Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

That would terrify me.

Yea I was freaking out - my vet is in Florida I would have had to call in a vet from over an hr away. My friends hubby leaves for work at 5am - my BIL is retired and doesn’t get up till 11 (WTH?!) or answer the phone till then.

So I would have had trouble finding someone to help haul he up. For a flash of a second I figured I could hook her to the pickup an drag her to more solid ground - I guess she read my mind because she gave this great heave ho struggle skating around on the ice and was up - I laughed and cried all at once sheesh!

I am getting too old for that crap.

Age whining tax
More chooks on Mnt Poopmore from the weekend

Awwww and is t Betty just so darn tootin cute with her curly locks?

 

[bgmathteach]

Glynda has taken the last 2 weeks off. Sydney has laid right through the bitter cold.

I find my heavier girls will lay right through the cold unless it is bitter, bitter cold (like below 0 F for multiple days - then they might 'skip' a day). The lighter ones (weight wise, not color wise) tend to stop if there is deep cold for more than a day. But, I also find that the heavier girls are more likely to take a short break (like, an extra day or two off, or space out the eggs - such as every other day instead of 3 or 4 days in a row) when it is super hot. They each have their stressors - just which it is depends on their build. That said - my BRs are good layers, but not 'super layers' like the Leghorns, so I am glad Glynda and @RebeccaBoyd 's suspects are taking some time off - even if it meant we had to deal with close to 0F weather here for a few days to a week!

 

[Ponypoor]

I find my heavier girls will lay right through the cold unless it is bitter, bitter cold (like below 0 F for multiple days - then they might 'skip' a day). The lighter ones (weight wise, not color wise) tend to stop if there is deep cold for more than a day. But, I also find that the heavier girls are more likely to take a short break (like, an extra day or two off, or space out the eggs - such as every other day instead of 3 or 4 days in a row) when it is super hot. They each have their stressors - just which is it depends on their build. That said - my BRs are good layers, but not 'super layers' like teh Leghorns, so I am glad Glynda and @RebeccaBoyd 's suspects are taking some time off - even if it meant we had to deal with close to 0F weather here for a few days to a week!

At what age do yours tend to start slowing down laying?

 

[bgmathteach]

At what age do yours tend to start slowing down laying?

depends on what you mean by 'slow down. Going from 5 -6 eggs a week to 4-5 'slowing down? If so, then in their 3rd year. Going down to 3-4 eggs a week during spring flush, but roughly 1-2 eggs a week after that? around 4 years. Laying mostly during spring flush, but the odd egg here and there the rest of the 'growing season?" 5 or older....ish. Depends on the hen! Note that I don't have many production breeds (I had 2 of the red hybrids in a lot I got on clearance at TSC a few years back - otherwise they are decidedly non-production breeds. Also, I try to process most non-broodies at 2.5 or 3.5 years - though I have failed miserably at that these past few years - which is why I have some that are 5 or 6 years old now.

I haven't had any that have stopped laying completely - my oldest still lay during the spring....Crop Girl is a testament to that - going broody at 5 years old last year for the first time (and in June, I believe - so she was still laying!)

I do have enough hens that it is hard to monitor exactly who lays when, though.

 

[CCsGarden]

Those are cool!

i got it for Christmas!

 

[RoyalChick]

Yea I was freaking out - my vet is in Florida I would have had to call in a vet from over an hr away. My friends hubby leaves for work at 5am - my BIL is retired and doesn’t get up till 11 (WTH?!) or answer the phone till then.

So I would have had trouble finding someone to help haul he up. For a flash of a second I figured I could hook her to the pickup an drag her to more solid ground - I guess she read my mind because she gave this great heave ho struggle skating around on the ice and was up - I laughed and cried all at once sheesh!

I am getting too old for that crap.

Age whining tax
More chooks on Mnt Poopmore from the weekend
View attachment 3732935View attachment 3732936

Awwww and is t Betty just so darn tootin cute with her curly locks?
View attachment 3732937

Would you be able to help a horse like you can help a vehicle get traction by sprinkling cat litter on the ice so their hoofs can get some traction?

 

[Sally PB]

Nice. What sorts of things?
I have mostly logs, some upright rounds and others on their sides. And the Xmas tree is tossed in there as well right now, which they seem to love. I think it’s typically enough “stuff” but an extra item or two wouldn’t hurt… so trying to get some ideas.

I'll dig up some pictures of the stuff.
A table that sits in the corner. They get on top, they go underneath. Doubled the space in that corner.

This is one of the feed stations. The back is to a wall, but about 15" away, so they can run behind it, out of sight for a moment.

The dirty thing to the right of Robin is the Chicknic table. Another thing to be on top of, and I have a bowl of their feed underneath too. I can't find the picture of this when it was first built.

All 3 of those are either built from pallet or scrap wood.

The "balance beam" log. The fence is from the chicks' integration last summer.

The ramp to nowhere. The chicken climb it and dig around under it.

A cool stump. That's Middle, mid-molt last year.

I really like to use stuff that they can be on or under. Adds some space.

 

[BY Bob]

They have lived on the creek bank today. They now have their much loved wild water and favorite digging spot back.

Cold feet baby.

 

[BY Bob]

My wild water puddle (aka pee pit) is froze solid, and dumb Truly picked that spot to roll this morning, and then while (trying to) get up she slipped and fell down - I tell you at 05:00hrs when it’s pitch black outside and snowing/raining and you see your 1000lb horse go crashing down you freak out just a bit.

I was trying to keep chickens in, and go try to help her up….



Thank fully she managed to get up on her own, I don’t know how! Tonight I will give her some Phenylbutizone (like aspirin), as I am sure she will be sore.

And now I see Blanche Penelope Marty and Henny all roosting early at 2:30 - what’s that all about??
View attachment 3732905View attachment 3732904

I would have thought they would have at least another hr or more to eat and frolic around. Henny bless her wee toes is still dragging along her babies - they will be 9 weeks tomorrow she’s such a good mama!

That would be terrifying. So glad she got back up.

 

[BY Bob]

Life went bonkers.

Over the weekend, shifted departments at work....except had a perpetually changing date (no one knew exactly what was going on). Shift is done.

Went to in-laws after work Monday to help process a bison (they fell into opportunity). Going back on friday/Saturday to process the other one. Cutting and steaks were done by the time I got there. Double ground, weighed, and packaged roughly 100 pounds of burger. Didn't get home until late.

Woke early Tuesday. Started coffee pot, went to feed critters. Back to coffee to pour first cup...pot not working....check over, make sure no blockages...it won't even try. Head to town, gas up, get coffee, find place to run Sherlock, head home just in time to let out chickens and leave for work.

It's been THAT sort of a week...

View attachment 3732920Happy birds

New Coffee pot soon?