Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Desertvalleychickens]

Finally got scratch out to the chooks
View attachment 3597104Sherlock sat on his own, then he did thisView attachment 3597105

Play time followed

View attachment 3597108Wet grass, especially with a sprinkler is well loved

View attachment 3597110Chewing on grass is also popular

View attachment 3597112And sticks are even better.

Next trip out, refilling the feeder in the coop, then doing water

I love your pup!

 

[lightm]

Preparations, sooner than I thought due to hatch dates & availability!
Cleared out a tote and began assembly
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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!
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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!
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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
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Taking to the feeder and pecking crumbles sprinkled on the ground in front
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Three have found sunlight, preening and sleeping now
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Meanwhile two are zonked out here
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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!

Appears to be good news all around!

 

[LhickenChicken]

I found Momma Hen and she is accounted for. Her smarts saved her from harm. She was halfway up in the big pine tree where she apparently roosted last night. I had to bribe her down with corn. My flock is clearly still rattled though. The hens are nervous and the boys will not shut up crowing today. This is the most they have crowed past 8 am since I rehomed Twig and Madea.

Smart girl! I'm so relieved.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

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!

No but yes - I had dunked their beaks twice each and set them down under the plate and then took some photos, let them nap and when they went exploring again I showed them the waterer, etc. So yes they poop but they had barely eaten anything, they had just gotten there. A bit later they were hydrating well so I then showed them a tiny bit of crumbles on the towel, then still later more crumbles and the feeder. Now the pooping has begun!
No pasty butt yet. I may trim the umbilical bit if it doesn't fall off soon. Another chick pecked at it briefly, but pecking her vent area, so I may examine that again and dab iodine/betadine on it if it looks messy.

 

[Ponypoor]

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.

Tonight I am going to start putting Sophia and her chicks in the Hen House; I want them integrated with their mum, she is making moves towards weaning them and I want them all in one location if she does.

I am thinking of putting her in a nest box with them when I do evening chores, and hope she stays there all night. Morning's I will need to collect them right away when I get out there as it's a free for all in there - the chickens stay put until I get the horses all fed and turned out. Even Penne hides out away from the crazy old hens till I let everyone out

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Appears to be good news all around!

Butters is eating more but is quite weak still. I gave her 25-30ml of baby formula, she went for the grit again, eating a few, and then stood on the treadle feeder and leaned in but didn't eat. However when I showed her pellets from my hand she swept them around and did actually eat some that fell out, mashing them into smaller bits and eating that. Then, digging for worms with my garden shovel she ate four or five small ones.
She is so weak Popcorn knocked her over pushing her to get at a worm. Last night she went foraging through deep weeds for bugs and got her foot hooked on something and couldn't pull her foot through to step forward. She sat down to rest after a few tries. I lifted her free, then trampled the weeds for her to follow me out.

Here she was taking off for the hills, she's in the middle, Popcorn in back and Hazel in front

Another edge shot, back left, Hazel in front of her

 

[Ponypoor]

Butters is eating more but is quite weak still. I gave her 25-30ml of baby formula, she went for the grit again, eating a few, and then stood on the treadle feeder and leaned in but didn't eat. However when I showed her pellets from my hand she swept them around and did actually eat some that fell out, mashing them into smaller bits and eating that. Then, digging for worms with my garden shovel she ate four or five small ones.
She is so weak Popcorn knocked her over pushing her to get at a worm. Last night she went foraging through deep weeds for bugs and got her foot hooked on something and couldn't pull her foot through to step forward. She sat down to rest after a few tries. I lifted her free, then trampled the weeds for her to follow me out.

Here she was taking off for the hills, she's in the middle, Popcorn in back and Hazel in front
View attachment 3597290

Another edge shot, back left, Hazel in front of her
View attachment 3597289

I have to say that the colouring of your hens is lovely - such a lovely chestnut colour.

And Butters looks like she is enjoying her time outside at any rate, so glad that she and her sisters are together roaming the 'hills'.

 

[Ponypoor]

No but yes - I had dunked their beaks twice each and set them down under the plate and then took some photos, let them nap and when they went exploring again I showed them the waterer, etc. So yes they poop but they had barely eaten anything, they had just gotten there. A bit later they were hydrating well so I then showed them a tiny bit of crumbles on the towel, then still later more crumbles and the feeder. Now the pooping has begun!
No pasty butt yet. I may trim the umbilical bit if it doesn't fall off soon. Another chick pecked at it briefly, but pecking her vent area, so I may examine that again and dab iodine/betadine on it if it looks messy.

Oooooo baby poops - they leave it everywhere, in their food, in the water, on your lap

 

[featherhead007]

I went to mow the grass around the grapevine disaster zone today, and it started getting hot, so I picked a bunch of grapes sat down in the shade under the vine and ate them. Soon I had company, and the chooks ate too!

 

[Ponypoor]

Had to rescue poor old Tuff from being assaulted by Rico, he had her down on her side and was trying to breed her, poor Tuff was just screaming; I am first off furious with Mr P for not running and thumping the crap out of Rico.

I also furious at Rico, who is now in the large crate, I could have easily throttled him, as it is he is likely missing a handful of tail feathers.

I guess I will have to keep Tuff locked away when I am not able to stand over her and keep her safe. My niece’s other hens manage to keep away from him, but poor Tuff doesn’t move all that fast.