Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Question for you all.
When should I expect Tassels to abandon the cardboard condo I created for her when I put her in the garage and introduced the little ones?
I moved the whole thing into the coop and she still squeezes herself in there at night and calls the babies to join her.
The babies are now just over 3 weeks old (and remember she may believe they are a week younger than that).
I am not in any rush. Just curious.
Here they are in the doorbell cam I put on the top of the dog crate.

 

[Ikslo]

Is that an ermine Ameraucana?

I think just a splash Ameraucana?

 

[featherhead007]

I decided to let Rosie name Q because it is only right. There have been some "accidental" mistakes made, hello Homer, Juice, and Georgina, but she has taken care of the chickens for me since January.

She has really stepped up for me on chicken chores, especially when it got crazy. She still will not let me lift anything other then the silkies so any chicken wrangling that needs done, she does it. She also settled on Calypso when he hatched so I gave her the chance to keep it. Nope, she was torn. He was either Cottonball or Q-tip and it took her almost 2 days to decide. She told me this morning while helping me get dressed for my physical therapy appointment that he was Q.

Who can argue with that when she also informed me she had already been out and cleaned waterers and filled up feeders and everyone was A-Ok. The final decision came while she was taking selfies with him.

This comment made me speechless! Many bad recents about most recent poopage!

 

[rural mouse]

Question for you all.
When should I expect Tassels to abandon the cardboard condo I created for her when I put her in the garage and introduced the little ones?
I moved the whole thing into the coop and she still squeezes herself in there at night and calls the babies to join her.
The babies are now just over 3 weeks old (and remember she may believe they are a week younger than that).
I am not in any rush. Just curious.
Here they are in the doorbell cam I put on the top of the dog crate.
View attachment 4205964

When she decides it's time to roost. And she may return to it for a bit longer after that for some reason only discernable to her.

 

[featherhead007]

Try handing out smelly treats. That they can smell a mile off

I thought that the treats should be smelly !

 

[bgmathteach]

You all remember Mr Roo?

View attachment 4205440

Wonder how heavy he is?

Don't know - but sure ol' Blue could handle whatever he weighs!

(and I KNOW you would be capable of backing ol'blue right up to him so he could 'hop into' ol Blue's bed! )

 

[bgmathteach]

Question for you all.
When should I expect Tassels to abandon the cardboard condo I created for her when I put her in the garage and introduced the little ones?
I moved the whole thing into the coop and she still squeezes herself in there at night and calls the babies to join her.
The babies are now just over 3 weeks old (and remember she may believe they are a week younger than that).
I am not in any rush. Just curious.
Here they are in the doorbell cam I put on the top of the dog crate.
View attachment 4205964

I would guess at least another 2 weeks...then, hopefully, she will hae them roosting with her for another few weeks.

that said - I would 'remake' her cage condo to make the cardboard area a bit bigger...or just 'open up' the cardboard so the entire cage (except the door) is lines by eh cardboard, giving her the entire cage for nesting/floor roosting with the chicks.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thank you!

Henna time!

 

[RoyalChick]

I would guess at least another 2 weeks...then, hopefully, she will hae them roosting with her for another few weeks.

that said - I would 'remake' her cage condo to make the cardboard area a bit bigger...or just 'open up' the cardboard so the entire cage (except the door) is lines by eh cardboard, giving her the entire cage for nesting/floor roosting with the chicks.

That is a good idea. It was constructed that way because I wanted to keep the corners strong and to give the chicks a place to escape in case she turned on them that first night. I can totally tear down the interior cardboard walls now.
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would guess at least another 2 weeks...then, hopefully, she will hae them roosting with her for another few weeks.

that said - I would 'remake' her cage condo to make the cardboard area a bit bigger...or just 'open up' the cardboard so the entire cage (except the door) is lines by eh cardboard, giving her the entire cage for nesting/floor roosting with the chicks.

I am hoping to move the mamas and the Noirans somewhere else on the weekend. The mamas keep trying to roost in an alcove under the roost ledge, but I have been making them go into the crate in case of rats. I think I will pop the front off one of the nest boxes and they can sleep in there with a screen in place to protect them.

Then I can move Whiskers and her chicks into the crate, in with Mr P.

Today is day 18, I allowed whiskers off her nest for a few minutes while was cleaning the roosting ledges. I did a quick check of eggs - no pips. Mama Whiskers is back on her nest. There will be no more ‘off nest time’ now. She is there until the eggs hatch.