Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Thank you so much for your thoughts and the stories of your experience!


One thing is it would be sad for Hazel to lose her BO buddies / friends so I want to incorporate time with them…

Much to think about. Not sure there are great solutions right now.

Hoping that the pullets coming into lay will change dynamics with Shehnai, but also that I can keep Hazel as part of the group with the BO’s. That coop could hold 2-3 more. Thinking of the coop / run arrangements. Need to settle that soon, winter is coming.

Possibly can add a few chicks, but that goes against my plan of trying to stagger the ages here. So the saying “Best laid plans” definitely applies. Would have to try to brood the chicks with Hazel near. A winter brooding, outside…

So many moving parts, too many!

Yes, lots to think about. The only reason I mention chicks is if you end up needing to separate Hazel from the rest. Bringing her back with chicks (could be as few as 2, but 3 would be better, breed doesn't matter for this) is probably the most natural reason for a hen to be "missing" from the flock. Keeping this as natural as possible, I think, would streamline bringing her back in. I do think it should be a last resort, though.

Yes, getting the pullets into lay will help. Timeline is on them, though.

 

[Ponypoor]

I did think to call any new arrivals “Sam and Ella” (just sayin)

How about Wye and Dot

 

[notabitail]

Happy 2fer Tuesday everyone
Two little chickens

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Two big black chickens (for once not fighting).
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A big chicken and a little chicken.
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A little chicken and a littler chicken
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Have a great chicken day everyone (as @notabitail knows, every day is a chicken day).

Correct! But also, it's Sunday.

 

[kattabelly]

Fine with me. You could call her Boss Bertha. Is she second in pecking order?

At the moment she's the boss of everyone, including me (editing to add - until recently she lived in a group of just her and two cockerels the same age. It was originally her and three cockerels but one died before the hormones had fully kicked in. She took no nonsense from either of them and appeared to be quite happy with her harem. They'd still all be together if I hadn't wanted to integrate her with my other chickens)

I'm sorry about your troubles with Hazel and Shehnai, by the way. I've been reading but not had anything to add to the advice others have given. I hope things start to settle down soon.

 

[kattabelly]

One sandwich short of a picnic?

My two very tappit Shetlands are the same, the wheaten one especially. I often find her milling around on her own during the day - sometimes she'll be watching the others through the fence but it seems like either she can't remember how to get to where they are or the possibility hasn't even occurred to her. She's not done it at night yet, thankfully.

One of the Hylines has started plucking at her crest but she doesn't seem to mind and frankly I'm happy for that to continue if it saves me having to cut it.

 

[RoyalChick]

Correct! But also, it's Sunday.

So why aren’t you in Church instead of chit chatting here!

 

[notabitail]

So why aren’t you in Chitch instead of chit chatting here!

I changed my mind. It's Saturday.

 

[RoyalChick]

I changed my mind. It's Saturday.

And RC thinks it’s Cookie who is one sandwich short of a picnic?!?

 

[kattabelly]

Twofer Tuesday

(When people talk about Fayoumis being really flighty, they never seem to mention that 97% of those flights will end on your head)

 

[RoyalChick]

Twofer Tuesday
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(When people talk about Fayoumis being really flighty, they never seem to mention that 97% of those flights will end on your head)

Gorgeous birds. I would love some but was worried it might be too cold for them here in NJ.
I recently learned that a breeder in the US lives in Maine which gets much colder, so I have put them back on my list.