Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

She looks like she has a fur stole around her neck. She is really pretty!

Don't you just love pullet eggs? I use those to boil for Queen Victoria right now. Just the right size for her. I'm still having trouble getting her to eat much. Going to try making a mash today. She eats the berries that contain her antibiotic and she'll eat a little egg, but is not eating much of her crumbles. She needs that nutrition, so I need to figure something out for her. Happy to report she is perky and talkative. Good signs of recovery!

Great signs of recovery. Eggs are a great way to go when trying to get them to eat. The crumble will come as she feels better and gets hungier.

 

[BY Bob]

Prefab is Down

That was much quicker than going up.

 

[Shadrach]

This is very interesting Shad.

About what age are they now?

They hatched on the 15th of Jan so about 7 weeks.

 

[BY Bob]

They hatched on the 15th of Jan so about 7 weeks.

I got Maleficent and Aurora at 6 weeks old. But they had me to take care of them. It does make sense though. They are not exactly tiny at that age.

 

[ValerieJ]

Prefab is Down

That was much quicker than going up.View attachment 2045723

Looks good! And that is all more space for your girls when they have to be shut in.

 

[BY Bob]

Looks good! And that is all more space for your girls when they have to be shut in.

No dead ends now and I have two big root/stumps to put in for them to climb on.

 

[Shadrach]

My EE Kelly... View attachment 2045616View attachment 2045616

She looks like a 1930's film star.

 

[ValerieJ]

No dead ends now and I have two big root/stumps to put in for them to climb on.

Perfect! They are going to love the new digs!!!

 

[BY Bob]

No dead ends now and I have two big root/stumps to put in for them to climb on.

The stump is in! I think I will start with 1 and see how it goes. It takes a lot of space.

 

[WhoDatChick]

They are still alive.
With broody hens, there comes a point where the hen stops full time care of the chicks and they are left to fend for themselves. This point often coincides with restarting the egg laying cycle. Both Knock and Bracket have reached this point. Some hens will still keep the chicks warm at night and share food with them, but they stop calling them for food and they stop callinng the chicks to follow. Reaching this stage is a relief in one way because the hens won't die defending the chicks in the event of a predator attack. On the other hand this is the most vulnerable stage for the chicks. I find it quite heartbreaking to watch. One day mum is there for them every minute of the day and night, the next she's gone. For a few days the chicks stick together close to the feed areas and make heartbreaking calls for mum. Next they attempt to follow the tribe. Of course, now they are at the very bottom of the pecking order in every respect. They have to compete for food, get bossed about during the day and are last to be let into the coop to roost. There is some leeway with regard to the now small pullets and cockerels personality as to how they fare at this stage. Brackets chicks and in general all the bantam chicks learn to follow the tribe quite quickly. The mixed breeds can be a bit here and there.

I agree... while I think there is nothing cuter than a mama and her babies.. all the while she is there for them to protect them from the other chickens to all of a sudden being one of the ones to peck at them to get them to “grow up” and go away is heart breaking .... that’s one reason I rather be “mama”...