Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I know it is frustrating for you - but darn are they cute!!!!

Next year when you get new/more chicks, you need to let them 'brood' them. You'll need to get 6, and give them each 2!

The Palace is large enough for an even dozen! (And maybe, just maybe, one 'pullet' will be an accidental cockerel and then you won't really have to worry about broodies, as they will efficiently hatch the eggs for you and then you can have your own 'Mutts are Us Pullets' business. And you can periodically hold back one or two as you need to to continue to get eggs or as an older girl passes. If you have an even dozen (11 girls and a roo), then there will always be someone laying (except during molting season unless you keep an early spring hatch back each year).

11 is a lot for 1 roo to manage, but I suspect Bernie will fill in here and there with escort duties - she would do that at times with Babs.... so why not???

What makes you think I will be limited to only two broodies? Pooh is now exploring places outside the nest boxes where she could make a nest.
With Sylvie that will be 4 of 6 all broody at once.
I tell you, they are all stark raving MAD!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Complaining about the heat and the mosquitoes Tax View attachment 3872316

No AC? Or fans?

Xzit looks like she is right at home there.

 

[Ponypoor]

Spot the cat time
View attachment 3872434

I see your moggy it’s nice Princess hangs out with him.

 

[Ponypoor]

A few photos:

These guys are allowed to roost at night and exist in the coop but the flock will not allow them out in the run or outside with them . Makes it difficult to get good photos of them but they are alive and well and growing fast.
View attachment 3872623
Random flock pics taken today:
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Gosh they sure have grown haven’t they? They are just lovely, and of course the rest of you flock is equally beautiful. There is just something about hens pecking about isn’t there?

 

[Ponypoor]

Two broodies for Twofer Tuesday.
No, this is not an old photo. Tassels and Piglet have brought the band back together.
Sylvie failed her day release and joined them so I have popped her back in jail.
This is never ending!
View attachment 3872666

Awwww so cute but rather hot for them I imagine. Have you tried a large fan blowing one them? That’s my next step for Whiskers on the weekend, I plan on putting the large high velocity fan in the hen house blowing outwards so when she tries to go inside she will need to walk into that wind.

I am grasping at straws here…

 

[Ponypoor]

I know it is frustrating for you - but darn are they cute!!!!

Next year when you get new/more chicks, you need to let them 'brood' them. You'll need to get 6, and give them each 2!

The Palace is large enough for an even dozen! (And maybe, just maybe, one 'pullet' will be an accidental cockerel and then you won't really have to worry about broodies, as they will efficiently hatch the eggs for you and then you can have your own 'Mutts are Us Pullets' business. And you can periodically hold back one or two as you need to to continue to get eggs or as an older girl passes. If you have an even dozen (11 girls and a roo), then there will always be someone laying (except during molting season unless you keep an early spring hatch back each year).

11 is a lot for 1 roo to manage, but I suspect Bernie will fill in here and there with escort duties - she would do that at times with Babs.... so why not???

Bet Bernie will hog the Roo as her own like Marty does with Mr P!

 

[Ponypoor]

What makes you think I will be limited to only two broodies? Pooh is now exploring places outside the nest boxes where she could make a nest.
With Sylvie that will be 4 of 6 all broody at once.
I tell you, they are all stark raving MAD!!!

That silly Ruth is still checking out the empty water bucket hanging in Reenie’s stall.

And Betty looking for spots to lay eggs, then there is Sophia again sitting for hours but not laying anything. She would be the only one I would give any chicks to; being ancient I won’t risk her health like last year and let her linger for weeks on end.

Hopefully she doesn’t go broody.

 

[ManueB]

Such a lovely flock.
Those vet bills are very different indeed - I wonder how much a vet earns in each country.

I think like for all higher salaries the difference is huge, the gap in salaries between the US and most european countries has really increased, and even more since Covid. Of course the welfare systems are so different, the costs of living are difficult to compare.

….

