Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

The chickadoo's are a week old. While they are warming up to me, they are terrified of the camera. The wildly marked chicks, I am really curious to see what they end up looking like as adults. I think I only have 1 true black silkie out of the group. Adele, is normal feathered but if the bump on her head is any clue, she will have a killer head poof.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Some more pictures.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

 

[Ponypoor]

Sigh, silkies, they will cause heartbreak. I love them, but they are so fragile as chicks. I lost the curly chick this afternoon suddenly as well. She crashed once at 2 days old and I was able to bring her out of it, this time I was not. She was the last to hatch and had not made it to my magic week old window yet. As of right now, everyone is exactly a week old. They should be in the clear from fading chick syndrome and the remaining ones have not once so far exhibited any signs of attempting to become sick. I inspected each one today, feathers coming in well, none have had a issue with pasty butt and for peace of mind none have any signs of cross beak as well. They are very energetic, and think they can fly already. When I refill their food and water they attempt to fly out of the tote. Poor little silkie chicks, they believe they can fly but it is more like glorified hopping and jumping.

I feel horrible, I had meant for you to have fun, but all it has been has been heart break. I know you and I have discussed Teddy and his genetics, I still feel he is not genetically stable. With your loses and my nieces extremely poor hatch rate and her chicks dying, it make me wonder if he is inbred - I have seen this with Arabian horses.

My remaining two are at the 3 week point now - but I am sure leery about keeping one as a Roo for the silkies. Or even hatching eggs from them if they are hens. I will definitely do the gender test to see what they are so I can make a plan for them.

Right now they are sleeping under the brooder so I better get out and give them some cuddles. They are missing their friends I know.

 

[Ponypoor]

Some more pictures.
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Gosh they are cute

 

[Ponypoor]

Darn Truly she broke her stall guard and is out again - another one that drives me bonkers, well she can stay loose till morning.
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Couldn’t see Truly on the camera in the aisle, where is she?

Oh! She went back to her stall to eat hay.

Ok all I have a busy day today - I need to deal with rootin tootin broodies

 

[Ponypoor]

The chickadoo's are a week old. While they are warming up to me, they are terrified of the camera. The wildly marked chicks, I am really curious to see what they end up looking like as adults. I think I only have 1 true black silkie out of the group. Adele, is normal feathered but if the bump on her head is any clue, she will have a killer head poof.
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Oh well darn! I had hoped she was a frizzle - wow! yep that is going to be some head-piece!

 

[Ponypoor]

Wow they are busy little babies aren’t they

 

[rural mouse]

I am almost tempted to try her with chicks again. Maybe I’ll see if they have a couple at Peavey Mart and try them under her again. This time I’ll lock the others, Esp Raven, out and keep her alone and quiet. I can sit with her and keep an eye on her see if she does anything stupid.

Play chicks chirping with my phone under her for an hour to get her used to the sound.

Or maybe just throw her out aside and lock her out…. It’s going to pour rain here though - I don’t really have a cage to put her in. What a pain she is.

Put her in the rain. She'll drowned rat look or move. Keep an eye on her, but the time it will take her to clean up will extend her off nest time...and could snap her out of it.

 

[Ponypoor]

Put her in the rain. She'll drowned rat look or move. Keep an eye on her, but the time it will take her to clean up will extend her off nest time...and could snap her out of it.

I locked her and Dorothy out of the hen house while I mucked out for an hour.

Whiskers tried to fly at the door to get in, THEN she came over and flew up and attacked me! Or maybe she just wanted to fly up onto my back I was picking up a bucket, bent over. I just happened to be at the hen house door.

At any rate she was totally unhinged after an hr of being off the nest, so I relented and let her back in. Gosh she is such a twit. Dorothy on the other hand is a perfect matron. But she does bit when I try to get her off the nest.

(Sigh) such trouble those two. And in this retched heat and humidity.