Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I am currently looking for it. It's so charming

My daughter does them as well and would love to make one of you can find it.

She made me this. I call it Chicken Picatta.

 

[Ponypoor]

Just dark now, heading out to do chores and check out the firefly situation. Fingers crossed I see some.

No fireflies.

 

[bgmathteach]

They did. It was a great party! Hattie even took a dust bath afterwards!

Awe, the birthday gi rl also had a spa day

 

[bgmathteach]

Not that I can tell. The chickens go for them when they rise every time they find them. They leave all of the not winged ants alone.

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/flying-ants/

 

[knoturavggrl]

Advice and opinions needed. Issues are protein level & moving to non-medicated feed.

The new Buckeyes will be seven weeks old on Monday. Hatch Day was officially Monday June 2 according to Cackle. Though I suspect Shanai and one other are at least days older and could be leftover from the previous hatch week.

Protein:
For a couple of weeks now, since seeing somebody eat a feather, I’ve suspected the 18% protein medicated chick starter I’ve been feeding the Buckeyes has not really been enough protein for them. I wanted higher protein originally but could not find small bags of medicated starter with more. Two weeks ago I discovered Kalmbach makes a 50 lb bag of 20% medicated. In the above Kalmbach conversation the feed store chicks lady said unless you’re growing dual-purpose for meat 18% should be fine for egg producers. So that was an interesting take on it.

Do you feed for potential or not, and wouldn’t that ensure the best developmental situation for a body to produce eggs?

When I saw that chick /pullet eat a small cast-off feather two weeks ago I realized I had hardly ever seen any lying about, yet they’ve obviously changed their fluff several times. I attribute this to these guys, as Buckeyes, needing more protein. I saw lots of little cute feathers about with the Buff Orpingtons. Not here!

Could this behavior in chicks have another origin other than needing protein? Feather eating habit? I believe the last group of Buckeyes, from My Pet Chicken, left more chick feathers about, because I saved some, but I’m not sure how much. With the Buff Orpingtons there were tons of feathers.

I’ve been trying occasional protein supplementation. No-salt sardines seem to be the one they will eat. I found twice they actually don’t really like scrambled eggs. But I think proper protein needs to be a constant thing, in every meal, not a “treat”. I’d like to get a higher protein feed for them.

Non-Medicated feed:
So a non-medicated 24% game bird grower crumble is coming today. Hoping that it’s okay to mix and then switch them to it now. If they’ll eat it right off the bat, just make the switch. Is it a week too soon, or not soon enough? I did put dirt in with them after about ten days, and gave them fresh sod twice. They’ve had a dirt dust bath. That counts?

I have consciously delayed certain milestones, especially any interactions with the adults, by at least two weeks. Reasons: Hazel was actively sick (she’s fine now, her color is back and she’s back to her old self); my past experience with integrating everyone much earlier and Annie then getting so sick has made me gun-shy; and a big one is Isabel/Lizabel appears to be coming along, though slowly, but she is not quite as feathered-out as the others, & she shivers slightly when she’s dozed in my hands outside, and mainly what freaks me out is she displays this confounding “I’m-about-to-die” behaviour. I’m noticing her vision might be a little compromised in pecking accuracy.

They’ve been outside now on dirt occupied by chickens (a year ago, not currently) for a week, with nights back in the brooder inside, and last night was the first night out in their coop. The largest pullets have been more than ready, and wrangling them for transport back inside has gotten more difficult.

Since it was cold I ran power out there so they (Isabel, and maybe her small friend) could sit on a heating pad if they wanted. Everybody started out on the warmest part, and judging by the poops most moved to the cooler part, with some half-off it. The last Buckeye chicks liked to sit with just their breast on the warmth.

I think you are absolutely fine to take them off of medicated feed at this point. There are so many opinions when it comes to feed that it’s difficult to know what is the ultimate best thing and frankly I am unsure it exists. I think watching and adapting to the needs of the flock as they mature and then age is probably the best we can do and you’re doing exactly that!

Instead of advice I will share what I do as others have and you can do what feels best for your feathered Dino’s.
I keep corid on hand, I don’t do medicated feed at all. Brooder raised chicks get chick starter usually Kalmbach 18% starter grower. Broody raised chicks get the Kalmbach all flock 20% the same as I use with everyone else. This is my preference idk if calcium is truly harmful to roosters the evidence is thin but I figure I have the all flock option available so that’s what I do.

I have raised feather heavy birds like the E Orps on the 20% and they did very well on it. I had no issues at all.

I have read a few threads that seem to indicate some of the older breeds like SFH and other heritage breeds like your beautiful Buckeyes can benefit from a bit more protein then the 16% typically considered to be sufficient. That said this is more experience based knowledge than scientific paper knowledge. I do think you’re completely safe at 24% I would be hesitant to go beyond that though personally.

Just dark now, heading out to do chores and check out the firefly situation. Fingers crossed I see some.

We have so many this year, it’s like nature’s light show out there at night.

 

[featherhead007]

Hey what ever became of the grape vines that fell down (was it last year?), did you get them put back up?

I left them lay right where they fell down. They grew large around the ground.