Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Great photos! And handsome Sherlock is looking so grown With perfectly rounded paws.
How many hens do you have, to have so many dozens of eggs? Did a significant portion of them come back into lay recently, or do you just have good Winter layers?

26 birds, 4 of whom are roos. 7 are pullets.

2 are dark brahmas with another half. 2 white sapphires with 2 more half. A brown leghorn, a partridge Plymouth rock and another half. A Whiting True Blue who isn't laying (good, Twirp's eggs are huge and her frame is tiny). A golden wyandotte and another half. 3 buff orp x ee mixes, a blue laced red wyandotte x OE (cuckoo marans x crested cream legbar) and 2 half. A half Colombian wyandotte, a Plymouth rock mix (looks like barred x silver penciled, but not positive), and a Speckled Sussex.

Roos are a gold penced hamburg, a black australorp, a buff orp x ee mix, and a Hamburg x leghorn x ee who is just now turning into hormonal idiot.

Window faces east in the coop and they're starting to crow at 5 am when I get up and let Sherlock out. Yesterday morning, I didn't open the coop until 830 or so. There were 5 eggs in a nest which I pulled. I also had a hen on another nest which had at least 2 in it. I didn't get back out yesterday, so will have those to grab this morning. Even at 5-6 eggs per day. That's 35-42 eggs in a week. That can add up quickly. If each one only lays 2 eggs a week, they're still paying for their own feed.

And we don't eat a lot of eggs. Sometimes it's a breakfast sandwich a day for a week, then we don't. Then there's breakfast for dinner which uses a bunch at once. Baking tends to get spread out rather than be marathon too.

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven’t been on in so long. I had already been having trouble keeping up with the thread and then my life pretty much imploded right before Thanksgiving. He is doing ok, but my husband had a heart attack and then a quadruple bypass. This came at a horrible time, as he will soon lose his disability payments for his shoulder surgery, and since his company laid him off in July when his 12 weeks FMLA were used up, he can’t file a new claim for the cardiac issues. It will probabaly be at least theee months before he can even think about looking for work, and we don’t know yet if he will ever be able to work in his industry again due to the health issues. We are thinking about applying for social security disability, but can’t afford an attorney and don’t know how to find a good one that works on a contingency basis.

On top of all that, between his heart attack and his surgery we found out our main property had been robbed and basically trashed (we were at our other property for deer season and the holidays). They stole all four Harley’s, his great grandfather’s 1965 Chevy pickup that he had bought brand new and had been in the family ever since, and pretty much cleaned out or destroyed everything else. So I have also been having to deal with detectives and insurance companies.

Other than that I guess we have been doing ok, lol. My newest chicks are almost full grown. My husband calls them the flutter-bots because of the way they run out and flutter around when we open the coop.

Life sucks tax:
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The is for the beautiful chickens and for you as it sounds like you could use it.
Sending lots of hugs. Difficult times and more difficult times ahead.
Thankful at least that he is OK.
This too shall pass and there will be better times.

 

[Ponypoor]

On molting - I can see a molt helping to replenish bone, if they keep eating oyster shell (do they?) and growing new feathers is good. How does a molt replenish muscle and fat stores? Every one here that's molted, even a slow molt, has gone skinny during it. Maybe it's when they come out of it but haven't started laying yet?

I would assume that they would be eating a high protein high fat diet to help with replenishing body resources. I know other put their chooks on a lower calcium diet during
Moulting but I just keep mine on their regular diet.

Your thoughts on replenishment of body resources after moult could well be true.

 

[Ponypoor]

The inverse of this is why I thought I might get Babs to stop laying - I was trying to prolong her night.
But I gave up as you all thought it was likely to be useless and it was going to be a lot of work.

And I think it would work but it’s not a fast fix, but I have a feeling that she will start to slow down now that she is coming into her 2nd year, and I bet she will moult in the Spring if not sooner. That should stop her laying.

Not sure where I read it but I think I saw where changes in daylight vs night darkness will instigate a moult and of course being broody. This why I feel Marty is finally moulting; Henny also moulted even though she had chicks. And I have noted Curly moulting though she isn’t losing all her feathers, she has pun feathers coming through her regular feathers. All three of these ladies were broody.

 

[Ponypoor]

Covering even half the run would probably enhance their winter experience! Although like RC pointed out, if you did fully cover it it would end up dry, and thus a bugless dust bowl. Covering half of it (the long and skinny ways, so like 8’ long lumber) would probably allow enough precipitation to get in and keep the ground “alive”.

I can’t cover fully due to large trees located in there, and those sections would require mesh surrounding the trees to allow for watering the trees. But there are sections that could be easily covered offering protection from sun and rain. But even the mesh would require support to prevent snow load from breaking the mesh.

I was inspecting the run and doing some planning; I think I would use 2x4 mesh on the support frame in the areas surrounding the trees. It’s a huge expense as my run is large - so I will peck away at it over time

 

[lightm]

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven’t been on in so long. I had already been having trouble keeping up with the thread and then my life pretty much imploded right before Thanksgiving. He is doing ok, but my husband had a heart attack and then a quadruple bypass. This came at a horrible time, as he will soon lose his disability payments for his shoulder surgery, and since his company laid him off in July when his 12 weeks FMLA were used up, he can’t file a new claim for the cardiac issues. It will probabaly be at least theee months before he can even think about looking for work, and we don’t know yet if he will ever be able to work in his industry again due to the health issues. We are thinking about applying for social security disability, but can’t afford an attorney and don’t know how to find a good one that works on a contingency basis.

