Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Hi, By Bob.
I am a new chicken mom. I have been reading your thread here. Your thread is the reason I started an account. I am only on page 200 but thought I'd introduce myself, knowing you'd be getting tons of alerts for all my "likes".
My girls are about 10 weeks old. I cannot believe how fast they grow and I am quickly becoming a "crazy chicken lady". I could sit and watch them for hours.
I'd love to join your flock here.

Laura
Chicken mom to: Luna, Raven, Hallie, Annie, Daisy, Heizel, Alice and June

It is so nice to virtually meet you. You are most welcome here. I surely hope you enjoy the last 18 months of stories and pictures from everyone here. We would love to meet your flock as well. I especially interested in your Daisy.

They do grow so fast. I find them an endless source of entertainment. I'm sure you will as well.

Welcome aboard the ride.

 

[BY Bob]

Ok, I try to keep my posts chicken related, but had to share this. I did something really stupid this morning. I want to grow veggies and Jeff bought me a couple small, pre-fab raised beds. I decided where they would go and realized they needed more sun. So, naturally, I grabbed a 12-foot ladder and a hand saw and started at the tree. Of course I would do this while everyone else was still in bed and didn't tell anyone I was out there being dangerous. Well, I was about 10 feet up on the ladder sawing away and thought, "Hmm... this branch looks really heavy. I should probably get down before it starts falling and re-evaluate from the ground. Might need to reposition my ladder."
Well, right then the branch swung down and it certainly was heavy! It knocked my ladder over. I hung on with one hand and held the ladder in place with my legs. I started frantically trying to saw my way out of the predicament I found myself in... ten feet up in the air with my ladder getting away from me and Jeff came outside. I called across the yard, "Will you help me? I'm in trouble here." Jeff came over, steadied the ladder and asked what on earth was I thinking?

My gosh. I'm so glad it turned out well. That was actually scary.

 

[BY Bob]

Isn’t that the absolute BEST?!?!

It just is!

 

[BY Bob]

I am pleased to announce Millie came out of broodiness. Yesterday I let her be out with the flock a lot of the day because broody jail seemed to be helping. But last night we went for a social-distanced, outdoor small gathering at the neighbors’ and got home after dark. When I locked up the girls, Millie was in the box, so I put her in jail for the night.
That was the end of it. Today she hung out with the flock and foraged all day. She dust bathed. She preened. And she went to roost in her usual spot beside Ruby. Phew!
You know what, though? It makes me sad breaking a broody. Their mothering instincts are so crazy strong it feels like an unnatural waste to break it. And I can’t help anthropomorphizing and worrying I am hurting their feelings. Like I’m rejecting them or something. It really bothers me. Is that nuts?

I agree with how you feel. It's not nuts. Their instinct to hatch is so very strong. I'm glad she is no longer broody and I appreciate why she can't hatch.
I feel the same as you. It broke my heart to break Maleficent last October. She so wanted to be a mom.

 

[BY Bob]

I've been wondering why they aren't allowed to sit until they're ready to get up. It's puzzling. I had to disrupt Peggy's brooding because she was sitting where the foxes could get her, so I had to put her away at night time. But if she'd been in a safe nest, I think I'd have let her be.

For me, the story @Ribh (that's pronounced "reeve" ) tells about losing a hen that never recovered from the weight loss is a cautionary tale. @Shadrach seems to manage his broodies better than those of us with contained flocks. I think the environment they live in plays into what we need to do as well.

 

[BY Bob]

I was thinking Lock may be transgender or non-binary...

Well, Lock is Lock being trues to themselves and accepted by their tribe. That's the best thing!

Humans could learn a trick from that tribe.

 

[Shadrach]

I am pleased to announce Millie came out of broodiness. Yesterday I let her be out with the flock a lot of the day because broody jail seemed to be helping. But last night we went for a social-distanced, outdoor small gathering at the neighbors’ and got home after dark. When I locked up the girls, Millie was in the box, so I put her in jail for the night.
That was the end of it. Today she hung out with the flock and foraged all day. She dust bathed. She preened. And she went to roost in her usual spot beside Ruby. Phew!
You know what, though? It makes me sad breaking a broody. Their mothering instincts are so crazy strong it feels like an unnatural waste to break it. And I can’t help anthropomorphizing and worrying I am hurting their feelings. Like I’m rejecting them or something. It really bothers me. Is that nuts?

No it's not nuts. I really dislike confiscating their eggs. Luckily that's usually all it takes, but I feel so mean.

 

[Shadrach]

Hi, By Bob.
I am a new chicken mom. I have been reading your thread here. Your thread is the reason I started an account. I am only on page 200 but thought I'd introduce myself, knowing you'd be getting tons of alerts for all my "likes".
My girls are about 10 weeks old. I cannot believe how fast they grow and I am quickly becoming a "crazy chicken lady". I could sit and watch them for hours.
I'd love to join your flock here.

Laura
Chicken mom to: Luna, Raven, Hallie, Annie, Daisy, Heizel, Alice and June

Hello Laura.

 

[Ribh]

Hi, By Bob.
I am a new chicken mom. I have been reading your thread here. Your thread is the reason I started an account. I am only on page 200 but thought I'd introduce myself, knowing you'd be getting tons of alerts for all my "likes".
My girls are about 10 weeks old. I cannot believe how fast they grow and I am quickly becoming a "crazy chicken lady". I could sit and watch them for hours.
I'd love to join your flock here.

Laura
Chicken mom to: Luna, Raven, Hallie, Annie, Daisy, Heizel, Alice and June

Hi Laura. I have a Luna: Favorelle X.

 

[Shadrach]

For me, the story @Ribh (that's pronounced "reeve" ) tells about losing a hen that never recovered from the weight loss is a cautionary tale. @Shadrach seems to manage his broodies better than those of us with contained flocks. I think the environment they live in plays into what we need to do as well.

Possibly not a fair comparison bearing in mind my work is here and I can spend a great deal more time with them than most.
I think being free range does make a difference. I imagine fully free range (24/7 and living in the trees) that it's common for a hen to have her nest disturbed and eggs raided. I know when I've had outside sitters this has happened.