Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

This reminded me of the first time I raised my chicks in the coop. We separate out a nice section for them that has indoor and outdoor enclosure space when they are old enough. For us it's perfect. There is even a separate door on that side of the coop. But after the first batch had grown a couple weeks, and they were wandering more and more beyond the sweeter heater, I opened the door and 5 chicks fell out onto the ground!!! They were fine, but we were all quite startled. They had been "roosting" on the little wooden edging that keeps the straw in. Of course I never let that happen again.

I love raising chicks this way, not having them in my house or the rabbit hole (room in garage). But, it is not possible to create strong bonds with them, as when they are inside and handled all the time. They hide under their heater when we come to freshen food, water and space. It works okay for us, as we enjoy watching our chickens create their own society and friendships. We love sitting out there and watching them. Our interactions are mainly maintenance, feeding and treats, and of course keeping an eye on their health. But when the berries and blueberries are in bloom, they all come running to me and say, "hey old buddy old pal...how's about some of your berries?" They get the lion's share of them.

I know that is very different than the sort of interaction you all have with your chickens. Can we still be friends?

I raised them like that last summer. I see nothing wrong with it, they aren't as tame but they're still wonderful and fun to watch. In fact, I plan on only brooding once in a while and letting broody hens raise my future chicks. Much easier mentally if I give them to a mum.

 

[featherhead007]

Only Pavarotti can make me listen to an opera! Yet another great name to use for a roo w/ a good set of lungs ~ Vivaldi or Pavorotti. We once had a musical roo...

TRUMPET ~ why are Silkies so darn cute?!
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I like Pavarotti, but I like spicy foods too, so I add some hot sauce when I eat them. Goes down great with an ice cold glass of milk.

Oh, that’s ravioli not Pavarotti, my bad

 

[featherhead007]

This reminded me of the first time I raised my chicks in the coop. We separate out a nice section for them that has indoor and outdoor enclosure space when they are old enough. For us it's perfect. There is even a separate door on that side of the coop. But after the first batch had grown a couple weeks, and they were wandering more and more beyond the sweeter heater, I opened the door and 5 chicks fell out onto the ground!!! They were fine, but we were all quite startled. They had been "roosting" on the little wooden edging that keeps the straw in. Of course I never let that happen again.

I love raising chicks this way, not having them in my house or the rabbit hole (room in garage). But, it is not possible to create strong bonds with them, as when they are inside and handled all the time. They hide under their heater when we come to freshen food, water and space. It works okay for us, as we enjoy watching our chickens create their own society and friendships. We love sitting out there and watching them. Our interactions are mainly maintenance, feeding and treats, and of course keeping an eye on their health. But when the berries and blueberries are in bloom, they all come running to me and say, "hey old buddy old pal...how's about some of your berries?" They get the lion's share of them.

I know that is very different than the sort of interaction you all have with your chickens. Can we still be friends?

Bonding:

 

[RoyalChick]

This reminded me of the first time I raised my chicks in the coop. We separate out a nice section for them that has indoor and outdoor enclosure space when they are old enough. For us it's perfect. There is even a separate door on that side of the coop. But after the first batch had grown a couple weeks, and they were wandering more and more beyond the sweeter heater, I opened the door and 5 chicks fell out onto the ground!!! They were fine, but we were all quite startled. They had been "roosting" on the little wooden edging that keeps the straw in. Of course I never let that happen again.

I love raising chicks this way, not having them in my house or the rabbit hole (room in garage). But, it is not possible to create strong bonds with them, as when they are inside and handled all the time. They hide under their heater when we come to freshen food, water and space. It works okay for us, as we enjoy watching our chickens create their own society and friendships. We love sitting out there and watching them. Our interactions are mainly maintenance, feeding and treats, and of course keeping an eye on their health. But when the berries and blueberries are in bloom, they all come running to me and say, "hey old buddy old pal...how's about some of your berries?" They get the lion's share of them.

I know that is very different than the sort of interaction you all have with your chickens. Can we still be friends?

