Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Hazel with the BO's this morning
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A short dustbath, she's the brown bit the blue doggie pool behind the insulated waterer, I don't have a camera in a good spot for there
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TY for posting the pics ~ reminded me to set up a cinder block roosting perch in the back patio after I recuperate from surgery. I have a Silkie that snoozes on things.

Here she is on a chair. She perches on the pushbroom, garden bed or dustbath borders too.

 

[rural mouse]

Our neighborhood cats have been pretty good so far, even around the smaller Silkies ~ they seem to accept each other. But lone truly feral really hungry cats can see little chicks as food. Of course, aerial predators see chicks as easy prey too. What I hear from chick people is that they don't free-range mammas w/chicks till they are 3-4 months old if they're having predator issues. Rural mouse has a lot of lovely underbrush for her chicklets rather than open yard so her chicks luckily have been hidden a lot. She also has kitties of her own that I'm guessing must be keeping ferals (& rodents?) away too?

So sorry about losing track of the missing chicks. Heartbreaking for mammas too

Castor isn't big enough to keep the dangerous predators away. Haven't seen any weasels within 10 miles of home. Hawks and foxes are the 2 main predators, both of which could snatch Castor if they were so inclined (hungry enough). Feral cats get fed by anyone who can lure them in simply for the rodent control, so isn't an issue here either. Cheetah is outstanding at spotting hawks, and has taught everyone else, 4 of which are his daughters and 2 of which are his grandchildren. His offspring are incredibly close behind him on hawk alert.

We've also got a flock of magpies and one of crows that stay in the area year round. They sound alerts and the chickens listen. Currently, we have a hefty sized flock of pigeons living near by in more open terrain. They're an easier hawk meal.

Sherlock marking territory now that he's fully mature is excellent fox deterrent. He's bigger and fit. They would have a better chance at night....when the coop is closed.

This doesn't mean predators can't get to my birds. Odds are reduced. Late fall to early spring have less camouflage available. We'll see how this winter goes.

 

[Sylvester017]

The clown car and the steps never get old for me.

WOW ~ B-E-A-U-T0-F-U-L scene!!! & do you count them ALL at roost?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Snow is gone

Mortimer finally posed

View attachment 4233071and has wattles

The peaceful sounds as they make their way on the steps, just great!

 

[featherhead007]

Our neighborhood cats have been pretty good so far, even around the smaller Silkies ~ they seem to accept each other. But lone truly feral really hungry cats can see little chicks as food. Of course, aerial predators see chicks as easy prey too. What I hear from chick people is that they don't free-range mammas w/chicks till they are 3-4 months old if they're having predator issues. Rural mouse has a lot of lovely underbrush for her chicklets rather than open yard so her chicks luckily have been hidden a lot. She also has kitties of her own that I'm guessing must be keeping ferals (& rodents?) away too?

So sorry about losing track of the missing chicks. Heartbreaking for mammas too

The hen is the one from next door. The chicks and her are wild and hard for me to catch. I’m not set up for a separate coop and run, I am however, watching the cats very closely. If I find one who prefers chicken instead of cat food, it’s carcass will be landfill

 

[Sylvester017]

A fine and dandy Wattles Wednesday
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I have to keep yelling at these criminals to stop bothering the run dwellers. They keep getting up on the coops and run and it annoys the others so much!
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Getting more imaging on my neck today, hopefully it's something easy to fix.

Would moving the smaller coops away from the big run keep them from using the small coops as a springboard for flying up there?

I sympathize w/ your neck issues. My MRI shows my neck disks have compressed into my spinal cord & my fingers are numb on both hands not to mention the neck aches ~ along w/the scoliosis & compressed neck I've lost 3 inches in my height! So many health issues one right after another. Typing takes me a long time w/ only one or two fingers ~ then re-read to correct errors.

Do take care of those neck issues ~ while you're still young enough

Neck tx ~ these little necks can really stretch! Almost looks like a baby Emu...

 

[featherhead007]

Snow is gone

Mortimer finally posed

View attachment 4233071and has wattles

Love the videos

 

[rural mouse]

WOW ~ B-E-A-U-T0-F-U-L scene!!! & do you count them ALL at roost?

I do count them. All 37. Otherwise how am I going to know if one is missing for whatever the reason

 

[rural mouse]

The peaceful sounds as they make their way on the steps, just great!

The honky sounds are coming from Tundra. She seems to have a commanding voice.

 

[Sylvester017]

He’s getting to be quite the handsome boy.

Handsome is... only as handsome does... as the saying goes...