Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

By the way does anyone know how to make chicken nappies? Not kidding I want these two indoors at night

 

[Shadrach]

I'm in trouble. I know this and it hasn't even got to me yet.
I've been putting in a lot of chicken hours. A lot of those hours have been spent trying to work out who is who, who does what and who needs the most help.
I've done a fair bit of work as well but mainly I've been getting to know the group.
Most days this has meant at least two and sometimes four hours out of the run.
That's the coop and run in the background. There is at least a further 6 metres directly behind me and more to my left and right. That's a lot of space and freedom compared to the run. A few hens have shaken off their agoraphobia faster than others. I've got two that will be in the vegetable patches before long.

This has become the safe area. There are a couple of trees, I've left a large clump of weeds and nettles to the right of the picture and there are patches of long grass. The chickens like this area. It's close to what they know and they can survey the future adventuring from a safe place. They tend to head out on expeditions and as long as I or Henry are close by they'll happily forage as far as we will go.

Henry tends to stop them once they get to close to the goose enclosure which is to the left of the picture. I let them go into the goose enclosure but keep an eye on them. The geese while tolerant are not overly impressed with having chickens in their home.
Diet and hygine has taken a major turn for the better for all concerend. I clean the coop out daily to a reasonable standard. With that many chickens roosting in such a small space it needs doing.
Only three hens are laying eggs. They lay in the second broody coop at the back of the main coop.
I did wonder how long it would take before a hen started to think that making a nest away from the coop might be a good idea. This hen,one of the Golden Comets has been veturing further than any of the others and for the past few evenings I've watched carefully because she does a temporary disappearing act. She's been investigating all the dense udergrowth, bushes and places close to the rather rickety fence that surrounds the "free range" area. I've seen this behaviour a lot before and I know she's looking for a nest site. I think Henry knows to.
Suppose I was to say that I think she is thinking about making a nest and sitting on eggs. She's an Ex Batt bear in mind and I am told by many with great authority that this just doesn't happen. I know what I'm seeing. She is most definitely looking for a nest site. If Henry had spent more time free ranging and had less hens I would bet he would be helping her look.
Of course, the experts will say I'm deluded but just say for a moment that I'm not and she is looking for a nest site having spent the last year laying in the broody coop, the only sensible place she's had regular access to.
The implication of this, if I am right about what I'm seeing is she is already thinking about going broody.

 

[Shadrach]

By the way does anyone know how to make chicken nappies? Not kidding I want these two indoors at night

They don't need nappies. Make them a nest box or failing that but one of those kiddies play pens and let them mess about in the kitchen. I am of couurse assuming you don't have carpet in your kitchen.
Chicken poop is easy to clean off a hard floor. Seriously, I did for years and for a lot more than two.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

It's the feathers. They hide weight loss really well so just looking you'd never pick a chicken losing. You've done great with Minnie. I checked in here 1st thing hoping for news. Hoping the vet can pin point what's wrong.

This, @RoyalChick and also what @cfonts said, try not to be hard on yourself. The tests may not give you an answer, maybe they will show some cause beyond molting, but maybe not. We are all human, and you have brought her for outside help, which is the most you can do now, and is the right thing at this point, and hopefully will ease your mind. You don't know yet whether bringing her in a week or two earlier would have made a difference to diagnosis or treatment. If there is something to treat it seems to me and others who saw the video that you are likely in plenty of time. Hoping for the best over here for you and Minnie!

 

[Shadrach]

I wonder what it's like out there.

 

[Marie2020]

I'm in trouble. I know this and it hasn't even got to me yet.
I've been putting in a lot of chicken hours. A lot of those hours have been spent trying to work out who is who, who does what and who needs the most help.
I've done a fair bit of work as well but mainly I've been getting to know the group.
Most days this has meant at least two and sometimes four hours out of the run.
That's the coop and run in the background. There is at least a further 6 metres directly behind me and more to my left and right. That's a lot of space and freedom compared to the run. A few hens have shaken off their agoraphobia faster than others. I've got two that will be in the vegetable patches before long.
View attachment 2870270
This has become the safe area. There are a couple of trees, I've left a large clump of weeds and nettles to the right of the picture and there are patches of long grass. The chickens like this area. It's close to what they know and they can survey the future adventuring from a safe place. They tend to head out on expeditions and as long as I or Henry are close by they'll happily forage as far as we will go.
View attachment 2870280
Henry tends to stop them once they get to close to the goose enclosure which is to the left of the picture. I let them go into the goose enclosure but keep an eye on them. The geese while tolerant are not overly impressed with having chickens in their home.
Diet and hygine has taken a major turn for the better for all concerend. I clean the coop out daily to a reasonable standard. With that many chickens roosting in such a small space it needs doing.
Only three hens are laying eggs. They lay in the second broody coop at the back of the main coop.
I did wonder how long it would take before a hen started to think that making a nest away from the coop might be a good idea. This hen,one of the Golden Comets has been veturing further than any of the others and for the past few evenings I've watched carefully because she does a temporary disappearing act. She's been investigating all the dense udergrowth, bushes and places close to the rather rickety fence that surrounds the "free range" area. I've seen this behaviour a lot before and I know she's looking for a nest site. I think Henry knows to.
Suppose I was to say that I think she is thinking about making a nest and sitting on eggs. She's an Ex Batt bear in mind and I am told by many with great authority that this just doesn't happen. I know what I'm seeing. She is most definitely looking for a nest site. If Henry had spent more time free ranging and had less hens I would bet he would be helping her look.
Of course, the experts will say I'm deluded but just say for a moment that I'm not and she is looking for a nest site having spent the last year laying in the broody coop, the only sensible place she's had regular access to.
The implication of this, if I am right about what I'm seeing is she is already thinking about going broody.
View attachment 2870323

I hope you write a book. Or just put all you write daily into a book. What you're doing is incredible.

Thank god you came back, this was meant

 

[Marie2020]

They don't need nappies. Make them a nest box or failing that but one of those kiddies play pens and let them mess about in the kitchen. I am of couurse assuming you don't have carpet in your kitchen.
Chicken poop is easy to clean off a hard floor. Seriously, I did for years and for a lot more than two.

I have a nice shaped thick branch I'll think of something. They love getting on the branch.

My accommodation wont match them living indoors all the time but most of the time through winter, they're in with mama

 

[Shadrach]

That's Lima at the front of the picture with her Legbar friend who is going to be called Similie, aka Sim on her right.
In the hole is Fret. That's Matilda's white arse in the background.
Lima is senior to Fret and Cloud and on Par with Matilda.

 

[Marie2020]

That's Lima at the front of the picture with her Legbar friend who is going to be called Similie, aka Sim on her right.
In the hole is Fret. That's Matilda's white arse in the background.
Lima is senior to Fret and Cloud and on Par with Matilda.
View attachment 2870410

You soon got their names worked out

 

[Marie2020]

Good night all

I'm leaving you this link

https://pethelpful.com/farm-pets/The-Odd-Lives-of-People-With-Chickens-as-House-Pets