Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Settling is not quite the word I should have used. It feels like I am cobbling a solution together. After I lost the GLP Frizzles I was going to wait to do anything. Then Phyllis decides to try and hatch. Then I thought I would let her go for a while and see what chicks I could get. Then I see there are no chicks. So I'm forced to throw a plan together.

I love the wonderful chickens I have selected and was still able to get but I feel availability forced me to act before I was ready.

So not "settled" just not ready.

That's the trouble with the universe - not really interested in you being ready!
It will be a wonderful (and no doubt somewhat stressful) adventure.

 

[Scrambles83]

What to do.....What to do.....What to do.....

Thank You @RebeccaBoyd for the advice on closing off the nest box. I am actually considering closing off the entire end of the coop. I can then provide food, water, and a place to dustbathe all her own. They could all use Nest box #3 to lay their eggs. I can staple up some chicken wire to segregate Phyllis off. The only downside to that is that Phyllis would be stuck in the coop itself for the duration. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Actions Which I Have Taken

I simply do not feel good enough about Phyllis being a reliable broody to get eggs for her to hatch. Therefore I had started watching the available chick supply. When I started looking yesterday there were maybe 10 Polish chicks available through the end of September. When I check this morning there were maybe 5. Only 2 within a date range that would line up with Phyllis in any way at all. So I bought them. On Aug 3rd, one of each of these will be arriving.

Buff Laced Polish
View attachment 2752044

White Crested Black Polish
View attachment 2752194


This left me with another issue. It is a 3 bird minimum for shipping. Chicken math is a real problem!

There were no other Polish available on that date. I was stuck. What to do for a third bird?

I thought.....

• I need a smaller bird like the Polish
• If it had weird head feathers that would help it to fit in
• What is available on that ship date, not a lot........

Spoiler: Here is My Solution

View attachment 2752045

A Frost White Legbar!

I am taking one more run at the elusive blue egg. Plus, I am going to have another white chicken very similar to my dear white leghorns.

They will arrive 25 days from when Phyllis started. Hopefully she will still be broody at that time, I can slip them under her at night, and she will accept them as her own. One of them will sure look like her.

I have not tried the slip in at night since I was a young lad on the farm. Hopefully Phyllis is as accepting as Speck was. If not, then Rose and I will be raising some chicks again. At least this time we will be able to raise them out in the run once the new coop is done and not have to keep them in the house for weeks.

This is how I am interpreting what the universe has told me to do. It is full of compromises everywhere. Ifs and thens are all over this plan. I am very apprehensive that I have missed something but the real failsafe is that no matter what, Rose and I can raise the chicks if I have no broody. I could have had a real disaster if I went with fertile eggs and Phyllis gave up the ghost.

What does everyone think?

I think it is very eggciting!

 

[Ribh]

Settling is not quite the word I should have used. It feels like I am cobbling a solution together. After I lost the GLP Frizzles I was going to wait to do anything. Then Phyllis decides to try and hatch. Then I thought I would let her go for a while and see what chicks I could get. Then I see there are no chicks. So I'm forced to throw a plan together.

I love the wonderful chickens I have selected and was still able to get but I feel availability forced me to act before I was ready.

So not "settled" just not ready.

I think this is often the way when acquiring chickens. I started early chasing more Campines but I have Belgians, frizzles & Japs instead. You go with what you can get.

 

[CrazyCochin]

What does everyone think?

I think this is amazing Bob!

You are doing such a wonderful thing for her! I am so excited to see how it turns out!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I think that was my flock Shad was referring to. We've had quite a discussion. I break all his rules for having a calm & cohesive flock ~ but it works!

Ah yes, thanks, I got mixed up!

 

[featherhead007]

I would never!
I was just trying to remind him he is not getting 'second best' - on the contrary he is getting some gorgeous looking birds and he was previously taken with the frost white Legbar. I think it is all very exciting!

My misunderstanding sorry

 

[Blazinga]

So much to reply to!

1. I do need to check her online schedule. That would be a good clue to her intentions. Once I segregate the coop tomorrow I'm going to have to keep a good watch on her when she gets up. Fortunately the main coop is plenty big enough.

2. It is not the white chicken but the Leghorn. With her top not of feathers I believe that she will look different enough for me. I thought about a Snowy Easter Egger but they are too big to hang with the polish the way I'm hoping the Legbar will. I do find white chickens extremely attractive.

I am a little off on the "lots of strange makes everyone normal tract" aren't I. That was not intentional. I was thinking size but not bantam. It really limited what I could do. That plus availability led to Legbar. I could have gotten the Cream Legbar but what fun is guaranteed blue eggs?

The process of putting them under Phyllis will require 100% observation to make certain that nothing untoward occurs. It will be an early morning for BY Bob. I am planning to place them under her before sunrise when it is still dark out. I can then sit in a chair by the coop and watch what happens on camera.

Maybe your future frost legbar could be online friends with my white ee.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Oh my gosh! This will be so exciting. Are you set up for a brooder if she doesn't accept them? Are you going with the extra coop? Oh so many questions! So much construction!
I can't wait I am so excited!

I know! This IS exciting! Like when @Ribh got the Littles. I love when people get new chicks.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

How can you say you are 'settling'? I remember we were encouraging you to get a frosted white Legbar ages ago - a looker for sure regardless of egg color. And those Polish are stunning!

Yes! You are getting some pretty chickens!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

We still have the brooder trunk from Hattie. We will repurpose that if Phyllis is not Mum.

Yes, coop construction will need to get started soon. If Phyllis is Mum I will move them there sometime after they have settled as a unit. If Phyllis is not Mum I think we might keep them in the house a few weeks before moving them out to their coop. But by 4 weeks they will most certainly be in their coop. I will move the heat plate out there. Aurora and Mal were out there at 6 weeks.

The question is at what age do I introduce Phyllis to live with them if she's not Mum?

I would guess 6 to 8 weeks. That’s the age I began integrating my younger ones with the older ones.