Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

So everyone knows my girls hate to share nest boxes and will fight over their 2 favorite spots to lay. Well Henrietta is back to laying and back to her old habits. After she lays her egg, instead of leaving soon after, she likes to sit in the box, for a few hours causing a backup of very angry hens. She does it for pure spite as this hen has never gone broody. If the box is occupied when she gets in the mood to lay, she evicts the poor hen whether they've laid yet or not. This greatly stressed poor Lola and Bunny 2 of my newest layers. They would pace to the front porch and back to the box causing such a ruckus. The roosters are quieter when they are in the middle of a crow off then those 2 girls. Well since they like the porch, and I had a old wagon that was good for nothing else, repurposed it. Put 2 crates in it and filled it with hay. Today makes day 4 and here are the results, 4 days in a row that all I have to do is walk out the front door for breakfast lol.

It works better as a nest box, then its intended purpose. Who needs a new planter for flowers anyway.

 

[BY Bob]

You should read this:

https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/ameraucanas-easter-eggers-and-arauacanas

That was an outstanding read. Thanks for sharing. Fortunately Aurora has never doubted her place in the world.

This was her thought when I shared the pictures with her.

"No Tails! What a bunch of weirdos! There must be something wrong with their genes. I'd never let those roosters near me!"

 

[BY Bob]

Ok Fluffy Butt Friends, I need some advice. My sawdust guy delivered a load of sawdust for me yesterday and presented me with a problem or opportunity. Depends on how you look at it. He's a wonderful old man who likes chickens as much as I do and will stand around and talk horses and chickens all day long. This June he has 17 Beifielder chicks coming, and in order to make room for them he's offered me 5 or 6 hens for free. Was initially in the process of saying no when he showed me the pictures and told me to look and think again. THEY ARE BLUE MARANS. 2 years old and gorgeous. He knows my obsession with Marans, and has remembered that I also want blues, well, ok every color. I have until the new chicks show up to decided, but if I really want them in about 3 weeks when the next load of sawdust arrives they can hitch a ride with him. I WANT THEM, I think I'm going to say yes. Keep 3 of the best looking ones and let Maddy next door have the others to take to her papaws as they are wanting more hens and love the 2 Marans I gave them. That would still allow me to get a few Lavender chicks for Rosie. I think anyway, that plan would push me at or over 20 chickens, which I sorta want to keep under so as not to drive the neighbors crazy. But then, the neighbors love my chickens, 3 of them bring over kitchen scraps to them and since I've had a egg explosion they are loving the fresh eggs i've been giving them. Ok advise please, take them, or pass on them.

Easy, take them. When you have 20 there is little difference between 23, 24 and 20 and they will bring you joy.

 

[BY Bob]

Not only do I know the guy. His son is our emergency horse vet. And he will see chickens.

You have to take them.

 

[BY Bob]

Lol, you know what is causing me to overthink this. The very serious concerned face of my daughter yesterday when she simply stated "They are pretty, but not lavenders". The look she gave me. So whatever I decide, there has to be a way of incorporating Lavenders into the flock.

You can pull it off. I have faith.

 

[BY Bob]

So everyone knows my girls hate to share nest boxes and will fight over their 2 favorite spots to lay. Well Henrietta is back to laying and back to her old habits. After she lays her egg, instead of leaving soon after, she likes to sit in the box, for a few hours causing a backup of very angry hens. She does it for pure spite as this hen has never gone broody. If the box is occupied when she gets in the mood to lay, she evicts the poor hen whether they've laid yet or not. This greatly stressed poor Lola and Bunny 2 of my newest layers. They would pace to the front porch and back to the box causing such a ruckus. The roosters are quieter when they are in the middle of a crow off then those 2 girls. Well since they like the porch, and I had a old wagon that was good for nothing else, repurposed it. Put 2 crates in it and filled it with hay. Today makes day 4 and here are the results, 4 days in a row that all I have to do is walk out the front door for breakfast lol.
View attachment 2547212
View attachment 2547213
It works better as a nest box, then its intended purpose. Who needs a new planter for flowers anyway.

Very clever! I love it!

My Lilly will occupy THE nestbox (they all like the same one) for hours and not lay an egg. I think she likes to sit in there and remember back when she did lay. Frustrates everyone else to no end.

 

[RoyalChick]

So everyone knows my girls hate to share nest boxes and will fight over their 2 favorite spots to lay. Well Henrietta is back to laying and back to her old habits. After she lays her egg, instead of leaving soon after, she likes to sit in the box, for a few hours causing a backup of very angry hens. She does it for pure spite as this hen has never gone broody. If the box is occupied when she gets in the mood to lay, she evicts the poor hen whether they've laid yet or not. This greatly stressed poor Lola and Bunny 2 of my newest layers. They would pace to the front porch and back to the box causing such a ruckus. The roosters are quieter when they are in the middle of a crow off then those 2 girls. Well since they like the porch, and I had a old wagon that was good for nothing else, repurposed it. Put 2 crates in it and filled it with hay. Today makes day 4 and here are the results, 4 days in a row that all I have to do is walk out the front door for breakfast lol.
View attachment 2547212
View attachment 2547213
It works better as a nest box, then its intended purpose. Who needs a new planter for flowers anyway.

Perfect! And so convenient in the morning. You could go the next step and like @Shadrach have a nest box right by the kitchen stove.

 

[Cynthia12]

Strange weather. Didn't know it was going to snow last night. If you can call what happened snow. I noticed the wind earlier, then came a bit of snow. Swirling around. Wasn't sticking. None on the ground this morning. Girls are noisy this morning. They are calling out for their treats early. Corn...or meal worms? Decisions decisions.

 

[Cynthia12]

So everyone knows my girls hate to share nest boxes and will fight over their 2 favorite spots to lay. Well Henrietta is back to laying and back to her old habits. After she lays her egg, instead of leaving soon after, she likes to sit in the box, for a few hours causing a backup of very angry hens. She does it for pure spite as this hen has never gone broody. If the box is occupied when she gets in the mood to lay, she evicts the poor hen whether they've laid yet or not. This greatly stressed poor Lola and Bunny 2 of my newest layers. They would pace to the front porch and back to the box causing such a ruckus. The roosters are quieter when they are in the middle of a crow off then those 2 girls. Well since they like the porch, and I had a old wagon that was good for nothing else, repurposed it. Put 2 crates in it and filled it with hay. Today makes day 4 and here are the results, 4 days in a row that all I have to do is walk out the front door for breakfast lol.
View attachment 2547212
View attachment 2547213
It works better as a nest box, then its intended purpose. Who needs a new planter for flowers anyway.

That's awesome. I'm sure it's very much appreciated too.

 

[Cynthia12]

You did! She will be so excited! I can't wait to tell her.

View attachment 2547141

What a pretty picture..girl.