Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

He does it when Marble is in the coop or other run. He tried it a bit ago and Buffy tackled him. So he is getting thumps when they are there.

He needs thumped for sure.

 

[Ponypoor]

I could spring for it and test my little nuggets in a few weeks when they are older. Knowing the gender would not change how I handle and raise them though. I raise all my chicks the same, even early known cockerels are treated no different.

I am not even going to speculate on their genders now for a few months.

That said, the little Partridge Lucky or Miracle, I want to call a boy. Why you may wonder? It has absolutely zero to do with looks or personality at this point. It all has to do with it's failed suicide attempt. Branch, bless him, tried unsuccessfully to kill himself twice before a year old. The first time he was about 3 or 4 weeks old, he hopped into a tote with rainwater in it and almost drowned. The second time he was around 7 or 8ish months old and he ninja kicked over a can of motor oil and spilled it all over himself. That resulted in a emergency bath with dawn dish soap to remove the oil.

Little lucky or Miracle is already taking after it's grandpa. I cannot help but wonder if it is a coincidence or not.

Yup boys are just trouble! And they never shut up! That was why I figured Jolly was a boy, peep peep peep all the time. And now Cocorico non stop!

He has taken to attacking my shoe, only the right one though, not the left crazy chook! I pick him up and snuggle him when he does that. Little poopy snuggles in for a nap! Brat! I am trying the discipline him and he goes to sleep!

 

[Ponypoor]

Had 50mph sustained winds with gusts of 80mph last night. Thankfully we didn't end up with storm damage, just a few things knocked over.
View attachment 4124708
All the chickens are fine, other than the metal rooster tipping over haha.

Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

Glad everyone is ok though, seriously. Those storms came through here at about 4:45am - I just made it to the barn when down it came! Wind, hail, rain…. Poor Jolly and Holly were freaked out started cackling, that got Truly going spinning and neighing in her stall. Which freaked out the rest of the chooks and Reenie. I had to cuddle the chicklets and calm Truly.

Finally everyone settled down. But that hail was noisy. I dread to see how my fruit tree blossoms have fared. And the Magnolia….

Little monkey tax

And a couple more fluffy shiny butts

 

[Sylvester017]

I have noticed that every chook is different. They have their own comfort zones. When I hold them and hug them, they like it, until I squeeze them a bit too tight, then they let me know about it.

We noticed our hens should not be picked up or squeezed from the sides where their reproductive area is. We hold or pick them up in a "judges hold" avoiding their sides & just not touch them while in our lap. Heavier hens we put a hand over the top of their wings so not to flap & scoop the other hand under their body to pick them up avoiding touching/squeezing their sides. Children don't have larger hands to pick up chickens in a judges hold & will grab the hens by the sides which leaves the wings free to flap & chicken feet are free to scratch little arms.

The rest of the way we bond w/an individual hen depends on their temperament. Some are snuggle buns & others like the hands off.

How to carry a chicken!
Photo courtesy of Chuck Huffman​

 

[Sylvester017]

NPIP is not a thing here in Canada, and vax of backyard flocks also not a thing, next to impossible to get them for your poultry here. Only factory farms can get hold of any vax, and generally do not even bother as they are inside, broilers are processed at 6-8 weeks and layers are processed at 1.5 yrs just before they do their first moult.

Breeders of fancy birds don’t have access to vax unless they somehow get hold of it, and use of gender DNA testing is generally not done. People are not generally going to pay the expense of getting a day old chook for $50 to 100 - average price here is about $12 - spending more than $20 is unusual.

Edit: I should point out the chicks I got at Peavey brought up from Hoovers were vax for Mareks and coccidiosis. Freys doesn’t do that here.

Wow! no vaccinations? Here the breeders vaccinate their own birds but since one vial is like for a hundred or more chicks only large breeders & usually NPIP certified private breeders do vaccinated birds. Smaller private backyard breeders dont/can't/won't do it. That's why it costs us more to buy from an NPIP certified private breeder who vaccinates, is tested AI or Newcastles clean, & offers DNA-sexed chicks & offers shipping. Yes, we can get a $7 vaccinated Silkie chick at the feed store but straight run only. That's why we've gone the private NPIP breeder source & pay dearly for vaccinated DNA chicks at near $100+ each bird.

Ginny $145 our most expensive ever

 

[rural mouse]

You have a nice way of framing a good photograph

I took 2 pics. Here's the other. Zoom in is pixelated, but

worth it for the surprise mugs

 

[TOMTE]

Dad agrees that Slowpoke is "cool looking". He said MAYBE once we get the new coop built we could get a rooster. Baby steps

 

[bgmathteach]

Just look at all the creeping charlie (the plants with the purple flowers)... Invasive little buggers...

It is a member of the mint family. You can eat the greens in a salad or cooked (supposedly better before it flowers.), and in a tea.

I was thinking of making a salad with mixed greens from my yard (or maybe mixed cooked greens)? Dock should be cooked

Creeping charlie, garlic mustard, plantain, dock ( 2 varieties), dandelion and sorrel...should be a good mix - lots of flavor! I'm tempted to put in artemitis (sp?), as I am pretty sure that is what is growing here (thanks, RC for you posting on it at your place), but since I am not 100% sure, I don't want to risk it in case I'm wrong.

If I don't like it - I can always feed it to the chooks tomorrow.

I can also add in a few daylilly roots! ( taste somewhat liek green beans - should eat them sparingly. Safe, but can act as a purgative, so small amounts is good.)

 

[bgmathteach]

Yup boys are just trouble! And they never shut up! That was why I figured Jolly was a boy, peep peep peep all the time. And now Cocorico non stop!

He has taken to attacking my shoe, only the right one though, not the left crazy chook! I pick him up and snuggle him when he does that. Little poopy snuggles in for a nap! Brat! I am trying the discipline him and he goes to sleep!

Sounds like you are training him TO ATTACK your shoe - by rewarding that behavior with snuggles and nap time!

 

[SimpleJenn]

I almost messaged you last night, to STAY SAFE! That wall of wind on the lakeshore was CRAZY! All we got here was a downpour and nonstop lightning. Hardly any wind. Lots of tornados touched down on the west side of Michigan but nothing higher than F1, I believe. I was watching the Michigan Storm Chasers live on youtube for a good few hours yesterday evening/last night.

Tax
HAPPY FRIDAY! Foraging fluffy butts

Thanks for thinking about me! It was certainly some storm!

I'll eat* him...

*cuddle and snuggle and love

He deserves them, even if he's a stinker about being caught.

Hi Periwinkle

Our Silkies are not fond of taking pics either. It's like R-U-N when they see a camera ~ however, a platter of treats & they're crawling all over our feet!

Some of my birds like the camera, some hate it. Some don't seem to care.

Dad agrees that Slowpoke is "cool looking". He said MAYBE once we get the new coop built we could get a rooster. Baby steps

well if it is Slowpoke you want, I will happily keep him safe and sound for you.

Tax, Marble and Buffy chaperoning the school dance.



Hi Cadet, you silly boy.

Can you believe how big they are! And they are all getting red combs and wattles in