Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Devils Flower]

I am worried about Naenae too. Peanut here is laying a bit like that. But not the doubles, or the rate of Naenae.

Peanut laid this last Monday evening. Many months ago there were a couple with a more filled-out tail end too.
View attachment 2783559
Soft, flexible, see I am squishing it with my finger
View attachment 2783560
I know Peanut laid this because she was feeling very poorly for some hours before, and I kept an eye on her and eventually saw her lay it. After awhile she knew it was coming and slowly went to the coop, but decided to not climb or jump up, she waddled slowly under it, then was in the penguin pose for a couple of minutes before finally laying it on the moss under there. I was with her and was so sorry to see her so! She didn't look right the rest of the day either. Next day she was good and back to talking and holding her tail high.

Earlier in the day her tail was down and I swear her expression was terrible, she didn't feel good at all and she wasn't vocalizing her usual tuneful toots. She mostly sat down next to the wire run wall with everyone else foraging in the vicinity and looked bad. I talked to her and stayed close. Nobody bothered her. Maybe because she was totally quiet? Recently Popcorn was coughing after getting something in her airway during a dustbath and Hazel thought that needed all kinds of correction with every honk.

I had backed off of the calcium supplements after transitioning to feather fixer. Not long after there were a couple thin shelled broken eggs, and a flexible broken one. Not 100% sure but but I think probably Butters is also laying these.

So they're back to getting a daily scoop of all-flock crumbles moistened with Greek yogurt, made into little balls, for whoever wants it. I make sure Peanut gets some, and so far she is into eating them every day. Eggs are good so far, it's been a week, no evidence of broken and eaten eggs, and no tails down that I've observed. Someone is laying eggs with weird calcium layers designs and the end is not finished off well but they're not thin, and that's been a regular occurrence. Don't know if that's Butters but I suspect so.

Peanut is a year old. Maybe the supplementation is all she needs, or maybe not. I saw her looking poorly once before this last time, but now I'm making sure she eats the supplement so that may do the trick. If not, is hormone implants an option for someone so young?

Oh wow. I think I need to hangout here more. I have never seen a egg like this before . With the tail thing. Very interesting.

 

[LozzyR]

Basil is definitely hitting his teenage stage and last night he got disciplined by Drumstick. One of the things I don't allow my boys to do is direct the "rooster dance" towards me or other people. To me that is bad behavior and I worry if I allowed it, it could escalate into more unwanted behaviors. For the first time Basil tried it yesterday morning, and I immediately walked into him and made him back up. Last night at roosting time Basil was the last one to be put up. As usual he was sitting on the ground waiting his turn, but when I started to walk towards him he hopped up and tried it again. This time I didn't have time to correct him, in a instant Drumstick was off the roost and on him. Drumstick didn't hurt him and it was over in a few seconds but he got the message from his daddy that we don't do that. I then walked up to Basil again who was laying down with Drumstick glaring down at him and picked him no fuss at all. and placed him on the roost. Drumstick got praised for being a good boy, and got a extra wattle and chest rub before being put on the roost again. This morning Basil ran up to me when I went out to feed, but stopped about 2 feet from me and waited patiently for breakfast. Since he behaved and asked for it by practically standing on tip toes I gave him a chest rub. He didn't get his last night. I want to reward good behavior not bad. Hopefully between me and Drumstick he wont get out of line. As a teenager Drumstick himself was not perfect and had a few lessons on proper behavior but he was smart and learned very quickly. Lets hope Basil is the same.

That’s amazing! See, chickens are smart!

 

[featherhead007]

I am worried about Naenae too. Peanut here is laying a bit like that. But not the doubles, or the rate of Naenae.

Peanut laid this last Monday evening. Many months ago there were a couple with a more filled-out tail end too.
View attachment 2783559
Soft, flexible, see I am squishing it with my finger
View attachment 2783560
I know Peanut laid this because she was feeling very poorly for some hours before, and I kept an eye on her and eventually saw her lay it. After awhile she knew it was coming and slowly went to the coop, but decided to not climb or jump up, she waddled slowly under it, then was in the penguin pose for a couple of minutes before finally laying it on the moss under there. I was with her and was so sorry to see her so! She didn't look right the rest of the day either. Next day she was good and back to talking and holding her tail high.

