Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

Charlie will occasionally make excited noises when she finds something, it's cute!

The squeaks of joy I call them

 

[Scrambles83]

This is a first for me!!!!! As soon as I tied down the animal carrier to the back seat of my SkyHawk, I noticed Beethoven-Hen had laid her egg . Had to have been the time between my car, and loading her on the plane. She seems to be okay. (I hope that I didn’t scare her too much) and I hope that I didn’t scare any of you either. Sorry I’m taking her home now. But I’m having her sleep in the house with me tonight.

Great news!

 

[micstrachan]

I haven't found leaves yet that match the pictures. But this seems likely, with different local varieties. We have something called a sorrel here, it has tangy leaves. We used to call it sourgrass when I was a kid. I will find some and dig it to see if it has these tubers. But hey, has no one but me actually tasted this, either the leaves or the tubers? And why no curiosity, if not?

Isn’t that funny?! We used to call the oxalis with the yellow flowers I showed in my photos sour grass when I was a kid!

 

[micstrachan]

An attempt to get comb closeups of everyone today, and this is the only one that came out. Hazel's comb is a duskier red than the others, which seem more pink. Maybe it's fine. But here's Peanut for now.
View attachment 2866103

But! In other news, Hazel started eating their feed - Feather Fixer pellets - today! Saw her this morning at the feeder, she was there a while. Yay!

Excellent!

 

[Scrambles83]

Ok, so Belle was back in the box when I got home.
It’s raining pretty hard.
I went out and she made a few noises when I lifted the lid but nothing nasty. She had feathered the shavings a little and was sitting on the wooden egg.
I took it out from under her and lifted her out. She immediately ran back in and I watched her lay her egg right away (it looked like she was going to explode she puffed up that much, I’ve never been there at laying moment before!)
Oh good I thought, that was all it is, collected it and went inside.
Snow is calling out for her and had been at intervals when I realised she hadn’t exited still. I checked and she was fluffed out in the nest again. I took her out again and as she went to run back in the coop I shut the door so she couldn’t just for now. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do?
She is eating in the plastic cubby atm with Snow out of the rain, I’ll open it back up in an hour or so and see what she does.
I’m assuming it is possibly the start of being broody?
Haven’t really ever dealt with broodiness so happy for opinions
I could be overreacting but it is just different behaviour for her…and it is Spring haha

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, so Belle was back in the box when I got home.
It’s raining pretty hard.
I went out and she made a few noises when I lifted the lid but nothing nasty. She had feathered the shavings a little and was sitting on the wooden egg.
I took it out from under her and lifted her out. She immediately ran back in and I watched her lay her egg right away (it looked like she was going to explode she puffed up that much, I’ve never been there at laying moment before!)
Oh good I thought, that was all it is, collected it and went inside.
Snow is calling out for her and had been at intervals when I realised she hadn’t exited still. I checked and she was fluffed out in the nest again. I took her out again and as she went to run back in the coop I shut the door so she couldn’t just for now. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do?
She is eating in the plastic cubby atm with Snow out of the rain, I’ll open it back up in an hour or so and see what she does.
I’m assuming it is possibly the start of being broody?
Haven’t really ever dealt with broodiness so happy for opinions
I could be overreacting but it is just different behaviour for her…and it is Spring haha

It’s great that you’re paying close attention. I wouldn’t freak out just yet.

You mentioned deer. My brother had this visitation today at his house in Washington.View attachment 2866252

Nice! We see deer pretty much every single day. In fact, when I walk the dog in the dark, I look for deer eyes with my flaslight. If there is a little herd of deer hanging out casually, there likely is not a mountain lion nearby.

Tax:

 

[micstrachan]

Did someone else already share this? I can’t recall if I saw it here or if it popped up on my own youtube, but it’s great!

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok, so Belle was back in the box when I got home.
It’s raining pretty hard.
I went out and she made a few noises when I lifted the lid but nothing nasty. She had feathered the shavings a little and was sitting on the wooden egg.
I took it out from under her and lifted her out. She immediately ran back in and I watched her lay her egg right away (it looked like she was going to explode she puffed up that much, I’ve never been there at laying moment before!)
Oh good I thought, that was all it is, collected it and went inside.
Snow is calling out for her and had been at intervals when I realised she hadn’t exited still. I checked and she was fluffed out in the nest again. I took her out again and as she went to run back in the coop I shut the door so she couldn’t just for now. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do?
She is eating in the plastic cubby atm with Snow out of the rain, I’ll open it back up in an hour or so and see what she does.
I’m assuming it is possibly the start of being broody?
Haven’t really ever dealt with broodiness so happy for opinions
I could be overreacting but it is just different behaviour for her…and it is Spring haha

She's broody for sure.

Some people intervene and "break" the broody hen by making sure she can't get back on the nest. Most people say that a night on the roost will break a broody because her tummy will cool off.

Others just let the hens sit it out. But it's a good idea to take any eggs away.

At my house Mary is on day 17 of sitting without eggs. If she doesn't stop brooding by day 22-23, I will go out after dark and put her on the roost with her friends to encourage her to go back to her non-broody lifestyle. I may have to do this for a few nights in a row before she gives up her dream of hatching chicks.

If you decide to let her sIt, just watch her to make sure she gets up every 24-48 hours and when she's up, watch her to see that she poops, drinks, eats, and bathes. Don't stress if she misses a bath, but the poop, food and water are important.

if she doesn't get up after three days, you may have to get her up to make sure she does all her self care.

Whatever you decide, you'll get lots of good advice if you ask.

 

[micstrachan]

So there were two eggs when I got home from board meeting tonight! Lucky must have started back up!

 

[MaryJanet]

Did someone else already share this? I can’t recall if I saw it here or if it popped up on my own youtube, but it’s great!

I love that the hens cooperated but I was disappointed the person taking the video didn't help! Hey human, put your phone away and scold your cat!