Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Hen-Rietta has a problem. Egg broke inside of her. I can’t catch her to give her a bath and soaking in Epsom salt yet. The yolk was on her feathers around the vent. Probably some shell still there inside. I don’t like giving them a bath late in the evening, but I have to with her tonight.

Bath is finished. She didn’t soak long enough, but we both are exhausted

 

[rural mouse]

Bath is finished. She didn’t soak long enough, but we both are exhausted

 

[featherhead007]

And the old blow dryer shorted out and stopped working. So now I have her wrapped up in a towel laying on my chest. She seems happy enough.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Another bonus of the babies anchoring the adults around the coop: the adults go to bed a full hour before they were prior to the babies arrival.

So far, the babies seem tolerant of me coming in and tucking them under "mama": go to bed. A little mischievous running back out, but (so far) as the adults' model is "gone to bed" they're fine with it. (It's not going to last much longer: the 18 month old crashing is rapidly turning into the 3 year old giggling and streaking the house having snuck out of the bathtub.)

At this rate, "mama" may end up getting moved out of the tote and tote removed all together. The teenage "parent gonna kill the brat" phase may not come until they're too big to fit through the holes. Food won't be an issue as the All Flock the adults get is about the same protein rate as the babies crumble. Banana boxes are being held in reserve for when they don't need/won't fit in the tote.

So far, I'm REALLY liking the "mama" hen pad and raising babies in the coop from first day here. They can see and be seen. The initial escape hole requires some climbing and is on the sheltered side. Integration has been almost instantaneous. I expect the babies to start trying to head outside in the next day or 2. (I'm not ready) I'm going to let things play out (mostly) by keeping an eye on things but trying to hang back and let the adults tend them. The babies NEED to be listening to the adults. Their first forays outdoors will get those lessons quickly (and hopefully safely).

The Adventure goes on.

Love this mini story and thank you for sharing it I learn so much from all of you.

It really is nerve wracking with babies in the coop, the integration aspect is amazing but the potential dangers of the big coop and run are many.

I am really torn on which way works best for me. I look forward to reading about how it goes.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Hen-Rietta has a problem. Egg broke inside of her. I can’t catch her to give her a bath and soaking in Epsom salt yet. The yolk was on her feathers around the vent. Probably some shell still there inside. I don’t like giving them a bath late in the evening, but I have to with her tonight.

Oh no, I am sorry to read this She is in the best hands possible. Cheering you both on!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

So that means Roo then. Right?

Popcorn has a major set of lovely spurs. She had little bumps there.

 

[notabitail]

Broody Abigail Update.
Abigail was out and about most of the day. Someone must have stomped on her in the box this morning or Felicitas evicted her. Abigail went to her nest box before I ate my dinner. I had to remove her from the box to soak her feet in Epsom salt. She took that as a opportunity to poop in the water, making us refill it . After that I put her outside. She preened a bit, and then went right back to her box.I guess she is going to try again. Either she wants to hatch eggs or is trying to do a Beakbook detox.

Oh, and @Ponypoor, the tax will be coming in later. I'm taking one of my old computers for a spin.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Broody Abigail Update.
Abigail was out and about most of the day. Someone must have stomped on her in the box this morning or Felicitas evicted her. Abigail went to her nest box before I ate my dinner. I had to remove her from the box to soak her feet in Epsom salt. She took that as a opportunity to poop in the water, making us refill it . After that I put her outside. She preened a bit, and then went right back to her box.I guess she is going to try again. Either she wants to hatch eggs or is trying to do a Beakbook detox.

Oh, and @Ponypoor, the tax will be coming in later. I'm taking one of my old computers for a spin.

Abigail was broody?

 

[notabitail]

Abigail was broody?

Yep. She went to the top last night and scared me. Today she was down but went right back to the top. She went back after being kicked out to get her feet soaked and now does a light screech when she sees me stick my head up there. I think your chickens are egging her on on Beakbook

 

[ChicoryBlue]

One spur? Unusual! Oh I need to do a spur inspection tomorrow!

Not unusual here, two have a clean leg and a leg with a little spur or knobbly bump, one with pretty clean legs, one with real spurs. I did a survey photo shoot when they were just over a year old
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24823945