Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Alarm!

I was out in the run with the ladies for a while today. It was kind of nice as there was a song bird or 2 about. We were snacking and talking and relaxing.

Then I heard a song bird alert. Phyllis darted under the big coop and here is what the rest did. Listen close and you can hear Aurora giving the growl.

I never saw any hawk but I can see very little from inside the run with the plastic up.

Smart hens! They did a great job.

 

[bgmathteach]

Alarm!

I was out in the run with the ladies for a while today. It was kind of nice as there was a song bird or 2 about. We were snacking and talking and relaxing.

Then I heard a song bird alert. Phyllis darted under the big coop and here is what the rest did. Listen close and you can hear Aurora giving the growl.

I never saw any hawk but I can see very little from inside the run with the plastic up.

Hmmmm...was she growling at you for talking, or at sydney for moving?

 

[MaryJanet]

Hmmmm...was she growling at you for talking, or at sydney for moving?

Bob will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's her warning growl. It means "everybody freeze and be silent"

 

[RoyalChick]

Alarm!

I was out in the run with the ladies for a while today. It was kind of nice as there was a song bird or 2 about. We were snacking and talking and relaxing.

Then I heard a song bird alert. Phyllis darted under the big coop and here is what the rest did. Listen close and you can hear Aurora giving the growl.

I never saw any hawk but I can see very little from inside the run with the plastic up.

Good to see that they are alert.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I do not. There are other minerals that are not quite right for layers too. You would need to supplement minerals if you fed it to adults as their main food. I wish there was a higher protein layer feed.

I've got everybody on Nutrena Feather Fixer (pellets) - which you suggested as a high-protein alternative to layer. As "Heritage" chickens the Buckeyes supposedly should have a generally higher-protein feed, and two were laying thin shells, and then Hazel was having a hard molt. It's 18% protein, 4% fat - seems a bit high, but whatever - and not too far off the calcium amounts in the layer, just isn't over the 4% max some layer feeds have. I will keep them on it and see how they do once they start laying again. I could not get this in crumbles at TSC online so there was a transition from the high-ish protein all-flock crumbles they were on. But they like these pellets fine now.

Feather Fixer
18% protein, 4% fat

Calcium, minimum	3.25%
Calcium, maximum	3.75%

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-feather-fixer-poultry-feed

Layer
Their Layer is 16% protein, less fat at 2.5%, and a little more calcium

Calcium, minimum	3.70%
Calcium, maximum	3.90%

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-layer-16-pellet

 

[bgmathteach]

Bob will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's her warning growl. It means "everybody freeze and be silent"

So both, then!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Where to buy wheatgrass seeds?????

I got a bunch of different sprouting seeds from Todd's Seeds online...

 

[RoyalChick]

I've got everybody on Nutrena Feather Fixer (pellets) - which you suggested as a high-protein alternative to layer. As "Heritage" chickens the Buckeyes supposedly should have a generally higher-protein feed, and two were laying thin shells, and then Hazel was having a hard molt. It's 18% protein, 4% fat - seems a bit high, but whatever - and not too far off the calcium amounts in the layer, just isn't over the 4% max some layer feeds have. I will keep them on it and see how they do once they start laying again. I could not get this in crumbles at TSC online so there was a transition from the high-ish protein all-flock crumbles they were on. But they like these pellets fine now.

Feather Fixer
18% protein, 4% fat

Calcium, minimum	3.25%
Calcium, maximum	3.75%

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-feather-fixer-poultry-feed

Layer
Their Layer is 16% protein, less fat at 2.5%, and a little more calcium

Calcium, minimum	3.70%
Calcium, maximum	3.90%

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-layer-16-pellet

In an effort to entice Maggie to eat commercial food I am serving a variety! It is absurd really. One feeder has starter/grower, one has feather fixer and one has regular layer pellets.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

In an effort to entice Maggie to eat commercial food I am serving a variety! It is absurd really. One feeder has starter/grower, one has feather fixer and one has regular layer pellets.

Yes, I think variety has something to do with molting behavior drive, they really want to eat other things. If it's new she'll try it! What are the others doing, faced with this smorgasbord?

 

[LozzyR]

Sad News

Sansa passed away today. I just found her in the run. I will not be doing a necropsy. I really don't care why she passed. She was active and seemed fine, a few hours later she was gone.

Rest in Peace my friend.

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@MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum