Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[drstratton]

I too need the hen fairy.

For all of the eggs you're hatching or is there one in particular that you're hoping for? I hope you get all of the hens you want...disclosure, I'm not the hen fairy...

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I'm praying the hen fairy swings by again. Especially since its confirmed that all 6 of my last batch of BCMs are boys. Every single dang one of them. 2 of the chicks have hatched, Pickles and one of Clover's eggs. I only caught a glimpse of them as momma raised up for a second. I waited for a few minutes beside her until she pushed the empty egg shells out from under her and I removed them. Drumstick knows there is babies hatching. He is sitting on top of momma's hiding spot running all the other chickens away if they try to come see what is going on. Have I mentioned lately I love that rooster lol.

 

[drstratton]

I'm praying the hen fairy swings by again. Especially since its confirmed that all 6 of my last batch of BCMs are boys. Every single dang one of them. 2 of the chicks have hatched, Pickles and one of Clover's eggs. I only caught a glimpse of them as momma raised up for a second. I waited for a few minutes beside her until she pushed the empty egg shells out from under her and I removed them. Drumstick knows there is babies hatching. He is sitting on top of momma's hiding spot running all the other chickens away if they try to come see what is going on. Have I mentioned lately I love that rooster lol.

I can't believe they are all roos, that's crazy! I really hope you get hens this go around! What a good Roo!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm praying the hen fairy swings by again. Especially since its confirmed that all 6 of my last batch of BCMs are boys. Every single dang one of them. 2 of the chicks have hatched, Pickles and one of Clover's eggs. I only caught a glimpse of them as momma raised up for a second. I waited for a few minutes beside her until she pushed the empty egg shells out from under her and I removed them. Drumstick knows there is babies hatching. He is sitting on top of momma's hiding spot running all the other chickens away if they try to come see what is going on. Have I mentioned lately I love that rooster lol.

What a great rooster! Good for him. I'm sure he is giving you peace of mind. Way to go Drumstick!

 

[BY Bob]

Good morning everyone. I'm behind again as I have not been on much the last 2 days. Spent the weekend arguing who was and was not going to Maryland. My Mom's uncle passed suddenly in his sleep Friday morning and my grandpa is not taking it well. He was his last living brother. Mom had to go, and Rosie was going with her that just left us to decide if me or my dad went with them. One of us had to stay behind because of the horses. I didn't want to go because not only did someone have to take care of the horses, I have the incubator going, chicks just transitioned to outside and momma hen getting ready to hatch. She wanted me to go because she was afraid of my sugar messing up. I finally convinced her she needed dad instead of me because due to my sugar levels even when I was on the pump dropping randomly for no reason I do not drive anymore, and if she had a migraine hit suddenly dad could take over driving. That and he admitted, if the incubator messed up he wouldn't know what to do. Plus my brother and sister are both here so I am not alone. They just really did not want to be responsible for the horses. My brother does not fool with them, because he will admit he is afraid of them. And while my sister will come out and pet them, she is uncomfortable with Dirt who sometimes can be a jerk. They will be home sometime tomorrow, and I will have a surprise waiting on them. I just checked momma hen after I fed and 4 of her 7 eggs are pipped, including the Butter egg. Little Pickles is on her *please be a girl* way to hatching. Will keep a close watch on her today and as soon as she has at least one chick hatched I can move her to the dog crate I've got set up and waiting. Her nest spot is hidden well, but once the chicks start hatching it will draw attention to possible predators so they can't stay there. But Momma hen will not be moved successfully while she's sitting, tried it in the past and it was a epic fail. I can and have moved her after she has at least one chick out so that is the plan.

I am so sorry for your loss.

It sounds like the proper decision was arrived at. I feel like you are due for a batch of girls. Here's hoping.

 

[BY Bob]

Yep! me too, up at 4a.m. View attachment 2583006

That's how you get that list completed. Secret learned.

 

[BY Bob]

Do what you can, but don't move her clutch. you will regret it.

I tried to move Sydney last year. It was a complete no go. I left her go back and put the eggs back where she wanted them.

 

[BY Bob]

Well I just had 10 minutes of fun. While catching up on this thread been hearing the cats running back and forth through the house, assumed they were playing. Walk into the kitchen to refill coffee and a bird streaks by my head with one of my cats in hot pursuit. Got the cats and the dogs locked in a bedroom and with the help of my brother it was safely caught and returned outside. And all my windows are now shut, do not want a repeat performance today.
This little guy is very lucky, my big orange cat Jack is a known bird killer.
View attachment 2583019

That looks like the birds that used to live in @RoyalChick garage last year.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Side note. Kinda off topic, but.... you know you are a chicken lover, when you find an egg in your pocket, that you forgot while distracted by a nosy hen, standing right behind you.
Chick tax
View attachment 2581914

Happened twice to me, well more times, but these times had unfortunate results:

#1 Had three eggs in my big sweatjacket pouch. Hung out with the chickens, did some chores around them, had a great time. Left to go in and lifted my knees to get out of my barn boots.
Result: three eggs smashed on the barn floor.

#2 Had one egg in my pants pocket. Better place than the pouch! Played with chickens, decided to do some chores and pulled out the poop tray to clean. Bumped my leg on it. Result: just missed the egg in my pants pocket. Yay! Carried on. Decided to shovel some snow away from the coop on the side. Oops. Roughly bumped my pants pocket with the handle.
Result: Uh-oh. There was an egg in there! Yes, that feels like egg white now. Darn!

Lesson learned: when collecting eggs, bring them in right away. Do it AFTER playing with them!

 

[drstratton]

Happened twice to me, well more times, but these times had unfortunate results:

#1 Had three eggs in my big sweatjacket pouch. Hung out with the chickens, did some chores around them, had a great time. Left to go in and lifted my knees to get out of my barn boots.
Result: three eggs smashed on the barn floor.

#2 Had one egg in my pants pocket. Better place than the pouch! Played with chickens, decided to do some chores and pulled out the poop tray to clean. Bumped my leg on it. Result: just missed the egg in my pants pocket. Yay! Carried on. Decided to shovel some snow away from the coop on the side. Oops. Roughly bumped my pants pocket with the handle.
Result: Uh-oh. There was an egg in there! Yes, that feels like egg white now. Darn!

Lesson learned: when collecting eggs, bring them in right away. Do it AFTER playing with them!

I've left them in my pocket too, so far I haven't smashed any!