Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

When we first started this journey, we had 100 plus birds. We had ducks, turkeys and chickens that free ranges during the day and got locked up at night. We still had a lot in 2018 and early 2019. We are finding it harder to wonder around the property and with me and my issues, I can't go out during the day like I used to. We have between 4-6 orders for our birds in the spring , He doesn't like to talk about the losses, but it comes with the territory.

Thanks for sharing. I was curious about the size of your operation.

 

[Ribh]

When we first started this journey, we had 100 plus birds. We had ducks, turkeys and chickens that free ranges during the day and got locked up at night. We still had a lot in 2018 and early 2019. We are finding it harder to wonder around the property and with me and my issues, I can't go out during the day like I used to. We have between 4-6 orders for our birds in the spring , He doesn't like to talk about the losses, but it comes with the territory.

I'm sorry you've taken so many loses. I know having a heritage, endangered breed was really important to Bob. Hopefully you are now on an upswing.

 

[Ribh]

I am posting muchus apologies for not keeping up here recently. It's not that I don't care or lack interest in all your beautiful flocks but life has been pretty out of control here recently with family & health issues. Hoping things will settle shortly & I can chat more.

 

[BY Bob]

I did have medication on hand ~ have just ordered more as I have just about used up what I had on hand. Yes, I have been thinking the same thing. This lot of Vorwerks seem to be thriving. They are older though, close to POL. The older birds of this lot all seem to be ok too. Our weather has been rather extreme: hot & muggy to quite cool in a matter of hours [temp swing of 5+ degrees] so I'm thinking a bit of extra stress hasn't helped. either.

Yes, the run is too small but they are free ranging @ present & that doesn't look like changing any time soon. If they were going to be permanently confined I wouldn't have so many birds but they have the whole yard ~ about 1/2 an acre & the Campines also occasionally explore the hill so space wise there's over an acre of available space. Do you still think that's too small?

If they are free ranging, that should be plenty of space. I also don't think space issues caused this by any means. Overcrowding issues initially display as behavioral issues, feather pecking, etc. Not by illness. Illness comes later.

In answering all the questions I came up with last night, you did not give me anything environmental that I could hang this on. Where I agree with @Shadrach is sadly the breeder. How has she reacted to the information that you have lost yet another? You have told her, right?

With sudden death like these my mind immediately goes to genetics. That is however a likely by-product of my business and education.

I also think that the sooner you get them outside the better. Once my chicks were fully-feathered they went outside. They need to adapt to their real environment as soon as possible.

 

[featherhead007]

Not sure what I want to say. My babies are going to stay inside at night, until the weather promises warmer nights. At least a week more, (But I put them out during the day.

 

[BY Bob]

Not sure what I want to say. My babies are going to stay inside at night, until the weather promises warmer nights. At least a week more, (But I put them out during the day.

I am not the authority on all things chicken. You know your situation better than me. I think it's a good idea to get them out as soon as you can.

I did my chicks in the summer. There were no cold nights. Plus I put the heat plate out with them so they could duck under "Mum" if they did get chilly.

 

[BY Bob]

I am posting muchus apologies for not keeping up here recently. It's not that I don't care or lack interest in all your beautiful flocks but life has been pretty out of control here recently with family & health issues. Hoping things will settle shortly & I can chat more.

We still feel your presence. Thanks for sharing as much of your time as you can.

 

[featherhead007]

My heat plate doesn't run on solar power. And I don't want 120 VAC out in that tinderbox.

 

[featherhead007]

My dinner is ready. (I made tri tip roast tonight. be back later.

 

[Ribh]

If they are free ranging, that should be plenty of space. I also don't think space issues caused this by any means. Overcrowding issues initially display as behavioral issues, feather pecking, etc. Not by illness. Illness comes later.

In answering all the questions I came up with last night, you did not give me anything environmental that I could hang this on. Where I agree with @Shadrach is sadly the breeder. How has she reacted to the information that you have lost yet another? You have told her, right?

With sudden death like these my mind immediately goes to genetics. That is however a likely by-product of my business and education.

I also think that the sooner you get them outside the better. Once my chicks were fully-feathered they went outside. They need to adapt to their real environment as soon as possible.

I have not yet spoken with the breeder. One reason for that is I have been thinking ~ & yes, it hurts . I am hardly an authority on anything chickeny, especially illness, but the chances of my having missed something are extremely high.

This has been an exceptionally damp summer & I think I probably missed the early signs of a coccidia breakout. Ceres is incredibly lucky that I picked it up as early as I did. The breeder, although she is only a couple of hours away, is inland in a much hotter & drier climate. Our humidity has been really awful on top of rain dampness. It did not occur to me I could have a recurring problem so soon after vet treatment.

If it was the breeder, given the number of birds I purchased, I would expect everyone to be in trouble. That is not the case. Of the 1st buy only 1 is in trouble & she picked up an injury here. I lost the smallest of the last buy. I suspect they still needed to be on heat although the breeder said not, but our night temps suddenly plummeted. In all honesty, I think I made a judgemental error.

I will notify the breeder as a curtesy but @ this point I really do not feel she is responsible.

I will be getting the inside girls out as soon as possible. I would prefer another week before moving the Vorwerks, especially as the weather is still chancy. The small coop is really too small for another 4 birds given the size the Vorwerks already are.

So am I wrong?