Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[kattabelly]

Thirsty Thursday. I hauled a load of fresh tap water up the hill because all six IBCs in our rainwater collection system are completely dry, so of course they're all drinking slimy stagnant soup from an unused feeder instead.

Dogs aren't too much of a problem here thankfully. Lots of sheep and (mostly beef) cattle farming, so most folk know to keep dogs under control if they don't want them shot or trampled. Cars are probably a bigger danger for free ranging flocks.

 

[Ikslo]

It's not actually a defect. Both rose and pea combs are dominant over straight combs. It's more the presence of a straight comb indicates the ABSENCE of either Rose or Pea combs. The presence of BOTH rose and pea shows as a Walnut comb. All 3 can have straight comb masked under the other comb, but a straight comb can only exist WITHOUT Rose or Pea genetics. (V-comb falls outside of that somewhere and simply does odd things...or sometimes nothing at all)

I didn’t think TOMTE was referring a rose comb being a defect, but rather that dot at the top being inverted was a possible defect of some rose combs. But maybe I misunderstood.

 

[Sylvester017]

Oh no! I hope your son had a chat with the owner, or called animal control.

This is why I don’t free range here unless I am watching them - crazy neighbours and their nutty dogs.

I really love dogs & it's just irresponsible or naive untrained owners that are the problem. As w/ all animals it takes aforeknowledge of owning pets of a particular species before buying it Rant on hold...

Tx~ Dana loves to wipe her beak on my shoe

 

[Sylvester017]

Good morning everyone

It’s horribly humid and sultry outside, 73F but feels like 88F.

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Last night I treated the gang to some water park fun.

For Thirsty Thursday I give you some water babies

Marty
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Fluffy
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Betty
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I feel like my silkies are having a harder time with this heat and humidity than the regular feathered birds.

Silkies are water-baby fishes & love ground water in the shade.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Tedi and the chicks

Funny yesterday - first intermingling. A chick came up to Tedi as she walked toward the chick. They sort of pecked beaks, then the chick flap jumped up at Tedi like she had been doing with the other chicks (but winning / dominating, flying over them, etc.) and Tedi instantly flap-jumped & body-slammed her down to the ground with her foot, but nothing more, didn't hold her down or peck. Chick shrieked and ran away. Tedi just stood there.

Today, as was all the Bigs, Tedi was very interested in the chicks when this time I let the Bigs explore the chicks netted area, tho sometimes the chicks were out. Mostly they were in their coop run and the Bigs outside. Five chicks and four adults, I didn't want too much to keep track of to keep the chicks safe. It looks like nobody is keen on killing them, just pecking, and not very hard. Hazel merely pecked at one that was underfoot, had to peck at her a few times before the chick ran away. But I don't trust them all, or Diane, lowest in the pecking order, especially.

First, everyone stock still, Hazel & others in that royal curtsy position. Tell me what that signifies? Fence fighting? Wariness, reaction to a new thing? Then Tedi and the chick were pecking a little through the wires.

Then I kept the run door slightly ajar. Tedi wanted to go in but I held it. Here's the sequence of pics. Tedi became completely still:

Then again a close inspection but through the wires around the corner.

 

[Sylvester017]

I’m coming up with names for the game bird clan.
-Chick-fil-a
-Gizmo
-Elsa
-Esther
-
-
Work in progress

Esther...?

 

[featherhead007]

Don't you mean Sir SURELY I won't forget this sweetie

Esther...?

Esther, as in the Bible story

 

[TOMTE]

It's not actually a defect. Both rose and pea combs are dominant over straight combs. It's more the presence of a straight comb indicates the ABSENCE of either Rose or Pea combs. The presence of BOTH rose and pea shows as a Walnut comb. All 3 can have straight comb masked under the other comb, but a straight comb can only exist WITHOUT Rose or Pea genetics. (V-comb falls outside of that somewhere and simply does odd things...or sometimes nothing at all)

But the little nubbin above the comb, that's an inverted spike, isn't it?

 

[featherhead007]

Esther, as in the Bible story

One of my favorite Bible characters. Brave lady, saving her people from certain doom.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Yay! You’re back! Missed you. So sorry about Tweety.
Sounds like you are too busy right now, but if you get a chance I think you should do an article on the cooler. How it works, how to make one, etc.
as I am hovering around 80% humidity it unfortunately won’t work for me, but there will be plenty of others who will find it very useful.

Yeah, that's a great idea. When I find the time I think I'll write the article.