Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[TOMTE]

Happy Sunday! Have a yellow trout lily!

I'm about to get up and let the girls out... But I'm so comfy wrapped like a burrito in bed. Zzz...

 

[BY Bob]

FBA synopsis
19-26 April 2025​

Link to last week's synopsis by @SimpleJenn.

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@BY Bob

Nimue is three weeks old : her feathers are beginning to show what she will end up looking like.
Polish chickens sleep head downs and so do baby polish ! Polish cuddles melt hearts.
An interesting nest box experiment testing various fillings.
Scratch scratch..the sound of spring.
A clever chicken will always find a way to food.
Chickens know a pot was never meant to grow flowers in !
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@featherhead007

Having many kids around from different mums can be... complicated ... Or very simple !
Mum, chicks and Alex are learning more about each other.
Dakota needs some loving too !
Mama hen has laid an egg and it looks as if she is beginning to wean the chicks !
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@Grandma The Chicken

When Grandma comes in the humans coop she loves to share her wisdom, though the cat doesn't seem to appreciate.
Guess who is a useful helper !
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@knoturavggrl

A pile of twelve nap-attacks...and cleaning the brooder is the best reason for another nap !
As chicks, the SFH's temper could best be described as "hyper-aware".
Some interesting stuff about SFH in the US.
Let's not forget ...the silkies. Not wildlings but still very lively!
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@LhickenChicken

Chicks have finally hatched, but a little one has an issue . We hope for a positive outcome.
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@Ponypoor

Poor Clyde is still moulting !
Chickens that blend in can easily get lost, as happened to sweet MRs LC !
Muffy is limping, nurse Kelly tends her foot.
Who laid an egg in Reenie's hay net ?
More details on muffy's callus / bumble foot with pictures.
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@RebeccaBoyd

Oh no, George has creepy crawlies !
Silkie eggs update : tuesday and thursday.
Typical Rebecca : four broodies in a week .
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@Sally PB

Bath time for Little, and Stormy is next !
Sunny is this week's caption photo ! Congratulations, have fun
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@SimpleJenn

It's integration day and things seem to be going very well, especially for Marble. He thrives with chicks around, and seems in good term with Cadet.
A partridge Brahma and an egg oooops.
Hear, hear ! Marble and cadet crowing !
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@Sylvester017

Silkies are so lovely, even without a beard.
Keiko has a strange new haircut...did you say silkies are cute ?
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@TOMTE

What is this sound ?

Spoiler: Answers

Happy concentration, possibly pre-broody (Jenn) ; "proud of my nest" : a noise roos also make when checking nests for their hens (Ponypoor).

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Days of the week in Pictures !

Unclassified : check this picture of Nancy, @Marie2020 special smiling cat !

• Monday mugs :

@rural mouse's crew from the last week in Montana. @Ponypoor : multi generational mugs. @BY Bob's FBA portraits. And don't miss @knoturavggrl incredible photo shoot of the wildlings !

• Two for tuesday :

A wednesday Tuefer from @notabitail, @BY Bob's tiny twos.

• Thirsty Thursday:

Some wild Canadian water from @Ponypoor and an unusual waterer from @rural mouse

• Fluffy Friday

Pretty butts from @Ponypoor,

***************
FBA, a word to end this, posted after a long silence. Six weeks ago we lost our hen Laure in a way that left us angry and bitter. To move on from negative feelings I needed to take a step back from chicken stuff, and I gradually "dropped out" of BYC. But I'm attached to this thread and grateful for the kindness and help received here, so I'd like to still pop in just to do the synopsis once in a while. I hope no one finds this weird ! . Wish you all a nice weekend.

Thanks so much for doing this. We appreciate having you as part of the thread. Sorry to hear about Laurie and how it affected you.

 

[rural mouse]

The Sandhills were calling...

with a pair farther off answering.

Also, the curlews are back. Saw a fox bebopping along the creek overflow ditch the other day so am taking Sherlock along the main directions the fox has tried to come in for scent marking. Yesterday morning, he ran through a wide scattering of feathers. When I stepped on for a closer look, a hawk (little one) swooped out of the spruce tree headed for the upper drive area. It had something (its breakfast) in its talons. The feathers looked to be one of the pigeons from the shed by the blue horse trailer

(the shed: the wood covering the door left a crack they use to access for safe nesting sites). There looks to be close to 30 of them now, so some population control is a good thing. Couldn't get a good look at the hawk so not sure exactly what it is. Merlin, northern harrier, cooper's, one the other similar birds....it swept low enough to the ground for Sherlock to give chase. And it was well fed on NOT my chickens. In addition to the pigeons, there's a couple of flickers around and a family of grey partridge that sheltered along the pea hedge off and on all winter. I've also been hearing the occasional pheasant call.

