Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Both G and Mr. Chips are big enough to reach, but only just. So they prefer to stand between the treadle and the front of the feeder. Which is totally fine if Tassels is standing on the treadle holding it open.
I have two feeders. One is on a slab which makes the stand in front of the treadle a totally viable strategy. The other is on two blocks so there isn’t anywhere to stand between the treadle and the front at that level. It was that one I removed the clip from because I thought the chicks couldn’t use it. I miscalculated both that G would stretch and use it like a big chicken. And that Mr. Chips was tall enough to reach up into the feed bin while standing on the ground below the feeder and stretching up.
I am sorry Mr. Chips. Totally my bad.
He got the tomato treat all to himself and seemed fine with that.
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The hens here have a technique of standing with the back foot holding down the treadle and one foot in front of the treadle. The pullets and Mr. Shehnai have interest in the feeder here but haven’t tried it yet. Because of my construction I have only one feeder set up. Will be setting the other back up soon, and will fill it with All Flock crumbles. So far with the adults eating All Flock readily out of the other open feeders there’s only been one soft-shell egg. They must be eating enough oyster shell and their own layer pellets.

Aside: since the Orps were little I’ve also been offering chick grit alongside the regular bigger grit, and of course with the new chicks/pullets it’s available. Everybody loves and eats it still, so I’ll keep offering both!

 

[janiedoe]

PONY (DOGGIE) SUNDAY

DH puppysat DD/SIL's pups again this wkend:

Appropriate lyrics!

 

[RoyalChick]

Here’s a Buckeye classic trait if you ever get a chance to handle Bucky: a slate bar in the underdown. Possibly you can see this if you find a discarded molt feather. Most Buckeyes have this but it is not guaranteed in the lighter colored / hatchery lines, but technically it should be there.
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And then these below are feathers from Shumaker, a serious breeder with beautiful birds…

(BTW if you get into researching Buckeyes you’ll find there seems to have been a Great Schism among breeders which resulted in two main Buckeye clubs today. Tempers ran / run high and the club web sites make great effort to distinguish themselves from each other. Goodness, get a grip already, lol!)

Here’s Shumaker’s own (not either clubs’) web site where these pictures are from. He does come off as quite persnickity but very informative, and his birds are gorgeous. Not sure if he’s still alive.
http://www.shumakerfarmbuckeyechickens.com/breeding---color.html

Anyhoo!
Below are feathers from Shumaker’s line. The black accents you can readily see in your pic of Bucky sunbathing and I see here must be the wing coverts I think?
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Oooh! Very interesting. Until I saw Bucky lounging I thought the black came from some all-black feathers. I didn’t realize individual feathers had black accents.
I think it will be a while before I can look for a slate bar under her feathers. She is the least open to approaching me.

 

[RoyalChick]

I started out with the plan of giving the chicks crumbles in the open feeder and just clipping open the rat proof one for safety.
But Tassels had other ideas!
She discouraged use of the open feeder and got the Littles eating from the rat proof ones which she holds open for them. So I have given up on the open feeder.
Here you can see them standing on the slab.

 

[Ponypoor]

View attachment 4224210
Brainiac looking very lovely today. Hubby and I are discussing giving them more...regal names.
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Megamind changed his mind about being out in the chilly air and put himself in a corner.

We're workshopping Louis and Vuitton, or Lamborghini and Ferrari/Bugatti

How about Lady B, and Lord M??

 

[Ponypoor]

Mugs Monday

Jaffarra lounging in the sun

 

[Ponypoor]

Don’t worry she is just sleeping

 

[TOMTE]

5 minute morning sunbathing sesh: complete.

 

[TOMTE]

I'm happy to say that my flock has their glue back. Pecking order didn't shift around at all, Sybil is at the top now, followed by Gytha, then Esme, then Magrat. I was hoping Magrat might take the opportunity to boost herself up while things were still in the air, but... I guess she's comfortable at the bottom!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Geronimo/Geranium/?

maybe more a Geraldine than a Geronimo.

You could also feminize the end in some way, like Geronima. But to me, Geronimo is a singularly great name. It doesn’t necessarily need the bearer to be male, and she embodied that name immediately. So until she tells you differently, I’d stick with it!