Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Nest Box Testing

In big girl news, I did a nest box experiment. The big ladies were going to be confined to their complex for 5 days.

I have been fiddling around with swapping what I use in the nest boxes because everything's I put new straw in, they throw it out while rifling through it for seeds and I wind up with nothing in the nest boxes.

So I went ahead and set up 3 different nest boxes.

1. Nest box 1: I left bare as Aurora prefers
2. Nest box 2: I Put pine shavings on top of the little bit of straw that was left in it.
3. Nest box 3: I put new straw into.

Here is how they looked:

And here is the result after 3 days of having no where else to lay. (Eggs were collected by someone else after the first 2 days)

1. Nest box 1: Remained as it was and Aurora laid her egg there.
2. Nest box 2: A nice nest in the pine shavings and eggs from Sydney and Lady Featherington.
3. Nest box 3: Most of the straw is gone and Aster laid her eggs there.

I think I'm going to try pine shavings in 2 of the boxes. I'll leave 1 bare for those that like it and continue to monitor. I do want something soft for the eggs to drop into and rest in so breakage is decreased.

 

[Ponypoor]

Nest Box Testing

In big girl news, I did a nest box experiment. The big ladies were going to be confined to their complex for 5 days.

I have been fiddling around with swapping what I use in the nest boxes because everything's I put new straw in, they throw it out while rifling through it for seeds and I wind up with nothing in the nest boxes.

So I went ahead and set up 3 different nest boxes.

1. Nest box 1: I left bare as Aurora prefers
2. Nest box 2: I Put pine shavings on top of the little bit of straw that was left in it.
3. Nest box 3: I put new straw into.

Here is how they looked:
View attachment 4104932
And here is the result after 3 days of having no where else to lay. (Eggs were collected by someone else after the first 2 days)
View attachment 4104931

1. Nest box 1: Remained as it was and Aurora laid her egg there.
2. Nest box 2: A nice nest in the pine shavings and eggs from Sydney and Lady Featherington.
3. Nest box 3: Most of the straw is gone and Aster laid her eggs there.

I think I'm going to try pine shavings in 2 of the boxes. I'll leave 1 bare for those that like it and continue to monitor. I do want something soft for the eggs to drop into and rest in so breakage is decreased.

I use shavings - about 3” or 4” in the boxes, I also found straw to be of little use, they just dig it up and kick it out.

What have found also is if I use old straw they have already picked over and broke up. That is tolerated fine.

 

[featherhead007]

All the time spent on those little ones, I am glad that Dakota still loves me. She needed some time with daddy too. You know how temperamental Rhode Island Redheads can get.

 

[BY Bob]

Posted it in emergencies forum
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-with-splayed-leg-and-no-balance.1660884/

Very smart. Hopefully they can help.

 

[BY Bob]

Old movies. Remember “The Maltese Falcon” Humphrey Bogart?
Here’s the Maltese Chicken:
View attachment 4104929

The stuff that dreams are made of...

 

[BY Bob]

I use shavings - about 3” or 4” in the boxes, I also found straw to be of little use, they just dig it up and kick it out.

What have found also is if I use old straw they have already picked over and broke up. That is tolerated fine.

I've noticed that about old straw as well.

 

[SimpleJenn]

All the time spent on those little ones, I am glad that Dakota still loves me. She needed some time with daddy too. You know how temperamental Rhode Island Redheads can get.

This is so true! Red is a very needy sweety

 

[featherhead007]

This is so true! Red is a very needy sweety View attachment 4105069

They require a lot of love and attention.

 

[featherhead007]

All the time spent on those little ones, I am glad that Dakota still loves me. She needed some time with daddy too. You know how temperamental Rhode Island Redheads can get.

 

[SimpleJenn]

In other news, we have been integrating. Since today was cleaning day, I decided they could spend the afternoon together. As far as I know, Marble kept to the territory he knows. Buffy went and spent time in the big run, checked out the nests, and the poor old gal fell off of the pallet-ladder when she tried to use it. Thankfully only the bottom rung.

Can you see a Buffy tail? She blends into the straw!

The chicks greatly enjoyed everything, except getting pecked when Buffy felt a bit sassy. And when the old birds went to bed, the chicks went and explored the smaller run too.

Gotta say, whoever posted that they put straw on the ground as a distraction when integrating chicks, it works! Also having a single elderly hen works too, she didn't keep chasing them haha.