Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Yes! I too am renovating the barn - and finding things that previous generations of folk have hoarded too!

Are those historical hoards any use ? Wanna share

 

[Ponypoor]

They sure do!

View attachment 3296103

Awwwww so sweet

 

[RoyalChick]

Are those historical hoards any use ? Wanna share

A lot of deer netting. I mean a lot!
I keep wondering how I could send it to @Ponypoor to cover her run (am I remembering right?) but I think shipping will be prohibitive and of course it would be a pain to deal with incomplete rolls when trying to cover a big area.
Loads of bug screens for windows. I used a few of those already in construction of the Chicken Palace but am running out of ideas.
Shutters. I could open a shutter store. I managed to find a few pairs that actually fitted windows on the house so I painted them and used them. I cut holes in a bunch and fitted hardware cloth over them and they are now Chicken Palace shutters. The rest stay because it is good lumber.
Old tires/tyres - I think I will paint those pretty colors like @featherhead007 has, and use them for sand baths for the Princesses.
Wheels for carts. No carts. No matching pairs. Just random wheels. Open to ideas for these!
And I think I see a couple of sleds which I am wildly excited about as I never had one as a kid!

Tax: a reminder of how Lulu has the power to make me laugh even from the afterlife.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yesterday was a insanely stressful day with the chicks, and I think I got a few grey hairs in the process. Of course for the first time in a couple years we have a cold snap and snow flurries in the middle of October, normally it is in November before it gets this cold. So what do my chicks try to do? 5 tried to kill themselves, 3 succeeded for a few minutes. It stayed in the low 30s all morning yesterday and early afternoon, so Blueberry was in no rush to get her chicks off the nest. I had brought them food and water so there was no need. I come out about 2 to check on them and find a crisis. 3 had gotten out of the nest and must not have been able to get back in and were lifeless. I quickly grabbed them and saw they were not breathing, heard no heartbeat, but they were not stiff yet so I ran inside. I did not have time to track down the hair dryer instead I stole grandma's space heater. Cranked it up to 80 and turned the blower on high and sat in front of it with them and started rubbing them. I was about ready to give up when one of them twitched. It took a few minutes but I got all 3 breathing so I knew hope was not lost. I sat in front of that heater rubbing the chicks with what felt like my hands burning for a hour. About 30 minutes in they finally started cheeping. Once they were able to stand and walk if I set them down I gave them to grandma and she tucked them in her bra and sat in front of the heater. I went outside, weather she was ready or not Blueberry had to get off the porch with the babies. I took the tote, bedded it with sawdust and fresh hay and placed it in the coop. It is on the opposite side of Bunny's nest. The coop is insulated so it is warmer in it. I then moved Blueberry and the 4 chicks she had with her. Once they were settled in her new box I came in for the other 3. I found them still inside grandma's shirt, but 2 had their heads poked out of her collar happily cheeping away. I took them out to Blueberry and for the next hour came out every few minutes to check. All are fine, happy and eating and drinking and staying under momma. That was enough stress for one day, but when I went to tuck everyone in at dark I found my day was not over. Bunny decided for once the stall was not the place to sleep and took them to her nest in the coop on her own. But I hear loud distressed cheeping and realize she only has 2 chicks. Instead of following their mom into the coop 2 of them squeezed into the gap between the coop and the house and were too far in for me to reach. I had to find a fishing pole and gently prod them out the other side. That took a while as they did not want to move. When I finally got them out they were very cold as well but were happy to be reunited with their mom. It was dark by then, but before I came in I had made sure to stuff the opening on both sides of the coop about a foot high so they should not be able to get trapped again. Another check on Blueberry and her chicks which are all under momma asleep and then I go look for Raven. The night before I had to move them to their box from underneath the 4-wheeler but thankfully last night she behaved and had taken them to her box on her own. It's days like yesterday that I question having chickens, and my thinking that letting the momma's do the brooding is easier.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yesterday was a insanely stressful day with the chicks, and I think I got a few grey hairs in the process. Of course for the first time in a couple years we have a cold snap and snow flurries in the middle of October, normally it is in November before it gets this cold. So what do my chicks try to do? 5 tried to kill themselves, 3 succeeded for a few minutes. It stayed in the low 30s all morning yesterday and early afternoon, so Blueberry was in no rush to get her chicks off the nest. I had brought them food and water so there was no need. I come out about 2 to check on them and find a crisis. 3 had gotten out of the nest and must not have been able to get back in and were lifeless. I quickly grabbed them and saw they were not breathing, heard no heartbeat, but they were not stiff yet so I ran inside. I did not have time to track down the hair dryer instead I stole grandma's space heater. Cranked it up to 80 and turned the blower on high and sat in front of it with them and started rubbing them. I was about ready to give up when one of them twitched. It took a few minutes but I got all 3 breathing so I knew hope was not lost. I sat in front of that heater rubbing the chicks with what felt like my hands burning for a hour. About 30 minutes in they finally started cheeping. Once they were able to stand and walk if I set them down I gave them to grandma and she tucked them in her bra and sat in front of the heater. I went outside, weather she was ready or not Blueberry had to get off the porch with the babies. I took the tote, bedded it with sawdust and fresh hay and placed it in the coop. It is on the opposite side of Bunny's nest. The coop is insulated so it is warmer in it. I then moved Blueberry and the 4 chicks she had with her. Once they were settled in her new box I came in for the other 3. I found them still inside grandma's shirt, but 2 had their heads poked out of her collar happily cheeping away. I took them out to Blueberry and for the next hour came out every few minutes to check. All are fine, happy and eating and drinking and staying under momma. That was enough stress for one day, but when I went to tuck everyone in at dark I found my day was not over. Bunny decided for once the stall was not the place to sleep and took them to her nest in the coop on her own. But I hear loud distressed cheeping and realize she only has 2 chicks. Instead of following their mom into the coop 2 of them squeezed into the gap between the coop and the house and were too far in for me to reach. I had to find a fishing pole and gently prod them out the other side. That took a while as they did not want to move. When I finally got them out they were very cold as well but were happy to be reunited with their mom. It was dark by then, but before I came in I had made sure to stuff the opening on both sides of the coop about a foot high so they should not be able to get trapped again. Another check on Blueberry and her chicks which are all under momma asleep and then I go look for Raven. The night before I had to move them to their box from underneath the 4-wheeler but thankfully last night she behaved and had taken them to her box on her own. It's days like yesterday that I question having chickens, and my thinking that letting the momma's do the brooding is easier.

