Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I've been reading where I can but I think I've probably missed some stuff these past few days.

Got this egg yesterday. Speckles? Blood spots (I hope not! Gonna check for mites again just in case)??

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Beautiful speckles How lovely!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I was sitting at the table talking to mom for a few minutes this morning before she got ready for work. She asked how the silkies were doing and I informed her of the evilness Poppet is doing to me by going broody. I expected her to glare at me and say "no more chicks" or "Don't you dare set her". Did I get that? Nooooo, instead she looks at me for a second and says "Can she handle 6?" Wait, what? I asked her 6 what. She replied "could she go get her 6 buff orps from Rural King or Tractor Supply tomorrow" . Ok, mom is serious about adding orps this spring. I figured she might have been bluffing or changed her mind as it has not been brought back up. I had to tell her no, Poppet was not ready, I really wanted to break her and if she refused to break she needed to set at least 2 weeks. I also brought up my idea of finding orp hatching eggs, and possibly chocolate ones as well. She shot that idea down real quick. She does not want any color other then buffs, these will be her chickens. She also does not want to go the egg route as she wants only pullets. She does not want to take a chance on hatching a boy as she would want to keep a buff rooster. She knows I love George, she knows I also have the 2 silkie boys. She said 4 boys would be too many, and honestly they would. She is not going to get into a argument with me over replacing George with a buff boy. George stays as she knows I love him. As far as Rural King goes she has been pleased with the orps they offered, does not need fancy ones and that is the route she wants to take.

So, we have came to a agreement. I'm going to try to break Poppet, I told her that. I also am working 3 to 4 days a week and everyone knows mom is not going to go out there on her days off and mess with her, she told me so. It is all up to Poppet, if she is still broody in 2 weeks and refusing to break I will give her the green light to go to Rural King and get her buffs. Going by Poppets 2 previous broody spells, I am going to Rural King in 2 weeks. Poppet is a hard nut to crack dang it.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Thanks for the information!

Wattle wednesday
At least one of those marans better be a girl!!! Although I'm fairly sure SassySquatch is at least.
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Breezy boy. Look at those chunky legs!View attachment 4082407
Teeniest wattles
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Marans leghorn cross

Can I get a exact age on these chicks please. I am by no means being a debbie downer.

Chick 1, boy as I am sure you know.
Chick 3, also boy.

Chick 2, I hate to say it but it is a boy. Those are teeny tiny wattles yes and not much of a comb yet. Look at the wattles though, while the comb is still flesh colored those tiny wattles are already pink.

Marans and Marans crosses are going to have larger combs and wattles as adults, I know that. I have personally hatched 150+ Marans and Marans crosses in 5 years time. I have learned that if by 3 to 4 weeks combs and wattles pop they are boys. A pullet should not sprout the hint of wattles before 5 weeks. They can have the start of a comb like chick 2, but absolutely no wattles.

Here is the good thing though, Marans and their crosses make wonderful roosters. They are also stunning as adults. Is chick 2 pure Marans? If so he will loose the brown smutty feathering by his 3rd or 4th juvenile molt between 6 to 8 weeks. I have had countless with that and it is gone by 8 weeks pullet or cockerel. If you are open to keeping one of the boys I would keep a eye on him. He would be a good rooster to back cross on any pullets you keep to add size and darker egg color for future generations.

 

[TOMTE]

Can I get a exact age on these chicks please. I am by no means being a debbie downer.

Chick 1, boy as I am sure you know.
Chick 3, also boy.

Chick 2, I hate to say it but it is a boy. Those are teeny tiny wattles yes and not much of a comb yet. Look at the wattles though, while the comb is still flesh colored those tiny wattles are already pink.

Marans and Marans crosses are going to have larger combs and wattles as adults, I know that. I have personally hatched 150+ Marans and Marans crosses in 5 years time. I have learned that if by 3 to 4 weeks combs and wattles pop they are boys. A pullet should not sprout the hint of wattles before 5 weeks. They can have the start of a comb like chick 2, but absolutely no wattles.

