Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Had another adventure this evening.

Raining all afternoon. Went out to close the coop. Was greeted by Hector in the middle of the yard, along with Silver and Pear. The chicken door was knocked shut again. Only roo inside: Kren. All other boys outside....drenched.... also out (besides Silver and Pear) were Cuckoo, Nellie, Twirp, Lark, Indigo, Storm, and Pippa.

The only dry one out of the whole lot: Nellie. She'd settled back on her shelf in the carport. Cuckoo was a bit damp and tucked into a corner of the patio. Both ladies got rides back to the coop. Everyone else scurried in both doors as soon as they realized I was out there fixing the problem.

Everyone accounted for, heat is turned on so feathers can dry (BTW, chickens shake their wet feathers out like dogs after playing the pond....all over YOU!)

Kren, I'm blaming you for the door. I hope Horus decides to thump you.

 

[notabitail]

Had another adventure this evening.

Raining all afternoon. Went out to close the coop. Was greeted by Hector in the middle of the yard, along with Silver and Pear. The chicken door was knocked shut again. Only roo inside: Kren. All other boys outside....drenched.... also out (besides Silver and Pear) were Cuckoo, Nellie, Twirp, Lark, Indigo, Storm, and Pippa.

The only dry one out of the whole lot: Nellie. She'd settled back on her shelf in the carport. Cuckoo was a bit damp and tucked into a corner of the patio. Both ladies got rides back to the coop. Everyone else scurried in both doors as soon as they realized I was out there fixing the problem.

Everyone accounted for, heat is turned on so feathers can dry (BTW, chickens shake their wet feathers out like dogs after playing the pond....all over YOU!)

Kren, I'm blaming you for the door. I hope Horus decides to thump you.

My chickens shake dust on my piano, my remotes, and up my nostril.

 

[notabitail]

It has greatly lessened my productivity this week, but don't tell anyone.

I think the same thing happened to me with BYC...

 

[notabitail]

Water Dish

I'm taking @Shadrach advice to put a small water dish right by the nest box. Here is the dish I'm going to use.

View attachment 2200074

I filled it with marbles and filled it with water to the marble line.
View attachment 2200077

I elevated it and put it in front of the nest box that is home.
View attachment 2200081

That would have been better for Lily to read in her nesting box.
Also, I would advise against old painted dishes, as they might contain high amounts of lead that could scrape off into the water.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Farewell

My Ginger left us and went to chicken heaven, in the morning of April 24th, 2023. She was 25 months old. She stayed with us for her first 17 months and was the unquestionable alpha hen.

I am very fortunate that this is the first time I lost one in my 25+ months of chicken keeping, if she even counts as we rehomed her 8 months ago. (knock on wood)

We picked up Ginger and 7 other babies on March 12th, 2021 at our local feed store. I am pretty sure they got their chicks from some big hatchery.

View attachment 3480277

Ginger at 3 months old.
View attachment 3480061

Ginger was a freedom lover. She got out of the fence all the time.
View attachment 3480073

She is the best with treats and a great forager.
View attachment 3480065
View attachment 3480067

She's named Ginger because we were not creative with names and she was the darkest among all golden buffs.

She was not overly sweet. But when she wants to be on your lap, she really let you know and demanded to be picked up.
View attachment 3480070View attachment 3480063

In August 2022, Inky was bullied very bad by Ginger (perhaps because Inky molted after going broody) so we sent Ginger to my friend.

Goodbye, Ginger, we will always remember you. We will keep talking about you as the escape artist. I am glad that you are pain free now.

I am so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful girl.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Someone was not very happy with me today…..

We took her out of the nest box at least five times today.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Farewell

My Ginger left us and went to chicken heaven, in the morning of April 24th, 2023. She was 25 months old. She stayed with us for her first 17 months and was the unquestionable alpha hen.

I am very fortunate that this is the first time I lost one in my 25+ months of chicken keeping, if she even counts as we rehomed her 8 months ago. (knock on wood)

We picked up Ginger and 7 other babies on March 12th, 2021 at our local feed store. I am pretty sure they got their chicks from some big hatchery.

View attachment 3480277

Ginger at 3 months old.
View attachment 3480061

Ginger was a freedom lover. She got out of the fence all the time.
View attachment 3480073

She is the best with treats and a great forager.
View attachment 3480065
View attachment 3480067

She's named Ginger because we were not creative with names and she was the darkest among all golden buffs.

She was not overly sweet. But when she wants to be on your lap, she really let you know and demanded to be picked up.
View attachment 3480070View attachment 3480063

In August 2022, Inky was bullied very bad by Ginger (perhaps because Inky molted after going broody) so we sent Ginger to my friend.

Goodbye, Ginger, we will always remember you. We will keep talking about you as the escape artist. I am glad that you are pain free now.

I am so sorry to hear this, may she fly free

 

[notabitail]

I'm going to try setting up a spy cam by my door to watch the chickens tomorrow morning.

 

[notabitail]

Abigail got herself a nice spot tonight.

 

[knoturavggrl]

So, I have some choices to make. I have 10 for sure viable eggs left when I candled them today. Sadly, I lost all but three of the Silver laced. The eggs were extra large and I suspect that their size played a role in why those eggs have not faired as well in shipping as compared to the smaller jubilee eggs.

You guys know I have brooder/grow out tent and had planned to use it again to raise these babies. Then Brownie decided to go broody.

My coop isnt set up at this time with broody and baby chicks in mind. I have brownie in a water bowl with nesting material and she is content to sit there. This makes it sooooo much easier to get to her and switch out non fertile eggs every day or two. I did this also so I could just pick her and the nest and relocate her if needed.

Idea one: bring her into the tent in my garage and stick all the viable eggs I have left at lock down under her. This seems like a lot of eggs to sit on atm but I could well lose a few more till lockdown day which is the 30th. Advantage no way any of the other pullets could mess with her or the babies. Downside it could disrupt the pecking order and could result in a status lose for Brownie once she returns.

Idea two leave her in the coop and put the 36”high metal pen around her creating a temporary area where the other pullets couldn't steal food or harm the chicks. I would put a piece of plyboard over it to give it a lid. If I go with this option, I would give her three eggs to hatch out.
Advantage the chicks grow up with the flock seeing them. Downside the pen could possibly get breached by the chicks or it could fall over as there is no easy way I can think of to secure it to anything.

Thoughts anyone?