Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

This is the coop for the silkies. Work in progress
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what will you do for the floor, and will you raise it up on legs? It will make it much easier for you to access and clean if it is. (Trust me, I've had to do way too much crawling on the ground for things - that is a definite consideration!)

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Well the chicks are 4 and 5 days old now. Normally at this age the momma's are doing their best to break out of confinement and have the chicks out and about. Nope, not Goose and Gryffyn, they are staying put and it is not for lack of trying. Goose has meltdowns if the chicks are even taken out of the tote and keeps flying back in it calling desperately to them. Goose has the bigger tote so if she wants to stay in there for a few more days due to her and the chicks smaller size it will not be the end of the world. Chiquita was the same way, stayed in the tote with the marshmallows for several days and then took 2 weeks to even want to leave the coop. Gryffyn, she at least made it out to the entrance and dust bathed. After her dust bath she and her chicks high tailed it back into it and she settled down for a nap. I'm going with the "momma knows best" motto here and not forcing issues. I will follow their cues and go from there. Actually Goose's confinement has been a good thing. One of her chicks hatched with what appeared to be curled toes on one of its feet. The first 24 hours it struggled to walk. I thought I would have to tape the foot, but after 48 hours the toes straightened out and it walks perfectly fine. If Goose had been one of those mother's who wanted out immediately this chick would have struggled. Branch is ticked at me, he wants in bad to meet the chicks but right now no one is allowed to visit. He disagrees but it will not kill him to wait a few more days until the mothers are ready.
Now for some pictures.
The welcoming committee. Do not let them fool you, the hens just want access to the chick starter, Branch is the only one who wants to meet the chicks.

Gryffyn, Sprite and Sprout.

Goose and her 4. I did not get pictures when I had her and the chicks out of the tote due to her meltdown. I had to end up giving her the chicks back to calm her down.

I have to clean out Goose's tote and put down a layer of new sawdust. I'm waiting until Rosie gets home from school so she can hold Goose for me. I know she is going to have a fit.

 

[rural mouse]

I am back. Apparently it is chickie nap time and they don't want to play any more! So, more of @ChicoryBlues questions.

I got them from a breeder in PA. It was a couple of hours drive for me. Sort of between me and Bob. If I hadn't been sick I might have thought about a visit - but maybe with the whole quarantine thing better not. He isn't a big organization but he has a farm with a number of breeding birds - and then he hatches and broods in his basement. He specializes in breeds he likes. He is interested in genetics but is definitely in the amateur breeder category. If you DM me I am sure he wouldn't mind me sharing his contact info.

And yes, vaccinated against Marek's (not anything else). I did a long post on this thread about Marek's a while back which goes into a lot of geeky stuff so I don't want to clog the thread - if you DM me I am happy to debate - but I am very certain it is the right thing for me to do in my flock situation. The reason the little dears are quarantined in my bathroom is that I am waiting a few more days for the vaccine to take effect.

Here is my prior post on geeky Marek's stuff: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26642172

And now, to prove to @RebeccaBoyd that I have gone to the dark side here is photographic evidence of feathery legs. I can’t believe I did this. I really hope I don’t regret it! I was clearly in no fit state yesterday to be making big decisions like choosing chicks!

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You will love her extra fluffy bloomers. I wasn't keen on a fully crested bird, but Thing is such a character, she's grown on me. I don't plan on getting more fully crested birds simply because of the maintenence involved, however I'm not going to say Never, either, simply because opportunities can fall into my lap.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I am back. Apparently it is chickie nap time and they don't want to play any more! So, more of @ChicoryBlues questions.

I got them from a breeder in PA. It was a couple of hours drive for me. Sort of between me and Bob. If I hadn't been sick I might have thought about a visit - but maybe with the whole quarantine thing better not. He isn't a big organization but he has a farm with a number of breeding birds - and then he hatches and broods in his basement. He specializes in breeds he likes. He is interested in genetics but is definitely in the amateur breeder category. If you DM me I am sure he wouldn't mind me sharing his contact info.

