Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

"No dad, I'm like 99.99999% sure it's a pullet (leaves room for error, see). Here, go ahead and hold it. Isn't it so cute and soft? Aww. Go on, bond with it! Look, you're best buddies already. Wait. It IS a roo?! Wow! I never would have thought..."

Better come get one quick before they start crowing!

 

[Ponypoor]

I was sitting at the table talking to mom for a few minutes this morning before she got ready for work. She asked how the silkies were doing and I informed her of the evilness Poppet is doing to me by going broody. I expected her to glare at me and say "no more chicks" or "Don't you dare set her". Did I get that? Nooooo, instead she looks at me for a second and says "Can she handle 6?" Wait, what? I asked her 6 what. She replied "could she go get her 6 buff orps from Rural King or Tractor Supply tomorrow" . Ok, mom is serious about adding orps this spring. I figured she might have been bluffing or changed her mind as it has not been brought back up. I had to tell her no, Poppet was not ready, I really wanted to break her and if she refused to break she needed to set at least 2 weeks. I also brought up my idea of finding orp hatching eggs, and possibly chocolate ones as well. She shot that idea down real quick. She does not want any color other then buffs, these will be her chickens. She also does not want to go the egg route as she wants only pullets. She does not want to take a chance on hatching a boy as she would want to keep a buff rooster. She knows I love George, she knows I also have the 2 silkie boys. She said 4 boys would be too many, and honestly they would. She is not going to get into a argument with me over replacing George with a buff boy. George stays as she knows I love him. As far as Rural King goes she has been pleased with the orps they offered, does not need fancy ones and that is the route she wants to take.

So, we have came to a agreement. I'm going to try to break Poppet, I told her that. I also am working 3 to 4 days a week and everyone knows mom is not going to go out there on her days off and mess with her, she told me so. It is all up to Poppet, if she is still broody in 2 weeks and refusing to break I will give her the green light to go to Rural King and get her buffs. Going by Poppets 2 previous broody spells, I am going to Rural King in 2 weeks. Poppet is a hard nut to crack dang it.

Ya……. I feel I will be screaming over Georgie.

But I really cannot have more chooks so she will just have to sit in an empty nest.

Unless my friend has chicks I can pop under her and give back to her.

 

[Ponypoor]

@SimpleJenn If you need a home for any of these little dudes...

UGH!! NO!! I can't

Unless...



No, we still need to build our bigger setup. Dad doesn't want a roo.






I WANT A ROO THOUGH!

Are you able to even have Roos there? Most places unless they are zoned agricultural don’t allow Roos.

Make sure to check that first!

 

[Ponypoor]

I thought you were Kelly for a moment then

Hey…..!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Ya……. I feel I will be screaming over Georgie.

But I really cannot have more chooks so she will just have to sit in an empty nest.

Unless my friend has chicks I can pop under her and give back to her.

Poppet update.

She is angry and all puffed up. She has not committed yet to setting on nothing. She was out and about when I went out a few minutes ago to refill their feeder and waterer. Overnight she added more feathers to her nest so she is serious and getting close to setting. Since that one night over a week and a half ago before she started back laying I have been religiously collecting eggs from that pen. As much as I love silkies, and highly recommend them to everyone let this be a warning. They do not need a nest of eggs left alone for a couple days to go broody. They will brood air and dirt when the mood strikes. And with some hens, the mood strikes often.

 

[rural mouse]

Ya……. I feel I will be screaming over Georgie.

But I really cannot have more chooks so she will just have to sit in an empty nest.

Unless my friend has chicks I can pop under her and give back to her.

What about your "No More Chicks" policy?









Wait....this is Kelly.....Enabler Extraordinaire....policy is full of hot air.

Dark Brahma Temptation...along side a tiny (for standard size) little half Hamburg Indigo

 

[SimpleJenn]

Poppet update.

She is angry and all puffed up. She has not committed yet to setting on nothing. She was out and about when I went out a few minutes ago to refill their feeder and waterer. Overnight she added more feathers to her nest so she is serious and getting close to setting. Since that one night over a week and a half ago before she started back laying I have been religiously collecting eggs from that pen. As much as I love silkies, and highly recommend them to everyone let this be a warning. They do not need a nest of eggs left alone for a couple days to go broody. They will brood air and dirt when the mood strikes. And with some hens, the mood strikes often.

Remember Samara and Morinth? Those girls went broody if another hen even looked at them funny!

 

[TOMTE]

Are you able to even have Roos there? Most places unless they are zoned agricultural don’t allow Roos.

Make sure to check that first!

Yup, we're zoned rural residential. I even emailed our township for clarification about it awhile back.

