Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Bucky is a cute name. Can always swap out a single letter and she becomes Becky.

Its true, she may stay as Bucky. Cookie is definitely staying as Cookie. Geronimo probably stays as Geronimo, but might earn a new name if she becomes unbelievably beautiful and ladylike when she is grown. Not sure on Bucky/Becky and am swirling (in so many ways) on Chippy.

 

[RoyalChick]

Do you have some flat kitchen scales, or even bathroom scales if they're sensitive enough, that they might be persuaded to stand on for a second if there were blueberries on offer?

I have scales that I use to weigh the chickens but I have yet to be able to give one of the Littles a blueberry because Tassels grabs them and hands them out herself.
If I put them on the ground, then all hell breaks out!

 

[kattabelly]

I have scales that I use to weigh the chickens but I have yet to be able to give one of the Littles a blueberry because Tassels grabs them and hands them out herself.
If I put them on the ground, then all hell breaks out!

Are they the digital kind that switch themselves off automatically, or could you just leave them out on a paving slab or something for stability and wait very patiently for one to eventually walk across the scales?

 

[RoyalChick]

Are they the digital kind that switch themselves off automatically, or could you just leave them out on a paving slab or something for stability and wait very patiently for one to eventually walk across the scales?

Sadly they switch themselves off - but I love the visual of them casually walking across the scales!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Bucky (also needs a real name) did end up enjoying strawberries mostly had them to herself.
View attachment 4219590

Buckeyes are supposed to have broad shoulders and big legs, they can be a tank! Popcorn and Butters were like that, Peanut less so. Hazel is too slender to be SOP.

 

[Ponypoor]

I've found the crowing happens (4 adult roos before) when they're released from the coop for breakfast (some inside when waking up, not all night): come out, look about, crow "all well", move about, grab a bite or 2, crow again after checking another area.

When an alert warning goes out, crowing occurs when whatever set them off has cleared. This is where I've heard 2 different calls for birds flying around. One call is very similar to the "MOOOMMM! The neighbor cat is visiting, come remove it! It's not afraid of us!" I hear this one for any bird Robin sized or larger, including crows and magpies. The other call is much more rawkus(sp?) And seems to mean DANGER IN THE SKIES. It's used for any hawk (little merlins up to red-tailed) and includes turkey buzzards and any other large bird flying through if the bird is an unknown. The first call results in heads popping up and all eyeing the intruder, all poised to run for cover. The 2nd results in instant flash freeze with NO ONE moving until "all clear" is called. When littles are about, the "DONT MOVE" is repeated periodically but in much quieter tones. "All clear" is again crowing.

Sentinel duty is also when I hear it. Periodically the sentinel roo will crow, I think simply to reassure the ladies that he's seen nothing to worry about, carry on with what they're doing.

I don't hear much crowing around bedtime. Instead I hear "shut up and go to bed" chooka-chooka-chooka (when there's some disputes about where to sleep) or purring when most are settled (maybe equivalent of singing a lullaby?)

Yes that is my experience. Crowing at around 4:30am but they are in the barn so not heard as much.

Once I let them out they run around eating, the Roos might crow a couple times but not much.

During the middle of the day I rarely hear them crowing - oh when they were young pups they would crow just to hear themselves crow haha. But now they are over a yr old and they are not so mouthy

In the afternoon they may crow sometimes, but I don’t hear crowing in the evening.

Now the only caveat to this is my neighbour’s Roo crowing - if he crows my gang crows also. But I haven’t hear him in a while - he would be 2 now so past the doorknob stage.

To be honest the hens are waaaay more noisy than the Roos!

 

[Ponypoor]

What is the weight difference between Mr.P and Mrs.LC? Mr.P is quite small isn’t he?

Hmmmm I have not weighed him yet n a very loooong time, and I have never weighed Mrs LC. If I get a chance tonight (as in ‘if I remember’ hahaha) I’ll weigh him.

He is mostly feathers but still he is much bigger than she is.

 

[Ponypoor]

Do you have some flat kitchen scales, or even bathroom scales if they're sensitive enough, that they might be persuaded to stand on for a second if there were blueberries on offer?

I use a luggage scale and a cloth shopping bag.

Shove bird in bag, hang on the scale

Works great!

 

[Ponypoor]

Its true, she may stay as Bucky. Cookie is definitely staying as Cookie. Geronimo probably stays as Geronimo, but might earn a new name if she becomes unbelievably beautiful and ladylike when she is grown. Not sure on Bucky/Becky and am swirling (in so many ways) on Chippy.

Sir Chipsndots……

 

[Ponypoor]

Sadly they switch themselves off - but I love the visual of them casually walking across the scales!

Chicken in a bag

Thank you Ruth you little pecker!
You weigh 2.38kg (5.25lb)