Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[casportpony]

Hi everyone I thought of this thread and all of you when we made this new contest:

Fluffy Butt Photo Contest​

Come check it out!

 

[Ponypoor]

Worry worry worry....

This morning wee Marty pitched a fit and wanted out early, I guess buttercup was picking on her. So I let her out while feeding horses... Yee gads she was everywhere! Crawling through Reenie's legs, running in her stall, jeeeeez!

I grabbed her up and contained her till I kicked the horses out, when I let the hens out of the hen house Marty ran in and hopped into the nest box buttercup had decided she was going to lay an egg in.

Marty tried to kick buttercup out but buttercup wasn't having none of that! And Marty got the boot. I picked up Marty and plunked her into another box were she happily started making a nest.

I figured since she tried to take on buttercup she was safe to let run loose with the others so that's what she has been doing all day.

My mom has been checking on her and I checked the barn cams... All seems ok but I will worry until I get home at 4:30.....

(Sigh) 2:38pm.... Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future.....

Because that's what use crazy chicken people do - worry about our chooks!

 

[Ponypoor]

I am trying not to think about all the "extras" in that puddle!

Oh like horse poop, and pee? Just extra fiber!

 

[Ponypoor]

Bella needs a hobby. All she does is eat. I am quite glad because she is definitely smaller than the other two so maybe she has some catching up to do. And she remains the most accomplished flyer. But she rarely goes more than a few inches from the food bowl!
They are eating a lot - one of those little chick feeders you get at TSC doesn't even last a day now - I may need to rig up something bigger for them.

Babies babies babies everywhere!

I sooooo wish I could hatch some babies..... (Ok not me but Marty or Henny Penny...)

 

[Ponypoor]

My girls found their first puddle of the year. They were so excited! You would think they had been dehydrated all winter by the way they kept going back over and over. I think they were just thrilled to have a novel water source, but perhaps it's easier than dealing with the nipple waterer.

Two of my brave Buff Orpingtons also discovered that they can walk on top of the crusty snow without sinking in and were off to do some intrepid exploring. The others looked at them askance and tried reminding that that is snow and we don't like snow except to eat, but they didn't care. Who knows a random morsel of food could be up there just waiting for them to discover! I have shovelled a large area for them to explore snow-free, but there's lots of scope for snow exploring too.

Thankfully all snow finally gone here!

Now it's mud.

Which my gang would happily slop around in!

 

[rural mouse]

Could also be dissolved minerals in the puddles their bodies crave...

That's my theory I will stick to it

I think it's the minerals too. Hose water running across the ground is better than gutter water which is better than nipple bucket water.

 

[rural mouse]

Not totally sure - will be up to them a bit. This stage will be a few days so they get used to each other's sounds and smells.
Then there is a little door to the brooder that leads into the rest of the Chicken Palace. A chick-sized door - so nobody can chase them in. The trouble is it is high up, so I have a sort of fire-escape structure I made so the chicks can come and go but I need to be sure they can navigate it and know their way back.

I try to lock the adults out (or only allow 1 in) while letting the babes enjoy the whole of the coop so it's familiar to them before they have to play dodge with the big birds. then there's the exposure with a few more birds, followed by running with the adults. tame frame depends upon time of year (temps vs plant cover) and interactions with adults. if they're wanting to go exploring, or adults are showing protective/guardian tendencies, they go sooner than if not. I do keep heat source available just because they may need to warm up for a bit or use it to find a safe spot again. Timing depends upon observation.

 

[BY Bob]

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

I agree. This is not her fault.

@micstrachan please take this to heart. You are doing the best possible for your tribe. Please don't overreact with what you are feeding them. There are things at play here where you don't really have control. I truly beleive that.

 

[Ponypoor]

Not totally sure - will be up to them a bit. This stage will be a few days so they get used to each other's sounds and smells.
Then there is a little door to the brooder that leads into the rest of the Chicken Palace. A chick-sized door - so nobody can chase them in. The trouble is it is high up, so I have a sort of fire-escape structure I made so the chicks can come and go but I need to be sure they can navigate it and know their way back.

Oh yes totally get that!

Who knew chickens could be so vicious!! I am heartened to know everyone takes every precaution with their feathered charges

 

[Ponypoor]

I try to lock the adults out (or only allow 1 in) while letting the babes enjoy the whole of the coop so it's familiar to them before they have to play dodge with the big birds. then there's the exposure with a few more birds, followed by running with the adults. tame frame depends upon time of year (temps vs plant cover) and interactions with adults. if they're wanting to go exploring, or adults are showing protective/guardian tendencies, they go sooner than if not. I do keep heat source available just because they may need to warm up for a bit or use it to find a safe spot again. Timing depends upon observation.

So play by ear and see how it goes