Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Questions Questions Questions
Did Sydney throw this egg out of the nest?

Did someone just lay it there?

Is it real or fake?

View attachment 3402722

Sydney looks guilty to me!

 

[RoyalChick]

I am really liking the Bielefelder (and not only because they are auto-sexing), they are a dual purpose bird and in the future if I decide to get a Roo then I will get my BIL to send the cockerels for freezer camp.

Doesn’t the BIL option mean you could also order straight run chicks?

 

[RoyalChick]

I am guessing that if A is true, it is fake.

If B is true, it is real.

Judging by Babs, it could easily be Sydney throwing it out there. Babs does not like the ceramic eggs at all. I don’t know if it is because they are ceramic or if she doesn’t like brown. But she has kicked them to the door!

 

[bgmathteach]

@RoyalChick This is what I read about mange in Foxes. It should be a reputable source.

It is zoonotic - so humans, chickens, etc. are susceptible/can get infested, but it seems to be somewhat 'shortlived' infection in humans & birds, if I read it correctly. Though Birds have their own mites, as we know.

Read the Fact sheet linked at the bottom of the article/web page.

 

[bgmathteach]

Speaking of eggs and hens....

i have a couple (hens, that is) that I believe are thinking of being broody. Aren't staying the whole day in the nest box, but longer than usual, and if I try to collect eggs while they are in there, they screech and peck at me...and that isn't their usual behavior when I gently reach under their breast.

One is a DC...and it is definitely too early for her to go broody - too cold for the hard/close feathered girls! (Babs is half way between DC mom and an EE or BR in terms of feathering.)

Fortunately, if I take her off the nest and put her outside, she isn't running back to the nest until it is either A. night time, or B. she has to lay.

Lets hope in 3-4 weeks they are fully ready to sit!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Chiquita decided this morning that it is time for her chicks to become chickens. Mom fed and let everybody out. Apparently Chiquita and her Marshmallows were waiting at the door and were the first ones out of the coop. She's had them all over the back yard, the creek bank and Dirt's stall. It started sprinkling rain and she herded them back to the coop I hope for a nap. I swear every time a new mom introduces her chicks to the horse stalls my anxiety and blood pressure shoot through the roof. She has had them 2 weeks this past Friday. Going by when they arrived at Rural King I am going to assume they had a Monday hatchday and tomorrow they will be 3 weeks old. I also have to wonder now if part of her reluctance to not bring them out of the coop until today was maybe she knew the chick she lost was weaker then the others. Ducky so far is hanging out with Perdita this morning. Last night on her own she got on the roost in the coop and snuggled between Goose and Perdita. I still had to round up Grackle and Meeko. Meeko is stubborn and does not want caught at night. She wants to sleep on the top board dividing Louis and Russ's stall right in the middle. That means I have to get in one of the boys stall to get her. Last night I went in Louis, she spots me coming and flies to Russ's butt. Well this makes Russ very happy and when I went in his stall he kept walking in circles trying to keep his butt and chicken away from me. Both were disappointed when I finally managed to grab her and Meeko acted like I was going to kill her. This drama is not raccoon related behavior though. She has done this every night since her momma decided she was done with them and I started coop training. I think she really wants to get on the big roost with most of the adults. She has tried a few times and it never ends well with her. She is too young and too low on the pecking order and none of them will allow her to stay. This may change in a couple months when she is big enough to stand her ground and is laying.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Here's a picture of my new baby girl, Willow! They are not the best pictures of her, but they are the only ones I have.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick This is what I read about mange in Foxes. It should be a reputable source.

It is zoonotic - so humans, chickens, etc. are susceptible/can get infested, but it seems to be somewhat 'shortlived' infection in humans & birds, if I read it correctly. Though Birds have their own mites, as we know.

Read the Fact sheet linked at the bottom of the article/web page.

Thanks for that.
I did a bit more reading. I think the fox mange mites can totally get to the cats - but close contact is required so I think I can manage to avoid that.
It looks like although birds can get mange it is a different type of mite. I am not totally sure of that, but either way close contact is needed which of course I will try to avoid for other reasons!

 

[ValarieF]

Here's a picture of my new baby girl, Willow! They are not the best pictures of her, but they are the only ones I have.View attachment 3402775View attachment 3402774

Shes so pretty

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Shes so pretty

Thank you! I will try to get a better picture if her later!