Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Looks like you are safe for now - it hasn’t hit the Western fly way yet.

Thank you for being our resident expert on this topic.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow awesome photo! That's great. And I bet enough to keep mr hawk away...

I hope the hawk recognize the danger she poses to it and decides that there are much less risky targets elsewhere.

I heard the hawk before I saw it. I think you can hear it talking in the video. Hard to believe that I now recognize the sounds they make.

 

[BY Bob]

Not going to lie I want a Emu. I do not have enough space for a emu, but it does not stop me from wanting one. I do not know that I will be successful hatching these guinea's but I have to try. My sawdust guy is a wonderful person who gave me the 6 blue cochins and over the past 4 years has became a really good friend of the family. My uncle who brought it up initially yesterday has always been the only brother my grandmother has that over my life has truly cared and been involved in my life. He is also the only one who is visiting my grandma and has been here at least 4 times a week since her stroke and is attempting to help. He does not know it, but his visits alone and just talking about the past with her helps more then he thinks. Having the incubator running is also good for grandma, she checks on it daily and is looking forward to seeing them hatch. After showing her once, she also knows how to add water to adjust the humidity level if it is too low, and what to do if it gets too high.

I'm so glad that the hatch is helping. It is important for them to have something to look forward to.

 

[DaisyBuff]

Of course! I will keep you all updated on their growth!

Look at those adorable little ones! We have been missing my old friends the white leghorns here. You must give us lots of pictures and videos!

View attachment 3052911

 

[BY Bob]

Of course! I will keep you all updated on their growth!

Hooray!

Of course I will probably catch white chicken fever again!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you for being our resident expert on this topic.

oh nooo - i am no expert - just scared about it so reading whatever I can find that looks like it is science-based.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, I'm starting to wonder if this is true. I am also questioning what humans may have done to their genetics as well. Perhaps they no longer metabolize nutrients like they should.

I think both the feed and the genetics are real issues. There is no way @micstrachan was not treating them appropriately.

 

[micstrachan]

A clue in what way? What did you think it was telling you?

I was thinking maybe Marek’s was causing cancer in the young ones, but you’ve probably read by now that was not the case.

 

[bgmathteach]

It’s not a clue after all. I just suck at taking care of chickens. I just saw the prelim report snd Sunshine died of a fatty liver hemorrhage. I’m so sad about that and don’t understand how a young, low ranked hen could be fat in my flock. This is an ongoing problem in my flock, despite trying to slim them down. I need to ration feed again.

You know, some chickens are prone to diseases, just like people. I know you have been feeding them well (correctly kind of well), with nutritious treats and such. In your pictures, she never looked heavy/overweight...while it never hurts to re-evaluate a feeding plan or a keeping arrangement from time to time...the only thing I can see that you gave them and overabundance of is love...and that is never bad!

 

[micstrachan]

I am simply stunned. I don't get it. You are so mindful of what you feed them. How can this be? Is this something of which certain hens may just be genetically predisposed somehow?

Raising chickens can be so heartbreaking sometimes.

I don’t know, Bob. Access to feed all the time while they are penned up? All the necropsies I’ve had done besides Ruby revealed excess body fat. I think it is more common than we all think.