Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

They require a lot of love and attention.

I'm glad you post so much of your redhead, kiddo fell in love and convinced me to get her RedBird (or Reddy Spagetti if the kiddo is feeling silly)
She is a very cute and fun little hen so far!

 

[BY Bob]

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

 

[featherhead007]

I'm glad you post so much of your redhead, kiddo fell in love and convinced me to get her RedBird (or Reddy Spagetti if the kiddo is feeling silly)
She is a very cute and fun little hen so far!
View attachment 4105090View attachment 4105091

Can’t go wrong with that!

 

[featherhead007]

Here’s MY Dakota munday on a Tuesday. Don’t worry, she got her Tuesday tacos .

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

If you don't get any blue Silkie chicks what's your plan for the surplus blacks or partridges you hatch?

My plan for this hatch, and we all know to never count our chickens before they hatch.

Once the hatch is complete and everyone is eating and drinking, normally by 2 to 3 days I plan on listing them for sale. Silkies are so much easier to sell around here because people looking for silkies know that you cannot tell genders early and do not demand pullets at a few days to a week old. Locally I have not saw anyone offer DNA sexed chicks...it is just not a thing. I have saw a few breeders on the western end of the state offer DNA sexing, but they also have show quality stock.

Anyway, after hatch is complete, if there is any blues, I'm holding them back for myself. I am also having my boss come over to pick out her chicks. She wants at least 4. They will join my blues for me to brood for myself until they are about 2 months old and then she will take them home. The remaining ones will be listed for sale.

If I manage to hatch a few blue chicks I will probably not immediately reset the incubator. I will hold off a week or so to see how easily I can place the chicks. If they place fast I will reset it. If they sell really fast I'm buying a 2nd incubator to use as a hatcher and set it weekly. I need to do that anyway for next hatching season.

Personally, I would be happy with 2 to 4 blue chicks for myself in hopes for about 2 blue pullets. I had also planned on getting some chocolate silkie hatching eggs around the end of June. I still hope to have it happen, but, her chocolate girls are pulling a Poppet. 11 months old and still not laying yet even though her chocolate boy is ready. If they take much longer she is going to not sell the eggs but hatch for herself and grow them out this season and place some in the fall. I may spring for a chocolate pullet in the fall just to say I have that color for myself as eye candy.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Those are just great photos!

Thank you, they made it easy today. I kid you not they were pushing each other out of the way to check out the phone.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Good grief, in the span of less then a week I am now up to 4 confirmed broodies. Reba and Gryffyn are still going strong and sitting on nothing. Last night Spooky committed to setting, again on nothing. Tonight I get home and like I suspected Raven is a shrieking, belly plucked bald tyrant. It really does not surprise me too much on Spooky and Raven, both showed signs of thinking about it. What is surprising is Spooky ended up with Raven's favorite nest box. Raven once again has taken over a bale of hay. It will not shock me to be up to 5 broody girls by the weekend. Goose is still showing very strong signs she is about to be the next one.

No one will ever be able to convince me that broodiness is not contagious. When one commits the rest start dropping like flies.

 

[Ponypoor]

Here’s MY Dakota munday on a Tuesday. Don’t worry, she got her Tuesday tacos . View attachment 4105110

And a great photo for wattle Wednesday!

 

[Ponypoor]

My plan for this hatch, and we all know to never count our chickens before they hatch.

Once the hatch is complete and everyone is eating and drinking, normally by 2 to 3 days I plan on listing them for sale. Silkies are so much easier to sell around here because people looking for silkies know that you cannot tell genders early and do not demand pullets at a few days to a week old. Locally I have not saw anyone offer DNA sexed chicks...it is just not a thing. I have saw a few breeders on the western end of the state offer DNA sexing, but they also have show quality stock.

Anyway, after hatch is complete, if there is any blues, I'm holding them back for myself. I am also having my boss come over to pick out her chicks. She wants at least 4. They will join my blues for me to brood for myself until they are about 2 months old and then she will take them home. The remaining ones will be listed for sale.

If I manage to hatch a few blue chicks I will probably not immediately reset the incubator. I will hold off a week or so to see how easily I can place the chicks. If they place fast I will reset it. If they sell really fast I'm buying a 2nd incubator to use as a hatcher and set it weekly. I need to do that anyway for next hatching season.

Personally, I would be happy with 2 to 4 blue chicks for myself in hopes for about 2 blue pullets. I had also planned on getting some chocolate silkie hatching eggs around the end of June. I still hope to have it happen, but, her chocolate girls are pulling a Poppet. 11 months old and still not laying yet even though her chocolate boy is ready. If they take much longer she is going to not sell the eggs but hatch for herself and grow them out this season and place some in the fall. I may spring for a chocolate pullet in the fall just to say I have that color for myself as eye candy.

Gosh don’t think I could tolerate waiting till 11 months to crow or lay an egg.

If my dumplings don’t start soon I will do a gender dna for Jolly. I don’t want to get too attached to the little fart!

I am fairly certain Holly is a pullet.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Marble crowed again this morning!!! He must be so happy that the coop complex is all open now