Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

@RebeccaBoyd

So which roo do you think will cover my silkies best? My friend will be send one of them here to cover the girls.

Oh I would love to make a road trip to you with eggs

 

[rural mouse]

Was your heart pounding? I was half afraid to read on

I can only imagine how stressed you would have been, I would be frantic. 23…. That’s a lot to count when they are moving. I can barely count 13! And today I counted 12 someone was missing! Buttercup of course, in a nestbox.

How did the door get closed? What do you think happened to it?

It was warm enough that I chased EVERYONE out and flipped in shut for an hour (PITA had been loitering on the roosts to avoid the IDIOTS). They all needed some sunshine. When I opened it back up, I neglected to latch it open. As the girls came back in, the Idiots did too. In the furor, I think someone ran into it, swinging it closed again. It was good to learn that they have the sense to come up to the house and talk, asking for help. It was also good to learn that at least Twirp and Nellie can find same places to sleep. I do wish they had settled together, but....those are baby steps I hope they never need. Thermometer read 16F just a few min ago, so I'm glad I found them and no one was broody.

Yesterday, we moved one of the Whiskey barrel planters into the carport so there's a dustbath near a safe (ish) nest site. I also moved the little bucket (you'll see it this week when I post my new thirsty pics) from the water spigot to next to the heated waterer (not safe for chicks) in there. I tucked an egg into the nest area too, so we'll see if anyone (Indigo) does settle in. Last night, I was half wondering if Nellie and/or Twirp had gone broody suddenly on me (neither has shown any signs) on some undiscovered nest. Thanks to Momma Ol' Bat, I know know that this morning's temp wouldn't affect a nest if someone's sitting on it. If someone does go broody, I'm going to let them. I had decided that when the bluebirds come back is the guidline. Well, I'm reconsidering a bit. The redwing blackbirds and dark-eyed juncos are back, so good enough. I've been seeing geese too. The migratory birds are enroute, so if it's warm enough for them to start nesting, it's warm enough for the chickens. Based upon that, I expect to have at least one more night of chicken hunting in the near future, followed by rambling head counts.

@BY Bob tagging you with the reply as you asked too.

 

[Ponypoor]

The non isolated 3 have the run of the yard. The isolated 4 are just that, isolated to the main coop.

How long do you think you will isolate? 2 weeks? I think that is standard with most outbreaks.

 

[rural mouse]

Haven’t posted for several days, but have been reading everything. Just had trouble catching up and I hate posting before I get to the most recent post.


Don’t know if you have done it yet, but I would definitely stick them under a broody and keep them. Hatching rates are always unpredictable, and you should have “first right of refusal” on any chicks hatched from your hens’ eggs.



That is surprising. Most counties in Texas have some type of “rabies control” law on the books that requires people to keep their dogs on their own property.

@BY Bob Glad to hear your girls are improving and that is is becoming less likely that is bird flu.

I am doing ok. Leg is sore but getting stronger and a little more flexible.

A few random pics in case I owe tax for something.
View attachment 3453536

View attachment 3453537

View attachment 3453538

Oh, that 2nd pic! Her high, ruffled collar! The lady-like "folded hands". Definitely send it to POW, captions .

 

[Ponypoor]

@RebeccaBoyd

So which roo do you think will cover my silkies best? My friend will be send one of them here to cover the girls.

View attachment 3453644View attachment 3453645

Oh I would love to make a road trip to you with eggs

I am giving her the eggs to hatch, and once she is done with hatching the Roo will go back home. I don't need any further birds (bit I would take a little Roo from one of her hens to raise with Mr P (oh yes the enablers have me thinking).

 

[rural mouse]

I really like frizzles, I wonder about the genetics of them, do you need both parents carrying that gene I wonder?

No. You do NOT want both barents carrying the frizzle gene. The double dose makes the feathers so fragile they break just by looking at them. The term for it is frazzle.

 

[rural mouse]

Oh, that 2nd pic! Her high, ruffled collar! The lady-like "folded hands". Definitely send it to POW, captions .

And a SHRA TAX (fresh from yesterday)

 

[Ponypoor]

It was warm enough that I chased EVERYONE out and flipped in shut for an hour (PITA had been loitering on the roosts to avoid the IDIOTS). They all needed some sunshine. When I opened it back up, I neglected to latch it open. As the girls came back in, the Idiots did too. In the furor, I think someone ran into it, swinging it closed again. It was good to learn that they have the sense to come up to the house and talk, asking for help. It was also good to learn that at least Twirp and Nellie can find same places to sleep. I do wish they had settled together, but....those are baby steps I hope they never need. Thermometer read 16F just a few min ago, so I'm glad I found them and no one was broody.

Yesterday, we moved one of the Whiskey barrel planters into the carport so there's a dustbath near a safe (ish) nest site. I also moved the little bucket (you'll see it this week when I post my new thirsty pics) from the water spigot to next to the heated waterer (not safe for chicks) in there. I tucked an egg into the nest area too, so we'll see if anyone (Indigo) does settle in. Last night, I was half wondering if Nellie and/or Twirp had gone broody suddenly on me (neither has shown any signs) on some undiscovered nest. Thanks to Momma Ol' Bat, I know know that this morning's temp wouldn't affect a nest if someone's sitting on it. If someone does go broody, I'm going to let them. I had decided that when the bluebirds come back is the guidline. Well, I'm reconsidering a bit. The redwing blackbirds and dark-eyed juncos are back, so good enough. I've been seeing geese too. The migratory birds are enroute, so if it's warm enough for them to start nesting, it's warm enough for the chickens. Based upon that, I expect to have at least one more night of chicken hunting in the near future, followed by rambling head counts.

@BY Bob tagging you with the reply as you asked too.

Oh to be broody.....
No one here is interested it seems

 

[rural mouse]

No. You do NOT want both barents carrying the frizzle gene. The double dose makes the feathers so fragile they break just by looking at them. The term for it is frazzle.

And another shra

Courtship at its finest (cheetah is almost having conniptions over whatever goody he found)

 

[rural mouse]

Oh to be broody.....
No one here is interested it seems

Because you're trying so hard/want it so much.