Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Goldie!View attachment 3484755View attachment 3484757View attachment 3484759seems that she's using her wings to help balance herself as she walks

Great to see her mobile! She looks good.

 

[featherhead007]

Goldie!View attachment 3484755View attachment 3484757View attachment 3484759seems that she's using her wings to help balance herself as she walks

You go Goldie! Don’t let that inconvenience stop you!

 

[notabitail]

Too hot!

Weather taxView attachment 3484706

You were saying "too hot" to 81F right?
I wish it was cooler.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mr P is really looking good. Seems the shelf change suits him.

Yes he stretches out and snuggles into one of the girls and has a good sleep. No more head hanging .

And a lot less drama roosting.

 

[GregnLety]

On a sadder note we lost Big Boy last night. He was Goldie's rooster. RIP Big Boy you gentle giant.

 

[Ponypoor]

Farther north = sunset at a different time even in the same time zone. Currently I close the coop about 830pm. Fourth of July fireworks (city displays) don't start until 1030pm +/- a bit cause it isn't dark enough.View attachment 3484724

Dusk now at 9pm here. Normally I would be out working horses this time of year if I had youngsters.

But now I am old and so are the geegees, and I am a crazy chicken lady now

Starting to get dark now, 20:50hrs

Chickies all roosting

And the chicklets conked out also

 

[bgmathteach]

So, those of you experienced with broodies (@RebeccaBoyd , @rural mouse @BY Bob Sorry if I missed someone) @Ponypoor - you just toss them...not sure...but

So, you all know one of my White Rocks went broody. She started last Monday, I let her sit a couple of days to be sure...Then I moved her to the broody hut on Wed., and made sure the move didn't affect her, gave her eggs Thursday night. So, she has now been on the eggs 1 full week.

I have 2 questions/looking for info/suggestions:
1) She 'threw' one egg out of the nest overnight Saturday. In 48 hours (48 - 56 in reality), would she really know if one was bad? It just doesn't seem possible she would know so quick! However, I did NOT put the egg back for 2 reasons: i) the nest is raised, so I was pretty sure the drop would NOT be good for the embryo - if there was one. and ii) it was completely cold.

2) Since she has been moved, she pooped in the nest box once, and I have seen one poop in the bedding on the floor - that is IT. Every morning I take her off the nest and set her on the floor right in front of the feeder (and next to the waterer). She won't eat...she immediately hops back on the nest. If I block her from that, she hops onto the roost and paces on it - facing the nest - until I allow her back in. I have taken to clipping a water dish to the outside of the nest box, and feeding her at morning and night with some feed, then a handful of scratch or sunflower seeds. I only started with the scratch and sunflower seeds because she would eat one or two pellets, then no more, and I was worried. Since I clipped the water dish directly to the outside of the nest box, she has been drinking some, but not much (maybe 6-7 ounces since Monday morning. What she is eating with the scratch feed is 1 tablespoon worth twice a day. If I come back with a second handful at a feeding time, she just fluffs up and starts screeching and doesn't eat any more. While she seems okay at the moment, she has 2 more weeks to go and I am VERY concerned if she doesn't eat & drink more (and poop!) Suggestions?

P.S. I did leave some halved grapes on a small piece of paper next to her in the nest box yesterday morning, and they were gone at night...I though some calories and some water ?? Should I be doing this morning and night every day after I get her to eat what she will? Is there something else I can try? She is young 7.5 months old, and no, none of her eggs are under her...hers are still, I think, on the smallish side.

Miss Broody (note water dish in upper left corner of pic....it was just before I put the camera down, rinsed it out and refilled.)

Hard to tell from the pictures, but the back half is 'extra fluffy' as I reached down and she 'puffed up' twice as much as she was prior to me reaching in. If you compare the two picks, you can see the back half is poofier, but, again, pictures don't do it justice! She is so not happy with me when I reach in and/or pick her up off the nest.

I'm hoping that if she goes broody again next year, she will be more experienced and will cooperate better on the 'eating, drinking, & pooping' bit!

 

[bgmathteach]

Goldie!View attachment 3484755View attachment 3484757View attachment 3484759seems that she's using her wings to help balance herself as she walks

So good to see her out & about & seeming to enjoy being a chicken

When does the splint/cast come off the leg? Soon, I hope...I am sure she will be happy when it is off!

 

[Ponypoor]

You are also much more south latitude wise, so your days are longer. You are 3 hours behind me & have longer days....... (EDIT: Longer days FOR NOW, hahahaha)

Oi boy that's right Alex you're 3 hrs behind me not 2 silly me!

Time tax
Blanche and Dorothy

 

[bgmathteach]

On a sadder note we lost Big Boy last night. He was Goldie's rooster. RIP Big Boy you gentle giant. View attachment 3484769

Oh, Greg, I'm so sorry...I didn't know he wasn't well. He was certainly a beautiful boy, and from what you say, a really good rooster.