Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I was surprised at the cost for the health papers that over $100 Canadian funds. But yes they have the breeds I want: cuckoo Marans - but it doesn’t look like the French variety (no leg feathers in the photos), and Dark Brahma

I might chat with Peavey Mart and see how they get their chicks in from Hoovers because they would have to come across the border with health papers I assume. Or maybe some sort of agreement with the border because it’s day olds.

Or maybe Hoovers can get Campines in. I’ll start looking at this in February,

Start talking to them in January so they have time to investigate (and maybe place orders) before the mass influx of "hatching season".

Edit 1.
Also, McMurray has french black copper and French white marans (feathered feet). The only non-french is the cuckoo. You could get a few of the french ones to work on breeding french cuckoo....


Edit 2.
@Ponypoor, or see if Peavy could get the French Cuckoo in from cacklehatchery.com....

 

[Ponypoor]

Egg laying article - interesting

https://newsfromthecoop.hoovershatchery.com/how-daylight-affects-egg-laying/

 

[Ponypoor]

Start talking to them in January so they have time to investigate (and maybe place orders) before the mass influx of "hatching season".

That will likely be a better idea for sure.

I was just on Hoovers site but no real info there on shipping.

 

[rural mouse]

That will likely be a better idea for sure.

I was just on Hoovers site but no real info there on shipping.

Cackle hatchery has french cuckoos

 

[SimpleJenn]

Mornin. Had a long night here last night, kiddo gave up her binky so I had to go help her fall back asleep at quarter til eleven. Then I was up til 2am with a kidney stone, I eventually laid on the living room floor to sleep a little because I didn't want to wake up my husband by crawling into bed.
It's raining which ruined my plans of raking up the soft pine straw, it was dry two days in a row so I thought today I could rake up a few feed bags full for the nest boxes! But nope, rainy day.
Family friend has a lot going on so I have a few more days to get things ready for the new additions. Yesterday I made a mash of chick crumble, layer pellets, spearmint and lemon balm for them. I want them to get used to the taste of the layer pellets. Shep wanted to pick them out but they got too soft so she gave up and ate with the rest.

They're getting big and beautiful!

 

[Ponypoor]

Start talking to them in January so they have time to investigate (and maybe place orders) before the mass influx of "hatching season".

Edit 1.
Also, McMurray has french black copper and French white marans (feathered feet). The only non-french is the cuckoo. You could get a few of the french ones to work on breeding french cuckoo....


Edit 2.
@Ponypoor, or see if Peavy could get the French Cuckoo in from cacklehatchery.com....

I think that because it used to originally be TSC, when Peavey Mart bought their locations out, they kept some of their suppliers, and likely Hoover Hatchery was one of them.

My plan for next year is four total: originally it was a couple dark Brahma and a couple French cuckoo Marans, but now with those Campines put out there - so lovely! Maybe a dark Brahma and couple French cuckoo Maran and a campine

 

[Ponypoor]

Mornin. Had a long night here last night, kiddo gave up her binky so I had to go help her fall back asleep at quarter til eleven. Then I was up til 2am with a kidney stone, I eventually laid on the living room floor to sleep a little because I didn't want to wake up my husband by crawling into bed.
It's raining which ruined my plans of raking up the soft pine straw, it was dry two days in a row so I thought today I could rake up a few feed bags full for the nest boxes! But nope, rainy day.
Family friend has a lot going on so I have a few more days to get things ready for the new additions. Yesterday I made a mash of chick crumble, layer pellets, spearmint and lemon balm for them. I want them to get used to the taste of the layer pellets. Shep wanted to pick them out but they got too soft so she gave up and ate with the rest.
View attachment 3662881
They're getting big and beautiful!
View attachment 3662887

Gosh they are so lovely and getting so big! And a lovely splash so lovely

You need not feed layer until they are around 18 weeks, they do not need the higher calcium levels, tje higher calcium levels can be damaging to them; also if they don’t like pellets you can get crumbles in layer feed.

 

[Ponypoor]

Cackle hatchery has french cuckoos

Wonder if Cackle ships to Canada?

Ok well I better get cracking here, need to do chores and get stuff done before it starts raining here again.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Gosh they are so lovely and getting so big! And a lovely splash so lovely

You need not feed layer until they are around 18 weeks, they do not need the higher calcium levels, tje higher calcium levels can be damaging to them; also if they don’t like pellets you can get crumbles in layer feed.

Oh good to know! I'll wait to make any more mashes with it then.

 

[BY Bob]

The Spuds roosted in the coop! Yay!

I really had assumed they wouldn’t so soon. We were on a zoom call with friends, so I didn’t monitor the evening. Didn’t even bother to check the cameras before going out, I just went out there. My heart dropped when they weren’t on their usual perch. Saw a tipped-over water bottle, and thought maybe there’s been a scuffle and something bad has happened. Checked the veranda: no one. OK don’t panic, check the coop, and hope they’re in there. Opened the back and took a peek.
What a relief. Yes! They’re in there! All lined up snuggled together on the towel. And Popcorn is with Hazel in the nestbox. I couldn’t contain myself and praised everyone in there, I heard peeps in return, then I closed it up and left to not disturb them any more. Here’s screenshots taken when I got back inside. One Spud had just gotten up and turned around.

View attachment 3662713
View attachment 3662714

How wonderful!

They grow up so fast. Bear in mind that there still could be issues. Especially if one of the bigger ladies is in a bad mood.