Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I need to find the Shad article. I read it ages ago - but if course it was just out of general interest.
Now it feels like I need to study!

I pick up something new every time I re-read it....which reminds me, I'm about due another round through it, hopefully in the next few days.

 

[rural mouse]

I do try to pay attention!

Considering that was 3-6 weeks ago, it means you RETAINED it too! that's a more difficult task

 

[rural mouse]

Oooh! I like it. Naming him may help me come to terms with keeping him.

There's assorted other kingly names too, and you went through a few royal female names with your first ladies. Maybe take a ramble through the British Royals history, Swedish, French, Holy Roman Empire, Russian, Roman, Egyptian kings, emperors, czars, caesars, and other assorted monarchs

 

[kattabelly]

Amazing beasts - we have a few around here, but they are not common. And these days even more so not common. Even dairy and beef herds are disappearing. Very sad.

A few folk here have heilans and I assume at least some of those are beef herds. Still lots of cattle and sheep farming here. These three are basically pets though, when they aren't being lent out to graze next to a popular tourist attraction over the summer

 

[rural mouse]

Mortimer is getting color. No rusty patches yet, but he's got the gold tones coming.....showed up almost overnight.

he SERIOUSLY wasn't happy about the flash going off, but the gold shows....my "raven" roo is going to have stuck his head in a paint bucket.....sounds like typical Mortimer mischief

 

[RoyalChick]

Roo worry.
As I ponder the fate of little Chippy I looked up the standards for a Speckled Suspect Rooster. Meyer hatchery lists 9lb for a mature roo. OMG!!!
That is huge. Piglet weighs 3lb sopping wet! Actually I need to weigh her once she is done molting.
I know any rooster can injure any hen and it is all about how rough he is, and we hope he will be schooled by Tassels and Calypso who are decent sized hens, but does anyone think a 3X weight differential might be too much even if he is well mannered?
I am worried about poor Piglet and Pooh and not getting them stressed or injured and I think Cookie might end up the same sort of size as Piglet.

 

[SimpleJenn]

FBA Weekly synopsis
This week brought to you by the leaves on the trees starting to change.

Unfortunately @BY Bob has suffered a devastating loss. We will miss you, little Nimue

@RebeccaBoyd Has some advice on how to bond with a rooster

Georgina and Juice are looking wonderful

@BY Bob Queen Aurora is stately as ever

@TOMTE Has a news update

@Pastel the Rooster is back! With an adorable chick too

@Ponypoor Has some cuties to share

@RoyalChick Chickens stuffed full of peaches!
Cookie the bellbottom girl at the fountain
More pictures of Cookie
Is Chippy a boy? They're certainly adorable

@Ikslo Dusty is quite the looker!

@SimpleJenn moved the chicks out to the integration pens!

@ChicoryBlue has a likely rooster too!

And finally, @notabitail shares the link to a wonderful rooster article that all of us roo owners should brush up on. I found it super helpful.

 

[bgmathteach]

Roo worry.
As I ponder the fate of little Chippy I looked up the standards for a Speckled Suspect Rooster. Meyer hatchery lists 9lb for a mature roo. OMG!!!
That is huge. Piglet weighs 3lb sopping wet! Actually I need to weigh her once she is done molting.
I know any rooster can injure any hen and it is all about how rough he is, and we hope he will be schooled by Tassels and Calypso who are decent sized hens, but does anyone think a 3X weight differential might be too much even if he is well mannered?
I am worried about poor Piglet and Pooh and not getting them stressed or injured and I think Cookie might end up the same sort of size as Piglet.
View attachment 4219530

So, I have varied thoughts on this. First - you need to see just how big he does get. I have found that frequently the size for large breeds posted is NOT the weight they actually are. For example:
Meyer Hatchery lists Barred plymouth rock Female avg. weight as 7.5 lbs, and male average weight as 9.5 lbs.

Well, let me tell you - that may be true for HERITAGE BPRs, but it is NOT the actual weights of my many, many BRs from Meyer. My heaviest girl was maybe 7 lbs, my heaviest roo was maybe 8.5 lbs. The girls were really closer to 5 lbs, the boys closer to 7 for the hatchery 'staple' BRs.

Now, my heritage BRs (that I got from somewhere else) ARE truly that weight.

So, 1st take away: don't worry about the listed weight - see what he REALLY ends up being

2nd: Roos of the same breed ARE bigger than the hens. Some difference is just fine.

3rd: Observe behavior. It may be that the two small girls never warm up to him.

4th: If he is gentile, and they are willing...I've seen a smaller girl not just 'crouch', but essentially be flat on the ground -but in crouched form - inviting a bigger roo to mate...and she never seemed to have an issue. The roo was gentile, and again, she was willing - and clearly knew he was a big boy & prepared for that!

The trouble comes from him NOT being gentile, and/or her not wanting his attentions. I suspect that the weight difference will not be what you are imagining it to be......but, if it does end up being 3lbs to 9lbs, that is too big of a difference. Again, if he is good and they aren't willing (might not be if he is that heavy), it might all just work out okay anyways - as he will still have a number of bigger girls that will, hopefully, accept him.

Start with weighing your 2 smaller girls. Might also weigh geronimo and (? new name, @RC?) now to get an idea of size/weight difference of your larger girl and 'him'.

 

[Ponypoor]

FBA Weekly synopsis
This week brought to you by the leaves on the trees starting to change.

Unfortunately @BY Bob has suffered a devastating loss. We will miss you, little Nimue

@RebeccaBoyd Has some advice on how to bond with a rooster

Georgina and Juice are looking wonderful

@BY Bob Queen Aurora is stately as ever

@TOMTE Has a news update

@Pastel the Rooster is back! With an adorable chick too

@Ponypoor Has some cuties to share

@RoyalChick Chickens stuffed full of peaches!
Cookie the bellbottom girl at the fountain
More pictures of Cookie
Is Chippy a boy? They're certainly adorable

@Ikslo Dusty is quite the looker!

@SimpleJenn moved the chicks out to the integration pens!

@ChicoryBlue has a likely rooster too!

And finally, @notabitail shares the link to a wonderful rooster article that all of us roo owners should brush up on. I found it super helpful.

Thanks Jenn!!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

A few folk here have heilans and I assume at least some of those are beef herds. Still lots of cattle and sheep farming here. These three are basically pets though, when they aren't being lent out to graze next to a popular tourist attraction over the summer

And bet they are popular!