Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Got the eggshell dispenser made and put out there! Kasumi had to check for tastiness but all the girls are interested in the new thing!
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The face of a pullet who suddenly is VERY interested in what I'm doing and totally okay with being petted.
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Ash and Kasumi contemplating jumping on me.

Beauties

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Guess who gave me her first egg in about four months? It doesn’t look like her normal dark brown eggs, but it’s darker than the other girls eggs and it looks like her first ever egg. I’m really hoping that it is her egg and not someone else’s weird egg.

I don’t know how to do a spoiler, so I just have to say… Willow!

 

[Marie2020]

Chook Plan

So this year I have decided that I will likely maybe not get chicks (we shall see on that I still want those Brahma), instead my niece is hell-bent on hatching more chicks again for her school - sheesh.

I told her I would give her Silkie eggs this time and she can hatch out a bunch of silkies for me. Thus I will ask my friend if I can borrow her rooster and setup the silkies (Henny, Fluffy, Curly, and Marty) along with wee rooster man in the Summer House so I am sure they will be only bred by him.

Does anyone know how long I need to keep the girls away from Mr P so his genes aren’t in the mix??? I was thinking a month, as I know hens can store sperm a long whole.

To be honest I was planning this anyways, I really like the silkies and contrary to belief when not broody they are my best layers!

I miss these little beauties!
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I hope you will have at least one little Mr.P at some point. He's drop dead gorgeous

 

[rural mouse]

Pony sunday/other critter pics

Shortly after sunrise this morning....and we got a skiff of snow, with more threatening (probably connected to @BeastBaby storm front)


And some of the neighbor's herd

2 buckskins, a palomino, and one of their dark brown horses. They've got 7 or so I think.

 

[Marie2020]

I’m holding him, and he is covering me with his wings. He knows that I’m feeling poorly.

He's is such a little love.

My cat and dog has warmed me up when I've been going through cold and painful times. They are invaluable at times

 

[Marie2020]

I’m sorry Bob. I don’t know what came over me. The fever I guess. I tested positive for Covid last night, and I’m hibernating in my bedroom for the duration. Sir Jaffar is catering to my every need. (He’s such a good rooster)

Please take care of yourself Alex.

As said plenty of fluids and if you can broths... They are quick and simple to make up and some can be stored to keep you going through your weakest time

Don't make the mistake I did and buy lemsip the sweetener in those things are a bacteria and made me feel much worse

 

[lightm]

I wonder when my premium membership ends does it revert back to the default?

I wonder too! Let us know!!

Marty laid an egg today in her crate, but it was brittle and broke. I was not expecting her to lay an egg yet as she really hasn’t finished her moult yet.

Hopefully it is only because she is starting back up.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Everybody dance with me now and sing.....

Owly's checking out the nest boxes, Owly's checking out the nest boxes!!

 

[Marie2020]

I like it
Now to figure out how to do this…

One cat is a menace imagine having all those

 

[Ponypoor]

Yay for silkie chicks, I fully support this.
I am going to assume she will want to set the eggs around the first week of April. Your girls will need isolated from Mr. P about the middle of February. I was told the girls need 3 weeks of a clean out period. About the middle of March bring in Mr Silkie and introduce him. Start saving those eggs exactly one week before she wants to set them. Eggs can be incubated as old as 14 days but the best viability will be 7 days or fresher. Incubate more then you plan to keep since these will be pure silkies. People like and want silkies. If you have a boy or two hopefully you will also have a few extra hens to sell the chicks in pairs or trio's. Now, for this to work your girls will have to cooperate with you. They are not allowed to go broody during the clean out phase or the short visit with Mr. Silkie. If you had one girl at the tail end of egg collecting decide to go broody, I would try to time it to the time the school eggs are set and give her a egg or two to love. More silkie's and hopefully a momma who would also adopt the school chicks if they can be returned to you within a day or two of hatching. I think last year your friend had a very nice looking black boy and a white boy. For personal reasons if they both were very similar in temperament and nice I would borrow the black boy if it were me but your choice. If one is a sweetheart and the other a jerk, borrow the sweetheart. I fully believe genetics play a big part on a roosters personality. A jerk roo will sire jerk sons. This is also a excuse to visit your friend a bit before bringing in Mr. Silkie. Spend time with her and also hang out with her lovely silkies just observing. They may still have the 3 you raised last year. There is also nothing wrong with putting a deal in place to add a few of her silkie eggs to the school hatch if she is willing. One can never have too many silkies.

I think she will be hatching for more towards the end of the school year, last year the chicks hatched 8th of May.

So I guess counting back then likely around mid February I would have to separate them - gosh ! That’s the coldest time of year here I might have to house them with Hen House B at night. It might be a might bit chilly for them in the Summer House at night.

Mid February, bring Mr Silkie here, and by mid March they should be ready to get to work, start getting eggs collected first of April…. Set them in the next couple weeks.

Yes the broody factor will be the risk, Henny shouldn’t go broody again till next Fall - she has done that since day one. Marty usually only a couple times a year, but her fragile eggs has me worried. And then there are Fluffy and Curly. The brats, who knows when they might decide to go broody.

Breeding horses is way easier!