Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LhickenChicken]

Oh, and tax:

Still not a chicken... But this is Mary one of my new baby rabbits!

Ah, finally a chicken! (I am running outta tax, do you realize that...?)

 

[GregnLety]

That’s quite a group! How is Goldie doing?

She's getting stronger. We get her outside when the weather permits. Lety loves the Guineas tractor and is all in on a tractor for Goldie.

 

[bgmathteach]

She's getting stronger. We get her outside when the weather permits. Lety loves the Guineas tractor and is all in on a tractor for Goldie.

I have a question for you. Why have the guineas in a tractor during the day, but out at night? That is the opposite of what I would do, so I've been scratching my head on this one.

Note: We do have a LOT of predator pressure here, so being out at night is a guaranteed way to reduce your flock,

 

[notabitail]

Today's morning visitor:

And, of course, what happened after I fed them:

Dominica and In Albis took a dust bath.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Good luck breaking Brownie if you try that route. I'm not going to lie, I was expecting to hear she or some of her sister's were broody. Marans hens tend to go broody. The good thing is, they make good mothers. You could let her choose a box, sit on eggs, fake or real and block off the entrance. Just make sure she comes off daily to eat and drink. Once she has chicks she will defend them from the other hens. She is your top hen, chicks raised by her will automatically be elevated in the pecking order. Is there another breed you want? She could easily sit on some fake eggs for a few days while you sourced some eggs for her to swap out with. I doubt if she has eggs she will give up. My girls, once they have eggs, there is no giving up, they are sitting until they hatch. You could also let her sit on fake eggs until lockdown and let her hatch them out. She will have sat long enough that her instincts will have kicked in even if they are a week early. I have also fostered chicks onto a broody first time marans who sat on nothing the entire time I had eggs in the incubator. She got the chicks when they were under 12 hours old and took them right away. The only issue with that was I had another chick hatch out 24 hours later that I wanted to grow out. She knew she had 3 and when I tried to give it to her she rejected the 4th. That was ok, I had Raven a Marans mix who also was broody and sitting on nothing for a week who took that chick immediately. I will say broody reared chicks are more stable, already integrated into the flock and tend to grow faster than hand reared ones. The one downfall to a broody reared chick is where some mothers are more hands off you do not get that bond right away with them like you do if you raise them yourself. Of course, once the momma's are done with them that is where lots of treats come into play while you work to win them over.

She came out into the run today with the rest of the girls. BUT I think she will wait till everyone lays their eggs and go back to sitting today.

She is my head girl and an excellent leader. I am super impressed with her reign as queen of our coop.

Assuming she goes back to it I will leave her three eggs switching them out every few days or so until lockdown. If she stays the course she can have at least 3.

If she is inconsistent but still sitting most of the time, I will try stuffing a couple of the hatchlings under her.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I would stuff newly hatched ones under her if she is still broody. The timing will be about right AND you won't risk losing some fertile eggs. I would not risk putting infertile eggs under her. If she accepts them (i.e. not throws them out fo the nest) they will go bad and could burst - you DON"T want that!.

I would switch em out for sure, you are correct I wouldn’t want rotten eggs.

I think it would be simpler to let her sit on the ceramics but I think she knows they aren’t real and shoves them in the corner To smart for her own good!

Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate it. A whole new adventure and me this broody business!

I am gonna see how it goes and let her behavior guide my choices.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Thirstyday View attachment 3474530Oh...wait....friday....View attachment 3474531View attachment 3474532They're all thirsty fluffy butts...

Wonderful photos!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Oh, and tax:
View attachment 3474569
Still not a chicken... But this is Mary one of my new baby rabbits!
View attachment 3474567
Ah, finally a chicken! (I am running outta tax, do you realize that...?)

Cute bunny!

What day are your eggs at? Mine are 8 days in as of today. I candled them last night and removed 2 that never started and a few others that had clearly quit. Leaving me with 15 that are developing nicely and 1 questionable one. I started with 21 and they are shipped eggs so I am thrilled with this outcome so far!

 

[knoturavggrl]

@Ponypoor if your internet cooperates I could sure use some baby photos today. Hint, hint (subtle aren’t I!)

 

[knoturavggrl]

Thirsty Thursday

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