Time to get some new root plants in the ground so will try to do some outdoor garden stuff today/this week and keep eyes open to try IDing the hawk.

 

[TOMTE]

Yesterday dad and I started on an expansion for the run

These 4x4s are buried 2½-3ft in the ground. All we're going to do is attach snow fencing to the run and wrap it around, and then put some garden netting over the top, and add a little access door to their run so they can get out there (still a WIP)

Their run will be a little over twice the size that it is now!

Nothing fancy or expensive, we're just using what we already have laying around. It won't be the most secure but until we can get around to converting that old playhouse, it'll do.

 

[TOMTE]

The Sandhills were calling...View attachment 4108471with a pair farther off answering.

Also, the curlews are back. Saw a fox bebopping along the creek overflow ditch the other day so am taking Sherlock along the main directions the fox has tried to come in for scent marking. Yesterday morning, he ran through a wide scattering of feathers. When I stepped on for a closer look, a hawk (little one) swooped out of the spruce tree headed for the upper drive area. It had something (its breakfast) in its talons. The feathers looked to be one of the pigeons from the shed by the blue horse trailerView attachment 4108475(the shed: the wood covering the door left a crack they use to access for safe nesting sites). There looks to be close to 30 of them now, so some population control is a good thing. Couldn't get a good look at the hawk so not sure exactly what it is. Merlin, northern harrier, cooper's, one the other similar birds....it swept low enough to the ground for Sherlock to give chase. And it was well fed on NOT my chickens. In addition to the pigeons, there's a couple of flickers around and a family of grey partridge that sheltered along the pea hedge off and on all winter. I've also been hearing the occasional pheasant call.

Time to get some new root plants in the ground so will try to do some outdoor garden stuff today/this week and keep eyes open to try IDing the hawk.

Northern Harriers are fairly large and have owlish heads, and they usually glide low to the ground while hunting. Pretty easy to ID against small raptors like merlins which are about the size of a robin or a bit bigger.

Cooper's hawks are larger than merlins but not as large as the harrier. Look for a long tail and rounded wings.

ETA: cooper's hawks are very good at catching birds out of the air. You'll often see them hanging out a little ways away from bird feeders or other places where songbirds congregate. I saw one snatch a chickadee off the bird bath once! If it's going after pigeons, cooper's is a good bet (or sharp-shinned, if you have those in your area)

 

[TOMTE]

Raptor tax! It's just a bit chilly this morning (38⁰F currently). Esme is doing her best flamingo impression, keeping her feet warm

 

[rural mouse]

Northern Harriers are fairly large and have owlish heads, and they usually glide low to the ground while hunting. Pretty easy to ID against small raptors like merlins which are about the size of a robin or a bit bigger.

Cooper's hawks are larger than merlins but not as large as the harrier. Look for a long tail and rounded wings.

ETA: cooper's hawks are very good at catching birds out of the air. You'll often see them hanging out a little ways away from bird feeders or other places where songbirds congregate. I saw one snatch a chickadee off the bird bath once! If it's going after pigeons, cooper's is a good bet (or sharp-shinned, if you have those in your area)

I saw part of the breast and the BUTT with talons holding something red. It skimmed the ground AWAY from me. Head shape/body size...I got NOTHING to help with that.

 

[TOMTE]

I saw part of the breast and the BUTT with talons holding something red. It skimmed the ground AWAY from me. Head shape/body size...I got NOTHING to help with that.

Dang it... I'm interested in what it is! I love raptors Do you have the Merlin app? I love it. You can do step-by-step ID or sound ID which is really cool. And you can log your sightings!

Tax:
Merlin does not recognize chicken sounds. No matter how loud they're screaming

 

[Ponypoor]

I saw part of the breast and the BUTT with talons holding something red. It skimmed the ground AWAY from me. Head shape/body size...I got NOTHING to help with that.

Had two hawks wheeling about on Friday afternoon. Likely checking out my place. I didn’t have the chooks out at that time, I just returned home from work.

Yesterday it was crazy windy and all I saw was the neighbours turkey vultures. It was interesting watching them come into a landing in the high wind - they would tuck their wings close to their body and drop down smooth and easy for a lovely touchdown. Truly wonderful aerial creatures.

Meanwhile I was being blown off the step ladder while trying to prune the fruit trees!

 

[rural mouse]

Dang it... I'm interested in what it is! I love raptors Do you have the Merlin app? I love it. You can do step-by-step ID or sound ID which is really cool. And you can log your sightings!

Tax:
Merlin does not recognize chicken sounds. No matter how loud they're screaming
View attachment 4108490

I have the Audubon app. Has similar abilities