Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I love this picture, it is so beautiful. Change the hen to Mrs. E, and I get to see this sight every day. George really has become the spitting image of his daddy. I swear he is Mr. P made over. Right down to the fact that the other night he let someone peck a blood feather in his topknot and now has a good scab in it.

George, unless it was one of the 2 momma hens you do NOT allow the girls to peck you like that young man.

I love that Polish are spreading their wonder around our group. They are just awesome chickens.

 

[BY Bob]

I am excited about a event that is happening down at the barn this coming Sunday. For the first time ever a trade day is happening.

Horses, poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits you name it, it is welcome. They are also allowing vendors to set up yard sale items which has mom happy.

Me, mom and my sis are going to set up. Mom and sis have yard sale stuff "junk". I will have eggs. Eating eggs and thank goodness the silkies are back to laying as I can also have hatching eggs. I've shared their post to all my local facebook poultry and livestock groups for them. I hope my chicken people come out in full force.

I am not actively seeking anything new, but I am not above trading some hatching eggs for something that catches my fancy. Or outright buying something. I have a empty incubator that would love to be filled with either different silkie eggs, polish eggs, buff orp eggs or Americauna eggs. If there is a blue egg laying Americauna hen or Easter egger brought down there I will buy it for sis. I also can see mom having me buy a buff orp pullet or two if there is any offered.

Ooooo. This sounds so exciting! I can't wait to hear what happens!

 

[BY Bob]

Great news for pony Sunday!

After Four Decades, Efforts to Save Great Lakes Piping Plovers Are Seeing Signs of Major Success

Awesome news!

 

[featherhead007]

Did someone peck him on the comb?

Poor guy has to sleep in the coop. The mosquitoes have a feast at night. He rarely gets pecked by his girls, and his alarm cluck is set way too early for this retired guy, to keep him in the house, (as I did with Sir Jaffar) but I do slip up calling him Jaffar on numerous occasions.

 

[featherhead007]

Hattie Update

Hattie is back out with everyone.

View attachment 4154784View attachment 4154785

Aurora did not bother her.

She did try to go back to the coop and lay an egg again. I moved her to the Hattie House in the shade. Hopefully she will lay there. I have my eye on her.

Glad to hear good news.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes, I have definitely thought of toxins, possible for sure but with no other birds being ill. It’s lower on my list of possibilities.

SFH’s are not prone to genetic issues being landrace. It is still possible just less likely. I just spoke with the breeder and she said hasn't seen anything like this with hers and I was also able to confirm she does not vaccinate chicks.

And the reason she does not vaccinate? Did she share that?

 

[BY Bob]

The issue with the use of Baytril, and other antibiotics, being prohibited for use in poultry has to do with the possibility of antibiotic resistance.

From where I am sitting the use of this in ‘pet’ backyard poultry is less of an issue than those huge factory farms using antibiotics.

As for a lifetime ban on eating eggs/meat from treated animals I would find it extremely unlikely after a couple weeks of finding any detectable levels an antibiotic in the birds system.

But - at the end of the day it is every persons own comfort levels and ethics, as to whether to use antibiotics (or other meds ie wormers); each person has their own right to their beliefs.

FYI - such a sweetie pie

I could go on and on ranting about this. Instead I'm choosing to let it go this time. Suffice it to say that bad practices in the layer & meat bird industries has terrible consequences for the backyard pet chickens. It's terribly unfair.

 

[featherhead007]

I could go on and on ranting about this. Instead I'm choosing to let it go this time. Suffice it to say that bad practices in the layer & meat bird industries has terrible consequences for the backyard pet chickens. It's terribly unfair.

I tend towards agreement with Bob’s statement

 

[BY Bob]

Several countries vaccinate chickens against Avian Influenza and in some cases have done so for 20 years.
https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity.../17/bird-flu-vaccination-policies-by-country/

We are just stupid here. Vaccinate the darn chickens. They have a huge stockpile of the AI vaccine as well.

 

[BY Bob]

Poor guy has to sleep in the coop. The mosquitoes have a feast at night. He rarely gets pecked by his girls, and his alarm cluck is set way too early for this retired guy, to keep him in the house, (as I did with Sir Jaffar) but I do slip up calling him Jaffar on numerous occasions.