Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Yes I know what you mean! Poor Sophia was pummelled by her sisters Penelope and Blanche when she was broody. And my poor silkie broodies were just clobbered by everyone.

Not sure what’s with poor broody hens and others beating on them

But Sophia is now back in with everyone and things have calmed down.

If the broodies aren't at the top of the pecking order, the others don't want them hatching. Simple as that, I think.

And, when they are broody, they are much more vulnerable. They are in a trance-like state frequently, don't want to run ( want to keep sitting and stay on eggs), and, even if they are fighters - they aren't eating and keeping up their energy to be fighting with the others all the time.

 

[featherhead007]

Pupil doesn’t change. And I can wave my hand at him and he doesn’t respond to my actions. The other eye looks different and does change

It’s alright. I love him anyways. Even when he bites me I love him.

 

[featherhead007]

When did this come about?

for you and him.

Since the fight against another rooster in the yard

 

[featherhead007]

Since the fight against another rooster in the yard

He was bloodied up pretty bad. But he survived

 

[Sally PB]

But he survived

I'm so glad. He's a wonderful rooster. He's getting along ok, isn't he? You haven't said anything about him having problems.

 

[bgmathteach]

Pupil doesn’t change. And I can wave my hand at him and he doesn’t respond to my actions. The other eye looks different and does change

While this is sad - know that he can still live a very good life! @Kris5902 had a partially blind roo who did very well for quite a while!

 

[bgmathteach]

Happy FBF everyone:

Some little baby fluffy tushies:

And a semi-fluffy momma tushie: (DC are hard feathered - so only a moderate amount of bottom fluff

 

[Lilion]

Can you put a 'creep' where the pen door is? Anything that is high enough for the chicks to get under, but low enough for the hens to not fit under? Example of a creep

so, for your case, could you make a door similar size to the door on Eenie's pen, BUT have it a bit ;too short', make it match at the top, with the gap at the bottom that the chicks could go in and out of, but Eenie can't get out and Manny, Meanie, etc. also can't get in.

You could use something as simple as a bit of chicken wire, framed out with either sturdy wire or scrap wood, and 2 eye hooks or bolts in the top...and use 2 carabiner's through the top of the pen & the 2 eye bolts )or if you use hooks, have them face down, and use the hooks to 'hook' the top of the pen' and hang the door that way. You might want to lay a brick or rock against this 'door' so the bigs don't learn to get their heads under and push it up and out.

I'm confused. Wouldn't I want Eenie to be able to get out with the chicks?

That's why I thought, instead of a big door in the box, I could make a chick sized door when the chicks are old enough for them to mingle.

Realistically, I could instead use that bottom nest they're in right now. The new run will be 24" and the boxes are 30". I could leave an opening large enough for them but too small for hens.

 

[bgmathteach]

So, @RebeccaBoyd :

Here are some pics of my 10 TSC babies.

I supposedly bought 2 BO pullets, 4 BR straight run and 4 marans straight run. The BO and BR were in the same bin, the marans were in a different one.

This is what I believe I got:
2 BO pullets
2bcm pullets
5-6 Cuckoo marans cockerels, 1 is questionable.

Not a single BR in the lot, I am SURE of it. The 'striping/barring' that is coming in is A) too dark for a BR roo, and too 'muddy (i.e. not crisp lines) for any BR. And, BR roos don't pop their combs @ 2 weeks. 5 of the 6 have definitely popped combs - one looks like it is trying....but it isn't as big as the others. It definitely is not a BR - pullet nor roo - so it is either a slightly late blooming cockerel CM (very possible with the # of roos I have in this lot), or an early blooming CM pullet (less likely, but I'm not a marans expert...so could be)

Sorry the pictures aren't better, but they wouldn't stand still - these are the best 3 of 10 or 11 photos.

 

[bgmathteach]

I'm confused. Wouldn't I want Eenie to be able to get out with the chicks?

That's why I thought, instead of a big door in the box, I could make a chick sized door when the chicks are old enough for them to mingle.

Realistically, I could instead use that bottom nest they're in right now. The new run will be 24" and the boxes are 30". I could leave an opening large enough for them but too small for hens.

initially, let her be safe with the chicks. In a week or two (you will know) you can let her out with them ...but that also means that you will have to let her in by moving the creep door - so she can go to bed with them in the evening. Keep the creep for a while so they always have a safe place, and so the bigs don't gobble up their food. (Can the chicks reach the adult feeders? If so, this won't be as much of an issue if you are willing to feed everyone the starter - I'm assuming it is unmedicated?)