Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Very informative and interesting, and it looks like a great place to be a chick! GREAT pictures, thank you. It is so much more natural to broody-raise. Maybe they don’t become pets for us as much, unless you can spend time as a secondary “mother” to them. But they get such a wider experience to be chickens.

It feels very selfish of me, but I’m in withdrawal now that they’re in their coop, and not sleeping inside with me. So I have the chicks on camera and I can monitor them, but mainly what I’m really enjoying is hearing their cooing and purring and bedtime talk. Miss that!

Oh those ‘barn cams’, very addictive aren’t they?! And sometimes one actually sees something other than sleeping chooks and horses

 

[RoyalChick]

That's a good excuse to go out and sit with them.

I'm actually surprised. All 3 ladies will bring their chicks by and hang out. Cardhu wants more distance but still comes in to about 5 feet.

Thanks for giving them babies?
Showing off their family?
Recognizing me as part of the flock?
Responding to my efforts to bring out little humans with yummy goodies?

They're surprisingly willing to let me hang out with the look but don't attempt to touch sort of thing.View attachment 4179329introduced the babes to the cherries. I went out, sat on the steps watching for a bit, then realized there were lots of cherries up high, so walked into the bush to help pull them downView attachment 4179330within 2 feet of PITA (her normal range is similar to Cardhu) who flared up...until cherries started raining down. I do think if I'd tried to bend down and reach for a baby, she'd have let me have it, justifiably.

Instead...
View attachment 4179331babies got summoned enmass.

 

[RoyalChick]

@rural mouse
Have they settled down to a more fixed assignment between mothers and babies? Or do the babies still play ‘pick a Momma’ and move between them?

 

[rural mouse]

Mugs

Hetty investigates...

thoroughly.

Focus shows off the babes' climbing abilities. I definitely need to get a step in the coop for babies to start roosting.

even the hummingbirds like the cherry bushes (male rufous)

 

[rural mouse]

@rural mouse
Have they settled down to a more fixed assignment between mothers and babies? Or do the babies still play ‘pick a Momma’ and move between them?

Cardhu has 3. A blonde, a blue (the one getting the crest), and a black. However, if the others are lost, drift a bit from PITA and Focus, they're welcomed too. PITA and Focus continue to share.

The other day, PITA and Focus moved into the cage for bed time. Both doors are open and several babies got the zoomies....right out the door into Cardhu's face.

And babies have started hopping on mama's backs while they're standing up....and even trying to stay there when Ma is walking around. So far, not much success there.

 

[kattabelly]

It's Monday, it's muggy* and I'm a mug for hatching two chicks that are now convinced I'm their mum.
*warm and humid - not sure if that's used outside the UK?

Mugging me off by pretending (s)he can only eat from under the warmth and safety of "mum"

Baby mug

 

[ChicoryBlue]

You remind me of...me! I'm a chicken helicopter parent & overthink too...

I don’t have “muscle memory” built up from years of chicken-keeping, the habits one can rely on without thinking too much on them! But yes, in other ways I am just that because they are pets to me. I love to get right in with them and understand their world if I can, I’m that way with most animals. Also, they are active when pet cats and dogs are usually sleeping. Great complementary pets!

 

[featherhead007]

Are you sure these guys aren't storks... or cranes? Those are the longest legs I've seen on any game chicken? Beautiful assorted patterns

I gotta admit, they do have some very long legs. But they’re not storks or cranes.

 

[Ponypoor]

It's Monday, it's muggy* and I'm a mug for hatching two chicks that are now convinced I'm their mum.
*warm and humid - not sure if that's used outside the UK?
View attachment 4179368

Mugging me off by pretending (s)he can only eat from under the warmth and safety of "mum"

Baby mug
View attachment 4179369

Yes muggy is used here. Today is not at all muggy, it was a chilly 11C and no humidity, the morning sky was glorious! Crystal clean atmosphere, the moon is a waning crescent and Venous shining bright below it.

It’s starting to get light later in the morning now. Mr P was not happy to be awakened at 4:30am! He came out into the aisle way and settled down to watch the ladies eating and digging through the horse stalls.

Mugs from the past

March 2023

Mr P - not impressed with the snow

Blanche and Misty

Blanche pretending to ensure my work is done correctly, but actually checking out BeakBook

 

[featherhead007]

It's Monday, it's muggy* and I'm a mug for hatching two chicks that are now convinced I'm their mum.
*warm and humid - not sure if that's used outside the UK?
View attachment 4179368

Mugging me off by pretending (s)he can only eat from under the warmth and safety of "mum"

Baby mug
View attachment 4179369

Be careful, that’s not a stress reliever squeeze toy.
I’m kidding