Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

Thank you, I’ll look at the flock feed options locally. I’m the same, I want my layers to be getting what they need but I don’t want my retired layer to be getting an overload of stuff that she isn’t needing. Damn, it’s a constant balancing act in one aspect or another with our amazing feathered friends! They are lucky they are cute

I feed mine an All Flock.. 20% protein pellets.. I start the littles on it at seven weeks and I always keep oyster shell available...

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Well, i'm slightly relieved as he decided at the moment to pass on the chickens. Instead is going to wait until end of march and get a dozen eggs to incubate and raise for himself.

So do your feelings today change your reposnse if he asks again?

 

[fuentemoon]

The first time I wore a skirt around the chickens (something I normally wear a lot, but they were born in feb.) they freaked out and ran away. it took me awhile to figure it out. I guess suddenly not having legs they could see was just too much for them!

 

[LozzyR]

Sick Tsuki

Tsuki did not come running when I went out to fill the breakfast bar this morning.
I checked the coop and she was sitting on the floor facing the window sitting well back on her heels. When I took her out and put her on the ground she fell over on her side and had trouble sitting up.

I have taken her to the vet and am awaiting news.
The way she is behaving reminds me of your description of Ester @micstrachan. She is moulting a bit, but nothing like Ester was. She was eating and bullying the other hens as usual yesterday.

I expect to hear something this afternoon. I will up date when I do.

Oh no ACM! I hope the vet is able to do something for her!

 

[BY Bob]

I give them oyster shell free-choice. Started putting it out in a hanging cup next to the grit cup at around 18-20 weeks, but I could have put it out earlier, because they only started to eat it when they needed it, and each chicken was different in the timing. How they know when is just amazing. One day you'll just see them scarfing it down, when before they tasted it and went "meh".
I feed them crumbles, they like pecking the little bits and it takes longer to eat, plus I make a mash of it a lot of times. It's messy in the bowls and cups, though they peck the bits that fly out, but works great in the deeper trough feeder. I'm not sure they wouldn't beak out pellets anyway. Queenie and Butters both get a good hoe-ing, sweeping-toward-them motion going, like they are sorting it out for the best bits. They do that with everything.

Buckeye chickens are a heritage breed and dual-purpose (eggs and meat), so I didn't get the usual feed for them growing up. I followed feed guidelines from Shumaker Farms (a Buckeye breeder) and the Livestock Conservancy www.livestockconservancy.org. The Conservancy has a chart called "Heritage Chicken Feed Guidelines". Both they and Shumaker Farms call for higher protein from chick age to point of lay and even beyond, compared to modern hybrid chickens. The Conservancy says it helps them with "heat/cold stress, and better maintains condition of the heavier bodied heritage laying hens." So they got Gamebird Starter/Grower and are now on a high-ish protein All-Flock crumble. Extra calories for the colder months without getting too much protein - I offer slightly more treats.
PS @BY Bob - Today 3 separate little bowls for cooked oatmeal worked well in staving off piranha-like behavior...

I'm glad the additional bowls help. Did Queenie get her fair share?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sort of..
Iguanas like chickens make eggs whether or not they have a male present. Unlike chickens they lay once a year, more like sea turtles. In order to have room for the clutch to grow they stop eating, generally for 4-8 weeks. Sometimes they will take a few bites here or there, but that's it, especially at the end. They can also become egg bound, just like any other egg layer. Regular baths become a habit with us during her gravid period. This will be her 7th clutch, the last 2 were in the 45 egg range.

This is very cool. More pictures please!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm calling it a night! Me, Jaffar, and Rocks-Anne are gonna watch a movie. (I just hope it isn't "Chicken Run" again) Night peeps!

I love chicken run.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I'm sorry, but I feel as if I have been hogging this thread lately. @BY Bob , Sorry for following and interjecting: seemingly (All about my birds) I do care about all of your other peeps birds too. If I'm out of line, please tell me. Thank you.
My tribe, seem to have caught sniffles and sneezing lately (Started yesterday) And I am afraid for the health of Jaffar, Beetov-Hen, and Hen-Rietta. BLU and Rocks-Anne, don't seem to have any signs at all. Nuff said. Except Good Morning.

I won't speak for @BY Bob, but you have nothing to apologize for. from my perspective. I love hearing about your birds and you often make me chuckle. I really just wish you could get more so they and you can be happy.

Same here Alex. RC hits the nail on the head again. ☺

 

[BY Bob]

Hi all! I’ve been away from the board for awhile. I’m back and reading some of my favorite random threads. But I can’t find Kristen’s. I’ve been wondering how she is doing and what’s new with her house and fil. Any news? Can someone link me?

Hi, Bob! That greeting has started many of my days, too!

@Kris5902 is primarily posting here these days. She has dropped her thread I believe. She now has a baby goat the sleeps with her and Andrew in the trailer. The house is partially built but because of COVID all the permits expired and they had to stop work. Her best rooster, Roostie, has an infected foot and she is contemplating doing foot surgery.

I think that covers it in summary. Kris will add what I have missed.

 

[BY Bob]

I feed mine an All Flock.. 20% protein pellets.. I start the littles on it at seven weeks and I always keep oyster shell available...

What brand?