Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[knoturavggrl]

Oh no! I am saddened to hear this, wonder if a weasel or mink was to blame.

Quite possibly, we live very rural and the coop is backed up to a steep embankment that is heavily treed. It could have been a weasel or a very wiley raccoon. Whatever it was seemed to have broken the chicks neck. I am leaning toward a raccoon. I have quarter inch hardware cloth all along the bottom 5 feet of the run as well as predator skirt also made from the same hardware cloth and still something got him. Deep sighh.

I will have my husband go dig up creek rock (this stuff drys with the mud and turns into concrete almost) and fill in the holes the chickens have dug along the run wall.

I am sad but also glad I found the problem before more lives were lost.

 

[Ponypoor]

4 Eggs in Route
The 4 Orpington eggs are on their way. Estimated delivery Wednesday.

Today!

Can’t wait! Eggs arrive today!

 

[rural mouse]

Today!

Can’t wait! Eggs arrive today!

They need 24-48 hours to settle (some candle them to check air sac location) before getting set...although, I don't know if that holds true for going under a broody. Plus 21 days.....

 

[Sylvester017]

Awww what a cutie - too bad you couldn’t keep Roos.

Trumpet & Violet (Silkies) were our 1st backyard chickens we got as day-old chicks from a homeschool mom who said she paid dearly for the hatching eggs -- her daughter wanted to be a veterinarian. When we traded cockerel Trumpet back for a Cuckoo Marans layer she was so mean to Violet we re-homed the Marans (back in 2012 Marans of any variety were a hot item so easy to re-home).

Meanwhile Violet stayed w/ us til she passed at over 11 years. In those 11 years she outlived 19 chickens younger than her and only 3 newer pullets were still alive at her passing. Violet was a tough little girl so it was sad to finally lose our first backyard hen.

Violet the hidden rear Silkie in pic was 10 years old here. The other 3 younger birds lost her alpha leadership a year later.

 

[RoyalChick]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.
View attachment 3860529

Awwww. So sad to lose a little one.

 

[Ponypoor]

Trumpet & Violet (Silkies) were our 1st backyard chickens we got as day-old chicks from a homeschool mom who said she paid dearly for the hatching eggs -- her daughter wanted to be a veterinarian. When we traded cockerel Trumpet back for a Cuckoo Marans layer she was so mean to Violet we re-homed the Marans (back in 2011 Marans of any variety were a hot item so easy to re-home).

Meanwhile Violet stayed w/ us til she passed at over 11 years. In those 11 years she outlived 19 chickens younger than her and only 3 newer pullets were still alive at her passing. Violet was a tough little girl so it was sad to finally lose our first backyard hen.

Violet the hidden rear Silkie in pic was 10 years old here. The other 3 younger birds lost her alpha leadership a year later.
View attachment 3860088View attachment 3860093

What a sweetie pie, that’s a great age for a hen. She was very obviously well cared for by you

 

[BY Bob]

They need 24-48 hours to settle (some candle them to check air sac location) before getting set...although, I don't know if that holds true for going under a broody. Plus 21 days.....

That was my next question. How long do I need to let them settle before I give them to the girls? And what am I looking for with the air sac? I am totally new to this. Any help from anyone who has done this will be appreciated. @RebeccaBoyd has anyone else done this?

 

[BY Bob]

Trumpet & Violet (Silkies) were our 1st backyard chickens we got as day-old chicks from a homeschool mom who said she paid dearly for the hatching eggs -- her daughter wanted to be a veterinarian. When we traded cockerel Trumpet back for a Cuckoo Marans layer she was so mean to Violet we re-homed the Marans (back in 2011 Marans of any variety were a hot item so easy to re-home).

Meanwhile Violet stayed w/ us til she passed at over 11 years. In those 11 years she outlived 19 chickens younger than her and only 3 newer pullets were still alive at her passing. Violet was a tough little girl so it was sad to finally lose our first backyard hen.

Violet the hidden rear Silkie in pic was 10 years old here. The other 3 younger birds lost her alpha leadership a year later.
View attachment 3860088View attachment 3860093

She was a beauty. It's nice to hear about a hen so long lived.

 

[BY Bob]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.
View attachment 3860529

I'm so very sorry. How tragic.

 

[BY Bob]

I should weigh Betty, she weighs nothing when I pick her up! Just pure fluff, and for a frizzle can fly fairly well!

Check bout those cute wattles
View attachment 3860596

She really is adorable.