Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I heard geese on Wednesday, but didn't see any. Heard and saw a Sandhill crane yesterday. But...a goose isn't going to lay in a nest box. She's going to lay on the ground.

I have been seeing ducks

Nothing here for them to eat or any open water. It’s all snow and ice.

 

[TOMTE]

I just know the calcium spots on my eggs are because every time I give them oyster shell they eat it like food...

I'd like to have it available for them 24/7 but they gobble it up so fast and spill it constantly. So I give it to them every 3 or 4 days. Dad and I are working on a solution though (we're going to modify their chick feeder so it hangs, put the OS in there).

Oh! Update on the eggs-stomach issue. Grandma made hard boiled eggs to go with dinner yesterday and neither dad nor I had problems!

 

[TOMTE]

Something to do with gnomes!!!

Also congrats!

Thank youuu!

Sapient Lawn Ornament? Gnome Sweet Gnome? Hmmm...

 

[Sylvester017]

Just have to say, I lived in So Cal for 40 years. If those were my chickening days, I would have had a blast with all sorts of breeds!!! Love all yours!!!

TY! I love your breed choices too. Chickens are so neat & unique it's hard not to love them all

IDK...my chicks look a lot like yours.

Our black & white chicks (Dominiques) were sexed at hatch. Barred Rocks are auto sexed too. Do your chicks have white head spots?

This is our Dana as a chick ~ small tight white head spot & dark shading down the front of her shanks & toes characteristic of barred/cuckoo female chicks. A male's white head spot is usually splashed broader on top of his head & doesn't have dark legs.

DANA ~ tight white headspot & dark legs/toes

Adult Dana

 

[ValerieJ]

Good morning! I've been so excited to share this but I wanted to wait until it was posted.

I was selected for a member interview!!

I was so surprised because I haven't been here that long

Nice interview!

 

[Sylvester017]

When I had to give a baby aspirin to one of my hens, she would pick it out of a bowl of berries first. I have no idea why, I was just thankful.

I think it might be the sweetness of baby & children's aspirin that attracts chickens who have a sweet tooth anyway.

 

[ValerieJ]

Our black & white chicks (Dominiques) were sexed at hatch. Barred Rocks are auto sexed too. Do your chicks have white head spots?

Oh, no I didn't mean they look the same. Mine are definitely Australorps. I was speaking of the size. They were so tiny when we got them. In fact, we were there when they arrived from the hatchery. I've never picked up chicks from a farm store that small before. I have hatched them before, and these look like day olds to me, based on that experience. Mine are all black with white on their tummies, which will go away with feathering. One of mine has very little of the white. Maybe she will be blacker?

 

[Sylvester017]

IDK...my chicks look a lot like yours.

If your chicks have no white headspot then your black & white chickies are Australorp or some other all black breed. A white headspot usually is an auto sex feature on barred/cuckoo breeds only.
Edit: SHRA

 

[TOMTE]

If your chicks have no white headspot then your black & white chickies are Australorp or some other all black breed. A white headspot usually is an auto sex feature on barred/cuckoo breeds only.

BSL roos are barred, which is why the male chicks have a white spot on the head, right?

 

[ValerieJ]

If your chicks have no white headspot then your black & white chickies are Australorp or some other all black breed. A white headspot usually is an auto sex feature on barred/cuckoo breeds only.

I know. I was talking about the size. I don't remember the original post anymore, but I thought she was talking about their size.