Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

2fers....

Tuff, Shan, Zulu (2 cockerel, although least one of whom is crowing...but not in front of me)

Havoc and Tuff

Havoc and Enigma semi-hiding behind the mint blooms, Tuff keeping watch.....sort of....briefly... Shan camo in the short grass shadows. They're exploratory instincts are warring with the instincts to keep overhead shelter.

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

Congratulations! That’s wonderful

The other two eggs were duds?

I know you’re not supposed to candle eggs late in incubation but my hen is very calm so I could candle the eggs while they were still under her, both are alive, one of them are looking suspicious with a lot of air in the egg but I saw movement in the egg

 

[RoyalChick]

Okay, so I have 2 things I want to put out in the universe here...

#1 UNCLE!!!! I think @RebeccaBoyd has jinxed me! I usually have 2 or 3 broodies a year, and 1 or 2 that 'think about it'. Not this year. Someone definitely put hormones in our well water. I presently have 11 that are either actively incubating eggs (or, golf balls) or brooding chicks at the moment - and that isn't counting my WR girl who has already turned her chicks loose! While I wouldn't mind too much - I just have no place to keep them all safe AND make sure others don't kick them off the nests.

and #2: Is this a crazy idea or not???
On my way home today I saw a dresser for free by the curb, I started thinking - and if it is still there tomorrow AND it is real wood, not particle board, maybe I could make it into a broody hut??? ( it is set up like this one - 2 full drawers and 2 small drawers) I was thinking of taking the middle drawer out, and putting a hinged hardware cloth covered frame over that opening. Taking the 'face' off the bottom drawer, reattaching it with hinges so it 'opens down' like a ramp, and is secured up on the sides with either these or these with carabiners. I was thinking that around the interior edge of the bottom drawer I would need to fasten 2X2s or 2X3s to keep the rats from crawling up into it between the drawer and bureau framing. I could keep the top 2 smaller drawers intact for storage or remove them too, & cover with hardware cloth, and put some roosts in there (I was thinking of leaving the center support for the middle drawer in place for a roost, or replacing it with something else to serve that purpose if it is too thin or splintery for that.

What do you think - would it work, assuming it is real wood, not particle board? I would plan on urethaneing it - and it would be in the run, but in the part that has a roof. I figure that later, if I don't have broody that needs it, I can just leave the hardware covered 'door' of the second drawer space open ( hinge UP) so hens can lay in there at other times of the year. If it is a good idea, I could also put a roost on top of the bureau for another place for everyone to perch. Am I crazy, or do you think this is a good idea/would work???

I love that idea. But I am the one whose nest boxes are a repurposed kitchen cabinet - I love this kind of project!
It may be my imagination at work but I feel I have seen pictures of converted dressers for chickens.

 

[Ponypoor]

Good morning - two-fer Tuesday


Two brothers

(Bad boys they know they are not allowed in here)

Two splash

Two newbies (Tuff isn’t doing very well)

Two fluffy bums

 

[Sally PB]

Some Shakespeare

Which is your favorite play?
Tax: (might be the last time all 5 fit on my lap):

2 and a half 2fers...?

 

[RoyalChick]

Anyone want to help me plan the layout?

You kidding? Of course! I love designing stuff and I am sure everyone will want to weigh in.
You could post here - but there is an active group in the coop building thread who have pretty good practical advice so it might be better to post there and put a link in here.
Start with some plans and ideas and ask people to weigh in.
Apart from this thread the coop building threads have been the most interesting and were to me the most helpful when I started out building the Chicken Palace.

 

[knoturavggrl]

View attachment 3580677
Tina isn't well. I've given her canesten because of her eating everything in sight

I have a feeling Bob would recommend the penicillin but I will have to wait until later due to the canesten.

I'm keeping her inside for a few hours, she's had some time out in the garden but it's starting to rain and I want her to rest. She only wanted sunflower seeds this morning and that's not my Tina. I've given her a soak in Epson salts because her vent is down and those lash eggs maybe causing even more trouble.

Oh I am sorry Marie. I hope for a swift recovery

 

[RoyalChick]

2fers....

View attachment 3580704Tuff, Shan, Zulu (2 cockerel, although least one of whom is crowing...but not in front of me)

View attachment 3580705Havoc and Tuff

View attachment 3580706Havoc and Enigma semi-hiding behind the mint blooms, Tuff keeping watch.....sort of....briefly... Shan camo in the short grass shadows. They're exploratory instincts are warring with the instincts to keep overhead shelter.

Lovely pictures as always. I love your flock and your setting.
I do worry though that you cannot count. Counting is a useful skill.
I count one-two-three (OK two cockerels). And in the next picture one-two-three-four (OK that is two 2-fers).
But that last picture. Is that also two 2-fers? Or do I count one-two-three-four-five?!

 

[RoyalChick]

Same thing with my Roos, I am discouraging them from coming into my office and begging for treats and sleeping on my lap. Of course
This means no-one is not allowed in there pullet or Roo. Can’t play favourites.

How is that working out for you @Ponypoor?

Seems like we still see lots of pictures of chicken in your office. I think you call them break-ins, but we know you like them coming to visit!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Big things are happening in my home, I have a broody hen or should I say mama hen
In march I hatched out 2 chicks form my sick hen but both of them turned out to be roosters so now I’m trying again with 6 eggs where 4 of them are from my olive egger and two are from my bcm
And Last night 4 little chicks hatched out

Chick one from my olive egger, it has a lot of light spots on its head and body
View attachment 3580685
Chick two also from my olive egger, this one is just grey all over
View attachment 3580686
Chick three is from my bcm, this one is almost just black with a little white on the wings and very little in the chest, this one is the only one with feathers on its feet
View attachment 3580689
Chick four was the first one out of the egg and is grey with a little white in the chest and wings
View attachment 3580690
View attachment 3580691
To my surprise none of them looks like the ones I hatched in march, both of them were white or grey so they look nothing alike even though 2 of them have the same mom and dad as them
View attachment 3580692

Awll, they are adorable congratulations on your new tiny troublemakers