Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[knoturavggrl]

The Wyandottey, has been trying to crow in the mornings. He’s so funny, because now his crow sounds like a rubber chicken being squeezed!

It is hilarious isn’t it?

 

[featherhead007]

I believe that Xzit is probably faking her broody actions. I bring her in the house for food and water, she eats and drinks. I hold her and pet her, she smiles (with her eyes ) and I think she just wants the attention.

 

[featherhead007]

I believe that Xzit is probably faking her broody actions. I bring her in the house for food and water, she eats and drinks. I hold her and pet her, she smiles (with her eyes ) and I think she just wants the attention.

I’m telling her that she can’t hatch a golfball because they aren’t fertilized!

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy Monday.
Sylvie and Bernie both posed for mugshots this morning. It is going to be horribly hot today. Last night it was cold enough I needed a sweater.
Hope the Princesses will be OK with the temperature swings.

 

[Ponypoor]

Dominance

Phyllis attacked Glynda twice this morning while she was off the nest in demonstrations of Phyllis' dominance. I fear that is what the nest box stuff is about, dominance. It worries me that Glynda might give up if Phyllis causes too much trouble.

Naughty Phyllis.

I think this is why Whiskers killed her chicks - I think she felt threatened by the others checking her out.

If I was home I would try again and put her in the crate to keep her in a quiet safe location. But seeing as how I am not home, she is SOL.

 

[ManueB]

Put a piece of 2x4 in there. She can perch/sit on that.

I began with that but it was way too large for such a small hen, she could easily sit on it. Now she has a piece of wood broomstick to roost... she still sits on it. She is the size of a quail.
When she does wake up she runs around on the mesh like crazy, so I think I will forget the jail option, i'm too scared she will hurt herself.

Yeah, I am really liking the idea tbh. The pole barn approx 24ft x 48ft and is currently not being used for anything. It is all dirt floor though. I am thinking of making 2 8x8 coops that have separate runs side by side. The coops would have a floor raised up about a foot off the ground. Each run would be 8 x 10. Plenty of room for chickens that get a fair amount of free ranging time. It would be nice to be able to shuffle em around as needed. Then in third spot I want to build a good sized brooder (big enough for a broody mama and some chicks) type area and also for food, first aid, and general storage. It would also be 8x8 but without a run.

Sounds great !
My chickens live on the "basement" of our house that used to be a stable before it became a coop, and it's very safe, they love their coop. The only down side is that it is more dusty.
My experience has not been conclusive as to the usefulness of having two coops. It was the advice I was given to help with our rooster issues- build a second coop. But it turned out to be a waste of money and time - the chickens all want to roost in the main big coop, even if they have to fight for it. The second coop has only been used three weeks as a brooder. And we spent months fighting with my partner as I really wanted to have this second coop . So I would consider going with one big coop and a brooder big enough to use as an isolation space.

Dominance

Phyllis attacked Glynda twice this morning while she was off the nest in demonstrations of Phyllis' dominance. I fear that is what the nest box stuff is about, dominance. It worries me that Glynda might give up if Phyllis causes too much trouble.

My first broody was tiny Chipie, she was the new hen then and my ex-batt's hated her guts. I ended up protecting her nest for the last week before the hatch. I wasn't afraid she would give up, but that the other hens would actually hurt her.
It's not easy for a hen that is low in the pecking order. I even moved her out of the coop with her chicks and in a protected part of the run, even though that was not the initial plan, because the other hens and the rooster were bullying her.
There was a discussion on Shad's thread a few days ago and apparently the first week the eggs can stay cold for a couple of hours without damaging the chicks. So a possibility would be to wait a few days to see how it goes, checking regularly.

Mugs for Monday!

Kara

Annette

Mélisse

Lilly

And some white for Bob- Alba.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Mugs Monday

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Mugshot Monday pick:
View attachment 3865026

Wow. They have grown! So cute!

 

[notabitail]

Dominance

Phyllis attacked Glynda twice this morning while she was off the nest in demonstrations of Phyllis' dominance. I fear that is what the nest box stuff is about, dominance. It worries me that Glynda might give up if Phyllis causes too much trouble.

Gaby ran In Albis out of her box too.

Agathae says to tell Phyllis to knock it off.

 

[Ponypoor]

Happy Monday.
Sylvie and Bernie both posed for mugshots this morning. It is going to be horribly hot today. Last night it was cold enough I needed a sweater.
Hope the Princesses will be OK with the temperature swings.
View attachment 3865113View attachment 3865114

Yes same here! It was darn chilly, and this morning it’s was cool when I got up - only 13C. It rained and thundered all night.

Now it’s already 27C (81F) and humidex is at 34C (93F). I have a splitting headache (migraine) likely from the temp / weather swings.

But I have my new Hen House screened door in place and the fans ready.

I wanted it to be a sliding door but the wall isn’t plumb so had to use hinges.

Now where are you going Mr P?