Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Caturday
His own hidey hole.
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He also likes to be high up. He climbs and sits on a high area.
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Cats can be such goofballs! he is just such a pretty kitty. Does he have a name?

 

[Ponypoor]

So you need new replacement birds for a lot of eggs... for yourself, for neighbors, or relatives? Ours are pets... the eggs are just a side bonus. We figure 3 hens won't lay next year leaving us just 3 Silkies laying for another 2-3 years. The sad story is not knowing which bird we will lose 1st cuz it will happen eventually & we're not replacing this time around. We love the fluffies so much I can't bear the thought...

Yes it's hard losing them, I have about 4 regular customers I sell eggs to, and a few others I get eggs for when I have extra. We keep the silkie and Mrs LC's eggs that are tiny, for ourselves.

I likely won't be replacing them anymore going forward. I figure I am good for a bit of eggs for the next couple of years. As they stop laying I will drop customers and just keep my longest customers until I no longer can supply them. That will be in a few years I would say - by the time the chicks this year are 3 I won't have enough eggs to sell regularly. By then I will be retired and likely won't want to be doing much in the way of working in the barn esp during the winter, the horses will be gone by then.

Then again who knows - if I win that lottery I can afford to hire a stable boy



I can't believe that my silkies will be coming 5! Even Holly is soon going to be 1 yr old. Time sure does fly by.....

 

[rural mouse]

I agree with @rural mouse : as many obstacles as possible, no corners for him to catch her. I think that it is really, really good that the BOs are standing up to him to protects her....and it seems like Diane-Ida is willing to 'push him away'. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! I know you want to integrate them, but could you keep the door between the two areas closed first thing in the morning...and then closed it up again early evening - to keep them separated during the worst part of the day (hormonally speaking)?

I think that if the B.O.s will defend her, they WILL get a good thumping or two in, and that will go a long ways towards teaching him manners. I think if you are able to monitor some (from a distance)...to be sure she is being defended....and see if they do actually thump him good...not just runs away...I think things will then settle down some. But, again, he needs to be thumped a time or two (or three!), not just chased/pushed off for him to learn his lesson.

And, yes, the boys mature faster than the girls, hence why he is interested in Hazel - she is mature, and less a threat to him then the BOs...easiest 'adult' target.

I think what RM (correct me if I am wrong, @rural mouse ) meant is if he wins Hazel over, then the others will fall in line and be his, too. Truth is, though, while it might help some, he actually has to work for EACH hen for them to become his. (Well, some hens will just fall beaks over spurs for a roo....no telling about taste for some!) but most need to be 'woo-ed' and have the roo show them he will be a good provider and look-out and escort.

that is exactly what I think he is fumbling his way through. In addition, I think Diane will step into leader shoes one day (source of her biting you is higher authority attempting to correct behavior of lower ranks when the stare isn't being respected: she sees you as a flock member violating flock rules). If that's actually what is going on, expect a knock down brawl between her and hormonal idiots (both currently and in future). She is likely 2nd in command and the current enforcer.

 

[Ponypoor]

Challenge accepted!
Temptation 1 - First up hands down personal favorite (they would revolt if I didn’t include them) Swedish Flowers
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Temptation number 2 - Shetland because they are adorable and they lay blue/green eggs.
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Temptation number 3 - double silver laced Barnies because omg they are sooo pretty
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OMG - I am gonna need a warehouse sized barn I can see!

I'll take 3 of each

 

[rural mouse]

I was thinking this would be worrying to read for you! Hugs back for your anticipatory / planning worry!
17 weeks old exactly (given Hatch Day is June 2).

The BO’s generally beat him back weeks ago as he has been chasing and playing with and testing everyone for a long time, so there aren’t many confrontations with them that I’ve seen. The most recent interaction before all this was a short ninja fight and stare-down with Diane a week or two ago and Hazel ended it when she charged him from behind and took him totally by surprise with her ninja jump. It seemed to me then his tests were getting more lengthy and determined.

The BO’s just need to walk toward him with intent at this point as far as I can tell. They will escalate to a little charge / chase sometimes but he is very fast and I haven’t seen them touch him or actually ninja-fight since that interaction with Diane. Maybe he will try for them if he gives up on Hazel. Or maybe he’ll decide there’s a virtual buffet around him and go for everyone!

In the weeks prior, if he was in the mood for chasing he’d run at his hatchmates and even if a sister pullet just stretched and flapped her wings from 15 feet away he might charge her too. Or maybe she’s inviting that, she must know he’s hepped up? He seemed to find them easier pickings than Hazel and the BO’s. Haven’t seen him try to actually grab them yet.

