Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I put in a small food and water doggie dish (if I’m worried about them eating or drinking)

She has food a water in with her. There are meal worms spread all over the straw in front of her. She just needs to get up and eat them.

 

[drstratton]

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
View attachment 2752044

White Crested Black Polish
View attachment 2752194


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?

This is so exciting Bob! I hope she accepts them!

That's my tribe.

I have chicks on order to put under Phyllis at the end of her broody. Here is the post. I lost the Polish Frizzles as there was a dog attack and 12 of the 18 were killed. Then Phyllis went broody, THE NEXT DAY!

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24677053

I've really missed a lot, haven't I? You had/have some Polish Frizzles? I've lost so many chickens to dogs over the years. Broke my heart every time!

 

[Scrambles83]

Sorry to keep everyone waiting, Peaches stopped at 4! 2 solid black and 2 tiger. A boy and girl in each color.

Peaches is doing great and the babies have nice full tummies!

View attachment 2757238

This is the kitten Anna and I watched being born. It's a little boy.
View attachment 2757239

Awwww, adorable
Well done Peaches and helpers

 

[Ribh]

I knew you would love this. I deserve it too.

It just rained really hard, maybe that will cool her off.

I like Comedy Company. Writing it down. By the way, Mrs BY Bob kind of liked the comedienne suggestion. Since she will be naming those two thank you for the assist.

My sort of logic. I can follow a theme.

 

[BY Bob]

This is so exciting Bob! I hope she accepts them!


I've really missed a lot, haven't I? You had/have some Polish Frizzles? I've lost so many chickens to dogs over the years. Broke my heart every time!

I had arrange to get 2 Gold Laced Frizzled Polish to come live with Phyllis. I was making arrangements to get them in the next week or so when a dog got into the run and killed 12 of the 18 she had been raising. She is keeping the remaining 6 for herself. I was waiting for her to be able to accurately sex them as I did not want straight run.

 

[BY Bob]

My sort of logic. I can follow a theme.

Indeed. I thought you were more free wheeling than that.

 

[Ribh]

When (or if) to Toss Her off the Nest

I have tried to watch Phyllis all day today to make certain that she is leaving the nest to eat, drink, etc. I have not seen her leave the nest. Now there is over an hour where I could not watch her today so she may have done so then.

I really need advise as to whether I should go remove her from the nest or if I can wait until tomorrow morning to do so? It is ~6:00 pm here so i have a god 2.5 hours of daylight left.

What does those of you with broody experience think?

If she's eaten & drunk she'll just head straight back. Mine tend to run round in circles bokking once they come out of their trance, then do what they need to do. They tend to be quick & not off the nest long. I don't have Polish though. My Wyandotte bantams are nut jobs. The Japs are more sensible & my BRs are teachable.

 

[Ribh]

Indeed. I thought you were more free wheeling than that.

Just ditzier...

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

She has food a water in with her. There are meal worms spread all over the straw in front of her. She just needs to get up and eat them.

I've noticed the first 3 to 5 days they don't leave the nest. After that they'll leave briefly and then the last 2 or 3 days they don't leave again.

 

[featherhead007]

She has food a water in with her. There are meal worms spread all over the straw in front of her. She just needs to get up and eat them.

Then that’s some serious broody situation