Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

The pirate costume just slays me

That parrot on her

That's Mrs BY Bob's favorite as well.

I really like the rooster goggles and Sherlock of course.

 

[BY Bob]

I just got wonderful news, this evening I will have a sensor. My co-worker's daughter is also a type 1 and uses the dexcom system. She just got upgraded 2 months ago to the G7 and has 2 leftover G6 sensors. She is sending them home with mom this evening for me. I cannot begin to describe how much of a blessing this is. This will also allow me to have 2 back-up sensors a month incase of something like another failed sensor happening again.

What wonderful news!

 

[BY Bob]

What are your plans for her this time around if she is infact going broody? I'm being 100% honest with you, if you do not plan on letting her hatch or even getting her chicks it is best to try to break her. You can learn a lot about how determined she is from simply trying to break a broody hen. Those stubborn difficult ones who take the longest to break. Very good chance if given the opportunity the next go around will be committed the next go around if given eggs to hatch.

Fostering chicks onto a momma hen is a whole different ball game. Before you attempt that make sure you are fully set up inside and ready to brood them yourself. Ideally you want them fresh out of the incubator or day olds. If you are sourcing your chicks from a farm store you want to time it up to get chicks the day they arrive so they are around 3 days old. 4 to 5 days or older I would not try it if I am being honest.

Your momma in general needs to be have setting for 2 to 3 weeks, closer to 3 or longer if you have to give her chicks to break her. It is best to do this at night if you can. Tuck the chicks under her from behind. If she is setting on dud eggs or fake eggs remove them once you give her the chicks. Have a small shallow dish of chick starter and a shallow dish of water placed in front of her. Turn off your light and sit close and listen. You want to hear her talking to them. Occasionally turn on your light to make sure they stay under her. You will know if she is going to reject them, she will attempt to peck them hard and try to keep them out from under her. Gentle pecking or nudging is ok if they pop out from under her in the front. That is how she will guide them back under her. If all is going well for the first couple hours that evening all you can do is go in and go to bed. Be ready to be out first thing at daylight. Normally if she takes to them that evening by morning it has clicked in her head that these are hers.

I have nothing to add. This is the best way to do it.

 

[BY Bob]

They are both gorgeous - but I am totally won over by the blue ear lobes and the slightly crazed expression of Barbosa.

Those blue earlobes are something! Very handsome.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm surprised she didn't insist on driving! I find it interesting how comfortable chickens are with being in cars.

Who's saying she didn't?

I do feel like that was what she was thinking. That driving didn't look so hard. Imagine Aurora driving her tribe around.

 

[BY Bob]

She looks comfortable and not stressed at all.

And might bring Clyde next Christmas for his photo with Santa

My chickens love car rides if I let them stand in my lap and watch.

 

[BY Bob]

Memories from a year ago
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I miss Morinth so much

 

[Ponypoor]

Memories from a year ago
View attachment 4046116
I miss Morinth so much

Soon you will have some new chickies to love and who will scream also

I cannot wait to see them.

 

[featherhead007]

I wish I'd gotten video of this even though it was a really quick interaction.

So every time I collect eggs I show them to the girls and tell them "good job". There was a Sybil egg and an Esme egg in the nest box this morning and of course I showed them. Sybil pecked at them a bit and then wandered away, like she usually does. Today Esme decided to try and roll them out of my hand so she could sit on them it was silly.

She's acting a little off this morning, doesn't seem interested in food and just stood behind my legs when I let them out of the coop. She doesn't seem like she's sick or injured, she's bright and alert and her comb and wattles are nice and red. Could she be wobbling on the broody fence?

 

[bgmathteach]

The Dumplings
The best I could do, they just don’t want to sit still! Or ‘hey look this way’

Did you say 'Walk this way?"