Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

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


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:
View attachment 2866361

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.

Hahaha, not quite freaking out but I don’t want her to sit at this point so just trying to get in early and distract her from it rather than leave it too long and then the job will be more difficult.
Thanks guys, figured getting her out today in the colder air might be of assistance too, I’ll open up shop again soon and see what happens

They have found a new dust bathing spot under the compost tumbler

 

[Scrambles83]

I got the Flockstar app too someone suggested (sorry, my memory is shocking). It’s cool!

 

[Scrambles83]

Oh, and we were talking in our 1/2 class today about what you do to relax or calm yourself inside. When it got to me I said I watch my chickens.
Well, now there’s this group of grade 1 boys running with the idea but drawing different types of chickens in their mindfulness time
I’ll share a few…

 

[Scrambles83]

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!

Totally agree, the stare down at the start is the warning sign, act on it then and stop it!

 

[micstrachan]

My Beautiful Beethov-Hen is in trouble. She’s got an egg inside and wants it out. I’m here with her now, massaging her fluffy everything. She tried to lay in the coop, but couldn’t. What ever it takes, I’m not losing my best hen!!

I’m sorry you and Beethov-Hen went through this! I think I saw that she laid the egg. Thank goodness!

 

[micstrachan]

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!

Right???

 

[micstrachan]

Right???

But I love the hen power regardless! I think (hope) the human would have intervened if needed.

 

[micstrachan]

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:

This is the variety I think I have, definitely not native to my area, which is why I am keeping it in pots now. I hope to get some native this next year. The area I live is highly contaminated, but was once all wetland prairie, I have been adding in what natives I can bit by bit.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=oxvi

Oh, that’s pretty!

 

[micstrachan]

Wonderful photo and pretty lady.

As has been discussed, molting hens can lay eggs. With molting here corresponding to a drop in daylight there has been an improper connection of the 2.

Yes, Bagheera never stopped laying, even in molt. Poor girl died of fatty liver, which I believe usually afflicts hens in production. Bagheera laid close to an egg a day for almost two years straight!

 

[micstrachan]

I mentioned on this thread somewhere that once I had left Spain and the tribes behind what I would like is to look after Ex Batts. After the years I've spent trying to take care of chickens, I've got to the point where I can accept they will die, probably very quickly, and although I will come to love them, I now have the strength to let them go.
I've never owned my own chickens, I've never bought or sold a live creature.
These poor Ex Batts need help and helping them helps me in some strange way.
I don't think I can ever explain it well.

It’s not at all strange, Shad.