Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

Okay, so where are these treats
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I love that girl and her comb. I'm sure she is a sweetheart, but her comb gives her a constant grumpy expression. The internet loved "Grumpy Cat", she could take the world by storm as "Grumpy Chicken".

 

[Marie2020]

I love that girl and her comb. I'm sure she is a sweetheart, but her comb gives her a constant grumpy expression. The internet loved "Grumpy Cat", she could take the world by storm as "Grumpy Chicken".

She's so funny in every way

 

[BY Bob]

You really need to break her....or buy a chick or two and pop it under her. She needs to get up and get moving around. Plus, they nearly always molt after being broody (rI suspect to replace the chest feathers they plucked for the nest/to get their skin against the eggs. Want her molting soon....not in nov. when it is cold.

I agree with this. It's too long. I have to break Phyllis soon.

 

[ValarieF]

Tax more watermelon pics

 

[ValarieF]

I love that girl and her comb. I'm sure she is a sweetheart, but her comb gives her a constant grumpy expression. The internet loved "Grumpy Cat", she could take the world by storm as "Grumpy Chicken".

OMG I love grumpy cat! Yes! Grumpy chicken!

 

[BY Bob]

I missed the turn over to 11,000

Congratulations @BY Bob

Of all people.

 

[lightm]

So, @BY Bob , or anyone else who has knowledge regarding this:

Last night I read an article regarding Bumblefoot, and it said you shouldn't give chicks roosts until they are at least 4 weeks old, as it can damage their feet and predispose them to bumblefoot later.

I had always assumed (Yes, I know what 'ass-u-me-d' is sometimes restated as.) that it was good to give them things to jump up on (enrichment in general), and differing sized roosts for exercise/use of foot muscles.

Now I am not sure what to think. One would imagine that in the wild they go 'up' as soon as they are able, as it is safer for them, and that even before they can fly they are encountering sticks, logs, rock, etc. on the ground that they will step on/hop on. ??????

These are pictures of what I have in my current chicks' brooder. They have been in this brooder and had these things since they were 5 days old.

This is a roost made out of a 2X3 on it's flat side. They were using the 'steps' of the supports to hop up before they could fly. It is hard to tell, but I sanded the 'hard corners' off the top edges before making the roost with leftover scraps of wood.
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Sorry, best pic. I have of the branch. It is somewhat arched, so the majority of it is about an inch+ above the bedding. It doesn't have too rough of a bark, but it isn't perfectly smooth, either. Each of the 3 'legs' has a different size diameter...between that, the arching so raised, and the fact that it is very stable... and I thought this was perfect for chicks.
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Then, of course, once they could 'hop-fly' and were pooping on top of the brooder plate, I added the cardboard box with shavings. Of course, they promptly started roosting at times on the edge of the cardboard...as the white chick is in this photo.
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For 'enrichment/healthy environment' they also have a dust bath and get a hunk of grass or weeds with soil embedded in the roots daily for their scratching/exploring pleasure. Initially the dust bath was a rugged but short cardboard box - you can see that in the second pic above, (which, again, they roosted on at times), now that they are bigger AND can fly, it is a decent sized round plastic planter pot that has the rolled edges, so is quite smooth. (and yes, they perch on that, too)


SO: are these perching/roosting things good, bad???? I'm not sure what to think. My adults do occasionally get bumble foot. I usually catch it early and it isn't a big deal...sometimes I don't catch it right away....but while I DO have some cases, I don't get a lot of them...roughly 2-4 cases a summer with all my adults. (they rarely get them in the winter as they aren't off exploring and getting into trouble when there is snow on the ground...they keep to the shoveled run and an area in the field around 2 shrubs that I also usually shovel) As a reference, I presently have 96 adults between chickens, ducks & geese with another 33 chicks. (Adults are counting my teens) And I have already processed 10 this year (mostly young ducks(drakes) but a few hens, too)

Your setup looks very nice! I remember the brick perch was on your couch for a photo op.

I am going to reply without reading ahead.
There are many articles out there. Is there something about this article makes you believe it is very reliable? Do they have some evidence that it does damage their feet? I am very curious.

I tend to go with nature so if mama hens like to get their babies roost very quickly, which appears to be the case from following this thread and Shad's thread, then I think that is the way to go.

We definitely put in a roost for our babies very early on. I haven't experienced any bumble feet issue, but maybe I haven't paid enough attention? Is it possible that you don't know your chickens have bumble feet, given spending a decent amount of time with them but no checking on feet?

Granted my sample size is small (10), but your data set does not suggest you have a bumblefoot problem.

 

[lightm]

What a lovely flock!

I think that Cinnamon is a Welsummer. She looks just like my Rosa did as a pullet.

Rosa:
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Rosa is very pretty.

 

[ValarieF]

Your setup looks very nice! I remember the brick perch was on your couch for a photo op.

I am going to reply without reading ahead.
There are many articles out there. Is there something about this article makes you believe it is very reliable? Do they have some evidence that it does damage their feet? I am very curious.

I tend to go with nature so if mama hens like to get their babies roost very quickly, which appears to be the case from following this thread and Shad's thread, then I think that is the way to go.

We definitely put in a roost for our babies very early on. I haven't experienced any bumble feet issue, but maybe I haven't paid enough attention? Is it possible that you don't know your chickens have bumble feet, given spending a decent amount of time with them but no checking on feet?

Granted my sample size is small (10), but your data set does not suggest you have a bumblefoot problem.

omg I have bricks Im gonna do a brick perch for my easter eggers!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I agree with this. It's too long. I have to break Phyllis soon.

Both of my cochin girls have me wanting to bang my head against a brick wall. For 3 months now, they have been in a constant state of semi-broodiness. They have not full on went broody as they still are laying eggs. Instead they are choosing to sit on top of each other to try to cover the eggs they find. Shriek, walk around like tom turkeys when they do move, cluck up a storm and bite the devil out of me when I gather the eggs. All it would take I believe to bring full on broody mode is to not gather their eggs for 2 days. Yes, I have been gathering eggs, throwing them off of any eggs they find and sometimes chase them clapping my hands behind them to encourage them to move. If they could hatch air or sawdust, they would have hatched 100 chicks by now.