Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Morning update. We still only have external pips. The eggs are wriggling and rolling so the chicks are working very hard inside those eggs. The hole one has is not big enough yet for me to catch a glimpse of it's color, trust me I've tried. The 3rd egg, the one that was iffy, but when I removed the turner i saw movement, it is doing nothing at all.

I'm praying for them.

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 2997574
“You want me to show you my fluffy butt?????
Excuse me?????”

She sure is a pretty hen.

 

[Ponypoor]

How is Lilly today, I am way behind what with work (four letter word....), And digging out of all the new snow.

 

[BY Bob]

Did you record mine?
I think I said Sydney, Aurora and Betty.

Yes I did. Sorry if I did not respond. I'm just waiting on the Aussies now.

 

[bgmathteach]

Morning update. We still only have external pips. The eggs are wriggling and rolling so the chicks are working very hard inside those eggs. The hole one has is not big enough yet for me to catch a glimpse of it's color, trust me I've tried. The 3rd egg, the one that was iffy, but when I removed the turner i saw movement, it is doing nothing at all.

Since it was behind, I would wait up to 48 hours after the others pip to give it a chance to 'catch up' in case it is still viable. I had a chick hatch 3 days after the others...and it was healthy (and a pullet to boot!!!

I'm not sure why that happens? I suppose a mum wouldn't have waited for it and it wouldn't have made it...given that she has to make sure the others get food.

 

[BY Bob]

Don't feel too sorry, they have a blast digging through all the horse poop before mum gets to the stalls, then when she throws down shavings they dig and fluff through that, next they move on to the hay - they love jumping up onto the round bale and sliding off the round sides take a whole swathe of hay with them, which they then tear apart, leave huge gobs of cecal poops on which I then have to throw away!! Hahaha, oh well at least they are having fun!

There you go. I think digging is very important to their sense of well being. I love watching them dig around.

 

[BY Bob]

How is Lilly today, I am way behind what with work (four letter word....), And digging out of all the new snow.

Lilly seems the same today but it's early to judge.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Nestbox Nonsense!!

It's back!!! Your favorite silly game!!! Everyone has decided it is time to start laying eggs again. I have 3 out of 6 six laying and a fourth seems interested in joining the party! Of course with 5 potential nestboxes everyone knows how easy this will be. There is one for every hen. Which will they each choose? There is only one way to find out! Enjoy this 11 minute video. Trust me it is worth watching the mayhem ensue all the way to the end. I will not spoil it by revealing what happens.

Just remember that until today, Phyllis has been laying in the cluckle hut. Sydney laid her first egg in over a month yesterday. Here it is.

View attachment 2997115

Nestbox Nonsense the video, enjoy!

You are so lucky! You don't have to wait for the sequel! It happened today as well.

I give you.........Nestbox Nonsense II, Revenge of the Polish.

And don't you dare look ahead and open this spoiler until you have watched both films.

Spoiler: The End Result

View attachment 2997111

So, who actually laid eggs today? Let's see who can guess it right.

@Ribh @MaryJanet @LozzyR @Aussie-Chookmum @micstrachan @ChicoryBlue @Shadrach

I'm guessing those are Auroras, Sydneys and Phyllis's eggs.
Now I have a complaint on these videos. You call that drama, where is the drama? There is no shrieking at the top of your lungs that the box is occupied. No one is grabbing another hen by the comb and yanking her out of the nest. That is peaceful chatting between hens. I need to go show those video's to my girls and explain this is how they should behave. I'll get a loud squawking to and a peck on the fingers for my efforts no doubt.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm guessing those are Auroras, Sydneys and Phyllis's eggs.
Now I have a complaint on these videos. You call that drama, where is the drama? There is no shrieking at the top of your lungs that the box is occupied. No one is grabbing another hen by the comb and yanking her out of the nest. That is peaceful chatting between hens. I need to go show those video's to my girls and explain this is how they should behave. I'll get a loud squawking to and a peck on the fingers for my efforts no doubt.

I have recorded your guess. I believe I called it nonsense but ok, I may have over sold it a little. I had to get eyeballs on the video.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Since it was behind, I would wait up to 48 hours after the others pip to give it a chance to 'catch up' in case it is still viable. I had a chick hatch 3 days after the others...and it was healthy (and a pullet to boot!!!

I'm not sure why that happens? I suppose a mum wouldn't have waited for it and it wouldn't have made it...given that she has to make sure the others get food.

I've not lost hope on it yet. I will give it to Sunday evening before I check on it. I have had them hatch late in the incubator as well. I think the longest drawn out hatch was 6 days. I had chicks hatch early, on time and a few days late. That was when 29 hatched out last spring. It was during that hatch that I really learned where the hot spots and cold spots were in the incubator. What does worry me a bit is the eggs were placed in what was determined to be the "prime" spot last year.