Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

She looks so incredibly lonely in that photo.

She was snoozing and I woke her up mean Kelly

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I may go to bed a bit early today so that morning comes quicker. Hopefully I will have some chick pics in the morning!

 

[rural mouse]

Ah, okay. Change of plans then! I need to find a little ladder for the chick to get down once Willy wants it to....

She'll hop down and keep calling the chick(s) until they follow her. It's only,what...less than 12 inches? Baby will follow mama.

 

[featherhead007]

She was snoozing and I woke her up mean Kelly

You need to stop being so rude to the chooks. It’s no wonder they want to poop all over your barn office!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

A day after the first chick hatches I'm gonna put the rest in the incubator until they hatch. I'll just pray that she accepts the chicks.

No don't do this. Give her 72 hours after the first chick hatches. The one pipped now could be a early hatcher. Make sure she has chick feed and a shallow water dish in front of her and leave her and the eggs alone. When she gets off the eggs with her hatched chicks take the remaining unhatched eggs to candle for signs of life and put in the incubator if you want. Just warning you, when she comes off the nest she will not accept any other chicks that hatch in the incubator so be prepared to brood them yourself. This is why if you plan to let a hen set if you can you need to know where the nest is and have access to it. That way you can mark the eggs you want to hatch and remove any others that other hens will try to contribute. Staggered hatches are not ideal or desirable when you have a broody hen doing the incubation. She is programed to know that the first chicks that hatch need to come off the nest roughly 72 hours after hatching to eat and drink. She will abandon any unhatched eggs when she comes off, even if they are a day or two away from hatching.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

She'll hop down and keep calling the chick(s) until they follow her. It's only,what...less than 12 inches? Baby will follow mama.

Its resting on some cinder blocks... not too high up. I'd say maybe a foot at max.
Speaking of measurements, we have a HUGE Timber Rattlesnake in some bushes today. It was about a foot thick, (maybe less haha) and at least five feet long (no, really) My dad shot it, just to keep everyone safe. We can't have rattlesnakes on our property. Our dogs could step on them, my brother and I could. Its really dangerous.
I would prefer to keep them alive, but it's for safety. Quite a shame. Timbers are quite pretty.

 

[featherhead007]

You need to stop being so rude to the chooks. It’s no wonder they want to poop all over your barn office!

And don’t skimp on the meally worms!

 

[Ponypoor]

Darn. Maybe she is just a fast maturing pullet?
For MONTHS I thought BBQ was a roo because of her wattles and comb. And then I looked at her face and noted that it looked like Splotches face.
Maybe Martin/a could be a girl????

Well s/h is 11 weeks old, I have no experience with wattles but apparently Polish have wattles. Not sure when pullets get wattles - but Martin/a isnt going anywhere anytime soon so I will just wait and see.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

And don’t skimp on the meally worms!

Honestly! Meally worms are the most important thing ever!
Ack, sorry. Ridges stole my phone and typed this... Naughty guinea

 

[featherhead007]

No don't do this. Give her 72 hours after the first chick hatches. The one pipped now could be a early hatcher. Make sure she has chick feed and a shallow water dish in front of her and leave her and the eggs alone. When she gets off the eggs with her hatched chicks take the remaining unhatched eggs to candle for signs of life and put in the incubator if you want. Just warning you, when she comes off the nest she will not accept any other chicks that hatch in the incubator so be prepared to brood them yourself. This is why if you plan to let a hen set if you can you need to know where the nest is and have access to it. That way you can mark the eggs you want to hatch and remove any others that other hens will try to contribute. Staggered hatches are not ideal or desirable when you have a broody hen doing the incubation. She is programed to know that the first chicks that hatch need to come off the nest roughly 72 hours after hatching to eat and drink. She will abandon any unhatched eggs when she comes off, even if they are a day or two away from hatching.

I concur