Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

I say this all the time, we all have unique environments in which our flocks exist. We can't all run our flocks the way each other does. We need to do the best we can for the chickens in our care. As long as we do that, who can argue. They key is that the chickens have a great life.

There is nothing that tells me that your chickens don't have a great life, hence you are doing a good job. Keep up the good work.

Let's all learn from each other so we can be better guardians of our flocks. None of those that post here are sitting in judgment of anyone else. We are all just trying to share so others can learn from our experiences and our flocks can lead longer and safer lives.

I just want to add, that I rant a bit. I'm not good at making a point while taking everyones feelings into account I'm afraid. I'm far too passionate about the subject. Please do not feel offended.
Seriously, I am not making judgments on anyones keeping arrangements here.
As Bob writes, we do the best we can with what we have and know, on these three threads at least. Many of you go to lengths I would not even consider to try and ensure your chickens have the best standard of care you can give them. I often look downright careless by comparison. It is not that I don't care as most of you will know; I just have different keeping arrangements and different objectives which I hope lead me to a better understanding of chicken behaviour.

 

[micstrachan]

Broody Update

So it’s been an interesting morning. Cashew has not acted broody. I have heard the occasional trill, but no beach ball, no clucking, no screeching. I think the fact that she laid late in the day yesterday helps.

However, Ester (BR pullet) is broody. She’s obsessing over the mini red coop where she laid her egg earlier. I removed the egg and closed the coop. She has persisted, trying to figure out how to get in. (I’ll get a video; she’s doing it at this moment.) Minnie, (Buckeye pullet) was also acting broody, but seemed to get over it when I took her egg and removed her from the box. Buttercup is screeching from a different box. This is common for her when she still needs to lay her egg, so I’ll give her a little time. Oy vey!

What else? Ruby is still doing amazingly well, but has already started dropping feathers. She did this the last two times she was on hormones, too.

Nope. She no longer lays but every so often just spends a couple of hours sitting in a nest box. That's why I had to add a third box. She was causing backups.

Oh, yes! I think I knew that, but forgot.

 

[BY Bob]

I just want to add, that I rant a bit. I'm not good at making a point while taking everyones feelings into account I'm afraid. I'm far too passionate about the subject. Please do not feel offended.
Seriously, I am not making judgments on anyones keeping arrangements here.
As Bob writes, we do the best we can with what we have and know, on these three threads at least. Many of you go to lengths I would not even consider to try and ensure your chickens have the best standard of care you can give them. I often look downright careless by comparison. It is not that I don't care as most of you will know; I just have different keeping arrangements and different objectives which I hope lead me to a better understanding of chicken behaviour.

And I personally love that you are who you are. I would not want you to change one bit Shad. I truly appreciate that you have chosen to join us here.

 

[BY Bob]

Broody Update

So it’s been an interesting morning. Cashew has not acted broody. I have heard the occasional trill, but no beach ball, no clucking, no screeching. I think the fact that she laid late in the day yesterday helps.

However, Ester (BR pullet) is broody. She’s obsessing over the mini red coop where she laid her egg earlier. I removed the egg and closed the coop. She has persisted, trying to figure out how to get in. (I’ll get a video; she’s doing it at this moment.) Minnie, (Buckeye pullet) was also acting broody, but seemed to get over it when I took her egg and removed her from the box. Buttercup is screeching from a different box. This is common for her when she still needs to lay her egg, so I’ll give her a little time. Oy vey!

What else? Ruby is still doing amazingly well, but has already started dropping feathers. She did this the last two times she was on hormones, too.

Oh, yes! I think I knew that, but forgot.

I certainly do not have your broody issues. Sansa has given up the search for a nesting spot. Everyone else is in drop and go mode now.

 

[micstrachan]

I just want to add, that I rant a bit. I'm not good at making a point while taking everyones feelings into account I'm afraid. I'm far too passionate about the subject. Please do not feel offended.
Seriously, I am not making judgments on anyones keeping arrangements here.
As Bob writes, we do the best we can with what we have and know, on these three threads at least. Many of you go to lengths I would not even consider to try and ensure your chickens have the best standard of care you can give them. I often look downright careless by comparison. It is not that I don't care as most of you will know; I just have different keeping arrangements and different objectives which I hope lead me to a better understanding of chicken behaviour.

I know, Shad. I should not have taken personal offense and I’m sorry. I think I’m being a little over sensitive because of all the broodiness combined with worrying about Ruby and Dorothy. Please, by all means, keep the rants coming. I find your perspective most educational. If I didn’t value all perspectives and experiences around chicken keeping, I’d be a hypocrite saying I want the best for my birds. One can’t probably provide the best without knowing what the best is. So thank you.

I’m sorry, Bob, if I created any tension on your thread. Not my intention. I hope to be part of this community for a long time.

 

[micstrachan]

And I personally love that you are who you are. I would not want you to change one bit Shad. I truly appreciate that you have chosen to join us here.

Same here!

 

[featherhead007]

I certainly do not have your broody issues. Sansa has given up the search for a nesting spot. Everyone else is in drop and go mode now.

My new roo dug a hole inside the barn/coop floor today, so that my Ameraucana hen would have her own nest to lay in. I watched the whole thing from a distance. Jaffar really is one cool roo!

 

[ValerieJ]

Nope. She no longer lays but every so often just spends a couple of hours sitting in a nest box. That's why I had to add a third box. She was causing backups.

Well, obviously she likes a leisurely cup of coffee and a good book. me too.

 

[ValerieJ]

I often look downright careless by comparison.

Hardly! You know more about chickens in their natural habitat than most of us will ever know. We are all having a unique and wonderful "fluffy butt" experience.

My new roo dug a hole inside the barn/coop floor today, so that my Ameraucana hen would have her own nest to lay in. I watched the whole thing from a distance. Jaffar really is one cool roo!

Okay, I think Pippi is the best cockerel in the world, but maybe he'll learn to make a nest for his girls when he is a real rooster.

 

[Ali James]

Maturity

Based upon comb color and physical size of the New Girls I figured they were not quite mature. Probably several weeks to go. I mean look at Sydney's comb. It's not exactly red and she is still smaller than Lilly.

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This is despite the fact that she is nearly 25 weeks old.

Yesterday, Sansa squatted for me. A sure sign she is getting older. (They are the same age). No one had inspected nesting sites that I have seen. I had no heads up so what happened this morning shocked me.

What happened when Farmer Bob let them out at 0 dark thirty this morning? Only 5 hens emerged to free range.

Sydney was missing.

A search immediately ensued. Let ne zoom out on the above photo.

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So thought, OK, she's getting warmed up. I need to get the prefab out of the run today anyway. Isn't that cute. So I let her be and started catching up on all of the posts here from overnight.

While I was still doing that, you all were very busy last night, I hear the escort call.

I am still thinking how cute. She is practicing.

It was no practice!

View attachment 2045628
View attachment 2045631

I actually took a photo of her nest assuming it was empty. It was only when I looked at the photo that I realized she had laid a tiny egg.

I am stunned!

They grow up so fast!

But woohoo! More eggs!

What a good girl! I wonder whether she will now out-rank the Queen of the North? Must keep reading......