They (pullets) should scream for help which should bring the BO over and set him up for sneak attacks all round. Once the hatch mates start laying, they'll probably be willing to crouch for him simply because they grew up with him. Once they're crouching, he should settle down some just because he has an outlet for the hormones. The older ladies should make him court them and will take a while. Once the hormonal outlet gets going, he'll be able to recognize the need to court and should start that on his own....probably with his hatchmates first. The older ladies will watch for a while. If he's tidbitting over every blade of grass, pebble, and twig, they'll be more stand offish. You can aid him in the tidbitting (once you see him trying to) by giving him a bit of walnut or a blueberry or other choice thing and letting him call the ladies. In doing that, withhold more treats until the first is consumed. Repeat for a few before distribution to all and sundry.

 

[Ponypoor]

Well, I do not have a polish pullet to love on today.

They were a no show yesterday, but I woke up to this message from them..

I had to work yesterday evening and midnight . Sorry I didn’t get back too you but yes I do but they got a real bad cold and I wont sell them to anyone til I see if they get better . I won’t sell anyone a sick animal . I’ll keep you up dated I’m currently have her on antibiotics


I have since talked to them this morning. It is a wait and see game now. I'm hoping she recovers. They have not brought in any new chickens in 3 months so they think it is just the weather changing that brought on this illness. The polish and 2 of her Guineas she listed for sale are sick. They are in isolation now and being treated. If they recover, she is holding off for at least a week before re-listing them. I also have first dibs on the polish pullet if that happens.

I'm very sad. I want her, but I am so thankful they are honest about her and did not sell me a sick bird.

Yes it is better to not bring an ill bird into your place. My wee chickies who are sick are a pain in the patootie. I do nothing but worry over them and the rest of the flock.

I have to keep them separate anyways for a few weeks, but having to actually deal with a coughing bird is so stressful. Oh not for her, she is happily digging away in Lulus stall eating all the spiders and bugs she can find! Thankfully the Tylosin is doing it's thing.

Oh and of course this morning P2 (whom I have been calling Petra) decided that she would fly out my hands this morning, zooming over poor Mr P and scaring the poop out of him! He can duck and dodge fast for an old man haha! Then Petra proceeded to run helter skelter around the barn, pausing mid run to 'hey food ooo yummy' grab something, then take off again. Sheesh! I tried not to freak her out by running after her, but holy dinah those wee ones can run.

And the Noirans just sat there and watched her run around, they were doing their after breakfast snooze. Such a difference between the Noirans and the Silkies and now these Polish. Those Noirans I can see will end up being fat lard butts if I am not careful, they are so totally docile and relaxed. They do not believe in moving fast!

But those Silkies and those Polish - talk about the zoomies!

If you do get the wee lady, ask what med she was given, and I would put her on a course of Tylosin for 5 days just to help her with the stress of moving to a new place.

Anyways I am thinking good thoughts for the wee pullet, and hoping she gets to come home with you at some point.

 

[ManueB]

Hi everyone, I apologise for posting the synopsis only now instead of yesterday- I completely forgot it was my turn ! Please forgive me if I left some of you and some things out .

FBA chicken's weekly synopsis
19 to 26 September​

Link to last week's synopsis by @SimpleJenn.

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@Marie2020 informed us last sunday that her very special Princess passed during the night. Good-bye, grumpy chicken ; everyone at FBA will remember your antics.

We were also sorry to hear @knoturavggrl lost young Roxy, who was dear to her heart.
.

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@bgmathteach

Did some convincing enabling for Sally !


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@ChicoryBlue

Check out the many facial expressions of Diane Ida the biter- fascinating!

Shenai has entered the "idiot cockerel" phase and unfortunately, he's going after Hazel, who is five, shy, and possibly has MG. @ChicoryBlue is a bit worried.
Some input from @rural mouse and from @bgmathteach.


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@featherhead007

Had an unexpected chicken math situation! But the two game hens don't take kindly to one another. Nacho needs Alex's protection.


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@Grandma The Chicken

Celebrating three years on BYC !


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@Ikslo

Laverne the wheaten marans lays a beautiful speckled egg.


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@knoturavggrl

Chervil is so adventurous she forgets personal boundaries!


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@Ponypoor


Poor Clyde got soaked.

Lots of chickens = lots of chicken drama : Misty the cat disturbing a broody and Kelly has been upset that the polish duo she brought home turned out to be sick.

It was heartwarming to see them have chicken fun in a stall.
One has began to cough again since, hopefully the antibiotics will help them heal for good.


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@RebeccaBoyd

Has been hooked into getting a polish pullet on the human beakbook - sadly things didn't go as planned.


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@RoyalChick

Now that she is definitely a he, Chippy has been renamed Mr Chips, and it's worth reading why.
Finally managed some pictures of Bucky.
Told us the story of the great 2025 blueberry war.


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@rural mouse

Some gorgeous mugs.
Meanwhile, Cheetah is having a rough molt, hanging out alone and looking terrible.


