Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Movie last night was okay. But I fell asleep on the living room couch and Jaffar snuggled up with me and slept too. I awoke this morning to a loud COCORICO, in my ear. (We both slept in)

 

[rural mouse]

Finished making Sherlock's collar

Looks like a good fit.

Good thing the buckles are interchangeable. Extensions as he grows will be possible.

And...he broke it on first walk with it.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Preparations, sooner than I thought due to hatch dates & availability!
Cleared out a tote and began assembly

Looked slightly too small a playground even for three Buff Orpington chicks for a couple weeks & probably more, & would be switching to bigger anyway, so hauled out the 4' x 28" bicycle box. Previous walls were strapping and screening and a million tiny PITA nuts & bolts, here took the front wall framing and leaned it against the house wall and taped the bottom on. Made some quick walls with plastic 3/4" x 3/4" netting and clothespins, zip ties later, & will need top part soon -

Because they're going to grow fast - and they're here!

They took to the waterer, at first I thought they weren't getting it and I got a tray with pebbles cleaned and warmed up, then tried the waterer again, and two got it, so everyone's bellied up to the bar!

That's right, they sent FIVE Buff Orpingtons. Somehow the best chicken math is impossible to plan with. I hope they didn't knowingly throw in a boy or two. Good thing they're in the big box now! See the tiny thread out of the butt of the front left little one? That's yolk sac / umbilical related, correct? If I can track that one it's name will be Thread.

This number might move up the coop plans? I'm not sure how to go about integration and sleeping, thought they'd be out in a see/no touch situation after a couple weeks, with heat available, and sleeping back here on roosts in the box? Depends on temps I know...Need to read up on various approaches, and tips are welcome!

If it's warm enough and they are integrated eventually, mixing well with the Bigs, will they like their own coop or will they want to be sleeping with the Bigs, I assume the latter but maybe the Bigs are too intimidating? Depends on their reception too.

I think it's possible three Bigs and five Littles will fit okay for the winter. Some folks do manage it year-round. I would be concerned for ventilation. The Orpingtons have single combs, so am strongly considering the new coop much sooner.

This little one wants warmth with a view

Taking to the feeder and pecking crumbles sprinkled on the ground in front

Three have found sunlight, preening and sleeping now

Meanwhile two are zonked out here

Babies!!!

I'll be going to check again on Butters shortly. She lingered in the nest box but was out by 7am, improvement over yesterday morning and she's foraging out with the others. I will check to see how much she's eating on her own and tube feed more or less, or not (miracle) depending. Life is persistent, young and old!

 

[Lexicon]

I’m sorry for your loss. Louise was beautiful ! It seems like she had a peaceful passing, as peaceful as possible in fact : at home, with her flock, and mostly without pain, feeling safe and loved.

You and others who follow my thread know that I did exactly what you mentioned about six weeks ago, botch my first euthanasia at home. I wrote this about it ten days ago.

Thanks Manue, I feel better after everyone's responses. This is such a great group of people.

In the case of your first euthanasia that you felt so badly about,, wasn't your hen already suffering terribly from flystrike and other ailments? You saved her from so much pain and I would have tried to end it in that situation as well.

We do the very best that we can and I believe that our birds know that we love them after all the gentle care that they receive from us over the years of their lives.

 

[Lexicon]

Patsy went and sat with Daisy, the greatest hen ever, as she passed away. Lilly came by and visited as well but Patsy stayed with her.

View attachment 3596895

Chickens are such amazing creatures. I am so happy that I have had the chance to get to know them.

 

[GregnLety]

Well, Sherlock has met the chickens. On leash, interested, they're alert (Zulu sounded ground alert). Work in progress.

Playful walk last nightView attachment 3596913View attachment 3596915View attachment 3596916

He's a beautiful pup. In our experience younger dogs are easier to Integrate with the chickens. We have 2 young pups and in a matter of 2 weeks they were trustworthy. Our husky female we acquired when she was already grown. It took several months to get her integrated because of predator-prey instinct being so strong. Am sure that Sherlock will be fine with his feathered friends in a few weeks. Enjoy your beautiful pup

 

[RoyalChick]

Preparations, sooner than I thought due to hatch dates & availability!
Cleared out a tote and began assembly
View attachment 3596896

Looked slightly too small a playground even for three Buff Orpington chicks for a couple weeks & probably more, & would be switching to bigger anyway, so hauled out the 4' x 28" bicycle box. Previous walls were strapping and screening and a million tiny PITA nuts & bolts, here took the front wall framing and leaned it against the house wall and taped the bottom on. Made some quick walls with plastic 3/4" x 3/4" netting and clothespins, zip ties later, & will need top part soon -
View attachment 3596912

