Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

Leghorn are pterodactyl egg layers. They don't squawk about it. The just walk in, lay their egg, and move on. No mud no fuss. They don't understand what the others ladies make such a big deal about.

I hope Josey's eggs get bigger though. They are small.
"Why do all of you make a big fuss? *hard peck* Shut your beak and lay that egg. That's MY box"

 

[BY Bob]

Nice job, Kelly! Thank you so much!

Here’s the gang a couple of nights ago. I liked how someone - Peanut? - has her breast feathers draped over the divider.
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Hattie does that.

 

[BY Bob]

I have been pondering the bald patch issue. I looked in the yarn bag to see if anything would go with Babs’ coloring. I thought I could use Velcro as the quick release mechanism.

Then I got to thinking about all your advice and instead of making the bonnet I got one of these.

Spoiler

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And then because it is Tuesday I also got these.

Spoiler

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Spoiler

Yup I did it. I went on a road trip and came back with five chicks. They hatched while I was overseas last week and have been waiting for me. They are 8 days old.
We only just got home and already I am smitten.

Just so wonderful! I'm so happy for you.

 

[notabitail]

Rooster. This brainless, intelligent idiotView attachment 3481915

Is he the TudyBOT prototype?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

for the ankle. Be careful after the first 2 weeks (roughly when it stops hurting). It takes about 8 weeks for those to heal and resets the healing process every time you roll it again (easy to do). Resistance bands can help with strengthening it once you get past the painful point. (One of the kids is GREAT at spraining his ankles)

Thanks. And yet another exercise to do! Maybe I can incorporate that with the hip strengthening leg one, putting it on my toes....I have heard in the past that it is a brain thing with the recovery, that you teach yourself to not use it while it heals, you have to re-new those brain connections, or you can keep injuring it by unconsciously babying it. I read standing on one foot helps to re-teach yourself the ankle-foot stabilising connection.

I am kicking myself because while I do not stare at my phone while walking I WAS looking at it briefly to try to get a connection going. What a mistake to not stop!

 

[BY Bob]

Answers tomorrow when I can see straight. Whatever nasty thing I got hasn’t quite finished with me yet, and today’s road trip took every ounce of strength.

 

[BY Bob]

What am I missing??!!!!!

I have to go back and read

You sure do

 

[Ponypoor]

Nothing - just I need to lay on the bed and can’t answer Chicory’s questions properly tonight. Just too tired ‘cos of being so sick this week.

Hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs

Rest, there is plenty of time you get well

 

[BY Bob]

The run is adjacent to a very large (decrepit but large) barn, and the covered part of the run (roughly 1/2 the barn in length) both dump the rain into that part of the run. We got over 5" of rain, and the part near the gate can't get too deep or we can't open the gate. I have used wood chips for a couple of years now, and do essentially deep litter method in the run. The wood chips on that part of the run was the end of the 'old pile', so were already partially decomposed. The 'fresh' wood chips I just added when I cleaned out some of the 'muck' was from the new load we got last summer, and so other than the fact that we are nearing the bottom of the pile...these are still quite fine. Each spring/summer I clean out roughly 80% of it and add new chips, and, to keep it 'fresh' I put shavings (and leaves in season) on top. This area I do have to skim off some and replenish so I can still open the gate - so it can never get very deep there. However, it was a sopping mess with so much rain - it usually isn't that bad...and is fine within a day, but with triple the area's water being dumped onto it...so, over 5" X3, it needed to be mucked out...and that is the area under the pine, so it doesn't get good sun to help dry it out. Eventually, I want to put up gutters and use rain barrels...but with the eaves 30+ feet up, and other things on the list ahead of that...well, you get the picture.

I didn't design the run/gate, I used what was here and built structures in side of it - AFTER having to dig out vinca from nearly 2/3 of the space (it is all over our property!), and put the coop we brought inside * build the 'safe run' inside that with the transported coop.

When I extend the run and build my 8' fencing panels, I will also deal with the 'can't have much bedding by the gate' issue - but for now that area was just a sopping mess and I didn't want the chickens to be foot deep in muck (I know, not that deep for a chicken foot to sink into muck - but too deep to leave!)

Despite the area that I needed to clean out and replace bedding/chips on not being that terribly large (and, mind you, most of it the litter isn't so deep), it took 8 wheelbarrows full! That said, it is now done, the chickens are happy, but the ducks less so. They were enjoying 'drilling' in the soft muddy bedding with their beaks - which of course, makes everything muckier because they churn it up. Great for composting - but boy do they make a mess.

Okay, TMI tax:
My broody girl
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So, I know a tax payment requires multiple chickens, but I couldn't resist sharing her photo - even though it doesn't do her justice.

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The official tax payment photo: Everyone squawking for me to let them out.

They don't care if mommy saw a fox nearby - they just want OUT! (the fox was in the neighbor's yard where they couldn't see it...but it has already gotten 3 of their fence jumping sisters, I don't want to lose anymore!)

Good momma you are!

 

[LhickenChicken]

Just a question to put out to y'all:
Yesterday, my hen Knokalina (Funny name, don't laugh, please!) laid a TINYYYYY egg. It was like a fairy egg was a fairy egg. It had calcium deposits on the shell, and I will post the pic of it compared to another regular-sized egg. What is going on with her? I cracked the egg this morning for breakfast, and it had a TINY WHINY yolk in there, and was fertilized, a lot.
It tasted fine and all. Should I be concerned??