Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

So, maybe you need to replace only 1/2 the shavings at a time? That way you still have some of the old shavings, feathers and such. Also, try to smoosh them down into a semi-bowl shape - like they had it pre-clean out.

At least she had an alternate nest box to use - and I wouldn't really worry about it- trust me, I've seen some hens get into places, and I have no idea how in the heck they fit!


If you see Babs looking like this, you can suspect a broody!

Or this:

Ya - look at my three all crammed into that one little nest box yesterday morning - crazy old bats! There are plenty of Nest Boxes - they just don't want to use the other ones!

 

[RoyalChick]

Ya - look at my three all crammed into that one little nest box yesterday morning - crazy old bats! There are plenty of Nest Boxes - they just don't want to use the other ones!

Eli laid in the middle of the run the other day because ‘there was no room in the nest boxes’.
I have 9 nest boxes. NINE! That is three each for goodness sake!

 

[Ponypoor]

Finally made it out to the coop today with my offering of left over salad. I see the neighbors had already offered them a bread course! Glad my offering was healthy. They'd left bread, but went right for the veggies, smart little birds.

Meanie was looking rather disheveled, with feathers out of place. But her muffs a so fluffy and she's getting a luxurious beard, not that I can ever get a good picture. View attachment 3423767
And since the only poser I have is Manny...here's his mugshots. Look to the left...View attachment 3423771
Look to the right!View attachment 3423772

He is a handsome wee devil love that band of chestnut colour around his back and sides; and loved hearing him tid-bitting to the girls calling them - soooo lovely! What a lovely boy

They are lovely and Manny is gorgeous and such a gentleman.
But I am picking myself up off the floor that you have chickens that prefer salad to bread. Mine are carbohydrate obsessed!

With my kiddos it's rice - they LOVE rice - oh and pasta, they really like Kraft Dinner (yuck!).

Is it possible that foraged food causes their crops to bulge bigger? Maybe because the commercial feed is so nutrient dense that when the forage they have to eat a bigger volume to get the nutrients they need?

I ask because the coop cam caught both Bernie and Babs walking through the door and what can I say? Amazing they can stand upright!

View attachment 3423839View attachment 3423840

Marty looks like that - and with her fluffy fuzz feathers it is really obvious because then it shows white. I almost want to put an 'over the shoulder boulder holder' on her

I have given my rooster a break from his busy day and let him take a nap inside the house.

Such a lucky Roo - Mr P is lucky he gets a spot on the top roost some nights hahaha!

Which reminds me I must check the kiddos and see where they are roosting tonight....

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Well seems that they are once again all over the place. The only consistent one is Marty, mum throws her in her cubby hole at night (literally I have seen !!). Also I have noted this winter that Henny seems to always get the prime spot of either on the nest boxes or on that shelf. I have watched her - she will make sure she is the first one in the Hen House and she picks her spot! Smart girl!

 

[knoturavggrl]

I will sell my extra eggs, the girls are pretty good with paying their way

I have been considering doing this. I think they are laying consistently enough now to give it a go.

 

[Ponypoor]

Eli laid in the middle of the run the other day because ‘there was no room in the nest boxes’.
I have 9 nest boxes. NINE! That is three each for goodness sake!

Yep I hear ya!

 

[RoyalChick]

I almost want to put an 'over the shoulder boulder holder' on her

 

[Lilion]

@Lilion :Manny was doing what a rooster is supposed to do! He would grab a nice piece of salad, drop it on the ground and tidbit (that little tuk, tuk, tuk) that is him calling a hen over saying 'look at this great piece of food I found for you!

I guess I didn't know that! There was plenty for all and he usually does let the ladies go first. I'd never seen him dropping food before. Eenie was taking kale right out of his beak.

They are lovely and Manny is gorgeous and such a gentleman.
But I am picking myself up off the floor that you have chickens that prefer salad to bread. Mine are carbohydrate obsessed!

Your chickens eat like me. LOL

I was surprised to see the white bread in the run, though I did tell the neighbors they were free to throw in most scraps. I've seen them give egg shells. Usually it disappears pretty fast.

The salad did have dressing, hard boiled egg, egg shell and bacon...so it was more than kale and cabbage.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m sure there are chickens in here, somewhere?!

 

[featherhead007]

I was right: there they are!

 

[RoyalChick]

I was right: there they are! View attachment 3423912

So lovely and green for them.