Because they're going to grow fast - and they're here!
View attachment 3596919

They took to the waterer, at first I thought they weren't getting it and I got a tray with pebbles cleaned and warmed up, then tried the waterer again, and two got it, so everyone's bellied up to the bar!
View attachment 3596921

That's right, they sent FIVE Buff Orpingtons. Somehow the best chicken math is impossible to plan with. I hope they didn't knowingly throw in a boy or two. Good thing they're in the big box now! See the tiny thread out of the butt of the front left little one? That's yolk sac / umbilical related, correct? If I can track that one it's name will be Thread.

This number might move up the coop plans? I'm not sure how to go about integration and sleeping, thought they'd be out in a see/no touch situation after a couple weeks, with heat available, and sleeping back here on roosts in the box? Depends on temps I know...Need to read up on various approaches, and tips are welcome!

If it's warm enough and they are integrated eventually, mixing well with the Bigs, will they like their own coop or will they want to be sleeping with the Bigs, I assume the latter but maybe the Bigs are too intimidating? Depends on their reception too.

I think it's possible three Bigs and five Littles will fit okay for the winter. Some folks do manage it year-round. I would be concerned for ventilation. The Orpingtons have single combs, so am strongly considering the new coop much sooner.

This little one wants warmth with a view
View attachment 3596944


Taking to the feeder and pecking crumbles sprinkled on the ground in front
View attachment 3596945

Three have found sunlight, preening and sleeping now
View attachment 3596956

Meanwhile two are zonked out here
View attachment 3596957

Babies!!!

I'll be going to check again on Butters shortly. She lingered in the nest box but was out by 7am, improvement over yesterday morning and she's foraging out with the others. I will check to see how much she's eating on her own and tube feed more or less, or not (miracle) depending. Life is persistent, young and old!

Oh my! Those are cute. And clean! Don't they poop? Or do you change the towels and quickly get photos?
The 'warm with a view' is good to make sure you don't miss out on the exciting new world out there!

 

[GregnLety]

He's a beautiful pup. In our experience younger dogs are easier to Integrate with the chickens. We have 2 young pups and in a matter of 2 weeks they were trustworthy. Our husky female we acquired when she was already grown. It took several months to get her integrated because of predator-prey instinct being so strong. Am sure that Sherlock will be fine with his feathered friends in a few weeks. Enjoy your beautiful pup

Even the chickens learn that our dogs are no threat. Yesterday around sunset I was setting in the swing with 6 or 7 dogs around me. I heard the male guineas making a commotion and here comes Cholo Jr with the guineas in pursuit. Jr makes his way to behind the swing where he is completely surrounded by dogs. The guineas give up and leave him alone. A few minutes later Jr calm walks away and goes about his business.

 

[rural mouse]

He's a beautiful pup. In our experience younger dogs are easier to Integrate with the chickens. We have 2 young pups and in a matter of 2 weeks they were trustworthy. Our husky female we acquired when she was already grown. It took several months to get her integrated because of predator-prey instinct being so strong. Am sure that Sherlock will be fine with his feathered friends in a few weeks. Enjoy your beautiful pup

Pm me any tips you have, does and don't please. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Lexicon]

This number might move up the coop plans? I'm not sure how to go about integration and sleeping, thought they'd be out in a see/no touch situation after a couple weeks, with heat available, and sleeping back here on roosts in the box? Depends on temps I know...Need to read up on various approaches, and tips are welcome!

If it's warm enough and they are integrated eventually, mixing well with the Bigs, will they like their own coop or will they want to be sleeping with the Bigs, I assume the latter but maybe the Bigs are too intimidating? Depends on their reception too.

Congratulations on your new chicks!

I received chicks this summer as well and was concerned about my first integration, even taking weeks off from work to make sure it went smoothly. It did!

I just wanted to speak to your question about the two coops. I have two coops and the chicks went right out to the little coop. I don't raise chicks inside my house.

But now, they're very attached to their little coop. Today I have to change their roost because it's a tight squeeze for all of them the way that it's configured.

I built them a baby roost inside the big coop weeks ago, but the littles wouldn't even consider sleeping in there when they have their own coop! They do poop on the baby roost when they play in that coop during the day, but I think that if I want them to sleep in there I will have to intervene. I am leaving it for now, but would like them in the warmer coop by the time winter arrives.

So, just wanted to share my experience that they may not want to sleep with the adults until they are adults themselves.