Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[lightm]

Cute gazebo we made for the chickens last weekend. They seem to love it!
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I love this gazebo!!!

 

[rural mouse]

Update on the chicks in general, mystery chick in particular.

So,after morning chores & breakfast, I head into the room with the brooder box to say 'hi' spend some time and get more pics of'mystery chick'.

1) Mystery chick is an intrepid explorer. She is the first to manage to hop/jump/fly to the top of the brooder box & perch Unfortunately, no picture of that...as soon as she saw me coming, she hopped back down into the boX!

2) Despite having raised the brooder plate, the chicks spend as much or more time on top of it than under it. Not yet 2 weeks old and they are already becoming independent.

3) With this physical, maturational and cognitive growth is also coming an increasing need to explore and 'be high! The instant I remove them from the brooder box now, instead of cowering and staying clustered with their hatch mates....they each immediately try running, jump/flying, climbing to the nearest 'higher' spot! Sometimes generally heading in the same direction, sometimes not. Either way, initially it appears to be a 'yay! I can explore and be on top of the world' versus a 'hey, wait, where are my buddies'!

4) Whenever they hear my voice or footsteps, now instead of running under the 'protective mom' heating plate, they stand up tall with heads stretched to their utmost to see me/watch me approach!

I know I have brooded many chick in the past, but it still amazes me how quickly they learn, grow, and become increasingly independent.

Mystery chick:
I've included a couple slightly better shots of the mystery chick, and a shots of it with a Marans, so you can note the difference in leg color. (Note, I tried to get a close-up of it's leg so you could see the slight dusting of black/grey, but the camera will not focus on the leg that close


View attachment 3075337View attachment 3075340
Note the slight 'dustiness' on her leg - particularly the right leg (your left viewing side) For some reason it looks a bit fuzzy in the picture. IT IS NOT fluff/fuzz/feathers
View attachment 3075348

This next pic, Mystery is on the right, a BCM on the left. Notice the distinct difference in leg color...but yet 'Mystery' doesn't have yellow legs - they are, the best I can describe - 'flesh color'.

View attachment 3075360

I'm wondering if @rural mouse might be right with an Olive Egger (cuckoo marans cross?) Would explain the very limited barring, and also the odd colored legs - a white legged breed crossed with a yellow legged breed???

I'm also seeing a hint of feathering on the right leg...maybe VERY lightly/patchy feathered legs as an adult.

 

[rural mouse]

There are limited breeds that Meyer has that it could possibly be: Dominique, BR, CM, or EE/OE That is pretty much it for barred breeds (excluding a few it CAN"T be: polish, 5 toed breeds, etc.)

The rainbow rangers CAN be barred (lots of variety) and the grey rangers (kosher kings), both meat hybrids.

 

[rural mouse]

That is what kicked in with me and strapping Bernadette’s foot into a boot splint. It just had to happen and there was only me to do it!
Now I have a whole new skill!

Ditto: finally got Hectors toes wrapped (Thank you, @bgmathteach). Taking it off tomorrow to see how they are, wrapping one of the feet on a Sussex (don't remember which one, just noticed 1 toe last night) tomorrow. Hector is moving better with the feet wrapped than he was without the wraps. We'll see how things go tomorrow re: more wrap on him.

Asphodel came out this morning with the adults through the people door. I shooed her back in as She doesn't know how to get back in the chicken door from outside. Likely going to find them all exploring outside within the next week (weather permitting). They've had the run of the coop and an open door for the last week and a half/2 weeks, but havent ventured forth. I'm hoping that they wait for Jess to hatch, and follow her, even if at a distance. Those are due within the next week, I think.

 

[featherhead007]

What’s with my birds?, Arizona is running around thinking that she’s running the whole show here. (We all know that Xzit is the leader of the Rock band)

 

[Ponypoor]

Update on the chicks in general, mystery chick in particular.

So,after morning chores & breakfast, I head into the room with the brooder box to say 'hi' spend some time and get more pics of'mystery chick'.

