Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

A Little bit of sad news. I lost the last chick that hatched last night, they one mom cracked the egg on thinking it was a dud. 3 days of round the clock care and it seemed to be coming around until it just crashed yesterday evening and started seizing and was gone in 2 minutes. I have horrible guilt over this. But on a happier note, the other 4 are thriving and being little pigs. After the final brooder clean up last night I refilled their feeder for them and woke up this morning to find out they were ready to try dustbathing. Over night they threw half of their feed out and were trying to roll in it. So I went out and got a tub of sawdust for them and while I took out their brooder box to clean again gave them their tub of sawdust. It was a big hit, and going to let them play in it several times a day now so maybe, just maybe they will not empty their feeder again for fun.View attachment 2515951



https://www.facebook.com/100003915274138/videos/pcb.2031739356966554/2031738643633292

Enjoy them littles. I am with mine

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

And now Momma Hen is back to laying as of today. Any guesses on how long it takes the crazy hen to go broody.

 

[featherhead007]

And now Momma Hen is back to laying as of today. Any guesses on how long it takes the crazy hen to go broody.

Sorry, but every hen is different, Just like people are. IMO

 

[BY Bob]

‘Ditto’ for the sentiment and for the picture. I think a chicken asleep with their head under their wing is as lovely as a cat curled up.

It's one of my favorite pictures of Daisy, the greatest hen ever. I love it because she did this at my feet. She trusted me to protect her while she napped in the middle of the day.

 

[BY Bob]

A Little bit of sad news. I lost the last chick that hatched last night, they one mom cracked the egg on thinking it was a dud. 3 days of round the clock care and it seemed to be coming around until it just crashed yesterday evening and started seizing and was gone in 2 minutes. I have horrible guilt over this. But on a happier note, the other 4 are thriving and being little pigs. After the final brooder clean up last night I refilled their feeder for them and woke up this morning to find out they were ready to try dustbathing. Over night they threw half of their feed out and were trying to roll in it. So I went out and got a tub of sawdust for them and while I took out their brooder box to clean again gave them their tub of sawdust. It was a big hit, and going to let them play in it several times a day now so maybe, just maybe they will not empty their feeder again for fun.View attachment 2515951



https://www.facebook.com/100003915274138/videos/pcb.2031739356966554/2031738643633292

Sad and happy new at once. I'm so sorry about the lost chick.

The others look so good. I just love dustbathing chickens!

 

[featherhead007]

Went to my neighbor lady, who just gave me a haircut, now I'm ready to go back to town and get even more new chicks. Nahh probably not!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

True, but for over 2 years she's followed a pattern. Starts laying, lays for a week no problem, then starts hiding her eggs and within 2 1/2 weeks of her first egg laid she's ready to sit. Now if you find her nest and manage to break her, which is a job in of itself, the cycle repeats until you cave and let her hatch chicks. She's a silkie in a game hens body. When she does hatch chicks though she hangs onto them...for a long time. 4 months on average before she's done being a mother. Its just easier on everyone and less stressful to let her hatch. But I'm determined this year to break her until at least the end of March or first of April. If things fall into place I should have Lavender Marans hatching eggs around that time and will let her incubate half of them and stick the rest in the incubator. Then the ones that hatch in the incubator stuff underneath her and let her raise them. Chicks raised by her are well adjusted and predator savy.

 

[featherhead007]

The chicks, learn fast. They already know how to poop on my shirt while I hold them! It's the curse of being a "Chicken Daddy" I guess!

 

[featherhead007]

I am so looking forward to share my joyous new family with all of you here on BYC .

 

[Shadrach]

So I get wheezy and snuffles from the cats. I got an inhaler and a nasal thingy that helps, but mostly if it gets too bad I stop cuddling them and go outside in the fresh air.
Would lip salve help to create a barrier between your lips and the cat?

See! I knew those cats are trouble.