Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

They look like they're roosting for toasty warmth .

No matter WHAT the number is, that's a LOT of birds to monitor! Discounting roos ~ one would hope for a slew of eggs w/ that crowd. I can see why you're saying no more new chicks. You have provided a nice roomy life for your flock.

We're getting a steady late Autumn egg supply from our 5 Silkies. Of course once they get old & stop laying they'll be good for bug control & fertilizer. Our Dominique surprisingly has given a couple eggs too.

W/ 6 hens its a handful for our small yard. We can't imagine handling more. Too much to monitor w/ health checks, feed, cleanups, flock drama, etc. I would love to keep my perfect number of 4 hens only but w/ the iffy lifespan of chickens just one unexpected death drastically reduces a flock dynamic to only 3 ~ so we over compensated w/ 6 to allow for natural attrition to keep a bigger group if/when we lose one. So here we are w/ 6 hens wondering which one will go 1st which logically will be the oldest ~ but one can never know for sure w/ chicken lifespans.

Like you said, they keep us wondering.

WEDNESDAY WATTLES ~ our only wattles chicken "Dana" (bearded Silkies have no wattles) ~ she oddly has one long wattle & one short. I posed a question once about her uneven pullet wattles & was assured as she turned adult they would straighten but here she is 7 yrs old w/ no change.
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Even in the summer they do that, all want to bunch together at the far end!

I laughed to see them giving Mr P and his ladies space last night - the youngsters give them a lot of respect.

I wouldn’t worry about her uneven wattles - it really gives her character I have some with odd toes and wattles.

 

[Ponypoor]

As independent as chickens are & even put themselves to roost, it's still a chore to account for all of them in the morning & at night. Why do we love these little 2 to 10 lb dearies so much?

Yep

It’s my night time routine, I wait until it’s dark and they have settled then do a final count. During the day when they are outside is the hard part. I group them so it’s easier.

Twice though I have had been one missed - Fluffy was the big scare! She is such a brat! Hiding under things so I don’t see her.

 

[BY Bob]

Yup ! Don’t do it!!!

In my defence I do have an inordinate number of elderly hens - who are enjoying the good life.

So do I. 60% of mine are now over 5 years old!

 

[Ponypoor]

Nice to see the kiddos using the heater to warm up under.
Flopsy and Mrs LC are snoozing looks like Penelope also.

Fluffy and Penelope, and Sophia is hiding under it, Laverne sitting next to it getting some warmth.

It’s a blustery day, windy, damp and chilly; it’s not overly cold but the wind makes it worse. The horses are eating in the hay hut, keeps their heads dry hahah.

 

[Ponypoor]

So do I. 60% of mine are now over 5 years old!

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The lawn ornaments

 

[SimpleJenn]

Pup comes first for sure

He had bloodwork done! Fingers crossed everything is back to normal!

 

[featherhead007]

As independent as chickens are & even put themselves to roost, it's still a chore to account for all of them in the morning & at night. Why do we love these little 2 to 10 lb dearies so much?

I count 12 chooks,but I count them at least three times per count to be sure I don’t miss any, and lock them out of the coop at night.
Leave no man (chook) behind!

 

[RoyalChick]

So do I. 60% of mine are now over 5 years old!

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How is Hattie doing? Looking good in that picture.

 

[RoyalChick]

Nice to see the kiddos using the heater to warm up under.
Flopsy and Mrs LC are snoozing looks like Penelope also.
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Fluffy and Penelope, and Sophia is hiding under it, Laverne sitting next to it getting some warmth.
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It’s a blustery day, windy, damp and chilly; it’s not overly cold but the wind makes it worse. The horses are eating in the hay hut, keeps their heads dry hahah.
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I hadn’t realized until recently that was the kind of heater you have.
I just have a small flat panel that is up by the main roost so they can keep their face (or fluffy butt) warm if need be.
It really doesn’t give out much heat.
I do worry about fire though because mine are so terribly dusty.

 

[Sylvester017]

They aren't chickens but their individual blinking eyes crack me up!