Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Grandma The Chicken]

Here's one photo from the festival. I forgot to tell you all what happened. I was busy so tomorrow, with a mugshot Monday, I will tell you.

 

[rural mouse]

This is a good pic (the previous one, I wasn't sure who was who.). Well, at 15 weeks, comb is very pink for a part Brahma pullet...so even more pointing to Roo. That actually l ooks like a very small straight comb! He will be a handsome boy

I'm scratching my head over this one. The only other bird I have with silver Colombian markings is Daisy, Light Brahma (suspect more a light/dark cross). No beard. The only roo with a beard is Tuff, gold based. Offspring would be gold/light gold.

At the in-laws, no light brahmas. A moss egger and a silverudd roo in with 2 gold based hens and a dark brahma, again no beards. (Those have since joined the rest ranging outside).

The outside roos were adult versions of Hawthorne in either blue or black, a buff, and a Bielefelder x EE (looked like a bearded Bielefelder). Hens were a ranging assortment, including Silver's sister (the only silver Columbian marked bird). If the Bielefelder x and the Colombia wyandotte bred....While Tundra has some brassiness in the neck, and it accounts for the beard, it doesn't work for the feathered feet.

There's always at least 1 puzzler in a hatch.

 

[Sylvester017]

I rarely get a good sleep, my RLS keeps me up at night. The barn cams entertain me some, and this week I have fallen down the rabbit hole re: Mycoplasmosis vaccine. There is a lot of data out there which is actually really interesting. Like that one article on the status of backyard flocks here.

DH has RLS too... so annoying. If I dont take my magnesium gelcap before bedtime I can wake suddenly w/ painful leg cramps. Who knew a simple supplement could tame muscle cramps? DH gets his magnesium in a powder drink mix. Not a cure but does minimize pain. We figure for the long-term run its better than prescription drug meds.

 

[Sylvester017]

I love seeing flocks of wild turkeys. So cool.

That wasn't a flock... it was a MOB!

 

[Sylvester017]

Another Fine Mess

Roosting was a mess tonight.

At first I did not know how but here is Joy cut off by Sydney, behind the bird bath, going into the wrong coop.

View attachment 4235896

Sydney did not harass her. She just roosted. Top right.

View attachment 4235897

This however had Joy trapped as she would not go past Sydney when Sydney could jump on her so Joy hunkered down here, in nest box 1.

View attachment 4235898

Well Aster was not going to let that stand and she rooted Joy from the nest box. At this point, I knew what was up and had opened the side door. Out came Joy and I left her to find the Cluckle Hut.

While this has been going on, Tilly had gotten into the roost in the Hut.

What caused all this? The big girls were backed up. Aurora was messing with them tonight. The net effect of that was Lady Featherington was standing in front of the Cluckle Hut porch. Joy was not going near that.

While lady was there blocking the entrance, the door closed. So I went around opened the door and in the process pushed the big girls to bed.

It's getting pretty dark at this point and Joy is now eying the magnolia tree. She started up the woodpile decided that I needed to help. I gathered her up, she did not fight me, and took her to the Hut. She decided to forgo the roost and went straight into the nest box to sleep.

When I put Niamh on the roost, I will move Joy next to her.

Niamh, of course, is no help as she is in the grape vines again.

I have said it before and will say it again - I am glad I am not the only one having bedtime drama!

Bedtime drama? We all seem to go thru some of it...

 

[Sylvester017]

I was tempted! At the grain mill, the guy had a cage full of Barred Rock Pullets, maybe a month old. Very tempting to get new layers. But I feel that I have enough birds now.

Wow! So sorry... Must've been difficult passing up on new BR's as your current ones are aging. So hard to pass up opportunities when a good breed comes available

 

[Ponypoor]

That wasn't a flock... it was a MOB!

Yes they get big! Likely this year’s babies and mamas. Once babies get a month or so old, the mamas band together 2 or 3 maybe 4 hens and raise their babies. It’s hilarious to see a huge band of babies with only a couple of adults. They can raise quite good clutch of eggs!

Gosh I love turkeys and would have some if I had the space! And no Mycoplasmosis….

 

[Ponypoor]

Wow! So sorry... Must've been difficult passing up on new BR's as your current ones are aging. So hard to pass up opportunities when a good breed comes available

But wise though. Never know if they have disease, and chicken math can happen fast

 

[Ponypoor]

Roost time. 15.5 weeksView attachment 4235996

View attachment 4235998comb is really odd. Sort of straight, sort of pea, not really either...

View attachment 4235999this afternoon hang out for color comparison

Gosh he’s gorgeous! I love the wild markings one gets from our backyard mixes!

 

[Ponypoor]

I was tempted! At the grain mill, the guy had a cage full of Barred Rock Pullets, maybe a month old. Very tempting to get new layers. But I feel that I have enough birds now.

Oh I would have been sorely tempted also. And BRs