Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

So, the way to Bosa's heart will be from food. I took out a mixture of strawberries, mango's and peaches along with a piece of a roll and some cooked carrots. It took him a few minutes but Bosa was the first to check out the treats. He is a fan of carrots and mango's. He would not eat any from my hand but baby steps. Like I also figured the boys are more comfortable with me sitting with them when I am not holding the camera.

Also if you look closely in the last 2 photo's of Bosa. He is behind Davy. I did not capture it clearly but I just saw it earlier and my heart hurt a little. Little Bosa is not solid black. He has a sprinkling of gold feathers in his hackles. Not many but they are there. You know who else had a sprinkling of gold hackle feathers.....Branch. I have been thinking he reminded me of Branch as a youngster, I did not need to spot this.

I will not compare him to Branch. I will not compare him to Branch. Friends, you all will have to remind me of this from time to time. If I have a Branch look-a-like even if they are not related it will be hard not to.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

@Ponypoor , these 2 are just for you. George is very very cream colored. That is cream feathering not dirty white feathers.

He is also back to being my best boy. He has yet to try again to be a turd.

 

[ManueB]

Thank you, you’re very kind to say this.

Anyone who has more than 40 chickens and takes care of them like you do, and stays smiling most of the time, is my hero.

Penelope and her two ’sisters’ Blanche and Sophia, came to me from my cousin, they were her feathered friends whom she raised from chicks.When my cousin moved up north she asked me to ‘please take my chickens for the winter’. Which we all know is code for ‘please take my chickens forever’.Penelope was an old girl then and Blanche and Sophia are a couple of yrs younger. My cousin had 2 other hens with Penelope but they were killed by a fox, so she got 2 more chicks for Penelope to have friends.I have hatched out daughters from these three (Dorothy is Penelope’s daughter, Tippy is Sophia’s, and Rose is Blanch’s daughter).I have no idea what breed they are. Penelope laid a very light blue egg, and both Sophia and blanche lay olive coloured ones.Penelope and her egg daughter that Henny Penny hatched out. They were having a grooming session.View attachment 4043842Sophia - she went broody at age 5! Had never been broody before or since, she was such an awesome mama.

I'm glad I had forgotten about that, because it's heartwarming to read that story again. It's incredible to have daughters from all those threes .

And all that just because your cousin moved up North. I thought you already lived "Up North" !

That implant lasted longer that I would have thought. Something to keep in mind for some of my ladies who are having egg issues.

To me it feels like a very useful tool to help a hen that's generally healthy, but has laying issues. But I would not be able to afford it for more than one or two hens.
RC mentioned a few times that progestogen only human contraceptive could be an interesting alternative, if they are easily available where you live.

That is a good period of time. The effectiveness could have extended by the lack of sun in the winter.

I hadn't thought of that at all, but it's a possibility.
The vet did warn us that the effectiveness and the duration of the implant varied greatly from one chicken to an other. Laure had such a hard moult at the start and she immediately stopped laying, so it seemed like she was very receptive.

I have an appointment for her next wednesday. I hope she doesn't moult so be bad this time with the cold !
Such a strange hen she is. Both terrified and extremely curious !

*******
Jam vs curd : I was given a basket of Seville oranges (I think that's what you call them ? Bitter oranges ?) and made jam on monday. Then I had a bunch left, so I made curd : two jars and a pie.
It took almost an hour and a half, not including heating, to make 2 kg of jam that I know I'm not going to eat. The honey from our bees taste so good that all the jam we make keeps piling up in our cupboards.
Meanwhile the curd took about ten minutes, it took ten more minutes to make the crust, and both the pie and the two jars will be gone in a matter of days.
So the next oranges to show up at my place will all be turned into curd. I just don't like jam enough to bother !

A farmer just acquired a new hairy coo not far from me. I chuckle every time I see it.

Like these ? They were babies then in january 2021.

What is the matter with your health Alex ? You said too much, or not enough. Your chooks need you and your bad jokes to make them laugh (or not) !
*******

I finally completed writing three posts about Piou-piou's story. It was long and difficult to write so I'm not sure it's fun to read, but I'll still share in case someone who hasn't read it yet is interested.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I hope you all have a pleasant day, I'm off to bed early. We say "go to bed / get up with the hens" for early sleepers and risers !