OMG - I got stressed just reading about it!
Good job saving them. Amazing.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Yesterday was a insanely stressful day with the chicks, and I think I got a few grey hairs in the process. Of course for the first time in a couple years we have a cold snap and snow flurries in the middle of October, normally it is in November before it gets this cold. So what do my chicks try to do? 5 tried to kill themselves, 3 succeeded for a few minutes. It stayed in the low 30s all morning yesterday and early afternoon, so Blueberry was in no rush to get her chicks off the nest. I had brought them food and water so there was no need. I come out about 2 to check on them and find a crisis. 3 had gotten out of the nest and must not have been able to get back in and were lifeless. I quickly grabbed them and saw they were not breathing, heard no heartbeat, but they were not stiff yet so I ran inside. I did not have time to track down the hair dryer instead I stole grandma's space heater. Cranked it up to 80 and turned the blower on high and sat in front of it with them and started rubbing them. I was about ready to give up when one of them twitched. It took a few minutes but I got all 3 breathing so I knew hope was not lost. I sat in front of that heater rubbing the chicks with what felt like my hands burning for a hour. About 30 minutes in they finally started cheeping. Once they were able to stand and walk if I set them down I gave them to grandma and she tucked them in her bra and sat in front of the heater. I went outside, weather she was ready or not Blueberry had to get off the porch with the babies. I took the tote, bedded it with sawdust and fresh hay and placed it in the coop. It is on the opposite side of Bunny's nest. The coop is insulated so it is warmer in it. I then moved Blueberry and the 4 chicks she had with her. Once they were settled in her new box I came in for the other 3. I found them still inside grandma's shirt, but 2 had their heads poked out of her collar happily cheeping away. I took them out to Blueberry and for the next hour came out every few minutes to check. All are fine, happy and eating and drinking and staying under momma. That was enough stress for one day, but when I went to tuck everyone in at dark I found my day was not over. Bunny decided for once the stall was not the place to sleep and took them to her nest in the coop on her own. But I hear loud distressed cheeping and realize she only has 2 chicks. Instead of following their mom into the coop 2 of them squeezed into the gap between the coop and the house and were too far in for me to reach. I had to find a fishing pole and gently prod them out the other side. That took a while as they did not want to move. When I finally got them out they were very cold as well but were happy to be reunited with their mom. It was dark by then, but before I came in I had made sure to stuff the opening on both sides of the coop about a foot high so they should not be able to get trapped again. Another check on Blueberry and her chicks which are all under momma asleep and then I go look for Raven. The night before I had to move them to their box from underneath the 4-wheeler but thankfully last night she behaved and had taken them to her box on her own. It's days like yesterday that I question having chickens, and my thinking that letting the momma's do the brooding is easier.

You did an awesome job of quick thinking to save those chicks. I wonder if they will remember grandma from their time in her bra and try to crawl in there again when they are older.

