Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I think I need to start weighing my girls (, all 92 birds???) That is a HUGE amount/proportion of weight to lose!

I haven't read that portion, so not sure of the timing on Phyllis' broodiness - I'm, only just now closing in on the 2,000ies.
However, it is not at all uncommon for them to molt shortly afterwards. ime, hens that go broody and raise chicks molt shortly after they stop mothering the chicks. Sometimes they start a bit before that. I suppose that that makes sense, though....they pluck out a bunch to 'feather the nest' and to be able to keep the eggs warm enough...plus they practically starve themselves while sitting, and pretty much put the chicks first for food - at least for the first few weeks. It makes me think that industrial farms took advantage of nature's logical process when they did 'forced molting' by starving. (yes, that is cruel, this, seems natural...though still amazing!)

Phyllis was broody July into August. She then started molting in early September. There were about 2 weeks of normal in between. She then had another smaller molt in Nov/Dec where she lost her tail feathers among others.

 

[RoyalChick]

I just love this video. You should share more of them.

Awww thank you. I am just so relieved to see her up and about. I wish she would eat more.

 

[BY Bob]

I never saw her shiver but I am not confident in the night acuity of the coop camera. I took comfort that she was smushed right up next to Minnie towards the side that got more of the heat I believe.
The temperature got down to 14.7F - I was all ready to act at that point but it was at dawn and she is clearly perky this morning.
Here she is tagging along behind Minnie (who actually went outside for abou 5 mins) as they head to their favorite morning perch. They like to look out of the window and catch up on gossip.

It was 10°F here this morning when we woke up but everyone was good.

 

[Marie2020]

Maleficent's Roost

Betty has been enjoying Maleficent's roost today. I can see why. She is up out of the wind and in the sun. Phyllis has been hogging the coop most of the day.

View attachment 2977015

I cannot get Betty to calm down around me. She is deathly afraid of me right now. I know I will win her over in time. The most important thing is that her and Phyllis wind up hanging out together.

Hopefully soon, I'm sure it will happen.

You should see flexi and my new girls I'm finding it unbelievable after her losing amber then their age and upbringing differences.

 

[BY Bob]

Morning Observations

Everything will be by the written word today. I forgot my phone when I went out to the run. Except of course for the following video which I took before I went out.

After a night spent checking on Betty every hour or so, I awoke this morning a little later than usual. When I turned the camera on, both Phyllis and Betty were in the coop together. After a couple of minutes I hit record and this is what I captured.

With their water clearly frozen and me late to bring them fresh, I hustled out to the run with water, forgetting my phone.

I grabbed some meal worms on the way out to treat the bigs and the Polish.

I tossed some meal worms into the big coop and entered the run. Phyllis greated me at the door, as always, but Betty was also out in the run. I hung up their fresh water and spread some meal worms around in the Hut and in the run. Including some by the drop door where they all gather, Bigs and Polish. I also tossed some corn around as well including both sides of the drop door.

For quite a while, Phyllis and Betty stayed out in the big run together. This made me smile. Not next to each other but clearly sharing the space.

Then something really interesting occurred.

Sydney appeared.

She came over to the drop door. Betty saw her and she came over to the drop door as well. The two of them would proceed to eat and chat for well over 30 minutes. Including a period of time where for about 5 minutes they each dozed off. I kept watching for signs of fence fighting but I really did not see any. When I went in they were still at it. It was pretty amazing. I don't know if this means they are going to be friends or if Sydney was trying to intimidate her somehow but it was something to watch.

By the way, despite the temperature this morning, it was very peaceful in the run. So quiet out that I could hear their low clucking to each other. I hated to come back into the house.

 

[Marie2020]

I envy you guys/gals that have electricity at the coop!

For water, I put warm out early, then just before I leave for work & as soon as I get home. Plus, I nuke some poweraide bottles filled with water so they are almost too hot to handle and put it in their big water dishes (I use rubber bowls in the winter.) This keeps at least a little water unfrozen near the bottles.

