Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

@Ribh am I correct in thinking you also have quite an interest in plants? Seem to remember your thread having lots of garden photos.

Anyway, the man and I went houseplant shopping the other day and I spent yesterday outside repotting most of them under the supervision of my flock. The house looks lovely now with really luscious green plants in almost every room.

You need to post pictures... I'm sure Bob won't mind but you can always put them on my thread. I garden; the man is a qualified horticulturalist. we clash.

 

[BY Bob]

Adventure time! I'm so excited for you and Sydney.

I know nothing about hatching eggs and raising chicks but I will offer moral support. ☺
I expect the hardest part will be re homing them.

Most likely you are correct but I really don't have a choice on that which is going to help.

 

[BY Bob]

I've never ever done this. All the moral support but no idea @ all.

So you are saying, enabler yes, assistance, no? That's OK. So much of the joy of having these wonderful animals.is learning something new along with them.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm just relieved it's not the red gumboots!

I think we all are.

 

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob how exciting for you and Sydney! Will you be putting her in a separate unit from the main coop? I am totally clueless re hatching, but I have seen on BYC that people tend to separate a hen who is going to hatch - presumably to protect the hen and her offspring from the others.

@micstrachan I was also thinking of @Shadrach yesterday whilst I went on poop-patrol round the garden with my bucket. At least I don't have to worry about my footwear being assaulted!

This is something I have wondered about. Should I set up the spare coop for Sydney to set in and remove her from the rest of the flock? I am open to advise.

 

[BY Bob]

You need to post pictures... I'm sure Bob won't mind but you can always put them on my thread. I garden; the man is a qualified horticulturalist. we clash.

I love plants as well and would love to see them. It matters not which thread you post them on I will see them but you should post them.

 

[Shadrach]

I believe that we will be going with a small number, maybe 3. I am assuming there will be males. The plan is to let Syndey, set, hatch, and raise them until they are old enough to go off on their own. I do not intend to keep any. I simply do not have space, so I am planning to rehome them all. It will be hard to let them go but being at capacity will help.

I want her to satisfy her instincts and I will do all I can to get them good homes. I really hope this works.

This is something I have wondered about. Should I set up the spare coop for Sydney to set in and remove her from the rest of the flock? I am open to advise.

Where is she in the pecking order? If my memory serves me 3rd from bottom?

 

[BY Bob]

Where is she in the pecking order? If my memory serves me 3rd from bottom?

She is down to only above Phyllis.

 

[Shadrach]

She is down to only above Phyllis.

Broody coop then with free acess to the outside, be that a run or free range.
Don't feed her at her nest. Make her get up and wake up every day at least once and make sure she has access to a dust bath.

 

[BY Bob]

Broody Abuse

I just answered @Shadrach Question about owning order position. I thought I would add some observations from when she left the nest this morning. I have video as well which I will add later. It's not great but it captures part of this.

When Sydney came out today, Hattie was laying the whole time and Aurora most of the time she was out. But I watched as both Sansa and Lilly nasr it a point Yup pecking order her with pecks on her back including chasing her to do it.

This had given me pause about letting the hatch occur in the presence of the others. I'm just not sure if this is normal or not. I believed they tried to intimidate Maleficent but I watched get take on both Hattie and Lilly a couple of times. There was no back down in Mal. Sydney clearly was trying to avoid them.

As always, the pecking order is tough to watch.