Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

The Buckeye Peanut has been laying soft eggs I think. I couldn't see who it was until recently. I watched her two days ago late morning came from the coop when I visited, looking not right, with her tail down, and standing upright like the pictures of poor Daisy (TGHE). I watched her while I was opening the run, and she didn't want to come out in the mad rush with everybody else. She stood like that for several minutes, then staggered with a wing out briefly and started pulsating, and stood even taller, and finally laid a regular sized but soft egg. She perked up right after that.

Then yesterday for hours she seemed to be in a lot of discomfort, tail down, walking very slowly in a kind of waddle and mostly standing under the spreading rhododrendron shade. I hung with her for a long time and she was closing the eye I could see, like she was sometimes napping. I did some gardening in the patch next to their forage area chores and was trimming around their fence, keeping an eye on her. She tried to hang with everybody and forage a little bit. I hung next to her again while looking up egg-bound chickens and soft eggs on my phone. She didn't want to eat any treats, and I thought she was going through the motions when she foraged. I finally held her still on the ground and felt her belly and around her vent, it was all soft feeling. I gave her some yogurt with a little bit of molasses in it after I read the calcium might help with contractions. A touch of molasses because they haven't liked plain yogurt before. She sipped a bit of it and ate more than anyone else did, but not much.

As I did more things around the coop I kept an eye on her and who went in. I had checked the nest box area several times already. I didn't see her go in (though I saw her go back to the coop's run). When I saw her come out, still tail down, I check the nest box and there were TWO soft eggs in there, one smaller and rounder than the day before, very warm, and the other right next to it had broken so it's hard to tell, but I think it was bigger. I was concerned because she didn't look very relieved, but in about a half-hour to an hour her tail was up and she was acting perky again. She looked good this morning.

Is this a calcium problem? She is eleven months, almost a year old. Shall I try to give her some extra calcium? I have TUMS - one tablet crushed up in some mash just for her? They have calcium-free crumbles, mash, oyster shell free choice and crushed egg shells when I get enough to crush and put out.

I'd give her more calcium. I use a calcium supplement that I add to a separate water bottle in their run.

 

[BY Bob]

Because I read that Buckeyes should have higher protein, 18%-20%, and I thought they would take what they need from the oyster shells. I can't find layer feed with the higher protein, only 16%. But I don't object to buying layer feed and seeing what happens with her eggs. I could supplement as I did when they were little with scrambled eggs and other proteins, tuna & steak a la Alex, but I don't want to go too high with protein, and it's harder to gauge how much they are getting that way.

I would rather supplement protein at this point. Soft shelled eggs are very hard on hens. You could also look at feather fixer feeds that are higher in protein and have calcium. To me though calcium would be more important than protein at this point. She is not eating enough oyster shell on her own.

All the years I had mine on layer I never had soft shelled egg problems.

 

[BY Bob]

I named little Arizona perfectly. This little redheaded chick acts exactly like a 1960’s hippie full of energy and spunk. All she needs is the beads! And so loving I can hardly stand it! I’m so surprised that someone would just throw her over my fence to take her chances. (I’m glad somebody did) her brooding mate is always close by (the pure breed RIR) View attachment 2691783

You are most fortunate my friend. I'm glad to see you with a full supply of healthy chickens again.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Look at him, up on the porch, attempting to crow, saying “ daddy don’t worry, I love you too, and I will never leave you!”
(It’s been a lot of long nights with this little guy)View attachment 2691424

That's wonderful to see.

I've been meaning to ask Alex, have you had any broodies and if so will you let them sit?

I think I may have asked before, but I have forgotten the answer..

 

[BY Bob]

I will weigh in on the poop/ salmonella bit too... and honestly it lands back on the how much risk you are willing to take. Warning, I’m about to horrify everyone... I often kiss my chickens heads, but never their feet. Yes, there’s a fair amount of poop that gets tracked into our home (ok, an alarming amount!) The number of times I have been scarfing down a bagel and coffee and ‘sniff sniff... is that? Yes, that’s cecal poop smell , coming from... the hand holding my bagel, oops. Yes, one of my actual New Years resolutions for 2021 was “wash my hands before eating in the morning, everyday”. I haven’t been as successful as I would like, but I have been making an effort. (It’s the only time I have this issue, other meals and snacks aren’t a problem)

Salmonella has been less a problem here, e-coli, more of an issue. It gets into the spring because livestock (cows and sheep) is kept in the area around it, and the treatment process “reduced the water pressure too much”. I now get our water from a friend... all the digestive distress issues stopped. Yes, the water here gets tested, and has come back positive for unacceptable levels of bacteria frequently. The solution? They pour a half gallon of bleach into the spring and then retest, get the all clear and ignore until the next required test.

Poop happens, try not to get it in your mouth. Hand washing is important. That said, I don’t stress over it. Also, I have been using dry cow patties to stuff the holes where the meat tractors are on uneven ground. Yes, I pick them up, break them into pieces, and stuff it in the gaps, with my hands. I am probably an awful example, to be honest... but so far have managed to not get sick from any of it. I wash my hands a little more often in public now with the virus issues, but at home? Over chicken poop? Not so much. I wipe it off and keep going, wash up when I’m done, and usually scold the chickens for pooping in things I’m trying to use.

It is all about your personal acceptable level of risk. Somehow, your acceptable level of risk is right where I figured it would be.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

The colours aren’t quite so vivid anymore but I still love it.

View attachment 2691436

Beautiful. That was a very talented artist.

 

[BY Bob]

Of course, sorry Bob!! How silly of me It was a long mentally tiring day prepping school and home for the new rules.
I hope I didn’t offend you by not asking you directly!!

Of course I was not offended and I will inject myself whenever I want. It is my thread after all.

 

[BY Bob]

Happy Friday from Belle

View attachment 2692006

First butt of the day! I love it!

 

[BY Bob]

And from Ivy

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There's my Ivy. Such a lovely lady.

 

[BY Bob]

Let me see if I can find an FBF pic. ( I think I should follow the fluffy butt acres agenda) old pic, but here’s the picture View attachment 2692044

Very good! I love it.