Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Today….

Time thieves hard at work….

My ladies were very interested in the rooster crowing sounds on your video.
Then they realized they were coming from my phone and went back to their business.
I have dropped Pooh out of this picture as she badly needs a Brazilian. I hoped it might all fall off as she molted, but I need to help. Maybe after dark tonight.

 

[featherhead007]

Today….

Time thieves hard at work….

That’s funny! My chooks walk too!

 

[Sylvester017]

@ManueB ~ I love your countryside pics & the herds. The Anatolian blended right into the herd. I didn't see it till I enlarged the pic!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Treadle feeders are a good concept but they scared our chickens silly ~ especially smaller sizes like Silkies ~ those metal treadles are LOUD when they open/close.

We got two of these large metal treadle feeders from the company who sold us our Barn Coop/Run but the feeders were huge & obviously were dog feeders modified as a chicken feeder ~ what a dud! These were huge about 2 ft tall!
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So we bought a smaller size Feed-O-Matic treadle feeder w/mostly resin parts; however the metal mechanisms to operate the treadles are still noisy. We did all the recommendations for getting the birds to get over their fears. Only one chicken ever used the treadle but the timid Ameraucana & Silkies refused to get near it & it was not that tall!
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Our Blue Breda hen was the only one that used the small Feed-O-Matic feeder ~ the other chickens ran away when they heard the noise of the treadle or saw the lid open in front of them. We followed instructions on training but none of it worked except on ONE hen! This might work to train more assertive standard hens like Leghorns, Australorps, or Rhode Islands but timid gentle birds like Silkies, Polish, bantams, etc, maybe not be a good choice.
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I have a soft-close mechanism that I used for a while on my first treadle feeder. It was quiet but that model’s early design made the closure not as firm as I wanted so I took it out. My second newer model feeder is said to be firmer with it on, but the sound has not been an issue and is a benefit because I can tell when the feed is low. Thats a fail-safe for me not forgetting to check it.

Maybe the silkies couldn’t reach the feed? That’s an issue, to get the distance correct for the size bird. And they have to be heavy enough. They are so tiny they might not be. Did your silkies have other options for feed, a big disincentive?

The most nervous hen here, Hazel, has gotten used to it and will go to it on her own, now. But as part of the first group of chickens introduced to it she was particularly skittish in training, and I could not ever get her to step on it by herself even after a week of training just her.

They all were afraid, but the other three Buckeyes learned within a few days. Hazel never went hungry though. She figured out a work-around, and from then on had absolutely no incentive to change: she just kept an eye out for when anyone else went to eat, and then would join them. As second in command she kept tabs on everyone anyway, and she did not have to deal with a more dominant hen not wanting her there. Peanut (#1) always let her eat next to her.

I think with the passing of Peanut and then Butters she decided to go by herself. That’s when I recall seeing her use it alone. She would also join Popcorn, and sometimes now she joins a Spud, and sometimes a Spud joins her. With the Spuds it never was an issue beyond initial scariness, because they grew up watching and hearing the older hens use it.

 

[notabitail]

I am sure Toronto would be ready for you. If they can handle the Taylor Swift Eros tour then your should be fine.

(FYI - seriously who is this Taylor Swift person? I am really not up on celebrities this day and age…)

TS is some kind of weird music person that I don't care about.

(I am a classical music nerd).

 

[featherhead007]

My Dakota is not feeling well today. Soft crop and she is thirsty.
I told her that nobody is to die today. And that includes her!! I have her in the house now, watching her carefully

 

[Sylvester017]

Some I know grind eggshells to feed back to their chickens but my understanding is they don't contain as much as oyster shell. Oyster shell does have some magnesium in it.

Calcium ( Cao) —- 47.49%
Sodium ( Nao) —-1.119%
Magnesium ( Mgo) —-0.619%
Sulphur (SO2)——0.403%
Strontium ( SrO) —-0.020%
Carbon ( total) —-43.87%

I can only assume, if they're getting oyster shell, that's enough magnesium to help with absorption. Their feed most likely has some in it too.

Sometimes a soft-shell bird can use a little more nutrient help beyond layer feed/oyster shells. If extra calcium supplement is used to treat a soft-shell bird then using a magnesium/calcium dose mix is the best. Using additional quality calcium supplements often include magnesium already ~ read labels on supplements to be sure.

 

[Sylvester017]

TS is some kind of weird music person that I don't care about.

(I am a classical music nerd).

Me too.

 

[notabitail]

Me too.

Wait, you like classical music too?

 

[featherhead007]

Wait, you like classical music too?

Tis what she said!