Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Thank you for doing the research!

so, aside from sending your chickens through boot camp to exercise strenuously
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, and adding in some selenium...what really can you do to prevent fatty liver? I'm afraid to limit feed too much given the number of chickens I have....despite having multiple feeders, I'm always afraid some of the lower ones on the totem pole won't get enough while the more dominant ones will still eat too much?

This is sort of where I am at, as well… it’s a very fine balance, and exacerbated by having such different breeds. The Meat birds, the production whoopsies, and the home hatched bitsa bunch. If given unlimited feed the meat birds will literally eat themselves to death, but it makes keeping those little red gals fed up enough a challenge. Luckily my chickens are my “work” so for the most part I am able to keep a close eye on it and supplement when someone is looking too thin. I’ve been known to isolate anyone looking thinner than I like and give them unlimited feed for a while to keep them from losing too much body condition.

 

[RoyalChick]

Raise the feeder so they can't as easily fling the feed out.

Thanks. I will try that in the morning.

 

[bgmathteach]

This is sort of where I am at, as well… it’s a very fine balance, and exacerbated by having such different breeds. The Meat birds, the production whoopsies, and the home hatched bitsa bunch. If given unlimited feed the meat birds will literally eat themselves to death, but it makes keeping those little red gals fed up enough a challenge. Luckily my chickens are my “work” so for the most part I am able to keep a close eye on it and supplement when someone is looking too thin. I’ve been known to isolate anyone looking thinner than I like and give them unlimited feed for a while to keep them from losing too much body condition.

I agree it would be much easier if I was around all day. Unfortunately, I have to work to support all my 'kids'.lol ..and due to this, they only free range (now) about 3 hours when I get home during the week (most of the day weekends) Maybe I do need to let them run out of food during the day...and refill a bit before dusk so they can tank up before night. I will have to make sure I 'feed' a couple of the low ones then...which works fine except for the nights I work late and hubby lets them out....

 

[featherhead007]

Boring movie. Us bachelors, went back outside to see the girls (I think Jaffar’s happier that way) I noticed that Arizona is walking around better too.

 

[BY Bob]

I have started looking at feed labels. Most of the contents is very similar between brands - but it is the % crude fat in the feed that varies the most. Purina has 2.5% crude and a brand I picked up at PetCo because I had a surprise shortfall and didn't have time to go to TSC had 3.5% crude fat. It doesn't sound like a lot but it is 40% more fat than the Purina.
Kalmbach brand has 3% and Healthy Harvest has 4% (double the fat of Purina).
All I am saying is maybe your brand is higher in fat than it should be. And yes, they need to exercise, but you are doing everything possible about that.

I switched mine to Nutrina Nature wise feeds over a year ago. It is only 2.5% fat.

They have a soy free but oddly it is 3.5% fat.

 

[BY Bob]

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.

This is good. They have a ton of growing to do!

 

[BY Bob]

Thirsty Thursday

Here is Lilly drinking the dirtiest water on the property. That water actually has red algea in it but they all love to drink from it. I usually have tape over it but the snow removed the tape and Lilly noticed. Wait until the end of the video as Lilly has a surprise for you.

 

[BY Bob]

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!

AMAZING, Around these parts we call this sort of thing.........

Spoiler: What do we call it?

FRIDAY!

 

[featherhead007]

AMAZING, Around these parts we call this sort of thing.........

Spoiler: What do we call it?

FRIDAY!

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Bob wins that contest!

 

[BY Bob]

Too cute!
The babies are roosting. Do you think they copied Diana and Maggie who you can see on the far right looking over and presumably hoping the Hooligans shut up soon so they can get some sleep. The Roadrunners always go to bed a little later.
I am guessing the babies will go back under the heat plate before it gets too dark but I love how grown-up they look preening on the branch.

Look at them being so grown up. They are just too cute!