Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

To boost calcium I usually crush up some calcium carbonate antacid tablets (mixed berry is the preferred flavor here) and cook a little omelette with it mixed into the egg. It smells awful, and looks revolting, but usually does help with those sorts of egg issues. There could be some more issues going on. One of my girls from my first hatch, Tiny, was undersized and sickly as a chick, she barely ever lays and it was usually soft shelled. She also lays a tiny and fairly pink egg (pink mixed berry supplemental calcium most likely!) instead of the green she is supposed to be producing and it’s one egg every week or two instead of 3-4 eggs a week. She is now just as large as her siblings, but still erratic at laying at best. Mind you too much calcium can damage their kidneys, so supplement carefully.

As to the limping, carefully observe her to see if you can figure out where the limp is
Originating. Roostie’s limp with his swollen and painful foot is completely different than my Hoppy’s limp was. Hoppy was dropped by a kid (as a mature 3+year old hen) and her leg was fractured. Although she healed she always walked with a pronounced limp afterward, although it didn’t usually seem to cause her any pain. Sometimes though, when the weather would change and we would get a sudden change in air pressure, temperature, or humidity coming in, she did seem to be in discomfort and much slower. Basically any time my knees aches significantly, hers seemed to as well (chronic knee problems), much like arthritis or broken bones that are weather-wise.

Edit to add: at just 6 months, she is just starting to lay, so there may be some kinks for her to work out... every chicken is different I find. If they have been on starter/grower, and she isn’t interested in the supplemental calcium you’ve been providing then that could result in a soft shelled egg. I have switched to layer for my laying flock, and offer oyster shell on the side, but not all chickens seem to really go for it. I also sometimes see thin shells on the free range flock when the don’t eat their pellets, and just forage and gorge on the treats, so cutting those down might also be helpful, depending on what and how you’re feeding.

Hoppy.

 

[RoyalChick]

Before all the rumors reach this thread, I want to announce that one of my babies passed away at 02:00 pst and I’m extremely upset about it

Oh I am so sorry. How heartbreaking.

 

[BY Bob]

Hey, random question...
Is it just me or is anyone else having issues embedding links in their signature since the update?

I have not tried that. Hopefully someone else has.

 

[My Pretty Pekins]

I have not tried that. Hopefully someone else has.

This probably isn't the right place to be asking TBH, I just wondered. Thanks anyway!

 

[RoyalChick]

How clever of you!

Your giving away secrets.

Actually, I was rather proud of myself. I stood there and went ‘darn I wish I had caught that on camera’ and then I remembered the motion triggered coop cam. I just thought they were stunning with the bright blue sky and her feathers all spread out. I might save the best as wall-worthy (only I don’t have a wall).

 

[RoyalChick]

This probably isn't the right place to be asking TBH, I just wondered. Thanks anyway!

I have no idea, but there is a thread on the new system changes. I posted my issue with new paragraphs and others have posted about links. If I knew how I would link you to it. But it was active in the last day or so when I posted.

 

[BY Bob]

This probably isn't the right place to be asking TBH, I just wondered. Thanks anyway!

You never know but with this group someone else might have tried.

 

[BY Bob]

Actually, I was rather proud of myself. I stood there and went ‘darn I wish I had caught that on camera’ and then I remembered the motion triggered coop cam. I just thought they were stunning with the bright blue sky and her feathers all spread out. I might save the best as wall-worthy (only I don’t have a wall).

I'm sure you have walls, you just need to pick one! Or they could be piano worthy if you have a baby grand in your salon.

 

[RoyalChick]

Maggie
I said the other day Maggie got her mojo back, but I had forgotten what full-on Maggie is like.
She is loud and independent minded. She is curious and contrarian.
I love her.
Today she rushed the Palace door when I opened it to get in. Remember I am only able to get to the door by balancing on scrap plywood to get over the snow mountain. So she is immediately faced with a wall of snow which she starts eating with gusto.
I managed to coax her back in with some rice from the Thai food last night which caused her to yell at me (presumably because I ate the curry myself and didn’t share).
Oh Maggie, welcome back to your full life!

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm sure you have walls, you just need to pick one! Or they could be piano worthy if you have a baby grand in your salon.

Weirdly I don’t have many walls. I live in a house that is one room thick with windows on both sides of each room and on 3 sides of the rooms at the ends. Like train carriages.
I love it because it is like living outside with the daylight and greenery, but it is a challenge in terms of furniture against walls and hanging anything!
I need to inspect the walls and see how to make space.
There are two ‘upstairs’ guest bedrooms in the attic - they have some wall but mainly only 2’ high before the roof slope.
Hmmm.