Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

How old is she? You are saying she has never gone full molt, correct?

She’s coming up 3, but she’s an ISA so getting old on their terms. She and Penny stopped laying about 6 months ago after petering out to a few eggs a week (which means no eggs here until the little ones hit laying age).
And as far as I could tell, both her and Penny (our other ISA, now passed) only ever did soft moults, never bare patches. Penny’s tail never did this so Bok is my unique old lady

 

[BY Bob]

She’s coming up 3, but she’s an ISA so getting old on their terms. She and Penny stopped laying about 6 months ago after petering out to a few eggs a week (which means no eggs here until the little ones hit laying age).
And as far as I could tell, both her and Penny (our other ISA, now passed) only ever did soft moults, never bare patches. Penny’s tail never did this so Bok is my unique old lady

When do they normally slow molt?

 

[featherhead007]

I just heard, that the hens I was supposed to get tomorrow, are no longer available.
So I'm feeling kinda down at the moment. Guess I will just have to keep looking.

 

[RoyalChick]

You should try to teach them to answer to their names. It does make things much easier.

I would like that. Not sure I can see actually making that work!

 

[BY Bob]

I would like that. Not sure I can see actually making that work!

Its not real hard. You need them to associate the sound of their names with something special. I use food. So I will say their name when I feed them a treat. Eventually they know if I make that noise, they get something special so they come running. I have a phrase that calls the whole flock and their name for individuals. It just takes time and patience. It is well worth it.

 

[BY Bob]

I just heard, that the hens I was supposed to get tomorrow, are no longer available.
So I'm feeling kinda down at the moment. Guess I will just have to keep looking.

I did not know that you had found some. I'm very sorry this happened to you.

On the plus side no one walked up and PECKED YOU IN THE FACE!

 

[Scrambles83]

When do they normally slow molt?

Around March I think. I wasn’t very observant, sorry. The girls just did their thing, I was always waiting for a hard moult but it never came.
She’s eating the grower crumble atm because the new girls are on that, she eats less now she’s not laying anymore.
Maybe I’ll up her protein and see what happens this autumn she does love her scrambled eggs, especially with cheese in them

 

[BY Bob]

Around March I think. I wasn’t very observant, sorry. The girls just did their thing, I was always waiting for a hard moult but it never came.
She’s eating the grower crumble atm because the new girls are on that, she eats less now she’s not laying anymore.
Maybe I’ll up her protein and see what happens this autumn she does love her scrambled eggs, especially with cheese in them

Who doesn't love scrambles with cheese!

It looks to me like they might be broken off. Can you think of a reason why or a time when they might have gotten snapped off?

You are so lucky to get her successfully through her laying years. Hopefully she will be around for years to come.

 

[featherhead007]

I did not know that you had found some. I'm very sorry this happened to you.

On the plus side no one walked up and PECKED YOU IN THE FACE!

True. And I have my lovely emotional support rooster to comfort me tonight

 

[featherhead007]

Ya think animals can sense our emotions? I’m beginning to think that mine do.