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@Sally PB

Needs some enablers to convince her ...


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@SimpleJenn

Lockdown for Delft, and then...there were chicks !


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@Sylvester017

It's hard knowing those beloved fluffies will be the last ones, even if it's the right choice.


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[rural mouse]

I didn't know roos mature sooner, thank you! Good idea about the run-aviary door, yes I can do that. Maybe not needed yet? There haven't been any squawks or shrieks this morning! Maybe for now it's mostly going to occur later in the day. I've been up before the doors open, and just checked the cameras to see what they're up to and right now there's peace in the valley again. Hazel is foraging with the BO's around her near the waterer, and the Nomads are in a little group under the rhododendron, hard to see, it's the dark blob just below the light horizon, kind of under the words "forest cam 8"
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Also good to know what I eventually figured what @rural mouse meant - that the rest would go along if he could woo Hazel.

Just a few days ago I had the thought "integration is coming along really nicely" while viewing the gang all together. So I don't think that has been lost, just there's this hormone factor that's come in. They were all taking the afternoon siesta together in the main run's perching corner. The Nomads were up on the high perches and the Bigs were below on a low perch and the ground litter. True, Shehnai was hanging and then going off and walking around, though staying near them, all on his own. That was a change I noted but wasn't sure what to make of. Maybe he was beginning his patrol duties?

Yes, the rest of the ladies will be more likely to cooperate with him if Hazel does. He still has to court each one, though.

Definitely sounds like patrol duties. Integration is definitely there when they're all hanging out napping/bathing close enough together for sentinel to be able to watch over all at once. You should see/hear him pause and crow periodically through resting periods like that. "All's well!" If you see him dustbathing, take a look around to note which hen(s) is(are) standing watch. Those ladies have accepted him at least provisionally as a rooster flock member. His status is still subject to change depending upon his behavior, but it does mean they're looking out on his behalf not as "red alert, the brat is coming for us".

 

[Ponypoor]

Hi everyone, I apologise for posting the synopsis only now instead of yesterday- I completely forgot it was my turn ! Please forgive me if I left some of you and some things out .

FBA chicken's weekly synopsis
19 to 26 September​

Link to last week's synopsis by @SimpleJenn.

---

@Marie2020 informed us last sunday that her very special Princess passed during the night. Good-bye, grumpy chicken ; everyone at FBA will remember your antics.

We were also sorry to hear @knoturavggrl lost young Roxy, who was dear to her heart.
.

---

---------------------------------------------------

@bgmathteach

Did some convincing enabling for Sally !


--------------------------------------------------

@ChicoryBlue

Check out the many facial expressions of Diane Ida the biter- fascinating!

Shenai has entered the "idiot cockerel" phase and unfortunately, he's going after Hazel, who is five, shy, and possibly has MG. @ChicoryBlue is a bit worried.
Some input from @rural mouse and from @bgmathteach.


---------------------------------------------------

@featherhead007

Had an unexpected chicken math situation! But the two game hens don't take kindly to one another. Nacho needs Alex's protection.


--------------------------------------------------

@Grandma The Chicken

Celebrating three years on BYC !


--------------------------------------------------

@Ikslo

Laverne the wheaten marans lays a beautiful speckled egg.


--------------------------------------------------

@knoturavggrl

Chervil is so adventurous she forgets personal boundaries!


---------------------------------------------------

@Ponypoor


Poor Clyde got soaked.

Lots of chickens = lots of chicken drama : Misty the cat disturbing a broody and Kelly has been upset that the polish duo she brought home turned out to be sick.

It was heartwarming to see them have chicken fun in a stall.
One has began to cough again since, hopefully the antibiotics will help them heal for good.


---------------------------------------------------

@RebeccaBoyd

Has been hooked into getting a polish pullet on the human beakbook - sadly things didn't go as planned.


----------------------------------------------------

@RoyalChick

Now that she is definitely a he, Chippy has been renamed Mr Chips, and it's worth reading why.
Finally managed some pictures of Bucky.
Told us the story of the great 2025 blueberry war.


--------------------------------------------------

@rural mouse

Some gorgeous mugs.
Meanwhile, Cheetah is having a rough molt, hanging out alone and looking terrible.


-------------------------------------------------

@Sally PB

Needs some enablers to convince her ...


---------------------------------------------------

@SimpleJenn

Lockdown for Delft, and then...there were chicks !


--------------------------------------------------

@Sylvester017

It's hard knowing those beloved fluffies will be the last ones, even if it's the right choice.


-------------------------------------------------

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Awesome - Thanks Manue much appreciated.

 

[Ponypoor]

Doesn't need one. She has online support. We are here to support her addiction.

Oh I know you all - support means enable! By showing me pics of cute babies and beautiful hens and roosters hahaha!