Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Yikes! That must've been agonising

Right? Poor guy!

 

[micstrachan]

Ow ow ow. Finger injuries hurt so much. How is he going? Will he lose any function or can the surgeon fix it? Get well soon Mr micstrachan.
View attachment 2753922

Haha! Great graphic! He’s only going to lose function in the distal knuckle, but will require some physical therapy.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Haha! Great graphic! He’s only going to lose function in the distal knuckle, but will require some physical therapy.

That's lucky. Could have been so much worse.
I hope he is a good patient and does all the exercises he is given.

 

[micstrachan]

Only six chickens

Alex, what happened exactly? I guess I’ll have to read ahead.

 

[micstrachan]

That's lucky. Could have been so much worse.
I hope he is a good patient and does all the exercises he is given.

Same here! Yes, lucky indeed. He did not elevate AT ALL today and used it mire than he should have. Hopefully it’s healing well.

 

[micstrachan]

Hahaha, all good. You have done a lot of good things in your career
I was a pastry chef for nearly 20 years and now am an integration aide at a primary school.

Tax:
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Oh, yes! I did know that, but forgot!

 

[micstrachan]

It is so rewarding when you win them over. The leghorns taught me that.View attachment 2752571

For me, it’s Ester. Even after all we went through together last winter, she thinks I’m the devil himself.

Though, I saw a few feathers fly off her today, so maybe she’s starting another molt. Lucky, who is usually one of my biggest lap sitters, wants nothing to do with me during this molt.

 

[micstrachan]

What to do.....What to do.....What to do.....

Thank You @RebeccaBoyd for the advice on closing off the nest box. I am actually considering closing off the entire end of the coop. I can then provide food, water, and a place to dustbathe all her own. They could all use Nest box #3 to lay their eggs. I can staple up some chicken wire to segregate Phyllis off. The only downside to that is that Phyllis would be stuck in the coop itself for the duration. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Actions Which I Have Taken

I simply do not feel good enough about Phyllis being a reliable broody to get eggs for her to hatch. Therefore I had started watching the available chick supply. When I started looking yesterday there were maybe 10 Polish chicks available through the end of September. When I check this morning there were maybe 5. Only 2 within a date range that would line up with Phyllis in any way at all. So I bought them. On Aug 3rd, one of each of these will be arriving.

Buff Laced Polish
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White Crested Black Polish
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This left me with another issue. It is a 3 bird minimum for shipping. Chicken math is a real problem!

There were no other Polish available on that date. I was stuck. What to do for a third bird?

I thought.....

• I need a smaller bird like the Polish
• If it had weird head feathers that would help it to fit in
• What is available on that ship date, not a lot........

Spoiler: Here is My Solution

View attachment 2752045

A Frost White Legbar!

I am taking one more run at the elusive blue egg. Plus, I am going to have another white chicken very similar to my dear white leghorns.

They will arrive 25 days from when Phyllis started. Hopefully she will still be broody at that time, I can slip them under her at night, and she will accept them as her own. One of them will sure look like her.

I have not tried the slip in at night since I was a young lad on the farm. Hopefully Phyllis is as accepting as Speck was. If not, then Rose and I will be raising some chicks again. At least this time we will be able to raise them out in the run once the new coop is done and not have to keep them in the house for weeks.

This is how I am interpreting what the universe has told me to do. It is full of compromises everywhere. Ifs and thens are all over this plan. I am very apprehensive that I have missed something but the real failsafe is that no matter what, Rose and I can raise the chicks if I have no broody. I could have had a real disaster if I went with fertile eggs and Phyllis gave up the ghost.

What does everyone think?

Oh, this is very EGGciting, Bob!!!

I think you chose well. And now you’ll have your white legbar!

 

[featherhead007]

Alex, what happened exactly? I guess I’ll have to read ahead.

Dear, it’s a long story, and even tonight I’m losing sleep over it. And it’s so darn hot, I can’t even sleep anyways

 

[featherhead007]

None of that false modesty for you!

( I just know your response will be "You're darn tootin'" )

My response is “shut up “