Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I am surrounded by ENABLERS!!

No, I don’t mean all of you here with your ‘get her some eggs’, ‘get her baby chicks’.

I mean Sylvie and Piglet!

They are still visiting Tassels multiple times a day and they are giving her their eggs!
The mechanics of this are not simple. Generally I am happy with how I designed the Chicken Palace, but I should have made bigger nest boxes. They are only 11” deep. It is quite a squeeze.
But both Piglet and Sylvie manage to wedge themselves in with Tassels and lay an egg for her.
I managed to watch some of this process and it seems they stand on her head! Poor Tassels. But she happily tucks the eggs under her.
Here they are on one of their many visits this morning.
View attachment 3791831

Your ladies really need a mild, loving rooster!

 

[SimpleJenn]

I am surrounded by ENABLERS!!

No, I don’t mean all of you here with your ‘get her some eggs’, ‘get her baby chicks’.

I mean Sylvie and Piglet!

They are still visiting Tassels multiple times a day and they are giving her their eggs!
The mechanics of this are not simple. Generally I am happy with how I designed the Chicken Palace, but I should have made bigger nest boxes. They are only 11” deep. It is quite a squeeze.
But both Piglet and Sylvie manage to wedge themselves in with Tassels and lay an egg for her.
I managed to watch some of this process and it seems they stand on her head! Poor Tassels. But she happily tucks the eggs under her.
Here they are on one of their many visits this morning.
View attachment 3791831

Liara and Samara do the same for Morinth! Samara doesn't do it every time but Liara does! And Morinth is just happily buk bukking away while they give her eggs...it's sweet in a way.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I am surrounded by ENABLERS!!

No, I don’t mean all of you here with your ‘get her some eggs’, ‘get her baby chicks’.

I mean Sylvie and Piglet!

They are still visiting Tassels multiple times a day and they are giving her their eggs!
The mechanics of this are not simple. Generally I am happy with how I designed the Chicken Palace, but I should have made bigger nest boxes. They are only 11” deep. It is quite a squeeze.
But both Piglet and Sylvie manage to wedge themselves in with Tassels and lay an egg for her.
I managed to watch some of this process and it seems they stand on her head! Poor Tassels. But she happily tucks the eggs under her.
Here they are on one of their many visits this morning.
View attachment 3791831

Begs the question, and I have wondered this for awhile, especially as I think about modifying my coop, or arranging for external nestboxes somewhere. What is the ideal size for a nest box, do you think?

Hens want a cozy, hidden-feeling place it seems? So what are those dimensions?

 

[notabitail]

Begs the question, and I have wondered this for awhile, especially as I think about modifying my coop, or arranging for external nestboxes somewhere. What is the ideal size for a nest box, do you think?

Hens want a cozy, hidden-feeling place it seems? So what are those dimensions?

common advice is 12x12. I say measure your biggest bird and figure it out from there. Some of mine used to make nests in a well-lit corner outside the nesting box.

 

[RoyalChick]

Begs the question, and I have wondered this for awhile, especially as I think about modifying my coop, or arranging for external nestboxes somewhere. What is the ideal size for a nest box, do you think?

Hens want a cozy, hidden-feeling place it seems? So what are those dimensions?

I used an old upper kitchen cabinet - which is 12" deep as an outside measure - but inside is more like 11" deep.
I think I should have used the base cabinets which would have been almost twice as deep.
If I had done that I think it would have been more easily communal use.
That said, mine work. They use them and as I have now discovered they even manage to squeeze an extra Princess in when needed!
I am going to make them a bit less restrictive by replacing the wood privacy screen with a curtain that will have a bit of give in it when they shift around.

 

[rural mouse]

Went out to close the coop this evening. Found this:

Where are the other 5? (Here are Jane, Hyacinth, Violet, and Rose)

Roosting. Hector is the next one on the roost. In order: Hetty, Focus, Kate, Blurr...wait, where's Daisy?

Spoiler: answer

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I know! I thought of you the minute I figured it out.
And look at how magnificent she is!
View attachment 3791277View attachment 3791278View attachment 3791279

Just like a Tom Turkey displaying!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I realize that soon, my precious little rooster friend will be leaving this world, and it makes me sad to think about it. But he’s had the best time of his life with both his life family, and then my family and his new harem of which I am so happy that he adopted as his own.
Sir Jaffar has been having trouble keeping his eyes open. And he stands still and doesn’t move around much.
But then, he wakes up and tries to mount his ladies (instant energy I guess)
He still takes the time to groom himself. And he eats and drinks, if I put him right over his feed bowls.
I really love that rooster! View attachment 3791281

He may be fading, poor guy. Are you able to give him enough food & drink?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Oh, I will. And ya know? He’s been the only other chook who ever loves going to town with me. The other one was my RIR “RED2”
But I have no pictures of her to share.
He’s my rooster buddy, and I try to take him with me wherever I go when I can.

 

[featherhead007]

He may be fading, poor guy. Are you able to give him enough food & drink?

I spend a lot of time with him, making sure that his crop is full and that he drinks plenty of water.