1) Mystery chick is an intrepid explorer. She is the first to manage to hop/jump/fly to the top of the brooder box & perch Unfortunately, no picture of that...as soon as she saw me coming, she hopped back down into the boX!

2) Despite having raised the brooder plate, the chicks spend as much or more time on top of it than under it. Not yet 2 weeks old and they are already becoming independent.

3) With this physical, maturational and cognitive growth is also coming an increasing need to explore and 'be high! The instant I remove them from the brooder box now, instead of cowering and staying clustered with their hatch mates....they each immediately try running, jump/flying, climbing to the nearest 'higher' spot! Sometimes generally heading in the same direction, sometimes not. Either way, initially it appears to be a 'yay! I can explore and be on top of the world' versus a 'hey, wait, where are my buddies'!

4) Whenever they hear my voice or footsteps, now instead of running under the 'protective mom' heating plate, they stand up tall with heads stretched to their utmost to see me/watch me approach!

I know I have brooded many chick in the past, but it still amazes me how quickly they learn, grow, and become increasingly independent.

Mystery chick:
I've included a couple slightly better shots of the mystery chick, and a shots of it with a Marans, so you can note the difference in leg color. (Note, I tried to get a close-up of it's leg so you could see the slight dusting of black/grey, but the camera will not focus on the leg that close


View attachment 3075337View attachment 3075340
Note the slight 'dustiness' on her leg - particularly the right leg (your left viewing side) For some reason it looks a bit fuzzy in the picture. IT IS NOT fluff/fuzz/feathers
View attachment 3075348

This next pic, Mystery is on the right, a BCM on the left. Notice the distinct difference in leg color...but yet 'Mystery' doesn't have yellow legs - they are, the best I can describe - 'flesh color'.

View attachment 3075360

I'm wondering if @rural mouse might be right with an Olive Egger (cuckoo marans cross?) Would explain the very limited barring, and also the odd colored legs - a white legged breed crossed with a yellow legged breed???

Sooooo cute

Oh I miss having babies

 

[Ponypoor]

Boy, don't I know. You should see me stitching a chicken by myself. While 'gently pinching' skin so not flat against body with one hand, holding chicken with combo of lap, wrap and elbows., Stick needle into flesh on one side of wound with 2nd hand, immediately let go so when chicken shakes/move, it doesn't pull the needle out. grasp needle point end and pull all the way through flesh. Carefully stick needle into flesh other side of wound and immediately let go...allow chicken to wiggle/shake...grasp needle and pull through. Repeat as many times as needed to generally secure.

Yes, prior to this, I have washed wound as best as possible, flushed with either betadine or hydrogen peroxide, scrubbed myself with soap, rinsed, then 'rinsed' hands with rubbing alcohol, also have sterilized needle and thread. And grabbed a freshly laundered towel for wrapping the chicken best I can based on wound location.

however, no, the chicken itself is clearly not sterile, especially her feathers that she may shake and fluff...now that I think about it...she probably spreads microorganism and dust into the air every time. Even with being wrapped....wounds are usually on the body itself, so can't 'contain' all the feathers.

Great. I wish I was still in my ignorant little bubble. I'm going to totally freak out the next time I have an injured chicken that I need to do something about.

I hear ya, I freak out every time the horses do something to injure themselves, or the chickens do something....

Gotta have nerves of steel to have pets and kids!!

 

[Ponypoor]

That is what kicked in with me and strapping Bernadette’s foot into a boot splint. It just had to happen and there was only me to do it!
Now I have a whole new skill!

How is Bernadette?

 

[featherhead007]

Arizona!! She has decided my desk is her new nest. She scooted under the chair and set up nesting under the desk. When I went to get her out, she screamed at me. So, she can hang out in there for a while I guess.

 

[featherhead007]

Arizona!! She has decided my desk is her new nest. She scooted under the chair and set up nesting under the desk. When I went to get her out, she screamed at me. So, she can hang out in there for a while I guess.

Done deal. I brought Jaffar inside to talk with her. She came out. Now, they are both outside. Crazy chooks!