Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Hasn't thought of feather fixer thank you, I'll look for that. Or get regular layer. Butters is regrowing feathers, if there's anything in the feather fixer to help her too that would be good. Thanks!

Feather fixer is higher in protein than normal layer.

Nutrena's feather fixer

Nutrient	Level
Crude Protein, minimum	18.0%
Lysine, minimum	0.75%
Methionine, minimum	0.35%
Crude Fat, minimum	4.0%
Crude Fiber, maximum	6.0%
Calcium, minimum	3.25%
Calcium, maximum	3.75%
Phosphorus, minimum	0.45%
Salt, minimum	0.25%
Salt, maximum	0.65%
Sodium, minimum	0.15%
Sodium, maximum	0.23%
Manganese, minimum	110 ppm
Selenium, minimum	0.30 ppm
Vitamin A, minimum	3,300 IU/lb
Vitamin D3, minimum	1,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E, minimum	20 IU/lb
Lactobacillus acidophilus, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Lactobacillus casei, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Bifidobacterium thermophilum, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Enterococcus Faecium, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB

The Calcium is a little lower than layer, 3.7 to 3.9, but much higher than all flock, 1.4 to 1.9. This might be the best mix for your tribe. TSC carries it.

 

[featherhead007]

That's wonderful to see.

I've been meaning to ask Alex, have you had any broodies and if so will you let them sit?

I think I may have asked before, but I have forgotten the answer..

Yes you did, and no I won't. Yes I did, and I messed up with "Rocket" RIP. So no more broodies for this tribe.

 

[featherhead007]

Well they get no say so sad for them but great for us!

THEY COULD STRIKE!

 

[featherhead007]

OMG! the road runners are so fluffy! They look like those tennis frilly pants people wore under their tennis skirts in the 70's

View attachment 2692114

Aww, come on! I haven't had breakfast yet!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Tonight's update on Jaffar. Everybody went to roost (To bed) He was alone on his perch, No Emily this time, I took him from the barn/coop to be with me tonight! No breathing troubles, no sneezing, but a followup of antibiotics will be in order in the AM.
For those of you who are questioning why I have a rooster in my room for the night? My answer, is because I can, and Why not! The house is much more comfortable anyways!

Who would question why you would have a rooster in your room? I would be more surprised if you didn’t.
I consider you the Chicken Whisperer.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I will weigh in on the poop/ salmonella bit too... and honestly it lands back on the how much risk you are willing to take. Warning, I’m about to horrify everyone... I often kiss my chickens heads, but never their feet. Yes, there’s a fair amount of poop that gets tracked into our home (ok, an alarming amount!) The number of times I have been scarfing down a bagel and coffee and ‘sniff sniff... is that? Yes, that’s cecal poop smell , coming from... the hand holding my bagel, oops. Yes, one of my actual New Years resolutions for 2021 was “wash my hands before eating in the morning, everyday”. I haven’t been as successful as I would like, but I have been making an effort. (It’s the only time I have this issue, other meals and snacks aren’t a problem)

Salmonella has been less a problem here, e-coli, more of an issue. It gets into the spring because livestock (cows and sheep) is kept in the area around it, and the treatment process “reduced the water pressure too much”. I now get our water from a friend... all the digestive distress issues stopped. Yes, the water here gets tested, and has come back positive for unacceptable levels of bacteria frequently. The solution? They pour a half gallon of bleach into the spring and then retest, get the all clear and ignore until the next required test.

Poop happens, try not to get it in your mouth. Hand washing is important. That said, I don’t stress over it. Also, I have been using dry cow patties to stuff the holes where the meat tractors are on uneven ground. Yes, I pick them up, break them into pieces, and stuff it in the gaps, with my hands. I am probably an awful example, to be honest... but so far have managed to not get sick from any of it. I wash my hands a little more often in public now with the virus issues, but at home? Over chicken poop? Not so much. I wipe it off and keep going, wash up when I’m done, and usually scold the chickens for pooping in things I’m trying to use.

You have probably built up your immune system into Fort Knox!
Hand washing is the key to avoiding diseases, I agree.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Beings that I had Jaffar in with me last night, maybe Emily, his main squeeze, who chose not to perch with him, might reconsider her choice of perches in the future? Or should I just go get another hen that would love Jaffar more and be better company for him?
I will say this again, as I have said before, Jaffar is a very, very good rooster, (Very special to me) and deserves the best I can give him.

Perhaps they just had a lover’s quarrel.

 

[featherhead007]

One of my favorite words. It just says it all in one word.

I know a few colorful adjectives that do the same thing!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Maybe I do humanize these creatures too much?

Why would you think that?

 

[RoyalChick]

THEY COULD STRIKE!

I know from experience that the IFLC is a particularly militant chicken union.
I have dealt with a strike and had to endure several rounds of collective bargaining.