Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

Awwww, courting chooks are so sweet! (See? I am very prone to anthropomorphism too )



If you say so Shad....

You could make a picture photo book called “find the chicken “ . Next project ?

Yes, I could only find 10. There are 5 missing chickens in that photo!

 

[Shadrach]

The first 3 Young birds born in my loft on their first outing.

They are not that dissimilar to the wood pigeons here to the untrained eye. I get a pair come into the house occasionally for the chicken food.
It's a tough life here for pigeons because of the hawks.

 

[BY Bob]

Looking good Bob. You are a very thoughtful and considerate ChookDad.

I can’t see the coop camera. Will you have to reposition it to cover all the perches now?

It should cover them from where it is. Probably better now.

 

[Shadrach]

There are 15 chickens of various ages in the frame of this picture.
View attachment 2033915

Bracket and four chicks bottom left.
Knock and three chicks rockery foreground.
Punch, Mag, Nolia, Hinge and Rivit in the bunch under the bush
Notch visible right at the back of the picture at the end of the patch.
I didn't include Myth because she is a bit down the bank from Notch.

 

[micstrachan]

There are 15 chickens of various ages in the frame of this picture.
View attachment 2033915

Where’s Waldo?

 

[micstrachan]

@micstrachan
I saw your post. Pleased Dorothy laid an egg. You must be relieved.

Yes, very! I was going to post here after I saw how the day went, but she’s doing great! I’m going to switch them back to 50/50 layer/all flock and do less fermenting. I’m not really sure how often Dorothy will need calcium supplements, since she’s not taking enough on her own. Always learning and never dull!

I do wonder if the diet I put them on was too much, since the pullets are still growing AND laying almost daily. I got so paranoid when I learned Ruby is “well insulated, like a seal” per my favorite avian vet, I didn’t think the diet through. I’ll look for a compromise.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Even chickens in Louisiana get to eat crawfish ...

 

[micstrachan]

Even chickens in Louisiana get to eat crawfish ... View attachment 2034070View attachment 2034071View attachment 2034072

What an awesome treat!

 

[LozzyR]

Of course! I grew up with Dr Who. Never really warmed to Nysa or Adric though...

I was about 10 when Tegan, Nyssa and Adric were the Doctor's companions. It was only viewing some of these episodes as an adult that I realised how whiny Adric and Peter Davison's Doctor were! I don't know if you've watched the newer seasons of Doctor Who, but I adore Professor River Song, she is an awesome character!

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, very! ❤ I was going to post here after I saw how the day went, but she’s doing great! I’m going to switch them back to 50/50 layer/all flock and do less fermenting. I’m not really sure how often Dorothy will need calcium supplements, since she’s not taking enough on her own. Always learning and never dull!

I do wonder if the diet I put them on was too much, since the pullets are still growing AND laying almost daily. I got so paranoid when I learned Ruby is “well insulated, like a seal” per my favorite avian vet, I didn’t think the diet through. I’ll look for a compromise.

I have my doubts the problem was a calcium deficiency. Hens lay lash and shell less eggs for many reasons.
In general, if the rest of the hens here are laying eggs with decent strength shells then their diet with regard to calcium is about right. They all eat much the same stuff and their size dictates the quanitity. The same applies to protein and fat. If you've got one hen carrying too much fat then the likelihood is they all are.
The hen stores calcium in a special type of bone. These bones are primarily found in the hens legs. What usually happens when a hen is severely calcium deficient is first the shells get thinner and eventually she suffers from osteoporosis.
You can find lots of information about this on the sites that deal with commercial layers.
Once again, in general, a hen doesn't suddenly run out of calcium deposits. It takes time. A sudden change in egg shell quality is usually another problem. I've never been quite sure why whenever a hen lays a shell less egg but shows no other signs of ill health forums such as this recommend calcium supplements. Unfortunatley the science behind egg laying gets forgotton and because after the calcium increase the hens next egg seems good the tendency is to believe that a lack of calcium was the problem. If a hen cannot produce any calciuim or that little then she would have bone related illnesses. Lots of battery hens used to get osteoporosis when I worked on my uncle farm which was before more was known about diet and how the hen manages her calcium supply.