Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LaFemmeKatia]

Yes - mine do it in the heat - let the breeze in under their wings.

Is that like The Wind Beneath My Wings?
(I couldn’t resist)

 

[featherhead007]

I followed the instructions to the letter. Pancake mix said “two cups mix, one cup milk, two eggs “ but it made fourteen pancakes. I’m single (happily) ...... so the chickens had a pancake and scrambled egg breakfast today. (They loved it) even Emily decided to try some.

 

[RoyalChick]

My little ladies have enjoyed their cold food and are now relaxed. On today's menu was, celery cherries, carrot water melon and layers pellets all mixed in with cold yogurt

View attachment 2709606

 

[BY Bob]

I’ll throw this across Beetov-Hen’s desk in a few minutes. But looks good to me, so far.

Thanks!

 

[BY Bob]

Oh dear. Someone laid an egg with no shell. A whole egg, but just in a membrane not any hard shell at all.
That is a calcium issue I assume.
They are on layer feed and have oyster shell and crumbled egg shells available whenever they want so I wonder if someone isn't absorbing the calcium properly.
I gave a crushed up human calcium with vitamin D pill in scrambled egg and will give another one at bedtime (I think night is when they form the shell so when they need most calcium).
Any other ideas? I heard different kinds of calcium are easier to absorb but I am not sure what the best kind is. I am hoping the vitamin D is OK as well.
Any advice welcome!

Remember Phyllis softshelled egg. It was a one time thing. This could be that. Aurora has had one once as well. And I had another unidentified softshell layer that never repeated. It can happen that way. I think what your are doing is the correct first reaction.

 

[BY Bob]

If it only happens once I wouldn't worry, weird things can happen, it is if they continue to produce odd /soft or no shells that I think there is cause for concern. One of mine laid a a no shell once last year.

Exactly. Well said.

 

[RoyalChick]

If it only happens once I wouldn't worry, weird things can happen, it is if they continue to produce odd /soft or no shells that I think there is cause for concern. One of mine laid a a no shell once last year.

Thank you for reassurance. I will worry nonetheless. There will be lots of yoghurt served at the Chicken Palace for a while!

 

[BY Bob]

This is fun, to vicariously enjoy your build plans and projects! My only question now is - What are the reasons the window is in the middle of the wall? Aesthetics for you and Mrs. Bob, ventilation, light for cleaning, etc. Would chickens prefer their roost area to be darker than elsewhere, for feeling it's a safe and hidden place to go when they sleep? I mean, maybe chickens like to be on their roost and look out the window, I kind of doubt that, but possible, I don't know. Or maybe there could there be another perch in front of an offset window for that, like daytime perching?

The window is in the center for summer ventilation. I know @RoyalChick hens roost and look out the window at bedtime. I'm kicking around extending the roost further in front of the window. It is where it is now for ease of deployment. I have two studs to build it off of.

 

[BY Bob]

I noticed all the chickens recently are often holding their wings out a bit, or have I not noticed it before? I see it in these pictures They aren't the sleek bodies exactly that they were. This is due to the heat?

It is. I call it "the sweaty pits pose". They are trying to cool by holding their wings away from their bodies. Everyone is doing it here, including Phyllis and she normally doesn't have to.

 

[BY Bob]

My little ladies have enjoyed their cold food and are now relaxed. On today's menu was, celery cherries, carrot water melon and layers pellets all mixed in with cold yogurt

View attachment 2709606

You are an excellent chickeneer!