Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I may have woken my flock checking on them when we got home at 2 am last night…

I am happy to say all are healthy and accounted for. Boy did they get big in 2 weeks! And we definitely have a crowing cockerel. He was happy to show off his new skill to me multiple times today.

Pictures of some of my flock:
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Welcome home! They are just lovely, what a beautiful flock you have there

 

[Ponypoor]

None of the boys have ever tried that with me.

Mr LC and Clyde were the only ones who tried this, none of my other boys have. I think jolly tried once.

But I can’t remember the other boys trying that. Brats all brats!

 

[Ikslo]

Welcome home! They are just lovely, what a beautiful flock you have there

Thank you!

I am so happy to be home. It was a nice vacation, but there really is no place like home when you have animals to come home to. And one’s own bed!


Beaky always wins

Beaky on the left

 

[Sylvester017]

What Happened?!

I just found this.....

View attachment 4169293
I gave them a ride back to the coop and tucked them in.

I don't know why this happened as I did not watch roosting tonight. I will have to observe things tomorrow.

Smart enough to roost up high ~ too cute

 

[Sylvester017]

A couple of days ago

This morning, 1 week +/- a day

Good for Focus checking back for the stranded chicks!

 

[Sylvester017]

While family was here, discovered that theseView attachment 4169665are Nanking Cherries? They're the bushes between the rose patch and the lilacs with a couple of stand alones on the other side of the house.

View attachment 4169666and a partial from a colander full. If these meet the taste test, going to be enjoying in the future. Had enough hit the ground while picking for the chickens to enjoy also. I've never seen/noticed much of a crop before so thought they were a decorative viburnum.

View attachment 4169667breakfast time explorations

Gorgeous harvest... you ought to submit pic in the Outdoor Garden Show contest 2025 on BYC
I don't know how to link to the page but this is the contest name ~ categories of harvest, garden, or flower pics:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/outdoor-garden-show—2025-byc-summer-fair.1670281/

Outdoor Garden Show—2025 BYC Summer Fair​

 

[Sylvester017]

While family was here, discovered that theseView attachment 4169665are Nanking Cherries? They're the bushes between the rose patch and the lilacs with a couple of stand alones on the other side of the house.

View attachment 4169666and a partial from a colander full. If these meet the taste test, going to be enjoying in the future. Had enough hit the ground while picking for the chickens to enjoy also. I've never seen/noticed much of a crop before so thought they were a decorative viburnum.

View attachment 4169667breakfast time explorations

Gorgeous harvest... you ought to submit pic in the Outdoor Garden Show contest 2025 on BYC
I don't know how to link to the page but this is the contest name ~ categories of harvest, garden, or flower pics:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/outdoor-garden-show—2025-byc-summer-fair.1670281/

Outdoor Garden Show—2025 BYC Summer Fair​

 

[bgmathteach]

Water should always be warmer than the temperature of the egg to eliminate the shells allowing the bacteria to cross inside the egg. (I never understood that part, but pretty much every reliable source says it to be true.)

I the US they are supposed to be washed with water that is at least 20 degrees hotter than the temp of the egg. I think it has to do with physics. If the water was colder, (egg warmer), it would chill the egg as being washed, egg would contract (contents inside the shell) and potentially draw bacteria in. whereas if the egg is cold and washed with hotter (relatively speaking) water, as you wash it, it slightly warms egg contents, they expand, and are less likely to draw stuff in through the shell, but rather 'push' outward to help prevent anything from going through the shell.

My one caveat with this is that if the water is too hot, it can actually open the pores of the shell - but how much, and at what point it would become an issue, I don't know. I don't have data on shell porosity.....I just know that air can move through the shell, and to some degree moisture (remember, older eggs can have a larger air sack/bubble because the egg loses moisture, shrinking the white volume, and enlarging the air sac.)

I do not know all of the specific testing/research on this - I just understand the above based on my VERY long ago Physics & Chem courses in college/ basics physics/chemistry of temp and of fluid mechanics. @BY Bob and @RoyalChick might be able to add/expand/correct on this concept/topic.

But there definitely could be an attention-grabbing aspect to this. Yesterday, when I had Teddy and Annie on my lap she came over. I reached down and gently held her body against my leg (no more room on the lap) without preventing her from leaving, if she wanted to. She moved away after a minute or so. Later she came back and I picked her up and had her on my lap, she was growling but didn't leave, I'm not sure if she is just compliant, or half-liked it and half didn't!

It could be that she wants attention/recognition - but on her terms (i.e.so isn't sure she wants to be held - but wants to be the center of attention./focus of 'momma'). It does sound like a bit of improvement - i know it is slow going - but bless you for your patience - keep working on her...hopefully by the time she is an old lady she will be more loving/accepting and less demanding of your attention in a harsh way.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you. Luckily I am 1-2 hours from the worst of the flooding. But we did get close to 5” of rain since Friday, and it is raining again today. Everything is wet/muddy. Really glad we put the concrete floor that is about 4-5” thick in the coop last year.

Concrete coop floor & paver stones yard best thing we ever did to combat muddy rain weather ~ slipping or getting sucked into mud is not good for birds or [wo]man! Plus the paver stones that sit in shade are cooling for the hens to sit on during heatwaves here.

 

[Sylvester017]

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Some wattles for Wednesday

They's a lot of black chickies! Need to see the sun glistened feathers