Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

But they had me at 'not prone to broodiness'

If you're serious, you might want to reverse back a few months and take in the information Bob shared about one of his recent losses. Start here and work backwards.

 

[RoyalChick]

She's only going to get faster now she no longer has to down tools before responding!

Ha ha. I am still unwrapping retirement gifts. I am very touched by everyone’s good wishes and consequently a bit weepy.
So far my first 3 months will be spent unwrapping gifts most of which contain things designed to take up my time in various fun ways!

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 2949054

Mug shot/tax owed for something or other.

Wonderful photo!

 

[BY Bob]

I do wish she would stop smoking. I don't mind about the late nights but she really ought not to be putting smoke in her lungs.

Hattie wants to know what you have against smoking.

 

[Lexicon]

I'm always thinking ahead, but how many days should a hen go broody before you decide she's committed?

With my hens, once they spend a night on the nest they're committed. Now that I have been through over a dozen cycles of broodiness, I know the signs which lead up to going broody.
With my flock the first sign is a certain exclamation of delight they make when there's good food. It sounds like, "Oww!" to me. I wonder if they use this call to tell the chicks this is something good to eat? I haven't provided my hens with fertilized eggs yet, so I haven't witnessed that.
The next sign is that they start to raise their hackles when another hen comes too close to them and they spend longer and longer on the nest laying their eggs.
Then they start the ticking/tutting sound at which point they will be glued to the nest in short order.
Their determination is incredible. One of my hens rolled another hen's egg across the floor and tucked it up in her "wingpit" to get it up into her nest. The same hen also pushed open a full sized swinging human door to get back to her nest when I tried to dissuade her from brooding!
I am in awe of hens. They are such multi-faceted and fascinating little beings!

 

[BY Bob]

If you're serious, you might want to reverse back a few months and take in the information Bob shared about one of his recent losses. Start here and work backwards.

You kept track?

 

[BY Bob]

Ha ha. I am still unwrapping retirement gifts. I am very touched by everyone’s good wishes and consequently a bit weepy.
So far my first 3 months will be spent unwrapping gifts most of which contain things designed to take up my time in various fun ways!

View attachment 2949116

That is sweet. People must have really appreciated you. What a wonderful thing.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hattie wants to know what you have against smoking.

View attachment 2949127

Bob! Please do not buy tobacco for your hens!!

 

[MaryJanet]

You kept track?

I recalled key words and searched.

 

[BY Bob]

I recalled key words and searched.

I'm a little sad now.