For overnight when it is super cold and/or windy & chilly, I do one of the following for each coop:
take a 4 or 5 gal. bucket with tight fitting lid, Wrap sides with corrugated cardboard (as insulator)and cut corrugated cardboard circle for lid, tape each on with duck tape. Fill bucket with heated water from pot on stove, Place lid on securely, and put in coop. Cover with old 'chicken towel'. (FYI: while water is never hot in the morning, it is NEVER frozen..not even skimmed over..in the bucket.)

Alternately, I use heavier gallon jugs, fill with 1/2 hot tap water & 1/2 boiling kettle water. (all boiling is too hot for the jugs.), tightly seal lid and put in corrugated cardboard box that I then put in coop, and cover either with hay or old towel.

I will sometimes put a hot water bottle (gallon) in a nest box in each coop overnight for extra warmth...and if the day is really cold, put a heated small bottle (12-16oz power ade type) buried in the straw in a nest box so there is a place for them to warm up if they need it.

That said, can't wait to get at least a little electricity out there - if even only enough to keep waterers from freezing. 6 coops is a lot of lugging!

I don't use bleach it's highly carsargenic but I do use peroxide. This arrives in very thick container/bottles so I will be using things with very warm water. It works I've tested them. I will wrap this in a pillow case

I'm pleased to say that it stays pretty comfortable inside their coop. Their little bodies seem to heat up their room.

I wiped all over the coop this morning with water eucalyptus, peppermint and geranium oils. I put DE under the insulation Liner as well as under the straw then rubbed vaseline on their combs wattles legs and feet.

 

[Marie2020]

Morning Observations

Everything will be by the written word today. I forgot my phone when I went out to the run. Except of course for the following video which I took before I went out.

After a night spent checking on Betty every hour or so, I awoke this morning a little later than usual. When I turned the camera on, both Phyllis and Betty were in the coop together. After a couple of minutes I hit record and this is what I captured.

With their water clearly frozen and me late to bring them fresh, I hustled out to the run with water, forgetting my phone.

I grabbed some meal worms on the way out to treat the bigs and the Polish.

I tossed some meal worms into the big coop and entered the run. Phyllis greated me at the door, as always, but Betty was also out in the run. I hung up their fresh water and spread some meal worms around in the Hut and in the run. Including some by the drop door where they all gather, Bigs and Polish. I also tossed some corn around as well including both sides of the drop door.

For quite a while, Phyllis and Betty stayed out in the big run together. This made me smile. Not next to each other but clearly sharing the space.

Then something really interesting occurred.

Sydney appeared.

She came over to the drop door. Betty saw her and she came over to the drop door as well. The two of them would proceed to eat and chat for well over 30 minutes. Including a period of time where for about 5 minutes they each dozed off. I kept watching for signs of fence fighting but I really did not see any. When I went in they were still at it. It was pretty amazing. I don't know if this means they are going to be friends or if Sydney was trying to intimidate her somehow but it was something to watch.

By the way, despite the temperature this morning, it was very peaceful in the run. So quiet out that I could hear their low clucking to each other. I hated to come back into the house.

That's wonderful they are mingling beautifully

I heard phyllis screech DAD DAD water now right this minute

 

[BY Bob]

A Short Trip in the Way-Back Machine

2 years ago today........

 

[bgmathteach]

Phyllis was broody July into August. She then started molting in early September. There were about 2 weeks of normal in between. She then had another smaller molt in Nov/Dec where she lost her tail feathers among others.

That would seem about right, molt wise, then!

Edit: the broody molt, that is. The Nov/Dec molt should have been earlier...but yes, that would have been a soft molt too for tail & maybe wing feathers mostly...light/partial molt other places.

 

[bgmathteach]

A Short Trip in the Way-Back Machine

2 years ago today........

I love her head cocking every-which-way, checking the bag out, sizing up how to get in there! Smart girl!