Here is the good thing though, Marans and their crosses make wonderful roosters. They are also stunning as adults. Is chick 2 pure Marans? If so he will loose the brown smutty feathering by his 3rd or 4th juvenile molt between 6 to 8 weeks. I have had countless with that and it is gone by 8 weeks pullet or cockerel. If you are open to keeping one of the boys I would keep a eye on him. He would be a good rooster to back cross on any pullets you keep to add size and darker egg color for future generations.

@SimpleJenn If you need a home for any of these little dudes...

UGH!! NO!! I can't

Unless...



No, we still need to build our bigger setup. Dad doesn't want a roo.






I WANT A ROO THOUGH!

 

[Marie2020]

Yup…

Imagine 46 huge smelly cecal poops

At least six times over

 

[Marie2020]

Frankly...I want about 241 other breeds myself

I thought you were Kelly for a moment then

 

[SimpleJenn]

@RebeccaBoyd thanks for the info! My neighbor will be spoiled for choice on marans roos then. Tomorrow the younger chicklets will be 4 weeks old. I have I believe 2 marans pullets, Sassysquatch and a younger one.
@TOMTE if you want ANY of my boys (other than the cemani and probably Breezy) I will let you have him.

When Marble moves to his new home I will be splitting my three coops to hopefully have a resident roo each...one of the bantams, cemani, and Breezy. I will also be getting tolbunt and laced polish eggs later this year if you want a pompom boy or girl.

 

[Marie2020]

You remind me of my folks' retired Marine neighbor. Elmer (funny name in itself) loved pranks & jokes, plagued his gentle wife & MIL who lived w/them, & pranked us any time we visited. He had his own "fun house" full of funny posters, signs, license plates, & rubber chickens sticking out of the walls/ceiling, & he had an old toilet w/ a rose bush growing in it which he labeled the "Rose Bowl"

When we visited we were always objects of Elmer's pranks. Once Mom & I wore galoshes to walk thru a muddy path to their house & we left the muddy boots on their porch before entering their house. When Mom & I left we couldn't fit our feet into our galoshes ~ he had stuffed my boot toes w/newspaper & Mom's boots w/ rocks! His gentle wife & MIL were always getting embarrassed from him.

Elmer's wife, his sweet little MIL, & my Mom
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Elmer's MIL was a sweet little white haired lady from the Ozarks & was the kindest gentlest sweetest human I have ever known. My Russian Mom called her "Babunia" which is an endearment for "Grandmother." Elmer thought it was funny to call his MIL a "Baboon" !!!!

These are just some of his pranks & jokes which we all came to accept cuz really, he was witty. He told a story of his Marine days when his buddies went out drinking & he waddled w/ one foot on the sidewalk & one foot on the street to simulate being drunk. He was just a fun nutty guy yet sweet & kind at the same time.

Elmer couldn't take a normal standing photo ~ he had to put me in a wheelbarrow for an "action" pic!

c. 1956 summer
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Pony Sunday
Same day c. 1956 ~ my Jiggy & me
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I've got a little song for you

 

[ValerieJ]

When I magnified, one had a black back & one had a brownish back... a mated pair maybe? or just 2 males swimming along?
BUFFLEHEADS

Definitely a mated pair. There was another male nearby.

 

[TOMTE]

@SimpleJenn If you need a home for any of these little dudes...

UGH!! NO!! I can't

Unless...



No, we still need to build our bigger setup. Dad doesn't want a roo.






I WANT A ROO THOUGH!

"No dad, I'm like 99.99999% sure it's a pullet (leaves room for error, see). Here, go ahead and hold it. Isn't it so cute and soft? Aww. Go on, bond with it! Look, you're best buddies already. Wait. It IS a roo?! Wow! I never would have thought..."