Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

If only I had it my way!

OKAY, SO!

As belated tax for the predator prints again:

Esme laid her first egg! YAY!!! And I was there for it! I got video which I'll share later. Pics for now

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Everyone crowded around. Lots of excitement and fussing.

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Excuse me...

Sybil forced her way to the front. Laying coach? It was kind of sweet how mostly Sybil and Magrat were fussing over the whole thing, but at the same time there were some points where I was like "give her some space, dang!" LOL

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But after some serious laboring it finally popped! She got a lot of encouragement and praise from me

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"And I helped!"

Sweet Sybil

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Checking it out...

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Magrat was there for Sybil when she laid her first egg too, bless her little heart. Checking the nest boxes and pacing and making worried noises.

I'm sure she's about to start laying too. Oh, and Aliss squatted for me yesterday! I don't think I mentioned that in my post about letting them outside! My dad tried to get a few of them to squat for him and they wouldn't Makes me feel extra special LOL

So, here it is, Esme's first egg!

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With a dozen of Sybil's eggs

Excellent picture captures.
You could make a book out of their stories and pictures combined

 

[SimpleJenn]

I have one of those, make sure to put it in a corner to help keep the heat contained, I also used a couple brick pavers on the other side to block that so that only the front was open. It might hold 20 day-old chicks but trust me once they got about a week or so old my 6 chicks barely fit under mine.

Might want to get 2 or more.

The good thing is once they are about 6 weeks they should be good with no heat.

My 2 silkie dumplings are about 6 weeks now but they are still hiding under mama and the heater (of course being winter makes a big difference), it barely 0C in the barn these days.

When did you plan on hatching? Hopefully the night time temps will be above freezing by then. During the day they will take turns running around and warming up, but they all need to fit under there at night.

Gosh I can’t wait to see what you hatch out - I living vicariously through you

I have two brooder plates.
And they will be starting off inside the house.

 

[bgmathteach]

@BY Bob if it isn't too difficult personally, could you post some pictures of Sylvie and Legertha, Betty, & Phyllis? I know I need more chickens like I need a hole in my head - especially at this point with everything going on - but I do want to order more chickens this spring - and polish are soooooo alluring.

Given I don't want high product breeds, and am good with broodies - but it is just too cold here, especially with my set-up, for silkies.....they might be a good option

 

[SimpleJenn]

@bgmathteach I know you asked Bob, but here's some pictures of my polishes. Definitely getting some more soon

 

[TOMTE]

This just never gets old congrats Esme!

Also, hello nice to meet you. I have been away for a bit and never got to meet you till now. Beautiful birds My daughter’s name is Esmae btw good name choice!

Nice to meet you too

 

[SimpleJenn]

Morning tea with the flock

 

[Sylvester017]

Prevent frostbite this way:View attachment 4037720

The hat is so cute except it isnt keeping the comb covered? This looks like a @SimpleJenn project

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

My gang are ungrateful little heathens this morning.

Starting the end of October I switched over to strictly a feather replacer feed. It is semi-locally milled and my hay guy carries it. It is not pelleted and has lots of whole grains in it, 22% protein. It is actually labeled for game birds or show birds. My crew love it, waste nothing. It really helps them through their molts quicker then the "Feather Fixer" I was buying for the same price from TSC.

Yesterday I had dad pick up 2 bags of the layer pelleted feed from the same company. I love this high protein feed but it lacks calcium and my crew ignore oyster shells so I will not go that route again. He fed them a normal folgers coffee can full of the layer feed and mixed in a small coffee can full of the good stuff. They are loudly complaining. Throwing out the layer feed to find their favorite bits of the game bird feed.

Tomorrow they are going to hate me. Until they start eating the layer feed good which they need from this point in the year on, no more game bird food. It is not that they hate this food, they loved it last year. I have just spoiled them.

Wasteful little demons. Keep it up girls and you can go back to the cheap stuff from Rural King which is crap. I can get 2 sacks from Rural King for what I am paying for 1 bag of the good stuff.

 

[RoyalChick]

My gang are ungrateful little heathens this morning.

Starting the end of October I switched over to strictly a feather replacer feed. It is semi-locally milled and my hay guy carries it. It is not pelleted and has lots of whole grains in it, 22% protein. It is actually labeled for game birds or show birds. My crew love it, waste nothing. It really helps them through their molts quicker then the "Feather Fixer" I was buying for the same price from TSC.

Yesterday I had dad pick up 2 bags of the layer pelleted feed from the same company. I love this high protein feed but it lacks calcium and my crew ignore oyster shells so I will not go that route again. He fed them a normal folgers coffee can full of the layer feed and mixed in a small coffee can full of the good stuff. They are loudly complaining. Throwing out the layer feed to find their favorite bits of the game bird feed.

Tomorrow they are going to hate me. Until they start eating the layer feed good which they need from this point in the year on, no more game bird food. It is not that they hate this food, they loved it last year. I have just spoiled them.

Wasteful little demons. Keep it up girls and you can go back to the cheap stuff from Rural King which is crap. I can get 2 sacks from Rural King for what I am paying for 1 bag of the good stuff.

I found some high protein (20%) layer feed. Kalmach is the brand. I use that when they are laying and the feather fixer version in the winter.

 

[Buckzz]

The lavender orpington is a fluffy butt super star! HA! That made me laugh!