Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LhickenChicken]

That’s a lot of scrambled eggs

You going to sell all of them?

Probably am going to sell all of them... Got more chickens than I can eat the eggs! But there's been one point where I had 50 dozen. Posted and ad on kijiji and off they all go!

 

[LhickenChicken]

As we head into chick season, this seemed appropriate:
View attachment 3753045

I'm doomed like @Ponypoor ! I also don't drink coffee!
That's it. Chicks chicks chicks

 

[LhickenChicken]

When will they be arriving?

I haven't ordered them yet. I've only chosen the breeds

 

[LhickenChicken]

I do and it’s still not working!! The breeder I got my Orps from has dark brahmas I missed last yr as they were already sold out.

I have been to the page at least 4 times and said no not this yr next year, but I am struggling I will not lie. Also my daughter really wants silkies.

I also want dark Brahmas. They are so gorgeous. I decided on Buff Brahmas instead because Peavey didn't have Dark Brahmas.

 

[rural mouse]

I drink tea. So, my urge to buy chicks is super high compared to my coffee.

Substitute the word "tea" for "coffee", then.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah... My all time high for eggs per day was 37 eggs. A few days ago I got 35 eggs.
(My hens are really laying well!)

Wow and I was stoked to get 21 one day hahaha!

 

[Ponypoor]

I also want dark Brahmas. They are so gorgeous. I decided on Buff Brahmas instead because Peavey didn't have Dark Brahmas.

Ya I wan so disappointed, make sure to let them know at customer service, I specifically asked them to have dark Brahma on offer this year…. Maybe if more people asked.

 

[featherhead007]

My Mom only buys organic meat since she's grossed out by the ick they do with meat.

Yes true! As far as meat goes, the store bought stuff is awful. I’d rather eat a box of crayons! But my neighbors supply my meat

 

[featherhead007]

Yes true! As far as meat goes, the store bought stuff is awful. I’d rather eat a box of crayons! But my neighbors supply my meat

Another neighbor supplies the vegetables and fruits. Another neighbor, tools for borrowing and his wife is pure eye candy

 

[bgmathteach]

I haven't ordered them yet. I've only chosen the breeds

I would order soon, then! I ordered a month ago, and still couldn't get the breeds I wanted (not completely) unless I put off their arrival until late summer.

This I did NOT want to do for a couple of reasons. I have regular egg customers, so I need the pullets to start laying in the fall when the older girls stop to molt...and some don't start back up until spring. Also, since my extra boys go to freezer camp, both hubby and I are 'done with' processing in the middle of winter when it is so cold out it is hard to feel your fingers (and hence clean out the carcasses) when you are only half way through the lot.

While I can't predict when my hens will go broody and hatch some chicks, I CAN 'predict' when any ordered chicks arrive. For my location, mid to late March is perfect, as by 6 weeks it is decent out - may still get an overnight frost or something, but grass has started growing and day-time temps are fine for them.

This year, if I can get my solar panels and battery set up rigged up - they will be incubated outside in my 'red coop' after the first 2 weeks. (In the house I will have more access to them, so hope they will bond a bit better - but I am getting quite a few, and think they should be outside with more space by the time they can fly) I plan on building a small run (7' high on the high end so they have lots of 'up' space) and attach to the red coop so they can be safely 'exposed' to the rest of the flock at early age, and then doors to run opened somewhere around 4-6 weeks. (Red coop is inside main run, so it would be a run within a run....full wire exposure, but no physical contact until they are a bit bigger - I have so many chickens, this is safest - may build a small pop door for chicks in it - but again, it would be really easy for a chick to get ambushed outside and not be able to get back in quick enough given the amount of both chicks and adults.)

I wish I could build a larger pen, but it will be roughly 6'X6' - I need to be able to get around it easily, so bigger will not work. That said, the red coop is 12' square (+), a double decker, and I am thinking of raising it - it now sits on the ground - and having dust bath area underneath. (giving a total of 24 sq. feet of 'coop space', 12 sq. feet of 'dust bath ' space plus 36 sq. feet of run space) This was the coop given to me by my niece when she got rid of her chickens - and while it is well built (by my brother-in-law, a carpenter), the design is not the best and I never felt like it really worked for adults well...and hard to modify enough - but I think it will be great for chicks. They will start on the lower level with the brooder, and as they get bigger and can fly and be longer away from the heat - they can spend time under and in the upper level. I'll wrap the wind side of the run in plastic for a wind break. I'm hoping this will work, as I want to use the red coop, but I haven't been happy with it for the adults - I think ( ) It will work out well for them...and as older adults get processed mid to late fall, I will lock them out of there so they put themselves in other coops for the winter. (Mostly I'll let them choose -but will place the non-deciders in whichever other coop has more space.)

I'm excited about this possibility - and hubby will be very happy to not have chicks in the mudroom/house for very long. And, if they integrate with others well...could use that set-up for my late broodies! This will protect young chicks from the rats as I will did the red coop's pen into the ground (well fencing) so it is safe from them, too.