On top of all that, between his heart attack and his surgery we found out our main property had been robbed and basically trashed (we were at our other property for deer season and the holidays). They stole all four Harley’s, his great grandfather’s 1965 Chevy pickup that he had bought brand new and had been in the family ever since, and pretty much cleaned out or destroyed everything else. So I have also been having to deal with detectives and insurance companies.

Other than that I guess we have been doing ok, lol. My newest chicks are almost full grown. My husband calls them the flutter-bots because of the way they run out and flutter around when we open the coop.

Life sucks tax:
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Good to see you. I'm so sorry about all this. You and your husband are in my thoughts. I'm glad you have your chooks to keep you comfort.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven’t been on in so long. I had already been having trouble keeping up with the thread and then my life pretty much imploded right before Thanksgiving. He is doing ok, but my husband had a heart attack and then a quadruple bypass. This came at a horrible time, as he will soon lose his disability payments for his shoulder surgery, and since his company laid him off in July when his 12 weeks FMLA were used up, he can’t file a new claim for the cardiac issues. It will probabaly be at least theee months before he can even think about looking for work, and we don’t know yet if he will ever be able to work in his industry again due to the health issues. We are thinking about applying for social security disability, but can’t afford an attorney and don’t know how to find a good one that works on a contingency basis.

On top of all that, between his heart attack and his surgery we found out our main property had been robbed and basically trashed (we were at our other property for deer season and the holidays). They stole all four Harley’s, his great grandfather’s 1965 Chevy pickup that he had bought brand new and had been in the family ever since, and pretty much cleaned out or destroyed everything else. So I have also been having to deal with detectives and insurance companies.

Other than that I guess we have been doing ok, lol. My newest chicks are almost full grown. My husband calls them the flutter-bots because of the way they run out and flutter around when we open the coop.

Life sucks tax:
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OMG I just want to gather you up in a huge bear hug - how sad - and I am furious for the loss of your treasures, what sort of rotten person does this anyways

I am sure there must be some sort of social assistance available, does the hospital your husband was in have a ‘patient advocate’ department to assist with issues that require help from specific problems such as yours? I would check out this, his doctors office may also have information.

Meanwhile those chooks look awesome they sure have grown up

Ok well you know we are all here to listen if ever you wish to vent

 

[bgmathteach]

A Christmas Cache

​

My husband was halfway down the cellar steps when he heard a pterodactyl screech. He looked to his right and there was a barred rock hen staring at him - face to beak - through the small cellar window! (He was evidently too close to her nest space!) Well - that explains why more pullets 'haven't been laying'!! There were a baker's dozen eggs in the window well, and at least 4 donors - the dirty little rats!!!

It is hard to tell from the picture - but all but 2 are very small pullet eggs - the 2 'big ones' in the picture are medium/large size (right on the cusp)

 

[Marie2020]

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven’t been on in so long. I had already been having trouble keeping up with the thread and then my life pretty much imploded right before Thanksgiving. He is doing ok, but my husband had a heart attack and then a quadruple bypass. This came at a horrible time, as he will soon lose his disability payments for his shoulder surgery, and since his company laid him off in July when his 12 weeks FMLA were used up, he can’t file a new claim for the cardiac issues. It will probabaly be at least theee months before he can even think about looking for work, and we don’t know yet if he will ever be able to work in his industry again due to the health issues. We are thinking about applying for social security disability, but can’t afford an attorney and don’t know how to find a good one that works on a contingency basis.

On top of all that, between his heart attack and his surgery we found out our main property had been robbed and basically trashed (we were at our other property for deer season and the holidays). They stole all four Harley’s, his great grandfather’s 1965 Chevy pickup that he had bought brand new and had been in the family ever since, and pretty much cleaned out or destroyed everything else. So I have also been having to deal with detectives and insurance companies.

Other than that I guess we have been doing ok, lol. My newest chicks are almost full grown. My husband calls them the flutter-bots because of the way they run out and flutter around when we open the coop.

Life sucks tax:
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Everything that can be said has been said already.
What abysmal things to be happening to you and your husband. I really pray you get the support you need to assist you both through this awful period in your lives.

On a lighter note, your flock looks like they are doing well. They must be a huge comfort to you both

Please stay strong and know we are here for you.

Sending you warm wishes from across the pond and here's hoping that this new year brings you comfort and better times in your lives ️

 

[RoyalChick]

A Christmas Cache
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My husband was halfway down the cellar steps when he heard a pterodactyl screech. He looked to his left and there was a barred rock hen staring at him - face to beak - through the small cellar window! (He was evidently too close to her nest space!) Well - that explains why more pullets 'haven't been laying'!! There were a baker's dozen eggs in the window well, and at least 4 donors - the dirty little rats!!!

It is hard to tell from the picture - but all but 2 are very small pullet eggs - the 2 'big ones' in the picture are medium/large size (right on the cusp)

Oh I can just picture that!
A window well sounds like it would make a great nest. Maybe she was hoping that it was a food service window.