And yes, vaccinated against Marek's (not anything else). I did a long post on this thread about Marek's a while back which goes into a lot of geeky stuff so I don't want to clog the thread - if you DM me I am happy to debate - but I am very certain it is the right thing for me to do in my flock situation. The reason the little dears are quarantined in my bathroom is that I am waiting a few more days for the vaccine to take effect.

Here is my prior post on geeky Marek's stuff: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26642172

And now, to prove to @RebeccaBoyd that I have gone to the dark side here is photographic evidence of feathery legs. I can’t believe I did this. I really hope I don’t regret it! I was clearly in no fit state yesterday to be making big decisions like choosing chicks!

View attachment 3483065View attachment 3483066

Your breeder is right, as a adult she will have very lightly feathered legs. Actually, she may end up like my Blueberry and Squirrel, very few feathers as adults. From a distance you would not notice the leg feathering. If you look close at the pictures of my newest chicks legs you can see the difference. They will be moderately to heavily feathered legs as adults.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well the chicks are 4 and 5 days old now. Normally at this age the momma's are doing their best to break out of confinement and have the chicks out and about. Nope, not Goose and Gryffyn, they are staying put and it is not for lack of trying. Goose has meltdowns if the chicks are even taken out of the tote and keeps flying back in it calling desperately to them. Goose has the bigger tote so if she wants to stay in there for a few more days due to her and the chicks smaller size it will not be the end of the world. Chiquita was the same way, stayed in the tote with the marshmallows for several days and then took 2 weeks to even want to leave the coop. Gryffyn, she at least made it out to the entrance and dust bathed. After her dust bath she and her chicks high tailed it back into it and she settled down for a nap. I'm going with the "momma knows best" motto here and not forcing issues. I will follow their cues and go from there. Actually Goose's confinement has been a good thing. One of her chicks hatched with what appeared to be curled toes on one of its feet. The first 24 hours it struggled to walk. I thought I would have to tape the foot, but after 48 hours the toes straightened out and it walks perfectly fine. If Goose had been one of those mother's who wanted out immediately this chick would have struggled. Branch is ticked at me, he wants in bad to meet the chicks but right now no one is allowed to visit. He disagrees but it will not kill him to wait a few more days until the mothers are ready.
Now for some pictures.
The welcoming committee. Do not let them fool you, the hens just want access to the chick starter, Branch is the only one who wants to meet the chicks.
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Gryffyn, Sprite and Sprout.
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View attachment 3483106Goose and her 4. I did not get pictures when I had her and the chicks out of the tote due to her meltdown. I had to end up giving her the chicks back to calm her down.
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I have to clean out Goose's tote and put down a layer of new sawdust. I'm waiting until Rosie gets home from school so she can hold Goose for me. I know she is going to have a fit.

When my lot wake up again I will have to tell them that they got outdone in the cuteness department!

 

[rural mouse]

When my lot wake up again I will have to tell them that they got outdone in the cuteness department!

No. They just got equally matched.

 

[RoyalChick]

Your breeder is right, as a adult she will have very lightly feathered legs. Actually, she may end up like my Blueberry and Squirrel, very few feathers as adults. From a distance you would not notice the leg feathering. If you look close at the pictures of my newest chicks legs you can see the difference. They will be moderately to heavily feathered legs as adults.

Yes I was looking at the pictures of yours closely and I definitely see the difference.
The breeder also said that the feathers would be on the leg shaft only, not on the foot. I think from peering closely that is correct also.
Somehow he convinced me that I could cope with this degree of leg feathering and so here I am!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

When my lot wake up again I will have to tell them that they got outdone in the cuteness department!

Nope, same level of cuteness. I try not to pick favorites but you have now put me in a bind. You have a black feathered leg chick, how can it not be my favorite.

 

[featherhead007]

You will love her extra fluffy bloomers. I wasn't keen on a fully crested bird, but Thing is such a character, she's grown on me. I don't plan on getting more fully crested birds simply because of the maintenence involved, however I'm not going to say Never, either, simply because opportunities can fall into my lap.

With chickens, that’s not all that might end up in your lap!

 

[RoyalChick]

Nope, same level of cuteness. I try not to pick favorites but you have now put me in a bind. You have a black feathered leg chick, how can it not be my favorite.

It also happens to be rather adorably feisty!