Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Castor's afraid of them, but is getting willing to defend his food dish. Surprisingly, he actually set foot INSIDE the coop the other evening. That's a first. He's done out with me for close up, but has never crossed the threshold.

The marmalade cat doesn't go over to the coop, but doesn't run from the chickens, either. The other neighbor's cat (the white manx) will go into the coop when mouse hunting. I get called to come help over that as she is NOT intimidated by any of the chickens.

Original Manx were a very special breed & a hair smarter than the average kitty & much too active to be a confined house cat. & not as skittish or afraid as the average. Don't know what genetics make them so special but I wouldn't mind a Manx or a Maine Coon for their size & smarts. The only problem w/ Manx nowadays is breeders have crossbred Manx so much to get different color varieties I fear the original feral characteristics have been watered down.

MANX ~ no tail & higher hind quarters w/longer back legs.

 

[Sylvester017]

Spent a few minutes with the chicks, kiddo did very well.
View attachment 4089203
Squatch looking majestic
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They've already figured out the feeder and waterer behind it.
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Starting to look more like chickens!
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Looking for snacks
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Periwinkle update, she's looking good.

TY for Periwinkle ~ she is beautiful indeed I think those blues are stunning! Hey, a couple tree stumps, logs, recycled doghouse, old chairs or side tables (& a xylophone teehee) for entertainment & those chicks are good to go!

Our doghouse snooze shacks & sandbath box

 

[rural mouse]

Spring is in the air. The new coop arrived early today. It came in two massive boxes, this should be something akin to a HUGE Ikea build. We have begun the leveling process to prepare the ground. I am excited to build the shed but the ground work is not so fun.

I have been casually stalking Red Barn a breeder local to me to see if I could snag a couple of silkie chicks to raise with my SFH’s and I did it! Two cuties we will be picking up tomorrow. Does driving an hr each way to pick up two chicks officially make me a crazy chicken lady?? I think it just might.

The fuzzy feet made me do it
The chipmunk is a partridge from black, it may feather out black apparently (someone help me understand this) the other is black.
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Partridge that may feather out black......???? NO idea how that works. Another research rabbit hole for me to dive down later.

 

[rural mouse]

Original Manx were a very special breed & a hair smarter than the average kitty & much too active to be a confined house cat. & not as skittish or afraid as the average. Don't know what genetics make them so special but I wouldn't mind a Manx or a Maine Coon for their size & smarts. The only problem w/ Manx nowadays is breeders have crossbred Manx so much to get different color varieties I fear the original feral characteristics have been watered down.

MANX ~ no tail & higher hind quarters w/longer back legs.

We had a calico Manx when I was born. She was at least 21 when she died, and when I was a baby, would let me bury her in the sandbox. No pics of her with me, though.

last spring

and vigilant Indigo

 

[knoturavggrl]

Partridge that may feather out black......???? NO idea how that works. Another research rabbit hole for me to dive down later.

It’s okay, I will attempt to clarify when I pick them up tomorrow. I cannot guarantee I will understand the explanation but I will sure do my best!

 

[featherhead007]

Partridge that may feather out black......???? NO idea how that works. Another research rabbit hole for me to dive down later.

 

[Sylvester017]

Oh gosh, so cute! Little puff balls.

rural mouse can explain the genetics & yes there is such a Silkie as Dark Partridge ~ it will have a gold collar & gold wingtips but full grown most of the black feathers overtake covering up the pretty gold feathers.

Here are our two Dark Partridge chicks that grew out almost all shiny black. They were sold by Amber Waves Silkies and Buckaboo Farms,

Amber Waves chick

Buckaboo chick

Adult hen feathers totally different but if they turn their head or stretch their neck the gold collar reveals. The gold wingtips show a little when they flap their wings.

 

[Sylvester017]

We had a calico Manx when I was born. She was at least 21 when she died, and when I was a baby, would let me bury her in the sandbox. No pics of her with me, though.


View attachment 4089294last spring

View attachment 4089295and vigilant Indigo

Oh, how lucky you had one of the early Manx! My friend had a white Manx w/ a small black patch on her back...this was over 35 years ago. I was intrigued by the human vocabulary the cat understood. She thought she was a puppy & would chase a wadded ball of paper & bring it back to my palm to throw it for her to chase again ~ I guess those strong hind legs never tire ~ a 1/2 hour before she slowed down! My friend said the cat was so hyper smart they had to train her w/commands to keep her active & engaged.

I'm not so confident the newer Manx crossbreeds would be as good. 45 years ago I bred Persian cats & attended cat shows where obtaining a show Manx would've been easy but sometimes it's just not always the right time to add a pet ~ I already had 5 Persians at home


My DD w/our Persian momma ~ DD loved animals ~ this kitty was putty in DDs arms.
c.1973

 

[Sylvester017]

FLUFFY BUTTS BFTP 2011 (early ~ I'm gone tomorrow)

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

"And I think it's gonna be a long, long time til'" they get out from under there. Yeah, I don't think they'll get out from under the trailer anytime soon.

Especially her...