Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

If I go that way I will do what I have done in the past.

I will get in touch with Rural King and confirm what days their chicks come in so I can pretty much be there as they are unboxing them. I want them to be as young as possible. Freshly hatched are best to foster onto a hen but I have done it with 3 to 4 day old chicks. I have heard of people doing with week old chicks but I am not that brave to try. With the chicks age it is not the momma I worry about, I need the chicks young enough to bond with the hen as well.

Once home I will offer them a bit of food and water to make sure they are eating since they will have had to travel in shipping. Ideally you will introduce the chicks to the hen after dark. Tuck the chicks under her from behind. If the hen is a pecky hen wear gloves as you will get pecked. If she is setting on dud eggs I leave them overnight. The eggs will keep her setting and the movement of the chicks sort of tricks her into thinking they have hatched.

Once the chicks are under her turn off your light source and have a seat real close and listen. Have a cup of coffee or tea with you as you will want to stay for at least a hour. What you are hoping to hear is the chicks to settle down and soft contented peeping or complete silence from them. You hope to hear gentle clucking from your hen as she begins talking to them. You need to stay on hand at first to gently guide any back under the hen that may venture out from under her. They need to learn Momma is their source of heat. You should not hear chicks screaming. If a chick tries to pop out from under her from the front your momma may try to guide them back under her herself. They only have one way to do this, by pecking them. This should be done gently not viscously.

If after a hour or two and all is going well place a small dish of food and water right in front of your momma so as soon as it is daylight she can begin offering them food and water. At this point you have done all you can do so head to bed and pray.

If you are a worry wart like me, set a alarm so you can be out there a few minutes before day break. What I'm hoping to find, and so far I have been lucky every time is a momma who is talking non-stop to her chicks. Try to sneak up on her because once she knows you are there she is liable to growl and both she and the chicks will be silent. Again have a cup of coffee or tea with you because once again you are going to be sitting with her for a bit.

Once it is daylight I want to see the momma pecking at the food and water calling the chicks to eat and drink. I want to see them pop out from under her a little bit and then go back under her with her allowing it to happen. Again, gentle pecking is allowed from the momma to encourage them to go under her, it is the only way she has to guide them. I will leave the dud eggs under her until at least that afternoon to keep them in place and really reinforce their bond.

If she accepts them the next day or two can go a few different ways and it is up to each individual hen. We have successfully tricked her into thinking she is going through the hatching process. After we remove the eggs she may immediately get up and want to take her chicks with her to find food and water. She may stay put for another 24 to 48 hours thinking they are brand new and need that time to strengthen up. This is why having a dish of food and water is necessary because to her they are brand new and still absorbing the yolk sack and good. I do not mind if she stays put for another day or so and will not force her off the nest with them right away. I really want the chicks to learn she is momma. If she has been setting for 3 weeks or longer she is more likely to bring them out and about right away. If she has been setting 2 weeks she will probably sit tight for another day or so.

I am sure you know, she may reject them. I have never had it happen, but I always have a brooder set up and ready to go at a moments notice.

Thank you. Very helpful indeed. I think you can assume I will be anxious enough that I will be out there most of the night when I do this.

 

[notabitail]

Two-fer Tuesday.
Day late.
Audacious Agathae. She tried to squish into the same box as Empress. The audacity to do such things!

They only want to use The One Chosen Nesting Box. No other box will suffice. Dunces.

 

[Marie2020]

Tina and princess

 

[Marie2020]

Good night everyone ️

 

[Sylvester017]

I've got a little song for you

These guys were not just amusing but very talented too! Singing, while playing an instrument whole peddling themselves

 

[Ponypoor]

Poppet update.

She is angry and all puffed up. She has not committed yet to setting on nothing. She was out and about when I went out a few minutes ago to refill their feeder and waterer. Overnight she added more feathers to her nest so she is serious and getting close to setting. Since that one night over a week and a half ago before she started back laying I have been religiously collecting eggs from that pen. As much as I love silkies, and highly recommend them to everyone let this be a warning. They do not need a nest of eggs left alone for a couple days to go broody. They will brood air and dirt when the mood strikes. And with some hens, the mood strikes often.

Georgie was sitting in Reenie’s stall on a warm pile of horse poop this morning!

Ewwww!

 

[Ponypoor]

What about your "No More Chicks" policy?









Wait....this is Kelly.....Enabler Extraordinaire....policy is full of hot air.

View attachment 4082582Dark Brahma Temptation...along side a tiny (for standard size) little half Hamburg Indigo

But if I get a few silkie chicks from Shannon I will have to give them back! I get to enjoy the chicks them hand them back

 

[Ponypoor]

Yup, we're zoned rural residential. I even emailed our township for clarification about it awhile back.

Well then you need Shirley

He’s a sweetie pie and he doesn’t mind being held.

 

[bgmathteach]

I am sorry your weather has turned extreme. It’s hard on both humans and animals these extremes in temps.

Question to everyone:

How do you keep your chooks cool in the heat of summer?

For. me:

Shade cloth on open areas of the runs,
I have coolers with nipple waterers, they get a large block of ice every morning,
and I put some water & ice in 'wading pools' (i.e. short rubber dishes) that the chickens like to 'wade in' in the heat to cool off.

When it is really bad, I also freeze some beverage containers (1 & 2 liter soda bottles, 20 oz powerade/gatorade bottles) full of water and bury then in their dirt bath bin and put some in a corner of the coop for 'cooling stations'. NOTE: I wrap the bottles in an old wash cloth or hand towel (depending on the size bottle), then put that in a paper bag. The towel acts as a little bit of insulation so it thaws a bit more slowly - plus absorbs condensation...the paper bag protects it from chicken poop so I don't freak out about it going back in the freezer for another use .

I bought a couple of battery operated fans (I don't yet have electricity out there), and place them strategically in the runs. (they come in at night to recharge)

I will also moisten areas of the run in the shade that they use as alternate dust bathing spots.

Thats all I got!

 

[Ponypoor]

Well then you need Shirley

He’s a sweetie pie and he doesn’t mind being held.

Shirley the big bad Rooster