Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Yes, and let’s not forget @LozzyR, who sings to humans. Lozzy, do you also sing to your chickens?

No, but I have conversations with them a lot.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I read that embryos in fertile eggs start developing immediately! Honestly, people write utter nonsense on the internet.

How long can a fertile egg wait for?

That is pure nonsense, development does not start until incubation starts. To have the best chance I will need to make my mind up before the first egg is 14 days old. If I incubate these since they are white eggs, it will make it so much easier to candle and catch any early development or veining at about 3 days in. I have ready that 14 days is pushing it on viability, ideally under 10 days. That being said, when my neighbor this past spring gifted me the silkie eggs that I hatched Branch and Poppy from, 2 of the eggs were 14 days old. I was iffy on those eggs, and frankly all the eggs because they were delivered to me in a sandwich bag. To my surprise all developed and 6 out of 8 hatched successfully. The other 2, including what would have been a white one died in the hatching process that I did not catch in time to intervene. If Chiquita holds to the 1 egg every 2 days I should safely be able to put 6 eggs in the incubator if I choose. Also remembering how fragile the chicks were, and suicidal before they hit about 6 weeks old If I hatch I'd like to at least have 3 make it out. I really really do not want put in the situation of raising a lone chick.

 

[RoyalChick]

I am totally excited (not) for the snow on top of the ice that is on top of the snow, and Saturday it goes back down to 5 F which in my opinion is just too cold.
That said, I am a little more relaxed about it than I was last week because I saw the chickens did fine. I just need to keep a very close eye on Dotty and her molt over the next few days. She might have to come inside - though you know she will bite me if I try that!

Tax for a post that was only tangentially about chickens.
Here is Minnie showing off the grey spangles on her chest. I am curious to see if Dotty develops some spangles too now she has decided to molt.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Tax for a post that was only tangentially about chickens.
Here is Minnie showing off the grey spangles on her chest. I am curious to see if Dotty develops some spangles too now she has decided to molt.
View attachment 2966016

Wow! What breed?

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow! What breed?

She is a Crested Creme Legbar - I have two, they look like Roadrunners so they got given that as a collective name.
I believe she is 'supposed' to have a red breast - which she did up until this molt. Personally I love the little grey spangles - like jewelry (she aspires to be a model so jewlry makes sense).

 

[The-White-Elephant]

She is a Crested Creme Legbar - I have two, they look like Roadrunners so they got given that as a collective name.
I believe she is 'supposed' to have a red breast - which she did up until this molt. Personally I love the little grey spangles - like jewelry (she aspires to be a model so jewlry makes sense).

Ah ok! The hen in my profile pic is nearly done molting, and her breast feathers are now “round”

 

[Ponypoor]

No, but I have conversations with them a lot.

Not to worry, we can teach you

 

[Ponypoor]

That is pure nonsense, development does not start until incubation starts. To have the best chance I will need to make my mind up before the first egg is 14 days old. If I incubate these since they are white eggs, it will make it so much easier to candle and catch any early development or veining at about 3 days in. I have ready that 14 days is pushing it on viability, ideally under 10 days. That being said, when my neighbor this past spring gifted me the silkie eggs that I hatched Branch and Poppy from, 2 of the eggs were 14 days old. I was iffy on those eggs, and frankly all the eggs because they were delivered to me in a sandwich bag. To my surprise all developed and 6 out of 8 hatched successfully. The other 2, including what would have been a white one died in the hatching process that I did not catch in time to intervene. If Chiquita holds to the 1 egg every 2 days I should safely be able to put 6 eggs in the incubator if I choose. Also remembering how fragile the chicks were, and suicidal before they hit about 6 weeks old If I hatch I'd like to at least have 3 make it out. I really really do not want put in the situation of raising a lone chick.

I have to say the more I read and learn the more I feel it was a fluke that Henny Penny hatch out all four eggs I stuck under her, successfully! Ignorance really is bliss I guess. I bet next time I won't be so lucky!

 

[featherhead007]

At least you have help 'manicuring' the lawn.

I did a little bit more of the lawn today, but it’s like chopping wet salad

 

[Ponypoor]

Tax for a post that was only tangentially about chickens.
Here is Minnie showing off the grey spangles on her chest. I am curious to see if Dotty develops some spangles too now she has decided to molt.
View attachment 2966016

Oh thank you! a fellow weather
Whiner!

Today I let my gang out for a bit on Mount Poopmore as it was mild (+4C), and I know we are going down to -25C tonight so I bet they will not be wanting to go outside tomorrow...

As usual they had a blast digging through the horse manure, I am sure it makes them grow and makes the eggs extra tasty haha !