Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I have done exactly that. And indeed the Groundhog and the raccoons cannot climb it.
However, it never crossed my mind the raccoons could do this. I am going out to oil that metal support right now!
View attachment 3244349

They have earned their reputations as thieves!

 

[BY Bob]

Early fluffy butt picView attachment 3244356

Gorgeous!

 

[Ponypoor]

So happy I have my cameras back up running.

Mr Pompei has been roosting with the big gals

Here he has his head tucked on top of the nest box

 

[RoyalChick]

They have earned their reputations as thieves!

Geez they are smart.
My generous application of cooking oil worked....... until they figured out a new way of climbing that worked even with the slippy post.
It is late, but now it is war! So I am off out to make a baffle in the dark.

All this is happening right outside the Chicken Palace where my tax payment are snuggled up together.

 

[Ponypoor]

I have done exactly that. And indeed the Groundhog and the raccoons cannot climb it.
However, it never crossed my mind the raccoons could do this. I am going out to oil that metal support right now!
View attachment 3244349

Put a ‘cap’ at the top of the flashing / post so they can’t get up the pile. It will need to be wide though, about 2’ radius (4’ span). I did this for the squirrels, put a plastic cap on the bird feeder pole.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

What to Feed the Joint Tribe?

I have reached a decision point as it relates to feed. Now that everyone is mixed I need to choose a joint feed. I have switched the big girls to feather fixer when Hattie started molting.

They clearly prefer chick feed. Once they were able to avail themselves of either Feather Fixer or Starter Grower they demolished the chick feed (Starter Grower).

The Rascals are now 15 weeks old.

I'm leaning towards one more big bag of Starter Grower to get them to 18 weeks. It has the protein that the bigs need to make feathers and the nutrition the Rascals need to grow. And they all love it.

What does everyone think? Does this make sense? Am I missing something?

I think as others pointed out that if your ladies will eat oyster shell and produce good eggshells thereby you should be fine with grower for longer, and the higher protein is good for the molters. I’m considering the protein & calcium issue myself, will post on it.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

They have earned their reputations as thieves!

They are master climbers, like little bears.

 

[BY Bob]

Geez they are smart.
My generous application of cooking oil worked....... until they figured out a new way of climbing that worked even with the slippy post.
It is late, but now it is war! So I am off out to make a baffle in the dark.

All this is happening right outside the Chicken Palace where my tax payment are snuggled up together.
View attachment 3244391

Best of luck general! You can win this battle for sure.

 

[BY Bob]

I think as others pointed out that if your ladies will eat oyster shell and produce good eggshells thereby you should be fine with grower for longer, and the higher protein is good for the molters. I’m considering the protein & calcium issue myself, will post on it.

Thanks. That's what I have done. It's hard to believe they are 15 weeks old already.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Proteins

Have you all seen this discussion from earlier this year? I read this thread through, as I'm looking at buying more feed now, and want high-ish protein, and have had a soft-egg issue pretty well solved by supplementing with yogurt and crushed calcium, which complicates things for me.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/16-or-18-nutrena-feed.1512545/post-25434883
I respect @U_Stormcrow's experience and brains on these things, and I know Buckeyes are supposed to get at least a bit more protein than the usual production chickens (maybe all heritage breeds are), here's Stormcrow's bit which I found very informative (which if you read on they're not actually following in their own tribes, for certain reasons)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/16-or-18-nutrena-feed.1512545/post-25435442