Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Caught in the Act

I caught Sansa pecking the fence. You can hear the first and see the second.

Get ready to feel worried about the chicks Bob. This is going to be unpleasant for you.

On the other hand, I'm confident most of the time the chicks will escape unharmed.

 

[Ribh]

Tentative Integration Plan

It breaks my heart but the littles are too big to remain in the indoors brooder much longer. I'm going to miss their little voices and our evening perch time.

I have a basic outline of an integration plan. Phyllis roosting in the run, by her choice now, provides some opportunity and potential complications but I think I can make it work for me.

It is supposed to be chilly yet tonight so I will be moving the littles out tomorrow morning. I'm going to put an escape door across the nest boxes so they can get away from Phyllis. Then tomorrow night Phyllis will join them in the coop.

In the morning I will let Phyllis out and leave the littles in the coop alone. I will probably repeat that for several days. Then I will segment off the big run where the Cluckle Hut is and let the littles have access to the big run.

After they demonstrate that they will go to bed in the coop, then I will start providing evening access to the yard where the big girls roam.

All this time I will have Phyllis roost in The Hut with them each night. Provided nothing untoward occurs I hope to continue that through the full integration.

I will be moving the heat block out for the littles. I expect they will sleep under it at first before roosting. Additionally I have purchased a coop heater as it will be getting pretty chilly and I don't want anything happening to them.

What does everyone think of the plan?

I have no constructive suggestions. Your girls defy all the rules I know.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm very behind on everything but I did think if you knew what colour eggs she laid it would help. Dark brownish would definitely indicate Marans. I'm not sure but I think they're the only hens to lay such dark coloured eggs. I will be interested to see what she lays when she starts up again.

Welsummers lay dark eggs too, but lavender is not a Welsummer colour

 

[Shadrach]

Tentative Integration Plan

It breaks my heart but the littles are too big to remain in the indoors brooder much longer. I'm going to miss their little voices and our evening perch time.

I have a basic outline of an integration plan. Phyllis roosting in the run, by her choice now, provides some opportunity and potential complications but I think I can make it work for me.

It is supposed to be chilly yet tonight so I will be moving the littles out tomorrow morning. I'm going to put an escape door across the nest boxes so they can get away from Phyllis. Then tomorrow night Phyllis will join them in the coop.

In the morning I will let Phyllis out and leave the littles in the coop alone. I will probably repeat that for several days. Then I will segment off the big run where the Cluckle Hut is and let the littles have access to the big run.

After they demonstrate that they will go to bed in the coop, then I will start providing evening access to the yard where the big girls roam.

All this time I will have Phyllis roost in The Hut with them each night. Provided nothing untoward occurs I hope to continue that through the full integration.

I will be moving the heat block out for the littles. I expect they will sleep under it at first before roosting. Additionally I have purchased a coop heater as it will be getting pretty chilly and I don't want anything happening to them.

What does everyone think of the plan?

I don't have any comment except I hope it works for you and them Bob.

 

[featherhead007]

I think in the US that is how they create the so-called 'olive eggers' - a blue egg layer x a brown egg layer results in an olive colored egg (khaki really).
I will be interested to see if that is the case!

I got olive eggs, from my EE hen and polish rooster, if that’s any help.

 

[featherhead007]

I have no constructive suggestions. Your girls defy all the rules I know.

That’s the truth!

 

[Chicken poppy]

If you do end up with the coop, eventually it might need bracing under the nest box. Last year we added shelf brackets to keep the nest box from sagging.

Exactly what were working on! Braces are great for that. Not just teeth need them!

 

[Shadrach]

I'll read ahead but why can't she just be a lavender Orpington? I'm not clear on what the points against that are. There's something that looks more marans? Enlighten me, thanks!

The feathered legs, the shape of her tail feathers, the shape of her face and comb type.
I don't know much about these breeds and crosses so it's really only general interest.

 

[featherhead007]

The feathered legs, the shape of her tail feathers, the shape of her face and comb type.
I don't know much about these breeds and crosses so it's really only general interest.

Freaky, seeing an Orpington with Cochin feet

 

[BY Bob]

I'm very behind on everything but I did think if you knew what colour eggs she laid it would help. Dark brownish would definitely indicate Marans. I'm not sure but I think they're the only hens to lay such dark coloured eggs. I will be interested to see what she lays when she starts up again.

You are correct on the dark brown eggs an Marans but if she is any kind of mix that could be out the door.