 

[RoyalChick]

I was sitting at the table talking to mom for a few minutes this morning before she got ready for work. She asked how the silkies were doing and I informed her of the evilness Poppet is doing to me by going broody. I expected her to glare at me and say "no more chicks" or "Don't you dare set her". Did I get that? Nooooo, instead she looks at me for a second and says "Can she handle 6?" Wait, what? I asked her 6 what. She replied "could she go get her 6 buff orps from Rural King or Tractor Supply tomorrow" . Ok, mom is serious about adding orps this spring. I figured she might have been bluffing or changed her mind as it has not been brought back up. I had to tell her no, Poppet was not ready, I really wanted to break her and if she refused to break she needed to set at least 2 weeks. I also brought up my idea of finding orp hatching eggs, and possibly chocolate ones as well. She shot that idea down real quick. She does not want any color other then buffs, these will be her chickens. She also does not want to go the egg route as she wants only pullets. She does not want to take a chance on hatching a boy as she would want to keep a buff rooster. She knows I love George, she knows I also have the 2 silkie boys. She said 4 boys would be too many, and honestly they would. She is not going to get into a argument with me over replacing George with a buff boy. George stays as she knows I love him. As far as Rural King goes she has been pleased with the orps they offered, does not need fancy ones and that is the route she wants to take.

So, we have came to an agreement. I'm going to try to break Poppet, I told her that. I also am working 3 to 4 days a week and everyone knows mom is not going to go out there on her days off and mess with her, she told me so. It is all up to Poppet, if she is still broody in 2 weeks and refusing to break I will give her the green light to go to Rural King and get her buffs. Going by Poppets 2 previous broody spells, I am going to Rural King in 2 weeks. Poppet is a hard nut to crack dang it.

If you go that route, I need step by step what you do as I think I am likely to head that way with Tassels.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

If you go that route, I need step by step what you do as I think I am likely to head that way with Tassels.

If I go that way I will do what I have done in the past.

I will get in touch with Rural King and confirm what days their chicks come in so I can pretty much be there as they are unboxing them. I want them to be as young as possible. Freshly hatched are best to foster onto a hen but I have done it with 3 to 4 day old chicks. I have heard of people doing with week old chicks but I am not that brave to try. With the chicks age it is not the momma I worry about, I need the chicks young enough to bond with the hen as well.

Once home I will offer them a bit of food and water to make sure they are eating since they will have had to travel in shipping. Ideally you will introduce the chicks to the hen after dark. Tuck the chicks under her from behind. If the hen is a pecky hen wear gloves as you will get pecked. If she is setting on dud eggs I leave them overnight. The eggs will keep her setting and the movement of the chicks sort of tricks her into thinking they have hatched.

Once the chicks are under her turn off your light source and have a seat real close and listen. Have a cup of coffee or tea with you as you will want to stay for at least a hour. What you are hoping to hear is the chicks to settle down and soft contented peeping or complete silence from them. You hope to hear gentle clucking from your hen as she begins talking to them. You need to stay on hand at first to gently guide any back under the hen that may venture out from under her. They need to learn Momma is their source of heat. You should not hear chicks screaming. If a chick tries to pop out from under her from the front your momma may try to guide them back under her herself. They only have one way to do this, by pecking them. This should be done gently not viscously.

If after a hour or two and all is going well place a small dish of food and water right in front of your momma so as soon as it is daylight she can begin offering them food and water. At this point you have done all you can do so head to bed and pray.

If you are a worry wart like me, set a alarm so you can be out there a few minutes before day break. What I'm hoping to find, and so far I have been lucky every time is a momma who is talking non-stop to her chicks. Try to sneak up on her because once she knows you are there she is liable to growl and both she and the chicks will be silent. Again have a cup of coffee or tea with you because once again you are going to be sitting with her for a bit.

Once it is daylight I want to see the momma pecking at the food and water calling the chicks to eat and drink. I want to see them pop out from under her a little bit and then go back under her with her allowing it to happen. Again, gentle pecking is allowed from the momma to encourage them to go under her, it is the only way she has to guide them. I will leave the dud eggs under her until at least that afternoon to keep them in place and really reinforce their bond.

If she accepts them the next day or two can go a few different ways and it is up to each individual hen. We have successfully tricked her into thinking she is going through the hatching process. After we remove the eggs she may immediately get up and want to take her chicks with her to find food and water. She may stay put for another 24 to 48 hours thinking they are brand new and need that time to strengthen up. This is why having a dish of food and water is necessary because to her they are brand new and still absorbing the yolk sack and good. I do not mind if she stays put for another day or so and will not force her off the nest with them right away. I really want the chicks to learn she is momma. If she has been setting for 3 weeks or longer she is more likely to bring them out and about right away. If she has been setting 2 weeks she will probably sit tight for another day or so.

I am sure you know, she may reject them. I have never had it happen, but I always have a brooder set up and ready to go at a moments notice.