Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I suspect it is more likely personality/temperament. BRanch would happily take on ANY chick. I've had roosters that ignored all chicks - and I KNOW some were theirs because they were the only male with 'x' trait given to chicks. I've had other roosters that when mom gave them up, happily 'fostered' the female chicks - would 'gently' peck/deter the male chicks (at the time, I didn't understand it - as not all the males had 'revealed themselves'...so I didn't know why they were okay with some and not others ......it wasn't until alter that I realized he was just building his harem!!! . I will say, that is the only rooster I have ever seen do that, though!)

That was one smart rooster. Recruit them young and make them yours. If one of those little boys doesn't make it, that's one less competitor.

Yes indeed, one smart rooster.

 

[BY Bob]

I can officially state the pea tree hedge is 150 feet long. It took 3 50' lengths of drip hose connected to run the length of it. Hooked up to Sherlock's favorite watering spigot, by the gate. Next year, starting work on running the other hedge, roses through the lilacs. Should be a steady water source for adventurous birds like Lark and Indigo.

The pea tree pods are popping, so they're hitting those up for the extra protein. I don't think the babies have been brought all the way over to the pea hedge, but they've been introduced to the Nanking cherries.

Such a wondrous world of exotic foods you provide to your chickens. They are very lucky.

 

[BY Bob]

They're fun to have around. Thankfully our son is still here and he can take care of them when we're away.

That's handy. We all need backup at some point.

 

[BY Bob]

Surprisingly, yes. She is unpoofed. I find her poofed still so surprising that I try to capture that every chance I get. As a leghorn mix, she's a shocker.

I imagine that is what Aster would look like. Glynda was quite a site all poofed out but nothing like Lady Featherington was. She was epic.

 

[BY Bob]

Éowyn is what I remember as Maine Coons from past cat shows & they are big & beautiful. But what I like best is her temperament w/ your flock. Did you have her 1st & then get chickens? or did she come as a kitten & then raised w/chickens/chicks? How are the other cats around your birds?.

The chickens were here first and she was full grown before I let her out to meet them. Glynda was a young pullet at the time but she took Éowyn on and taught the cat her place in the pecking order.

She has been good with the chickens all along. My experience with cats and chickens is that the cats have never messed with full size chickens. Chicks are something different.

At this point my group has accepted Éowyn as part of the group. They alert and tell everyone she is there but Éowyn can even sniff Aurora's tail feathers without fear of reprisal. I could not have wished for a better outcome.

The other 2 cats are not allowed outside and really have not asked to go out. They were both barn kittens when we adopted them. I feel like they know about the outside and are not interested.

When Hattie was in the house recently because of the heat, Enzo was interested in her but Davis could have cared less. He's seen them before.

 

[RoyalChick]

Pony Sunday
I really just have too many foxes around for comfort.

 

[drstratton]

Pony Sunday
I really just have too many foxes around for comfort.

Someone shared video of a fox about 4 miles from our house, but I've never seen one here. We have had problems with coyotes and one year I'm sure a skunk killed off some of our chickens, but that was probably 20 years ago. The biggest problem we have are packs of dogs. People just let them run and they can decimate a flock in no time, kill and leave them lay. That's why we put in the fenced chicken yard in 2020.

Hope your girls stay safe.

 

[BY Bob]

Pony Sunday
I really just have too many foxes around for comfort.

In my life I have only ever seen 2 fox. I can't believe his many you have. Truly frightening.

 

[bgmathteach]

Pony Sunday.

Hubby was trimming the hedge and almost cut the nest with the hedge trimmers - he saw the nest at the last minute...and has since taken some of the trimmed branches and stuck them back into the hedge to give the nest a bit of shelter from view and from sun.

They must only be a few days old????

And, no, my camera still doesn't connect to my computer - hubby took a pic with his phone and emailed it to me.

 

[RoyalChick]

In my life I have only ever seen 2 fox. I can't believe his many you have. Truly frightening.

These are from before I had chickens, and I may have posted one of them before, but you can see way more than 2 foxes at a time here!