Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lexicon]

It sounds like you have both the set-up and enough hens for it to work with 2 roosters...but the wild card is the personality of both your roosters/cockerels. Sounds like atm you only have the one cockerel - so all should be good! What might be good, if you continue with this general set up - is for a hen to hatch chicks next year (yes, I know - me advocating for yet another broody!) And keep 1 cockerel from that batch. Then this year's cockerel will be a full on Roo, and can guide the youngster - and he will be (the newbie) 2nd in command. It sounds very doable

Awesome, thanks! I hope that Cesario won't drive everyone crazy this winter as it sounds like he will be at his most hormonal in the deep winter when they don't spend as much time outside. So far, he is doing well. The hens have jointly taken on the job of keeping him humble. It's really interesting to watch their interactions.

 

[rural mouse]

Well I ask still way way behind, but just had to post this.

I think I am in big trouble. Had to stop by TSC today. They have Lavender Orpington and Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte pullets.

I really really want some. But am so worried about getting them when we are still over 100 degrees during the day for a few more days, then it is finally supposed to start being in the 80-90 degree range.

And of course my girls who tried to be broody almost all summer have finally quit. So I would have to use a brooder and try to integrate instead of sneaking them under a hen. And am not sure if I should keep them in an air-conditioned building the first few days.

Ok, let the enabling commence.

Brood them in the coop. Tote with a window and holes for the babies to go in and out bit the bigs can't. Heating pad with no auto shutoff for the mama hen (search byc, there's info on how to make them)

 

[bgmathteach]

Thanks.
Very strange. I will watch closely over the next few days.
I had to be away for a couple of nights, so of course this all happened when I wasn't there.

Murphy's law, of course!

 

[rural mouse]

Oh my goodness. Where do you live? Those clouds, mountains, and sunset have left me in awe!

And.....snow happened today. None when went to work this morning (light sweater weather). Storms blew through off and on all day today. T-shirt weather except IN the rain. On the drive home, saw snow in places where the wind would collect it. Has since melted. And back to t-shirt temps.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

This is a good post and some valid points were made. I agree Mr. P would benefit with the help of a 2nd rooster. Deep down I would love to here that Martin or Rico gets to stay. Secretly rooting for Martin but that is me being selfish.

Now, stepping away from my selfish wishes I have to remind myself that @Ponypoor is in a difficult position. With this new job that is permanent she is not going to be around every day. Her aging mother will now be the flocks primary caregiver. If we remember last winter while she was away her mom also filled this role. I do not think her mother was too happy about it and is not 100% a chicken person. I get that, there are people who are not, the world needs all people. I think her mom likes Mr P, that is good. When it comes to bringing up a new rooster yes, a older boy and older hens help in raising him right, it actually plays a huge part in it. Another huge factor is stability with the human caretaker. The boys are right smack in the middle of their "idiot" phase, hormones are kicking in or will be if they have not already. This is a nightmare if you either A. do not have experience with a young cockerel, or B, afraid of roosters. What may help and I wonder if this is driving some of the boys bad behavior is so many young cockerels. Before deciding they all need to go I would take this break at home and make the hard decision to pick just one of the boys. See if getting rid of the rest of them allows your keeper to calm down. He is trying to find his place in the flock. Not only does he have to learn Mr P is the boss, he is competing with his brothers all going through the same thing. That right there may be the key to solving some of your issues. You will know then with your next absence if you will be able to have a multi rooster flock.

If it fails, you tried. They key point to remember though is above all else you have Mr. P. You love him, your mom likes him and most importantly is willing to care for the flock with him as a member of it.

I'm worried about it being a possible reason for other birds to bully him or him trying to jump somewhere and it getting caught on it like a feathery hook.

Watch him to see. I notice chicks use any part they can in getting around. It might even help him.

Well I ask still way way behind, but just had to post this.

I think I am in big trouble. Had to stop by TSC today. They have Lavender Orpington and Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte pullets.

I really really want some. But am so worried about getting them when we are still over 100 degrees during the day for a few more days, then it is finally supposed to start being in the 80-90 degree range.

And of course my girls who tried to be broody almost all summer have finally quit. So I would have to use a brooder and try to integrate instead of sneaking them under a hen. And am not sure if I should keep them in an air-conditioned building the first few days.

Ok, let the enabling commence.

