. These villagers are all elderly, and some of them have died in the past two years or have serious health issues. On top of that, there has been a massive increase of fox presence, and many chickens killed, much more than usual. Our friend Gaston lost his three remaining bantam couples, including a broody with chicks, to foxes.

I believe that his neighbours still have some of those bantams ; I haven't seen any for a long time, but sometimes I hear a rooster crow in front of their house. We're in a place where there was a lot or rural poverty and hardship, these people like many elderly here don't read or write, the woman only speaks the local vernacular, and since they have been having health issues the past two years they live completely secluded. My partners family is not friend with theirs ; they used to be shepherd and there was an old feud about rights of way for the sheeps...70 years ago..you know.

So, I have this fantasy of either buying a pullet from them, or getting eggs to hatch but... We would need to find someone to act as an intermediary...and we're not really in the dynamic of getting more chickens, more downsizing, for a number of not very pleasant reasons.

I hope you're not sorry you asked . It's something that's been on my mind along with letting Merle raise chicks since she's such a stubborn broody...but I don't know if it will happen.
View attachment 4036677
I don't have any ponies today but some nice landscape pictures. I went running down the valley for a change this morning to what is modestly named here "le point sublime"... they did not hesitate marketing our valley as "le petit Colorado Niçois" (the small Colorado in Nice )

View attachment 4036629View attachment 4036630View attachment 4036631View attachment 4036632View attachment 4036633

You wistfully swept me away for a few moments w/your interesting village residents lives' & your beautiful scenic valley & hills

Your Gaston & Chipie look like one of the varieties of Dutch Bantams. There are 12 recognized color varieties in the American Bantam Association! Dutch Bantams are true bantams. There is no standard size counterpart for the Dutch Bantam.

This picture shows a Dutch Bantam looks similar to your Chipie (on the left)


& this Dutch Bantam looks like Gaston.

Edit: I mean THEO, not Gaston!

 

[Marie2020]

Good Sunday morning all!

Had snow overnight, yay. You all know just how much I love winter

Had to clean the walkways to the house, clear off the truck, and now the barn doors need to be cleared of snow, and the path up the manure pile needs to be cleared so I can get the wheelbarrow up it.
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Checked the water trough- all good the de-icer is working….
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The horses are taking a snooze and just hanging around as usual.
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And looks like more snow n the way, it’s clouded over.
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You certainly have snow there Kelly. Keep warm lovely

 

[Marie2020]

Hello everyone-

After a difficult personal upheaval, I am back and trying to catch up.

The flock I had was rehomed however the people that took them send me updates and they are doing well and thriving. I was also able to keep them all together. So, I currently have no chickens till Spring.

I am planning on getting some Swedish Flower hens. I swear this time I will keep my numbers down to a reasonable amount. You believe me right?

What are everyone’s plans for spring? Has anyone decided if they are going to make additions, if so what breed(s)?

I missed everyone and reading all the stories, glad to be back!

We do have a new puppy she is a mixed breed part poodle part old english sheepdog. Her name is Luna.

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OMG she's really beautiful
How old is Luna?

 

[Marie2020]

Penelope crowing, she is the second crow, at the start.

I took this from the barn cam one morning.

Geez that was loud Nancy jumped off her bed and then buried her head under her blanket