 

[rural mouse]

Thanks - it’s an interesting idea. Rather expensive though to give to the 5 brats who pick at him. CBD oil is very expensive here.

They don’t pick feathers on anyone else, only Mr P. It’s his pin feathers and they have learned they are full of yummy blood.

As long as I keep the spray on those feathers they don’t bother him, not sure if it’s the purple colour or the taste. As long as they don’t pick at him again, on Saturday I will apply the Pick Stop and see how that works.

Meanwhile he gets to stay in with the older ladies, to keep them away from the crazy young Roos. Oh and Mr P has a serious hate on for Shirley! He chases the poor kiddo and terrorizes him! I guess Mr P feels he needs to clamp down on Shirley while he’s still young and inexperienced.

Mr LC and MrP have had a few scuffles with Mr LC backing down. Clyde stays away from Mr P, but he has been clobbered by Raven.

Cheetah seemed like that with Hector through most of the fall.....put the chase on...kept going.... then the snow stayed....and they settled down....then Cheetah and Whiskey got into it: flared hackles, jumping at each other....and 30 sec later, both went off to their ladies. The other night at roosting time, the boys were more restless than the ladies (Tuff diligently tried to stay clear).

 

[RoyalChick]

Jam vs curd : I was given a basket of Seville oranges (I think that's what you call them ? Bitter oranges ?) and made jam on monday. Then I had a bunch left, so I made curd : two jars and a pie.

Jam made from Seville oranges is called marmalade and is a classically English thing. My mother was addicted to making marmalade - she couldn't bear to see the oranges at the market and not grab them. My Dad loved marmalade, but there is a limit to how much you can eat in a year.
I am the proud inheritor of my mother's marmalade stash. I like marmalade in moderation. I started making a chocolate marmalade cake which uses up a lot and is very delicious.
I am now into the 1995 vintage and my mother died in 1999, so only a few years left to work through!
And yes, it is perfectly good after all these years!

 

[rural mouse]

Cattle Alex. They get the goodies. Baby coos are so adorable!

All babies in fact!
View attachment 4044532

You sure about that?

 

[Sylvester017]

THIRSTY THURS

Partridge Silkie Violet ~ 2018 ~ using the older version Brite Tap nipple waterer ~ Rubbermaid cooler keeps water ice cold

 

[ManueB]

Jam vs curd : I was given a basket of Seville oranges (I think that's what you call them ? Bitter oranges ?) and made jam on monday. Then I had a bunch left, so I made curd : two jars and a pie.

Jam made from Seville oranges is called marmalade and is a classically English thing. My mother was addicted to making marmalade - she couldn't bear to see the oranges at the market and not grab them. My Dad loved marmalade, but there is a limit to how much you can eat in a year.
I am the proud inheritor of my mother's marmalade stash. I like marmalade in moderation. I started making a chocolate marmalade cake which uses up a lot and is very delicious.
I am now into the 1995 vintage and my mother died in 1999, so only a few years left to work through!
And yes, it is perfectly good after all these years!

Seville oranges grow everywhere in Nice, there are even trees in the streets, and it's also a local thing. The difference with the english marmelade is that we don't put as much orange peel, so it's less bitter. In french we call marmelade the english version and jam ours !
The other thing we make with those oranges is wine.
I also use both the marmelade and the oranges soaked in alcohol left over from the orange wine to bake cakes.
Cultural cooking similarities from such different places and culinary traditions .

 

[Sylvester017]

Oh sorry, I thought you meant the weather. Waking up depends. It could be my neighbour moving around or neighbours outside. But I've also had a temperature this week

Keep up hydration w/a temperature. Take care...

 

[Sylvester017]

@Ponypoor
You might want to have a Quick Look at this. Of course some nay-sayers piled on, but azygous is one of the most experienced and downright sensible people on BYC so I wouldn’t dismiss her thoughts.
I thought it might help with the pecking of Mr.P. Frankly I might try it on my overly aggressive cat (not aggressive to me, just everyone else).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lly-found-a-cure-for-feather-picking.1651769/

TY for sharing....