Pullets or you meant chick pullets? If you really really want them then get them!
Indoors you can better control the environment. If you have a heat plate or a heat lamp (I really prefer a heat plate - a Mama Heating Pad setup is good, or even a Cozy Coop warmer can work) for the brooder they can go somewhere for warmth and the AC won't matter. That might be better than heat stress where there's no place to cool down and risk dehydration.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Happy 39th birthday!

Happy Birthday @RebeccaBoyd ! my grandma was 39 till she passed at 97 you can make that work she is proof of that.

Sylvie (I think) laid her first (I think) egg today.
I am proud, and a bit sad, as it means my beautiful baby is all grown up! On the bright side, maybe she will quit flying and become a bit more sedate.

But, I am a bit puzzled.
I am 99% sure that the egg in the nest box today is Sylvie's:
- I saw her on camera spending time in the nest boxes
- In theory she is the only brown egg layer other than Bernie
- Bernie and Babs also laid in the same box today

It was a tiny egg (only 1.5oz). So cute!

But the mystery is that I also found a semi-soft-shelled brown egg (well the remains of its shell) under the roosts where the Pentagonists sleep. From its smell it was probably 3 days old. It was a full size egg.

- Could Sylvie have laid a bigger but not properly shelled egg as a trial run before producing today's perfect but tiny egg?
- Could it have been one of the other Pentagonists that laid an egg from the roost and it is brown even though they are supposed to lay either blue or green eggs?
- Could it be that Bernie randomly laid a weak-shelled egg under the Pentagonist's roost? The shell I found was paler than Bernie's usual, and Bernie's egg today has a nice shell.

If Sylvie is like Bernie we may have to wait several days for her to lay again.

Congrats it really never does get old.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sylvie (I think) laid her first (I think) egg today.
I am proud, and a bit sad, as it means my beautiful baby is all grown up! On the bright side, maybe she will quit flying and become a bit more sedate.

But, I am a bit puzzled.
I am 99% sure that the egg in the nest box today is Sylvie's:
- I saw her on camera spending time in the nest boxes
- In theory she is the only brown egg layer other than Bernie
- Bernie and Babs also laid in the same box today

It was a tiny egg (only 1.5oz). So cute!

But the mystery is that I also found a semi-soft-shelled brown egg (well the remains of its shell) under the roosts where the Pentagonists sleep. From its smell it was probably 3 days old. It was a full size egg.

- Could Sylvie have laid a bigger but not properly shelled egg as a trial run before producing today's perfect but tiny egg?
- Could it have been one of the other Pentagonists that laid an egg from the roost and it is brown even though they are supposed to lay either blue or green eggs?
- Could it be that Bernie randomly laid a weak-shelled egg under the Pentagonist's roost? The shell I found was paler than Bernie's usual, and Bernie's egg today has a nice shell.

If Sylvie is like Bernie we may have to wait several days for her to lay again.

I care and am watching with interest but I have no expertise to help you! @bgmathteach's answer is good there. Weird that the soft brown one is big. My only thought is that it could be one of your regular layers, and if things aren't going as they are "supposed to" then it may feel different for the hen, and the timing of where and when to lay could be off and not be feeling as predictable and regular, and maybe not even feel like an egg? So it would be laid potentially anywhere, like a poop?

 

[GregnLety]

On the way home from Lety's birthday dinner we stopped at Tractor supply and got Lety a second gift. Four Cuckoo Maran pullets! Pics to come in the morning.

 

[featherhead007]

Pastel is always fine with other roosters. BBQ and Bolts brother, Basil, and Pastel were good friends until I rehomed Basil (RIP Basil. I’m glad that you were a free range roo with lots of ladies at your new home. And from what I’ve heard, you have two sons who look just like you.) and Pumpkin, Pastel’s half brother from a different clutch. We rehomed him a while ago. He’s still alive, and has tons of sons and daughters at my friends home. He’s gonna be a meat bird soon, as he’s an @$$#0|€. But Pastel was fine with them until we got rid of them. We only got rid of them for our hens sake. Three hens with three roosters is not healthy. We didn’t have Willow when we had Basil and Pumpkin.

You could have acquired a few more hens! I’m guessing that’s not possible there.

 

[featherhead007]

Awesome, thanks! I hope that Cesario won't drive everyone crazy this winter as it sounds like he will be at his most hormonal in the deep winter when they don't spend as much time outside. So far, he is doing well. The hens have jointly taken on the job of keeping him humble. It's really interesting to watch their interactions.

Reminds me of those redheads living at my apartment complex , years ago. They picked on me all the time.