Actually very similar to my interactions with my Princesses. Occasionally I have one that decides I am a friend, but mostly they do their own thing.
I too just love sitting and watching them as they chat to each other.
I get very flattered when they choose to hang near me, though usually at a safe distance!

 

[rural mouse]

I raised them like that last summer. I see nothing wrong with it, they aren't as tame but they're still wonderful and fun to watch. In fact, I plan on only brooding once in a while and letting broody hens raise my future chicks. Much easier mentally if I give them to a mum.

I worked out a baby tote with window to raise babies in the coop from the beginning. The adults raise them, look out for them, won't let them leave the coop until the adults feel they're ready. I spend time with them, but know they're learning the does and don'ts of my area. They're trying to roost at 2 weeks and I move "mama hen" up as they move.

 

[Sylvester017]

No worries, I don't mind talking about it. It affects me daily so at this point I'm like, whatever, I'm gonna complain about it whether people want me to or not

I don't know what my gut issues are. I haven't had enough tests done. I had some scheduled a couple years ago (allergy test, and an appointment with a digestive specialist), but I was having a really bad time mentally at the time so I didn't end up doing it. Now I wish I had.

My therapist pointed out that there's a connection between autism and digestive issues— living in fight or flight mode 24/7 because of overstimulation can wreak havoc on pretty much every system in the body. So it could be crohn's, or allergies, or celiac, or IBS which can only be diagnosed by ruling out everything else... Or a fun combination! Oy vey...

Tax for poopy talk

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HEY! The nest is for EGGS, NOT POOP!

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How did someone manage to poop on the vertical part of the bird bath stand...?

It's a poopy day today, apparently

Bird poop can fly w/ the force of a bullet sometimes. 35 yrs ago our Blue-fronted Amazon parrot (smaller than a Grey Amazon) had a 10x10 bedroom all to himself ~ thick painters' plastic sheet on the floor wall-to-wall, totally empty of any furniture, & his cage placed exactly in the middle of the room. It's where he went to sleep every night & in the morning we took him to his play area w/ us downstairs. Only happened a couple times but how a relatively smaller parrot could shoot poop thru cage bars across a room & hit a wall was beyond me!

Not a pic of our Paco but this is what a Blue-front looks like ~ adorable little talkers ~ they remind me of a gigantic Budgie that's how cute they are:

 

[Sylvester017]

We were playing with the babies, and the zipper was too far open so poor Chocolate fell out. Thankfully right into kiddo's lap so we returned her to the brooder.
Also, Slowpoke will lay on my hand and try to sleep, but couldn't because all the other jealous birdies kept pecking at her to move
More and more are getting less fearful and coming over for chesty scritches, which we all know are the best.

Oh! Yeti, Red, Navy, and Slowpoke all know "step up" and will do so!

"Step up" is the best little trick. Keep it up w/ them as juvies & adults. We did this w/ our Silkies. However, Yeti may get too heavy as an adult to feel secure to step up on a human's puny hand or arm...?

 

[Sylvester017]

Good night everyone. I've had a mad but eventful day. Bathroom completed and beautiful

The even better news is the abandoned kitten is being rescued and put into foster tomorrow

Oliver can now eat his dinner in peace

Hurray!!!

 

[SimpleJenn]

"Step up" is the best little trick. Keep it up w/ them as juvies & adults. We did this w/ our Silkies. However, Yeti may get too heavy as an adult to feel secure to step up on a human's puny hand or arm...?

Yeti will have to step up on lumberjack hubby, his arms are big enough haha.

 

[ValerieJ]

I raised them like that last summer. I see nothing wrong with it, they aren't as tame but they're still wonderful and fun to watch. In fact, I plan on only brooding once in a while and letting broody hens raise my future chicks. Much easier mentally if I give them to a mum.

Well, I'd prefer a broody to hatch and raise them, but last year when I had hens go broody 5 different times, there were no chicks. I think Cooper was partial to the Australorps and they don't lay or get broody anymore. So now Ralphie is in with them, but so far no broodies. So, I'll probably be out to look for chicks pretty soon.

Then of course one of the hens will go broody and I'll have a lot of chicks on my hands.