Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Wonderful video! Ruby is doing pretty well, all things considered. It seems she may be having more good then bad days.

Yes! I thought she was having more bad days than good days, but she seems better since I cleaned her butt and have been tending to the sores.

 

[micstrachan]

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?

Sorry to have missed this, Bob. I’ll keep reading to see what you decided. For what it’s worth, I have brought nourishment to broodies in the form of baby bird formula or raw egg, since both offer fluid and nutrition.

Just in our last heat wave, I brought straight water to Roxy in the nest box (not broody, just laying) and she readily accepted. Point being, you can keep them going by bringing stuff to them. However, at some point they have to relieve themselves. I would take her off the nest at least once a day, preferably two or three.

 

[micstrachan]

More Challenges Brewing

I spent some time watching Sydney very closely this morning. I am getting concerned.

No Laughing @Ribh !

I think Sydney is about to go broody. she is pancaking on the ground and starting to tut tut around a bit. It is very similar to what happened last year right before she decided to set. Hopefully Phyllis' experience will be a deterrent to her. I don't know that I can lose another nest box........

Here is Sydney not looking pre-broody.
View attachment 2757015

Uh oh. Fingers crossed for you. Millie is doing her pre-broody stuff, too. Mostly just pouncing on Flash every chance she gets, riding her like she’s a mustang. Poor Flash being the target of Millie’s hormone surges!

 

[micstrachan]

My first Monday Mug Shot features Rosa having a little explore under the willow bushes View attachment 2756915

Beautiful!

 

[micstrachan]

thats good, you are better than us here, we are VERY dry

We are very dry, too. Scary dry and lots of breeze.

 

[micstrachan]

Good morning all! I had my hot lemon water while tending to the chickens and dogs, now for some DECAF, on the balcony porch, then off to tend to the gardens.


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You are so good with the hot lemon water! Do you drink it daily? I’ve heard great things about it. Oh, and I recently switched to decaf.

 

[Marie2020]

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. A variety that stays small, if there is such a thing. Or a rose.

Pish posh

I like the idea of a grape vine much more.

 

[Marie2020]

I may totally be over-worrying about it (I tend to over-think that sort of thing!) so feel free to ignore me!

I would never ignore you

 

[Marie2020]

So we have a dilemma.
We want and perhaps even need more chickens. We have two hens that regularly go broody, Alinta seems to be heading into round two already this year.
Our original plan was always to give Rosie chicks when the time came to get more chickens.
This year however when both went broody at the same time our sweet shy bottom of the pack Brenna decided she had had enough of being the bottom. Then everyone was up again and Rosie quickly resumed her place as head hen, unfortunately she also decided to become a bully. She chases both the others off anything she thinks might be too good. Alinta the previous bully now gets it from both of them.
So now I worry about giving Rosie chicks, will she be aggressive with them or on the other hand overly protective. Do we let Alinta have chicks? I never saw her as nurturing, but she is a determined sitter. My crazy brain is thinking about getting them each one, if they go broody together again, but that's really crazy right?...

I'm no expert but I think observation will give you your answer. You have had chickens a while so have faith in yourself

 

[Marie2020]

You are so good with the hot lemon water! Do you drink it daily? I’ve heard great things about it. Oh, and I recently switched to decaf.

I'm concerned about the decaffeinated coffee I looked up how it is processed and not confident in it at all

I'm back on tea and no high blood pressure or night sweats ever since.
https://coffeeconfidential.org/health/decaffeination/