Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

Likely a boy…

I can tell it apart because it has a white patch on the throat, yep it was being a butt again this morning!

 

[Pebbles25]

Gaahhhhh Mr Rat is back

View attachment 4224750View attachment 4224751View attachment 4224752

We have 2 cats for that but… last winter we got rats, realised it was because the cats never went in the chicken run. We moved our chicken feed and water down to an exposed part of the garden where the cats go. Now thinking I’ll have to hide it as a crow took an egg shell from their pile of supplements and now hoping it won’t come back with its pals and mob our birds to death, which is very common where we are. I’ve never had a chicken catch a rat although they will catch shrews and voles. We got rid of ours between taking the cats round, moving the feed and them when they were starving trapping them, we only had one left after the starving part and that went in the trap.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm kind of impressed that people have cats that can hunt and kill rats. In my experience, cats are the right size for mice, voles, moles, and shrews, but rats require a terrier-sized dog or larger.

The exception might be that the presence of cats might cause rats to move elsewhere, but I've seen videos of rats staring down cats while continuing to munch on whatever they're eating.

 

[Pebbles25]

I'm kind of impressed that people have cats that can hunt and kills rats. In my experience, cats are the right size for mice, voles, moles, and shrews, but rats require a terrier-sized dog or larger.

The exception might be that the presence of cats might cause rats to move elsewhere, but I've seen videos of rats staring down cats while continuing to munch on whatever they're eating.

Yes, that’s definitely possible. I think the smell helps but our cats will and have caught rats but only a few as the rats stay at bay. When the winter comes I will take the cats to eat in the chicken run regularly so the rats don’t start living under the coop again and nibbling holes. Our cats are good hunters so very blessed and they do a good job with the rabbit population. I then feel very sorry when the chickens take their prey off them and the cats slink back terrified!

 

[Ponypoor]

I'm kind of impressed that people have cats that can hunt and kill rats. In my experience, cats are the right size for mice, voles, moles, and shrews, but rats require a terrier-sized dog or larger.

The exception might be that the presence of cats might cause rats to move elsewhere, but I've seen videos of rats staring down cats while continuing to munch on whatever they're eating.

Have had my cats kill rabbits, large squirrels, snakes, and the usual mice, moles and birds. I think my kitty Missy is not likely to see a rat, she only hangs around the house, doesn’t go to the barn.

 

[Ponypoor]

We have 2 cats for that but… last winter we got rats, realised it was because the cats never went in the chicken run. We moved our chicken feed and water down to an exposed part of the garden where the cats go. Now thinking I’ll have to hide it as a crow took an egg shell from their pile of supplements and now hoping it won’t come back with its pals and mob our birds to death, which is very common where we are. I’ve never had a chicken catch a rat although they will catch shrews and voles. We got rid of ours between taking the cats round, moving the feed and them when they were starving trapping them, we only had one left after the starving part and that went in the trap.

Also welcome!

I haven’t seen you here in Bob’s thread before. We absolutely love seeing photos of everyone’s chooks (esp babies!), so please share yours here.

So glad you jumped in the conversation. The OP of this thread BY Bob is busy at the moment but I am sure will also enjoy seeing your flock.

 

[Ponypoor]

Shirley's offspring should be 50% headspot (striped), 50% not striped. They will NOT be sex linked as the hen must be striped to do that. Could be pullet or cockerel. If any of their hens are barred, then a double barred cockerel is a possibility.

Update on chicks

Last I heard this morning there were 2 chicks hatched and a third pipped.

At day 22 they are taking their sweet time to hatch. I sure hope they get more than 3!

But I guess with kids at school and parents working they won’t be updating until this evening.

Such anticipation!