Earlier in the day her tail was down and I swear her expression was terrible, she didn't feel good at all and she wasn't vocalizing her usual tuneful toots. She mostly sat down next to the wire run wall with everyone else foraging in the vicinity and looked bad. I talked to her and stayed close. Nobody bothered her. Maybe because she was totally quiet? Recently Popcorn was coughing after getting something in her airway during a dustbath and Hazel thought that needed all kinds of correction with every honk.

I had backed off of the calcium supplements after transitioning to feather fixer. Not long after there were a couple thin shelled broken eggs, and a flexible broken one. Not 100% sure but but I think probably Butters is also laying these.

So they're back to getting a daily scoop of all-flock crumbles moistened with Greek yogurt, made into little balls, for whoever wants it. I make sure Peanut gets some, and so far she is into eating them every day. Eggs are good so far, it's been a week, no evidence of broken and eaten eggs, and no tails down that I've observed. Someone is laying eggs with weird calcium layers designs and the end is not finished off well but they're not thin, and that's been a regular occurrence. Don't know if that's Butters but I suspect so.

Peanut is a year old. Maybe the supplementation is all she needs, or maybe not. I saw her looking poorly once before this last time, but now I'm making sure she eats the supplement so that may do the trick. If not, is hormone implants an option for someone so young?

I have never seen anything like that egg with a tail.

 

[BY Bob]

Pour chicken lady is a bit jealous and gets in between me and my turkeys. Chicken Lady is my oldest and dearest hen. She is over 8 years old and still gives me eggs. She let's me know when she needs some loves and cuddles. She doesn't want to be touched until she wants to be touched. and she talks up a storm.

Your turkeys are so cool. That's a really neat video.

 

[Devils Flower]

I have been lucky with all my birds. Chickens ducks turkeys. Never once have I had and health issues with any of them. I started with ducks like 10 years ago. Moved to chickens then turkeys. Only problem has been predators and that's not every year and I live in the middle of nowhere. So far the family hasn't had to kill any predators. We have been lucky enough to relocate them or the next door neighbor shoots them.

 

[LozzyR]

Only Xzit does that. But I always find her before bedtime in the coop. This one is Shenandoah.

Is that why she was a bit off?

 

[RoyalChick]

Cluckle Hut Update

It is essentially done. I need to sand the bottom hinged board as I installed it upside down and there is glue on it that is preventing the top door and the hinged board from meeting smoothly. Aside from that it is ready for chickens!

Here is the completed nest box. View attachment 2783579

Here is the opened door and hinged board.
View attachment 2783580

Here is the front porch and door. This door is temporary until the new automated door arrives. I have the hinged board up in this one.
View attachment 2783581

The view past the porch all the way to the nest box.

View attachment 2783586


Inside the coop looking into the nest box. Check out the window sill!

View attachment 2783587

Looking back towards the front porch.

View attachment 2783588

I could not help myself. I put fresh straw into the nest box for Phyllis and the babies.

View attachment 2783589

Brilliant!

 

[RoyalChick]

Like mine know which wild bird alarms they need to pay attention to. All newbies learn from my older girls. They have survived. They know the deal.

Although some of that must be wired in their brains. Mine are not raised by hens but they really differentiate between wild bird calls and between hawks and crows overhead.

 

[RoyalChick]

3-4 days. They hold 6 gallons when filled to the top more or less.
Well it depends on if my son takes care of it before I get home. I drive a semi truck with my husband. It can be up to 8 days before these type of water containers are cleaned and refilled
I must be honest..

I have a 5 gallon one that lasts over a week and don’t get any mosquitos in there. My smaller water containers are open and get mosquito larvae which the chickens gobble up.

 

[RoyalChick]

I thought about putting olive oil in the water containers. Growing up we would put old motor oil in standing water to control mosquitoes.
Not sure if olive oil is safe.

Don’t think it would do any harm. Mine eat left over salad with dressing on!