Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

Woohoo! Great news!

How many are in the incubator again?

I was able to save 7 of her initial 12 eggs. 4 have hatched and a 5th well on its way. I think a 6th has externally pipped, not 100% sure.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I'm Crushed

and not just for myself. I just got notice that there will be no Frizzled Polish coming to live with Phyllis. A dog got into the area where she kept them and killed 12 of the 18 chickens before they could get control of it. I'm both sad for her and myself. I was going to pick them up in the next two weeks. I should have taken them straight run. I could have saved 2 lives maybe.

Oh no, I'm so sorry Bob. So disappointing and heartbreaking for you and the breeder.

There may be another opportunity further down the road. No harm in keeping your options open.

 

[BY Bob]

I was able to save 7 of her initial 12 eggs. 4 have hatched and a 5th well on its way. I think a 6th has externally pipped, not 100% sure.

That's great work.

 

[adwil21]

Peanut update - & commiserating with @Lady Red and @RoyalChick and who else here?

After tapering down on the yogurt/calcium d3/crumble balls, there were at least three soft eggs in the last two weeks. One I found, two I found just yolk in the bedding. The soft eggs break I think, and get eaten. Eggs in general don't get poked and eaten. They could get tested, but I have never found any firm-shelled eggs broken into, and if they are, it's not a regular occurrence.

Peanut had laid soft and very long odd-shaped eggs before, where the pointed end of the egg doesn't get well shelled though the rest is less soft. So she was probably responsible for one if not all of the recent soft eggs. Recently she was walking around with tail down and looking uncomfortable, then laid a long soft egg that broke. So I went back to supplementing calcium and after four days now I've confirmed that yesterday Peanut laid a pretty firm shelled egg, I saw her go in and come out. It was shaped better, rounder, but slightly odd shaped still.

Hmmm will continue the calcium citrate+ D3, & calcium carbonate supplementing. Just got another bag of nutrena feather fixer while I was in TSC, so if I switch again it would be after that. But not sure if switching to a layer feed would be enough for Peanut (and whoever else, if anybody) anyway. While in the store I looked at the calcium percentages again, it's not much more than they're getting as @BY Bob had noted. It may be the metabolic availability with the type of calcium, like citrate versus carbonate. More calcium carbonate, typical in feed, might not make a big difference?

I had some problems with one of my hens and soft shells this spring and I have also noticed lately alot of our eggs look out of shape or a little wavy/wrinkly. I think they aren't eating their layer feed or oyster shells as much because they are free ranging alot. I may look into a supplement. Especially since I will be taking the layer feed away hen I integrate the littles.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

She really is lovely.

Her coloring is fascinating to look at.

She really does have the coloring of a Blueberry if you look at her. She is also a granddaughter of Henrietta which is where the blue is stemming from in my mixes.

 

[adwil21]

I have been wondering about this myself. I recently switched to a layer feed, and I have always kept a bowl of oyster shells out, and they do eat them, but since I began letting them free-range all day, their egg shells have changed somewhat. They are a lighter color, and they also seem slightly thinner to me.

same here.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh no, I'm so sorry Bob. So disappointing and heartbreaking for you and the breeder.

There may be another opportunity further down the road. No harm in keeping your options open.

Thanks ACM. I just really feel like the universe is telling me to think carefully on this. I'm going to spend some more time observing everyone.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Now, I don't know if this is going to work or not, but we are going to try to give the chicks to Henrietta later. Even though she abandoned the eggs, she still has the broody cluck and attitude. We caught her yesterday afternoon and placed her in a egg crate beside the incubator and covered her over. She could easily have jumped out but she's sat the entire time listening to the chicks in the incubator and has talked to them a few times. We will be right there and ready when we give her a chick to intervene if too much time has passed and she rejects them. It would be the absolute best scenario though if she accepts them as her own, which they are.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks Scrambles. That is a good way to say it without being too rude!

SHRA tax
Video for BYBob

Love that video - it is a great age so fun! I like how Alice empties the food bowl by scratching it all out and then Edwina is on clean-up duty! Alice was a looker even at that messy stage.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks ACM. I just really feel like the universe is telling me to think carefully on this. I'm going to spend some more time observing everyone.

Just keep an open mind so you really hear whatever it is the universe is telling you.