Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

I need:
1 Broody Hen
2 Grown Roosters with a grove
3 Hens that lay
4 eggs to fertilize
5 and many baby chick

 

[Ponypoor]

Egg laying also upends the order greatly. Those who lay first move up the order. Watch for that to happen.

I thought that once Marty went Broody she would move up the ranks - but it wasn't till Mr P showed up... go figure!

Thought about renaming her Jolene (song for reference for those that care to know why).

 

[Ponypoor]

Yea but he's so darn cute!

He didn't earn his keep today - but all is well at any rate.

 

[Ponypoor]

Okay, @BY Bob , you asked for it...it will be a long post:

How I make a cardboard sleeve for my heated bricks:

Items required: Duct tape, scissors, brick, & corrugated cardboard box
View attachment 3292954

Remove packing tape & open box up:
View attachment 3292955View attachment 3292956

I like to use the small 'flap' of cardboard that held the box together as my overlap (seen above on the far left)

Lay brick against that crease, then 'roll/flip' brick to determine where to cut the cardboard. Note: make it just a hair bigger, so it isn't too tight.
View attachment 3292957View attachment 3292958

Notice above I scored the box where I need to cut (both for reference and makes cutting easier) You could also use a sharpie to draw the 'cut' line.


Now I determine the length needed, and cut the flap that I will fold in to close the sleeve when completed:View attachment 3292960
Hard to tell in the pic above, but I folded it over...note I'm using a natural crease for ease.

Next I trim the ends of the flap so it will slide into the box when the brick is inserted:View attachment 3292961View attachment 3292962

Next, trim at the bottom end so there is enough of a flap to tape up/seal/cover the bottom end of the brick: Here I scored again where I needed to cut. Notice the longer peice at the back - that will be the flap that covers the bottom of the brick.View attachment 3292994

Now that it is cut to size, fold around brick. (Again, be sure it isn't tight, or brick won't slide in/out easily)
View attachment 3292993


now that it is in place, tape up the long side:View attachment 3292995

Then tape up bottom flap:View attachment 3292997View attachment 3292998

Now fold and tuck top flap closed:View attachment 3292999

'Box' closed:
View attachment 3293000
Leave it like this once hot brick is inserted.


Then, later when brick has cooled, just open and remove brick for reheating:View attachment 3293001

The cardboard helps the brick release heat slowly, as it is a decent insulator. It also keeps the chickens from burning their feet if they step on it. Plus, protects the brick from the inevitable poop....so it can be reheated without having to wash it each time.

Hope this is clearer than mud.

I take it you throw it into the woodstove/fireplace to heat it? Those pavers are perfect! I have about a 100 here hahaha.

 

[Ponypoor]

Monday Mug

Someone is turning bright red in comb and wattles.

View attachment 3293012

She is looking more and more like a Leghorn every day.

Bob - you just gave me a fright - that's two today...

I had to check my phone to make sure it was actually SUNDAY. Here I was resting up after my other fight and read your Monday Mug - OMG am I supposed to be at work??!!

Oh - phew! no thankfully!

PS - Glynda is SPLENDID

 

[bgmathteach]

How old are roosters when they get their grove on I need eggs, and fertile eggs hehehe.

Depends on the rooster. That said, likely the hens will make him earn the chance to mate. If he does the dirty with them and they are very resistant, they can expel the semen.

 

[rural mouse]

How old are roosters when they get their grove on I need eggs, and fertile eggs hehehe.

Before pullets of same age. Hades and Zeus will be pestering the big girls before their hatchmates are laying. If they're crowing, they are likely to try. Until the big girls are laying, don't worry about it....just figure their eggs are potentially fertile. However pullet eggs are too small for chick development. You need to wait for the eggs to get bigger (1-2 months after they start laying)

 

[Ponypoor]

28f at dawn this morning. chillies morning yet. PITA has tail feathers growing in already and Nellie gave a big shake to settle her feathers. No feathers fell out and they all settled nicely, so I'm hoping she's done shedding feathers. Twirp and Cuckoo haven't done much in the way of noticeable moulting so hoping they've been doing a slow moult, sliding under the radar. Neither have had behavioral changes like the other girls have. Blanche is still hanging on to her ratty tail feathers. In other news, I think another hobbit has joined into laying. Found another fairy egg this morning. Hadn't had one for a couple of weeks. Ashodel is laying eggs close to normal sized, so either of the others. It took 3-4 before Asphodel got up to regular sized, so speculating something similar.

In mulling it over, pullet eggs start small and build up to a hens adult sized eggs. Egg laying machines don't live very long because egg production is hard on their bodies. These fairy eggs are the only ones I've had. Is starting that way easier on their still growing bodies?

Have had a couple of those wee eggs, one I know was from Sophia, she is 2.5 years old. Not sure if she is laying or if it's Blanche back to laying eggs, but there has been a large olive egg in the mix past couple weeks, the old girl Penelope will lay an egg every week or so. But I haven't seen any blue eggs from Buttercup - makes me worried she is laying them somewhere and one day I will find a whole cache of them

When my silkies started laying eggs they were about the same size they are now - they have been laying over a year now. I do think that they a bit smaller once they start laying after they have been broody though.

 

[rural mouse]

I need:
1 Broody Hen
2 Grown Roosters with a grove
3 Hens that lay
4 eggs to fertilize
5 and many baby chick

Eggs will get fertilized. Hades and Zeus will get the job done. The older girls need to start laying, and none are likely to go broody before February (days getting longer). Patience young Padawan. The first eggs are too small for chicks to develop properly.

 

[Ponypoor]

Not in Australia...

Yes he gave me a fright! Thought I needed to run up to the house and go to work hahahaha.