My big issue is with the other side of things, like mortgage utilities etc. that’s my big expenses and worry - since Covid lockdown costs have been insane, fuel, food and material items, utilities, all have skyrocketed. It’s crazy! It’s no wonder people have high debt here these days - I really don’t know how people can have all the high end cars and houses with granite counter tops etc! I want to know where they work! I can guarantee it’s not in this area - I am sure they commute to Toronto every day, I did that commute and I am not willing to spend 3-4 hours a day commuting.

Right now I have a 20 minute drive to work, so is it worth the lower pay?

All I can say is, I am just thankful the chickens pay for their feed and part of the horses grain. Now if only they could pay my land tax

Life whining tax

Teeheehee - silly silkie chicks from last June 2023
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That's very sad, and I think unfortunately it's like this for a lot of people here as well.
You certainly know best what's the right choice for you, and which options are not possible ! It's just that it sounded very difficult when you were so far away from home with a job that made you unhappy, and now your job is ok and close to home.

And Chipie!I've always loved her - and her spunk for such a teenie girl.

She jumped right on my face yesterday evening again when I wasn't quick enough to open the coop so she could go back to her nest .

I don't remember how much I explained on this thread about her origin, sorry if it's an old story. Our friend Gaston (the farmer) who gave her to us said she was pretty old, at least 7. She is a member of a bantam lineage that people here keep in farms as broodies, and all the hens look exactly like her. The first time I saw one free ranging on the road I thought Chipie had run away ! About twenty-five years ago, a man from a village higher up the valley gave our friend two breeding pairs of bantams. He then gave their offspring to many families in our village. All the descending cocks look just like Théo but smaller, and the hens like Chipie. There must have been a lot of inbreeding but on the other hand since most are free ranged and not closely cared for, only the toughest and healthiest survived.

@Ponypoor by the way, most of these bantams are still kept as pairs. When I see them it's usually one couple or two couples hanging out together. It seems to work out quite well.

Théo is now in couple with Piou-piou (I think Chipie was a bit too much for him !) and they are quite happy. Like all couples they do have some fights, and they are both very jealous of any infidelity.

Tuefer couple.

 

[Ponypoor]

I think like for all higher salaries the difference is huge, the gap in salaries between the US and most european countries has really increased, and even more since Covid. Of course the welfare systems are so different, the costs of living are difficult to compare.

That's very sad, and I think unfortunately it's like this for a lot of people here as well.
You certainly know best what's the right choice for you, and which options are not possible ! It's just that it sounded very difficult when you were so far away from home with a job that made you unhappy, and now your job is ok and close to home.

She jumped right on my face yesterday evening again when I wasn't quick enough to open the coop so she could go back to her nest .

I don't remember how much I explained on this thread about her origin, sorry if it's an old story. Our friend Gaston (the farmer) who gave her to us said she was pretty old, at least 7. She is a member of a bantam lineage that people here keep in farms as broodies, and all the hens look exactly like her. The first time I saw one free ranging on the road I thought Chipie had run away ! About twenty-five years ago, a man from a village higher up the valley gave our friend two breeding pairs of bantams. He then gave their offspring to many families in our village. All the descending cocks look just like Théo but smaller, and the hens like Chipie. There must have been a lot of inbreeding but on the other hand since most are free ranged and not closely cared for, only the toughest and healthiest survived.

@Ponypoor by the way, most of these bantams are still kept as pairs. When I see them it's usually one couple or two couples hanging out together. It seems to work out quite well.

Théo is now in couple with Piou-piou (I think Chipie was a bit too much for him !) and they are quite happy. Like all couples they do have some fights, and they are both very jealous of any infidelity.

Tuefer couple.
View attachment 3872706View attachment 3872709View attachment 3872712

Gosh they are so darn adorable

 

[Marie2020]

Gosh they are so darn adorable

Be careful @ManueB
Kelly has her eyes on your beauties and her chicken maths is awful