Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

Two-Fer Tuesday.

Two enemies meet up in a rare moment on Big Rooster's lap. Notice the look on Abigail's face.
(Abigail is mean to Agathae at roosting time)

 

[RoyalChick]

Six, but one's hiding under Léa.
An unexpected 100% hatch!

Congratulations! I look forward to seeing them grow.

 

[RoyalChick]

I thought Sylvie deserved some hand-served mash to help her recover from her encounter with Babs.
Tassels joined her from the branch roost.
Naturally Piglet got right in the middle.

 

[BY Bob]

I will admit I was nervous seeing this.

Look at them getting along. That went very well.

 

[RoyalChick]

Look at them getting along. That went very well.

Sylvie is quite bold and she seemed to take it in her stride.
Later both Bernadette and Eli (separately) flew up to the fire escape and peered at the little ones. There was a bit of a panic but not too bad. And neither Bernie nor Eli seemed hell bent on destruction.

Depending on what day you think Eli actually went broody we are on day 20 or day 24. She is still broody. No eggs except when Babs lays one for her.
I have started step one of the ‘snap out of it’ campaign which is to put ice packs underneath her.
Don’t worry, she doesn’t touch them. But below her dish-bowl of bedding there is now an ice pack. Times two as she switches nest based on where Babs has left an egg.
Next step is to empty out the bedding but continue with ice.
After that I turn the bowls upside down. And after that I block access entirely. I am keen to achieve this with minimum distress to all concerned (mainly me!).
I am betting none of this will work and she will somehow continue to be broody but up in the rafters where I can’t interfere.
Maybe I should rent some scaffolding!

Why am I laughing?!!

 

[featherhead007]

I looked on their website and they say immediately after the egg is laid they can detect the marker.
Which sounds great but is a bit in contradiction to the sound one which claims that they can change the gender to be female once laid (which sounds weird but actually is quite credible as there are lots of examples in birds and reptiles where gender is determined by environmental factors).

But doesn’t gender get confusing at times?

 

[featherhead007]

This is interesting. (No Fear) integration?

 

[BY Bob]

I think the fact Mr P was fully grown and had been with another Roo who was beating the crap out of him had a lot to do with his behaving.

That and likely his breed is quieter.

From what i have learned, it seems the best roosters are taught by a senior rooster. That surely worked for Ned.

 

[featherhead007]

Sylvie is quite bold and she seemed to take it in her stride.
Later both Bernadette and Eli (separately) flew up to the fire escape and peered at the little ones. There was a bit of a panic but not too bad. And neither Bernie nor Eli seemed hell bent on destruction.

Depending on what day you think Eli actually went broody we are on day 20 or day 24. She is still broody. No eggs except when Babs lays one for her.
I have started step one of the ‘snap out of it’ campaign which is to put ice packs underneath her.
Don’t worry, she doesn’t touch them. But below her dish-bowl of bedding there is now an ice pack. Times two as she switches nest based on where Babs has left an egg.
Next step is to empty out the bedding but continue with ice.
After that I turn the bowls upside down. And after that I block access entirely. I am keen to achieve this with minimum distress to all concerned (mainly me!).
I am betting none of this will work and she will somehow continue to be broody but up in the rafters where I can’t interfere.
Maybe I should rent some scaffolding!

Why am I laughing?!!

I’m wishing you all the best of luck with that!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm sorry for your hen, @LhickenChicken. Had you not realized before she passed that she had been laying internally ?
I was heartbroken when I learned Caramel had EYP, I had missed all the clues. Now I've come to realize it will probably happen to all my ex-batts, as to many layers. It's the price they pay for us having pets that make us breakfast.
I keep Caramel in my avatar to remind me of all I learned when she passed.

In happier news : my partner finally built a small second coop inside the actual run and look who's inside making a mess.
View attachment 3515870

How wonderful!