Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Finally someone finally got it you are the god of chicken breeds!

I was right?!

I did my usual: look things up. Problem was I kept running into breeds that looked like them...and descriptions stated were from other parts of Italy, mostly north west instead of north east (if I mixed that up, my apologies. Yesterday was a LONG, but enjoyable day, I didn't sleep well last night. I'm up early and coffee is still brewing). Haven't had time to read more than part of Italy they're from. What can you tell us about the breed?

 

[rural mouse]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionda_Piemontese

This is Incase if you want to learn more about them.

Looks like I owe SHRA tax.

There's 2 here

 

[Ponypoor]

I am not sad - amazed, stunned, discombobulated, but not sad. Figures, though - my stressful class is to end this week - then grading - and I was looking forward to a bit of a more relaxed pace!

But this is a happy kind of crazy - it is so nice to see mums and chicks. I just feel bad for the two that got trampled overnight/early morning.

Good news, though - momma eagerly accepted the additional chicks! She even pecked one because it wasn't moving to snuggle under her! (yup -that lit a fire under it's cute little fuzzy tush!) One from TSC looks kind of weak - I am concerned about it - but we will see. This is one of my DC who is an experienced mom. She will teach it what to do - she immediately scooted over to the food dish with them under her and started telling them to eat and dropping crumbles in front of them!

Awwwww that’s so wonderful! Isn’t it amazing how they just seem to know what to do ? And the babies to eat

What breeds do you think you bought home? Are they pullets or straight run? Gosh I can’t wait to see photos

 

[Ponypoor]

I was right?!

I did my usual: look things up. Problem was I kept running into breeds that looked like them...and descriptions stated were from other parts of Italy, mostly north west instead of north east (if I mixed that up, my apologies. Yesterday was a LONG, but enjoyable day, I didn't sleep well last night. I'm up early and coffee is still brewing). Haven't had time to read more than part of Italy they're from. What can you tell us about the breed?

They are a very pretty bird aren’t they

 

[Ponypoor]

Probably same for me too!

I sprayed Willow for lice yesterday. I wasn't able to catch her to see if she has any more.
Splotch laid in Willy's broody house... the egg cracked from falling out onto the wood though. I cleaned the old shaving out and put a bunch of fresh ones.

Did you also treat the nest boxes and roosts for the lice?

 

[rural mouse]

Glad the one made it.

I did buy a large tote, and have it all marked out to make it a brooder tote like @rural mouse 's I think now I may have to get another one, too! I'll see how this one goes with Mom and chick, first, though. It is 26.5" X 19.5", so a bit over 3.5 sq. feet.

Making the thing was a bit of a pain at the time. As well as the babies integrated, well worth it now. In-laws were at the event after work yesterday and MIL says mine are more feathered out than hers were. The ZERO pasty butt has her seriously thinking about making one too.

 

[Ponypoor]

Over already made up MY mind on the second "option." No. Not good. When I was really little, my dad used to smoke a lot, and he has an auto-immune disorder. I knew that I was not good for him, so I begged him to stop. He did. Years later Covid hit. I could've saved his life.

Yes smoking is not a good thing, but many people do and it’s a difficult thing to stop.

 

[rural mouse]

I have a question for you Fluffy Butt Acres friends: at what age do a clutch of chicks get a pecking order?
I know it can change over time, but do they have one from day one?
I am trying to figure who is currently the top Pentagonist and it is not clear to me. Sometimes I think Piglet or Sylvie but I am not sure if they are showing leadership or just being mischievous.
Tassels is the biggest by far. Pooh seems the most developed in that her voice is breaking first. Sylvie and Piglet are the most adventurous.

The beak to beak staring and chest bumping that all chicks do is some of their figuring it out. First egg tends to shift it also. In general, though, until eggs start, it shifts around, is pretty flexible and they get it all sorted amongst themselves without a lot of fanfare. The larger the group, theore complex it can be: A higher than B, B above C, C above D, D and E about the same but don't like each other so D roosts with A and E roosts with B, giving the appearance that C is bottom of the heap, because D and E can push C away while its really their proximities to A and B that do it.

Add more birds and figuring it out requires more observation and spending more time with the chickens: big win.

 

[Ponypoor]

Wow you guys were busy today! We went boating and didn't get home until it was time to close up the coop!

I loved the Italian chickens...which is also the name of a delicious dish my mom used to make for company. Seriously, I only got to visit Italy the one time. I'd love to spend time there...forever would work.

All the talk of pecking order makes me think again of how much i have to learn. I may have been a member of BYC for years, but there are my first chickens! And it's also why I'm concerned about Eenie and the chicks.



Nope. In fact you were the only one! But it's all good. We've decided, in the next few days, to use the dog crate we had Sheba in to isolate the nest Eenie is in. By putting it, side door open, against the nest, she'll have that space all on her own and the others will no longer be able to lay there. Every day I find eggs from both of the other girls under Eenie. That has to stop. I can't have then shoving into the nest on day 21 and crushing (or just killing) a newly hatched chick. They're going to be upset, but they have 2 unused nest boxes and 49 square feet of floor to lay on. They can lump it.

I don't want to move her and the eggs on day 12. I keep reading sooner is better. I can move her and the chicks without much problem. Right?

I have questions about using the small coop. If I leave it in good shade, it won't have access to the main flocks run. It won't fit inside it. Theyll be out of sight of yhe others for the most part. Maybe just a cage-like area inside the main coop? Like the crate, but larger? I can do that easily enough using materials we own now.

Anyway. It's late and I need my bed sooner rather than later. I'll pester with more questions another day.

Here's my mama mug for Monday.

View attachment 3565234

That’s an awesome idea using the dog crate!

I will defer to other on whether or not it’s ok to put mama in the separate coop away from the others.

 

[Ponypoor]

Tax for encouraging healthy habits:
View attachment 3565387
Not a very good two-fer. I seem to have lots of singles and groups.

Gosh they are getting big now - love this stage of growth they are so adorable