Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Moving Day
The Hut is ready.....

This is why they need to move out. Their heads are poking through the wire.

Headed out!

In their new home

They finally have room to scratch!

 

[BY Bob]

A mix of ones from her 'sisters.' I removed a small one from under her, left the others and added 2, ones from my welsummers. Her usual nest got 'occupado' when she was thrown off the nest by me, and it was a girl she is below and couldn't evict, so she hopped in the next-door nest which already had some eggs in it - laid that morning. We will see what happens - she brooded 2 years ago and was a good mom - but she never went brody last year.

Good news is she just bought herself a permanent place in my flock if she hatches again. (Instead of going to freezer camp this fall.).

I didn't tell you all, did I, that I have 17 littles? I can't upload pics since the computer doesn't recognize the camera anymore - but I had ordered for March 12 heritage BRs and added 3 Welsummer pullets to round the order to 15 (the Welsummers were actually free - the three cost less than the extra shipping would have been for an order under 15!). They had a max. order of 5 Heritage BR pullets and 5 BR straight run...and I added 2 Heritage BR roos. They are now 7 weeks old - the Welsummers are fully feathered, the Heritage BRs still have a bit of the baby fuzz on the back of their heads/necks. The boys are becoming quite obvious with the lighter barring (more white in the stripes than the girls.). Of course, the two 'extra' chicks they sent were boys, too. I want to set up a breeding program with them - so need a min. of 6 girls and 3 boys - I was hoping for 8 girls and 4 boys so I could use some selection to keep the best 6 girls and best 3 boys for the breeding to keep genetic diversity....3 trios, boy A mates with Girls 'B', and boy B mates with Girls C, and boy C mates with Girls A. Young stay in Mom's group - this keeps some diversity. The goal isn't to become a breeder per say - it is just to be able to keep my own flock in perpetuity without having to 'buy in' new chicks all the time.

(Maybe once in a while for new genetics, but not on a regular basis.)


Anyways - the chicks are so cute - and I have been for the past week fencing off a portion of he run adjacent to their brooder coop so they are safely mingling with my adults. Soon, I will be releasing them without the protective fencing - but with a 'block' insert on their door so most adults can't get in and harrass them (if they. need an escape) nor devour their food. I do have 3 leghorns from the 'surprise/mixed' group I got last fall - and they are so slight that they will probably be able to get in - but not my other, fuller bodied girls.

So exciting. I would love to see photos of it is ever possible.

 

[BY Bob]

Pony Sunday

Someone is building a nest on the window ledge. Front row seat to babies!
View attachment 4114150

That's awesome! So much fun!

 

[Sylvester017]

The chooks didn’t even want to stay outside it was a cold windy day. At least no black flies yet!

BLACK FLIES INFO ~ poor animals/chickens w/ the wrong coloring

Identify the Color Range
A 1951 study reported in the "Canadian Journal of Zoology" showed that black flies favor dark blues, browns and blacks, in that order. The black fly's least favored colors include whites and grays. The experiment's results convincingly suggest that black flies generally prefer darker colors.

Colors In Between
There are colors that cannot be easily classified as light or dark. When face with these colors, black flies do express a preference. When given the choice, explains University of Minnesota entomologist Jeffrey Hahn, flies avoid brighter colors. The journal reported that black flies select middle colors, such as reds and greens, before lighter ones when offered colors in between the two extremes, but not before the darker blues, blacks and browns.

Read More: https://www.sciencing.com/colors-attract-black-flies-8439511/

 

[rural mouse]

Forgot to post this on Friday

Got some seeds and some asparagus shoots planted in the garden to go with the roots (dunno if those will do anything) and a pair of rhubarb, 1 of which is definitely doing something....and some purple cone flower roots, also unknown on doing anything yet. Just in time for tomorrow's rain....squash and beans are waiting. Radishes, carrots, cool weather leafy salad mix, chamomile, calendula and lavender all seeds....chickens still poking around the garden fencing hoping for admittance.

Castor followed me in and got shovel scooped back out. He is NOT allowed to use it as a personal litter box!

Got a large batch of soap planned (first for me of that size) which if successful, will be Christmas gifts this year. Am also going to try making it outside (also a first) just to enjoy the warmth: shorts, tank top, and sandals. Tomorrow's rain/chill....makes the plants grow.

last night's bedtime preening session.

 

[Sylvester017]

I had the impression that you were in Texas? I'm sorry if I was wrong about that, or that I didn't know that Texas had seismic activity.

Fault lines & quakes are all over the USA & the world. Our smaller quakes so far haven't affected our hens. Although I can feel them when in bed...or sitting on the bathroom commode!

 

[ChaosMom]

Fault lines & quakes are all over the USA & the world. Our smaller quakes so far haven't affected our hens. Although I can feel them when in bed...or sitting on the bathroom commode!

I went through two 4+'s when I lived in the Bay Area for a few years. They definitely caught my attention! I was sitting in the living room for the second one, and it felt exactly as if someone had picked my chair up two inches, moved it to the right a few more inches, and dropped it down four.

In East Tennessee (Knoxville), we had frequent itty-bitty ones from somewhere out toward Lenoir City that rattled the glassware.

 

[Ponypoor]

BLACK FLIES INFO ~ poor animals/chickens w/ the wrong coloring

Identify the Color Range
A 1951 study reported in the "Canadian Journal of Zoology" showed that black flies favor dark blues, browns and blacks, in that order. The black fly's least favored colors include whites and grays. The experiment's results convincingly suggest that black flies generally prefer darker colors.

Colors In Between
There are colors that cannot be easily classified as light or dark. When face with these colors, black flies do express a preference. When given the choice, explains University of Minnesota entomologist Jeffrey Hahn, flies avoid brighter colors. The journal reported that black flies select middle colors, such as reds and greens, before lighter ones when offered colors in between the two extremes, but not before the darker blues, blacks and browns.

Read More: https://www.sciencing.com/colors-attract-black-flies-8439511/

That would jive with poor Reenie being chewed to bits by them, and my mother also who has a rather Mediterranean complexion, I am fairer. The black flies just love her, they don’t bother me so much.

Soon the wee beasties will be out in full force chewing up mum and Reenie!

 

[Ponypoor]

I went through two 4+'s when I lived in the Bay Area for a few years. They definitely caught my attention! I was sitting in the living room for the second one, and it felt exactly as if someone had picked my chair up two inches, moved it to the right a few more inches, and dropped it down four.

In East Tennessee (Knoxville), we had frequent itty-bitty ones from somewhere out toward Lenoir City that rattled the glassware.

Sounds extreme! And scary!

(Pssst hey, that requires non chook talk tax)

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Well it’s finally a nicer day. I am where I wanna be - you all know where that is - the lawn chair hahaha!

Brrrr though that darn wind is swapped around now to the north again and is chilly.

 

[BY Bob]

She looks like she has a punk rock Mohawk here

I see a mullet.