Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Time to worry is when they take the clubs as well.

How did I miss that one!

 

[BY Bob]

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So what do you all think. If i have 1 girl it is #3. But I'm starting to see a hint of pink on the comb and just the hint of wattles. Not a good sign this young, I have a feeling its a sneaky boy.

I think 3 is your only chance. I'm pretty sure she's a pullet. The rest, I think you are in the male zone.

 

[featherhead007]

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So what do you all think. If i have 1 girl it is #3. But I'm starting to see a hint of pink on the comb and just the hint of wattles. Not a good sign this young, I have a feeling its a sneaky boy.

Roos need love too!

 

[BY Bob]

I think 3 is your only chance. I'm pretty sure she's a pullet. The rest, I think you are in the male zone.

I also love their little throne.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I also love their little throne.

Thank you, that was a .25 cent yard sale find when Rosie was a baby for her baby dolls. #3 and #5 are the cuddle bugs of the group. They all are super friendly, but those 2 want to be on your lap or your shoulder all the time. They know I have a soft spot for boys, and are turning on their charm. Well, except my sister's favorite who she picked out when he hatched. #6, he was just 30 minutes old when she named him, Boon. That one, is full of attitude and is going to need some lessons in manners. He bites, then hops up for a cuddle. I think the biting is just his way of getting me to pay attention to him because he'll nip my fingers then shove his chest out to be scratched, And he can't stand it if the other's are being rubbed on and he's not.

 

[featherhead007]

I'm happy tonight, spent time with my Jaffar. the biggins are now in the barn/coop. the littles, are allover me in the spare bedroom. life is good

 

[featherhead007]

Thank you, that was a .25 cent yard sale find when Rosie was a baby for her baby dolls. #3 and #5 are the cuddle bugs of the group. They all are super friendly, but those 2 want to be on your lap or your shoulder all the time. They know I have a soft spot for boys, and are turning on their charm. Well, except my sister's favorite who she picked out when he hatched. #6, he was just 30 minutes old when she named him, Boon. That one, is full of attitude and is going to need some lessons in manners. He bites, then hops up for a cuddle. I think the biting is just his way of getting me to pay attention to him because he'll nip my fingers then shove his chest out to be scratched, And he can't stand it if the other's are being rubbed on and he's not.

He's a roo, what can you do? I have experience in that!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

That really does sound like the salon treatment. no wonder they were happy to stand still for you.

Oh, no accolades for most of it though! I did a bunch of things wrong and I've learned from it. I had thought the bathroom counter sink, being a high area, would be less stressful for them than me leaning / looming over them in the bathtub. But it was all too small. First I tried to have Butters (first bird up) stand on the counter next to a plastic basin set in the sink and I tried to wet and baby shampoo her backside but it didn't work well for getting a good amount of water up for soaking the hardened poo. Then the plastic tub was too small to work in with her standing in that. Then the sink basin bottom without the tub was rounded and terrible footing for her, and the small towel I put in there to stand on somehow floated, so it just got tangled in her feet, and without it the surface was slippery, but I managed to hold and support her from underneath with my other hand. The faucet was too close and in the way. The water in the sink got too deep at one point so poor Butters' belly pretty much got soaked. At least the water was warm. No doubt getting out of all that was a relief.

Standing on a nice, cushiony, stable flat towel, with a view from high up, she stood still while I toweled her off and put on coconut oil. Maybe she had been tired out and all subdued from the shock of the sink experience, and this was a vast improvement on that. Then she got the nice warm air and my fingers gently grooming and fluffing, and soon her belly, leg and bum feathers were outstandingly fluffy and everything probably felt a whole lot better. Her expression did look calm as the warm air fluffed around her. All's well that ends well? Everyone except Hazel seemed to find the last part okay. Hazel was stressing throughout, and it was good her bum was not too bad, and her bath & blow-out was the quickest.

I would like to do this in our large flat-bottomed kitchen sink, but I think DH might object. The bathtub is the other inside option. In summer there are good outside options. I am hoping nothing will be bad enough to warrant it again until then.

Hazel

 

[featherhead007]

Oh, no accolades for most of it though! I did a bunch of things wrong and I've learned from it. I had thought the bathroom counter sink, being a high area, would be less stressful for them than me leaning / looming over them in the bathtub. But it was all too small. First I tried to have Butters (first bird up) stand on the counter next to a plastic basin set in the sink and I tried to wet and baby shampoo her backside but it didn't work well for getting a good amount of water up for soaking the hardened poo. Then the plastic tub was too small to work in with her standing in that. Then the sink basin bottom without the tub was rounded and terrible footing for her, and the small towel I put in there to stand on somehow floated, so it just got tangled in her feet, and without it the surface was slippery, but I managed to hold and support her from underneath with my other hand. The faucet was too close and in the way. The water in the sink got too deep at one point so poor Butters' belly pretty much got soaked. At least the water was warm. No doubt getting out of all that was a relief.

Standing on a nice, cushiony, stable flat towel, with a view from high up, she stood still while I toweled her off and put on coconut oil. Maybe she had been tired out and all subdued from the shock of the sink experience, and this was a vast improvement on that. Then she got the nice warm air and my fingers gently grooming and fluffing, and soon her belly, leg and bum feathers were outstandingly fluffy and everything probably felt a whole lot better. Her expression did look calm as the warm air fluffed around her. All's well that ends well? Everyone except Hazel seemed to find the last part okay. Hazel was stressing throughout, and it was good her bum was not too bad, and her bath & blow-out was the quickest.

I would like to do this in our large flat-bottomed kitchen sink, but I think DH might object. The bathtub is the other inside option. In summer there are good outside options. I am hoping nothing will be bad enough to warrant it again until then.

HazelView attachment 2571817

But Hazel is staring angrily at me. why?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I only give calcium supplement to Dorothy and occasionally Ester, because I thought she might be having eggshell problems). I have direct doses a whole calcium citrate (with or without D3) into Dorothy’s beak, but we both prefer when I crush it into baby bird formula. She gets this periodically for a few days when her shells get super thin or non-existent. I am aware there is a risk of overdosing and damaging organs, but the soft shells wear her out and I once had a hen go from soft shells to bring on the brink of death from egg yolk peritonitis astoundingly quickly. Dorothy has also responded to shredded zucchini, I assume because of the manganese.

I used to crush the calcium between two spoons, but got myself a little mortar and pestle much prefer it.

Thank you for describing your process, I've bookmarked this. I don't know who it is, or if there is a persistent problem yet. Today I gave them a dish of crushed eggshells and they all went to town on it. They will have that and oyster shells to choose from. Wait and see if shell issues continue. Today someone laid an enormously long egg, as big as the deformed one but this one looks good. I'll try to post a picture of it tomorrow.