Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

Aw the chicks are so cute and flap around. The frizzle is definitely a splash.

 

[knoturavggrl]

The Amazing Phyllis
Phyllis was up on the wood pile looking for a new nesting location and Eowyn came over to see what was up. This required Phyllis to take a long flight path down, targeting her landing to be right between my legs. I caught it all in slow motion. Watch how graceful a flier Phyllis is.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/urvjhw1ff365nlz/20230404_102252.mp4?dl=0

I have said it before, she is the only chicken I have had that can fly straight up, hover, and much like a leghorn, she can gain altitude if she needs to mid flight.

Wow just amazing flying and also what a incredible capture of the flight!

 

[Ponypoor]

How long until the chicks arrive? It sounds like at least Fluffy is toying with the idea. You are collecting the eggs still right? If you are, stop. This is no guarantee to work, but, if they are toying with the idea it may speed the process up. Even if the girls sit on the eggs for periods of time until they truly sit for 3 days no development will happen. You can mark and date the eggs if you wish. I would mark them and let the clutch build up to 5 or 6 eggs. After that remove the oldest eggs until hopefully it clicks and one sits for you. Another option as they loved golf balls last year seed the nest with 2 or 3 golf balls.

I have been leaving an egg or two in the nest at night and during the day, Marty can barely cover three eggs so I have been leaving 2, Fluffy likely can cover 4 ok.

Tonight I will put 3 eggs for Marty and 4 for Fluffy, I have been giving Misty an egg at night she was a good broody last year and if she went broody I bet she could cover 6 easily. She has been sleeping in a nest box at night. I will give her 3 eggs also.

 

[Ponypoor]

Ya know I havent had one broody hen

Give it time!

 

[BY Bob]

Finally caught up again, it has taken forever.


Poor thing. Thankfully she has “some” things she isn’t allergic to. When I was young they tested me for 130 items. I was allergic to all of them, including just about everything that grows, cats, dogs, horses, mold, and house dust. Took allergy shots twice a week for about five years. Now I “try” to manage with OTC meds. It can be a struggle, but she will find a way to manage.

For the vulture lovers, here are some assorted pics of Black Vulture adults/babies. We have a breeding pair that has laid for the past four years in an old culvert on our property.

Mom or Dad (they take turns sitting on the eggs and caring for the young)
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Eggs (two, look like speckled rocks)
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One hatched, one egg just behind it
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Babies
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Babies that recently fledged and are still staying close to nest
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And Thirsty Thursday as tax
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Mrs BY Bob just loved the vulture photos. Thanks again for sharing.

 

[featherhead007]

Ok, here is my dilemma, I have Marty and Fluffy whom I feel would like to go broody. Marty spent a lot of time in the nest box the past few days, in and out. Today I thought she would stay put, but no such luck.

Fluffy spends some time in the nest box and nests there at night she has also plucked some feathers.

Any suggestions Rebecca? I would like to have these two raise some of those chicks - really wish Henny Penny would just go broody! She has experience raising chicks.

What about when I bring the chicks home, do you think I can see if Henny will get all motherly? I had a horse once who would steal foals for her own…

You need to change the channel on the flat screen in the laying boxes once in a while. The hens might stay in there longer.

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes I thought so and when I am yelling for them my neighbours will think I am nuts

Shakespeare, Shakespeare, where for art though, Shakespeare?

I can just see the neighbor now (whispering into the phone) "911, yes? Oh, good, you need to dispatch an ambulance to XX newfundland terrace....make sure you bring a white straight jacket, too. My neighbor has really lost it this time!"

 

[BY Bob]

Hubby fed chooks this morning. Hens are playing egg song they are so loud. I just caught up on the forums I was throwing up all night and in severe pain. Next time Im calling an ambulance it was horrible. Checks on babies this morning they are so cute.

I'm so sorry. This waiting until they figure out what is happening has to be so frustrating.

 

[BY Bob]

Home safe and sound. Now that I am, the chooks can have their whole yard to themselves

They are lucky chooks!

 

[featherhead007]

How long until the chicks arrive? It sounds like at least Fluffy is toying with the idea. You are collecting the eggs still right? If you are, stop. This is no guarantee to work, but, if they are toying with the idea it may speed the process up. Even if the girls sit on the eggs for periods of time until they truly sit for 3 days no development will happen. You can mark and date the eggs if you wish. I would mark them and let the clutch build up to 5 or 6 eggs. After that remove the oldest eggs until hopefully it clicks and one sits for you. Another option as they loved golf balls last year seed the nest with 2 or 3 golf balls.

Problem with the golf balls, is they want beer or martinis after the 18th hole.
You know that martinis are not good for chooks!