Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Like I said, I don't know of this particular breed but any hen laying 300+ eggs a year is a high producer & most breeds of this nature have a short life expectancy. Firstly they are usually bred to be culled by their 2nd year when egg production starts dropping off & before all the really nasties start happening. My ISAs, which were among the very 1st chickens I ever owned & a high production hen, were rescues & dropped like flies after about 6 months. 2ndly they are prone to reproductive issues & all the associated proplems. I swore I'd never do them again. It was heartbreaking & I didn't want to contribute to the abuse of such lovely hens ~ because they too are very sweet natured.

But we didn't abuse them. We have both helped them.

My neighbours had several rescue's and most lived a good while. They have had to rehome a few due too health reasons that are now at least five and still living good lives.

One of my littles does not lay every day, I think because all my girls have no lights at night.

But I'm just beginning too learn so can't be sure. I'm dependent on fluffy butts for my guidance

 

[Ribh]

@Marie2020 : I hope I haven't come across as harsh. I feel very strongly that these high production breeds should never have been bred. It is the worst sort of abuse. I greatly admire those who are able to rescue them & give them good lives. I'm a lousy nurse & have learnt that's not for me but it's also why I won't have even young birds of this sort in my tribe.

 

[Ribh]

But we didn't abuse them. We have both helped them.

My neighbours had several rescue's and most lived a good while. They have had to rehome a few due too health reasons that are now at least five and still living good lives.

One of my littles does not lay every day, I think because all my girls have no lights at night.

But I'm just beginning too learn so can't be sure. I'm dependent on fluffy butts for my guidance

There are always exceptions to any rule. Egg production should be tapering off in the Northern Hemisphere as you head into winter. I have enough hens I don't need everyone to lay every day.

 

[Marie2020]

@Marie2020 : I hope I haven't come across as harsh. I feel very strongly that these high production breeds should never have been bred. It is the worst sort of abuse. I greatly admire those who are able to rescue them & give them good lives. I'm a lousy nurse & have learnt that's not for me but it's also why I won't have even young birds of this sort in my tribe.

No, I don't think you are harsh

There's something deeply ingrained in me and always has been since I was too young too remember, caterpillars birds, cats dog's whatever creature I found needing help I would have too try to help.

Not everyone is this way, maybe it's some sort of obsessive mental problem. I just have too help.

As for being a nurse, I couldn't do that. But I will try too help people in ways I believe in and have not always succeeded.

 

[MaryJanet]

@Marie2020 : I hope I haven't come across as harsh. I feel very strongly that these high production breeds should never have been bred. It is the worst sort of abuse. I greatly admire those who are able to rescue them & give them good lives. I'm a lousy nurse & have learnt that's not for me but it's also why I won't have even young birds of this sort in my tribe.

I recall an earlier conversation we had on this topic in which I told the story of the free range egg farm on Kangaroo Island. The farmer takes responsibility for popping the older hen's necks at night time while they sleep and he buries them so they nourish the soil and feed the grasses that their grandsons and granddaughters eat.

This is about as ethical as it gets and it's still seems rather bleak.

 

[Shadrach]

I want too use the deep bedding method. It makes sense from what I have read.

Someone has mentioned getting me an oil drum but thinking a new bin would be better too make this charcoal.

Bedding is for beds. Wood ash in beds is not such a great idea imo. Ideal bedding should be as dust free as is practicable. Chicken do not do well breathing in dust, much like us humans.
Bedding on coop floors is imo something else to be avoided if possible.
There are a number of reasons for this.
It's a waste of bedding.
It may encourage chickens to sleep on the floor when they should be sleeping on roost bars.
Straw, hay and some other bedding harbout mites.
Something all chicken keepers should get used to doing is inspecting poop in the mornings after they've let the chickens out. If the floor is covered in bedding it is very easy to miss thos spots of blood or runny poops that indicated a health problem in the flock.
I've read a few advocates of "the deep litter" method of chicken keeping. No chicken would be an advocate of it. It's a human concept that wasn't well concieved. Chickens left to their own devises are very clean creatures. Thye would prefer to roost off the ground, preferably on a high branch. This means when they poop it drops to the floor and all those bugs and stuff on the floor clean the poop up over time. Worms, lice and other unpleasant complaints are often picked up from chickens eat where they have pooped. Keepers should do their utmost to prevent a build up of poop anywhere chickens are likely to scratch and peck. A large pile of poop laden bedding in a coop is a prime site for scrathing and pecking and therefor a prime site for parasites.
Keep the bedding for beds. Put the woodash ouutside if you must for bathing in. Keep the coop floors clean of bedding and poop. Your chickens will be a lot healthier for it.

 

[Marie2020]

There are always exceptions to any rule. Egg production should be tapering off in the Northern Hemisphere as you head into winter. I have enough hens I don't need everyone to lay every day.

Last week I was lucky to get one egg, then I dropped it. So I went out and bought free range duck eggs

 

[Marie2020]

I recall an earlier conversation we had on this topic in which I told the story of the free range egg farm on Kangaroo Island. The farmer takes responsibility for popping the older hen's necks at night time while they sleep and he buries them so they nourish the soil and feed the grasses that their grandsons and granddaughters eat.

This is about as ethical as it gets and it's still seems rather bleak.

Show me that Farmer and I will give him a neck massage he won't want twice

 

[MaryJanet]

Show me that Farmer and I will give him a neck massage he won't want twice

Hey, his practices are way way better than some of the others! I say leave him be and give your massages to egg farmers who cage their hens.

 

[Shadrach]

I really like what I read in bee's thread. That's what I would like too attempt to achieve. I use activated charcoal here daily.

My dog was a little sickly earlier he had charcoal 2 hours ago and is now completely fine.

I know this charcoal with be different but through the winter I think it will be really helpful.

There is a world of difference between activated charcoal and a bit of burnt wood!