Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Pony Sunday
The peach trees are full of fruit - still about 3 weeks away from being ripe.
Somehow this is not a timetable that the wildlife are sticking to.
This guy looks like he will choke eating the peach whole.
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The squirrels have eaten every single one of the nectarines.

Even Tassels and the Littles are getting in on the peach-fest.
View attachment 4203243

And then there is this guy. The camera is mounted on the Chicken Palace under the roof overhang. He did a bit of a number on the electric fence but everyone is safe.

Peaches/nectarines in your planting zone is remarkable. Sorry about the squirrel invasion... I hate all rodents!

What variety of peaches/nectarines? I LOVE white peaches or white nectarines rather than yellow ones... but never planted soft skin fruit here to discourage ants/rats/squirrels/wild birds/June bugs/etc. Had to chop down the old fig tree for the same reason. Wish I could've planted a delicious White Sapote custard-flavor fruit tree but that would have the whole neighborhood pest population here if I did!

White Sapote fruit

White Sapote tree

 

[RoyalChick]

Peaches/nectarines in your planting zone is remarkable. Sorry about the squirrel invasion... I hate all rodents!

What variety of peaches/nectarines? I LOVE white peaches or white nectarines rather than yellow ones... but never planted soft skin fruit here to discourage ants/rats/squirrels/wild birds/June bugs/etc. Had to chop down the old fig tree for the same reason. Wish I could've planted a delicious White Sapote custard-flavor fruit tree but that would have the whole neighborhood pest population here if I did!

White Sapote fruit

White Sapote tree

No idea on variety - they are all very ancient trees. New Jersey is called the Garden State because it used to be (19th century) the source of produce - particularly tomatoes, corn, peaches, blueberries etc. - to the big cities of NY and Philadelphia.
Where I live the entire area was orchards and farms and the land got broken up into smaller lots in the 1920s I believe. Many of the orchard trees remain however so many people have peach trees in their yards.

 

[Sylvester017]

Had an eagle soar over earlier - wow - where did all the chickens go?! They scattered everywhere to safety.

Mamas and babies ran and hide deep in a tangle of goldenrod and burrs. They huddle in there not making a sound!

Later on I went to check them and Holly and Georgie came running and yelling at me! Babies in tow, them followed me back to the big blue spruce were everyone was staying.

Had a few other moments where they all scattered, they are definitely on high alert today. Everyone is quite antsy.

Even Whiskers was going bonkers more than her normal broody self. She and Ruth got into a huge row and Raven had to go and break it up. She ran Ruth off and gave Whiskers a small peck on the back as of to say ‘get a grip girl, go get some food’.

I made her go back on her nest she was just not calming down.

I checked P1 again and I feel a bit better about it, it’s not as big as the other egglets, it doesn’t fill the egg as much as the others do. But she is moving around so I’ll take it. This time next week they should all be hatched.

Time flies…..

Our juvenile hawk is getting bold too but TG it's hunting after the easy to grab Sparrows.

No ~ time isn't flying... it just runs faster than us oldsters can walk

 

[Sylvester017]

I’m only 19

With about 45 yrs of falling of crazy horses!

My 91-yr-old sis has had two cancer surgeries, has a half paralyzed face & undergoing speech therapy, surgically blind in one eye, broke her arm/wrist twice last year... but says her mind is only 16-yrs-old. Her DD has moved in to care for her but she says she's getting bored only being able to wash or wipe dishes & not able to walk about outdoors. How do we live so long w/ all these ailments? I know! Chickeneering fills the void

Broody pancake Mika... again

 

[SimpleJenn]

Hey chickens!


Hey there!

Y'all escaped your crate!?

Well crap...

 

[Sylvester017]

More 8 week pics

View attachment 4203267

View attachment 4203268Cheetah's courting Nellie...and the 2 chicks are responding to his calls.

View attachment 4203269the splash in the middle is the last chick to hatch, green egg, and I'm keeping her. Left side is the Thing grand daughter (blue), keeping her too.

View attachment 4203270cockerel at PITA's bum is the one I want to keep. He's got COLORS! And I think is a Bielefelder x (no idea with what).

I'm debating another cockerel and another pullet for 6 chicks. Need to make a decision soon as next weekend is moving time, I think.

Questions, thoughts, etc would be appreciated just to help me clarify my thoughts and observations.

Keeping pretty feathers or colorful eggs is nice but over the years we've come to appreciate good temperaments or smarts above beauty in our birds IMO. We got tired of rehoming rare pretty birds that were obnoxious & settled on good-natured smart birds instead. & yes, surprisingly we found the Silkie a resilient flock bird for our environment. Go w/ your GUT feeling on each bird you consider... it's the only way to feel satisfied in the end

 

[Sylvester017]

Hey chickens!
View attachment 4203770

Hey there!
View attachment 4203768
Y'all escaped your crate!?
View attachment 4203769
Well crap...

A bevy of cacklers & bagpipes who come running... too cute

 

[Sylvester017]

This is Bucky. She seems to have spots too.
I give up!
View attachment 4203292

Very nice practical camouflage

I adore White Leghorns for so many reasons but their stark bright white plumage says to predators "come & get me"


Not easy to camouflage their pretty all white feathers

There are two other hens by the rose tree but only the white one glows bright from a distance.

 

[Sylvester017]

Not sure if it’s my teeth or ear rings she is eyeing!

OR MAYBE SHE'S EYEING YOUR EYES !! Is she not the Mr P pecker?

 

[Ponypoor]

Pony Sunday

Got the paddocks mowed yesterday.

Before

It’s a jungle in there!

All sorts of creatures hid in there!

After

There is some grass in this paddock, where the willows shade the ground.

No grass just dried up stubble.

I love how they keep the willow trees trimmed all level

And that made Truly very happy because now she can get to the apple trees