Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Wonderful pictures to mark 100k!

What my poor flexi

 

[RoyalChick]

If you have space in your freezer, put some gallon jugs filled with H2O in them (Squeeze them before putting cap on, so has room to expand & not split jug), then wrap in an old towel (or just bury in bedding). put it somewhere shaded the girls like to hand out...buried under bedding or something similar. They can they choose to 'rest' next to it. Surprising how much of a difference that makes! I also freeze 20 oz soda/water bottles (filled with H2O) and bury it in the bedding in the nest boxes. Also, I have a raised bin for dust bathing. I also bury 1 or 2 in the bottom of that dust bath. Those I ABSOLUTELY slide into old socks...to keep them reasonably clean so I can slip them out & re-freeze. Honestly, this makes a world of difference! Most of my girls gravitate towards those spots, especially after a few days of heat and they get used to them being there. The few that don't, that aren't looking good, I will move them to one of those spots, and generally they stay there! Given how hot it is where you are, I would have a couple in the freezer, so you are able to swap one out mid-day when it is melted and put a new one in the run in it's place.

I also have cooler drinkers, that I put large chunks of ice in so they always have cool water. (This in addition to open dishes with cool water, so they can get their feet wet and/or dunk their wattles...both important means of cooling for chickens.

Difference between shade cloth/no shade cloth - this is a picture of the ground:View attachment 3180781

Cooler Drinkers:View attachment 3180795
This container holds about 1.5 qts (1.5 liters) frozen, so a good chunk of ice (I also use the 1 lb. deli containers, those fit in my 1 gal. poultry drinkers)
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Did you make that cooler drinker? I really love that idea.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick

What do you think of this advice?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-can-i-feed-a-chicken-with-sour-crop-that-won’t-feed-the-yeast.1376138/

You mean yoghurt and liquid egg? Both seem fine - but the key is to solve the problem of the blocked crop - then she can eat whatever she wants.

 

[RoyalChick]

What my poor flexi

Poor Flexi. But no, I was responding to Bob's wonderful pictures

 

[bgmathteach]

Did you make that cooler drinker? I really love that idea.

Yes! It is a 2 gal. round cooler. I used the nipple waterers, and an adapter made for this purpose. Note, if you use a small round cooler (like mine), you will also have to buy thicker rubber washers ( plumbing dept. in home depot or other plumbing supply store) to seal on the curvature. A small square cooler or a large (think team gatorade size) cooler is easier. That said, I didn't want a huge one as it would just plain old be too hard to move around once full.

There is also an adaptor that can be used with small round coolers - a screw in one that replaces the pour spout. (That said, it is a bit price, imo). I tried one of these as well. For you this would be GREAT! for me, it is thought of/used as a back-up waterer, as having only 2 nipples really restricts how many can drink at once - not good in heat. I will take and submit a picture of this one later.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes! It is a 2 gal. round cooler. I used the nipple waterers, and an adapter made for this purpose. Note, if you use a small round cooler (like mine), you will also have to buy thicker rubber washers ( plumbing dept. in home depot or other plumbing supply store) to seal on the curvature. A small square cooler or a large (think team gatorade size) cooler is easier. That said, I didn't want a huge one as it would just plain old be too hard to move around once full.

There is also an adaptor that can be used with small round coolers - a screw in one that replaces the pour spout. (That said, it is a bit price, imo). I tried one of these as well. For you this would be GREAT! for me, it is thought of/used as a back-up waterer, as having only 2 nipples really restricts how many can drink at once - not good in heat. I will take and submit a picture of this one later.

Ooooh - I have a small square cooler that is surplus to requirements. Or did I give it to someone? You have me thinking!

 

[Kris5902]

@Kris5902 and I are both NFLD'ers and we are trying hard to make everyone else NFLD'ers

We have joked with Bob that we would 'Screech him in' sometime and have a big soiree (pronounced swaray - it's a fancy party) newfoundland style

And Kris is right - if you are welcomed into a newfoundlanders home for a meal you must never turn it down - even if you are a vegan! And to not sample the homebrew (moonshine) would be a terrible insult! FYI - I wait till my BIL samples it - then wait a week to see if he keels over or goes blind Then I partake hahaha!

I’m hoping my own BIL will take to foraging the mushrooms here, sure we have chanterelles, morels, and more… but I can say with certainty that one he just pointed out isn’t a chanterelle (my second favorite mushroom after porcini, which isn’t local or easy to find in stores here)

 

[Marie2020]

Poor Flexi. But no, I was responding to Bob's wonderful pictures

Sorry

 

[Marie2020]

I missed 100,000.....

I did not expect it today.....
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What sight for sore eyes they are amazing pictures

 

[bgmathteach]

Okay, I took some more tax pics...

Two young duckies (3 weeks old yesterday)

My 4 Welsh Harlequin Ducks ( about 16-18 weeks old)

Sampson came over to the edge of the pen when I approached. And when I talk to him, he squawks/honks back ( transitioning stage...so cute!)

See mom...look how big my wings are.....hopefully that will entice Delilah!

My teenagers inspecting mommy's work:

Verdict: Hey, mom, how do you expect it to stay put on the coop if it can't even stay put down here???

It was setting overnight so the paint could dry before I was screwed onto the coop. Replacing the plywood in picture below. Had to put plywood up as I originally used chicken wire (? little did I know - this was my first coop), which was pretty rusty/flimsy. They will now had the good ventilation space up high again - SAFELY!

P.S. Barred chickie says to @RoyalChick & Lulu: Mommie says I don't really have an antenna anymore. But now I have a REAL Fascinator like Jackie O' However, that means radio contact with Lulu is out...LULU, need to sneak on Beakbook!