 

[rural mouse]

Yesterday was a insanely stressful day with the chicks, and I think I got a few grey hairs in the process. Of course for the first time in a couple years we have a cold snap and snow flurries in the middle of October, normally it is in November before it gets this cold. So what do my chicks try to do? 5 tried to kill themselves, 3 succeeded for a few minutes. It stayed in the low 30s all morning yesterday and early afternoon, so Blueberry was in no rush to get her chicks off the nest. I had brought them food and water so there was no need. I come out about 2 to check on them and find a crisis. 3 had gotten out of the nest and must not have been able to get back in and were lifeless. I quickly grabbed them and saw they were not breathing, heard no heartbeat, but they were not stiff yet so I ran inside. I did not have time to track down the hair dryer instead I stole grandma's space heater. Cranked it up to 80 and turned the blower on high and sat in front of it with them and started rubbing them. I was about ready to give up when one of them twitched. It took a few minutes but I got all 3 breathing so I knew hope was not lost. I sat in front of that heater rubbing the chicks with what felt like my hands burning for a hour. About 30 minutes in they finally started cheeping. Once they were able to stand and walk if I set them down I gave them to grandma and she tucked them in her bra and sat in front of the heater. I went outside, weather she was ready or not Blueberry had to get off the porch with the babies. I took the tote, bedded it with sawdust and fresh hay and placed it in the coop. It is on the opposite side of Bunny's nest. The coop is insulated so it is warmer in it. I then moved Blueberry and the 4 chicks she had with her. Once they were settled in her new box I came in for the other 3. I found them still inside grandma's shirt, but 2 had their heads poked out of her collar happily cheeping away. I took them out to Blueberry and for the next hour came out every few minutes to check. All are fine, happy and eating and drinking and staying under momma. That was enough stress for one day, but when I went to tuck everyone in at dark I found my day was not over. Bunny decided for once the stall was not the place to sleep and took them to her nest in the coop on her own. But I hear loud distressed cheeping and realize she only has 2 chicks. Instead of following their mom into the coop 2 of them squeezed into the gap between the coop and the house and were too far in for me to reach. I had to find a fishing pole and gently prod them out the other side. That took a while as they did not want to move. When I finally got them out they were very cold as well but were happy to be reunited with their mom. It was dark by then, but before I came in I had made sure to stuff the opening on both sides of the coop about a foot high so they should not be able to get trapped again. Another check on Blueberry and her chicks which are all under momma asleep and then I go look for Raven. The night before I had to move them to their box from underneath the 4-wheeler but thankfully last night she behaved and had taken them to her box on her own. It's days like yesterday that I question having chickens, and my thinking that letting the momma's do the brooding is easier.

 

[bgmathteach]

A lot of deer netting. I mean a lot!
I keep wondering how I could send it to @Ponypoor to cover her run (am I remembering right?) but I think shipping will be prohibitive and of course it would be a pain to deal with incomplete rolls when trying to cover a big area.
Loads of bug screens for windows. I used a few of those already in construction of the Chicken Palace but am running out of ideas.
Shutters. I could open a shutter store. I managed to find a few pairs that actually fitted windows on the house so I painted them and used them. I cut holes in a bunch and fitted hardware cloth over them and they are now Chicken Palace shutters. The rest stay because it is good lumber.
Old tires/tyres - I think I will paint those pretty colors like @featherhead007 has, and use them for sand baths for the Princesses.
Wheels for carts. No carts. No matching pairs. Just random wheels. Open to ideas for these!
And I think I see a couple of sleds which I am wildly excited about as I never had one as a kid!

Tax: a reminder of how Lulu has the power to make me laugh even from the afterlife.
View attachment 3296240View attachment 3296241

She is almost like a Jack-in-the-box here!!

 

[bgmathteach]

You can make your own 1 wheeled cart (like a wheel barrow). Maybe you will find an old metal wheel barrow trough and can make one and plant in it? Would be kinda nice to make an herb garden for the chooks out of something like that!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yesterday was a insanely stressful day with the chicks, and I think I got a few grey hairs in the process. Of course for the first time in a couple years we have a cold snap and snow flurries in the middle of October, normally it is in November before it gets this cold. So what do my chicks try to do? 5 tried to kill themselves, 3 succeeded for a few minutes. It stayed in the low 30s all morning yesterday and early afternoon, so Blueberry was in no rush to get her chicks off the nest. I had brought them food and water so there was no need. I come out about 2 to check on them and find a crisis. 3 had gotten out of the nest and must not have been able to get back in and were lifeless. I quickly grabbed them and saw they were not breathing, heard no heartbeat, but they were not stiff yet so I ran inside. I did not have time to track down the hair dryer instead I stole grandma's space heater. Cranked it up to 80 and turned the blower on high and sat in front of it with them and started rubbing them. I was about ready to give up when one of them twitched. It took a few minutes but I got all 3 breathing so I knew hope was not lost. I sat in front of that heater rubbing the chicks with what felt like my hands burning for a hour. About 30 minutes in they finally started cheeping. Once they were able to stand and walk if I set them down I gave them to grandma and she tucked them in her bra and sat in front of the heater. I went outside, weather she was ready or not Blueberry had to get off the porch with the babies. I took the tote, bedded it with sawdust and fresh hay and placed it in the coop. It is on the opposite side of Bunny's nest. The coop is insulated so it is warmer in it. I then moved Blueberry and the 4 chicks she had with her. Once they were settled in her new box I came in for the other 3. I found them still inside grandma's shirt, but 2 had their heads poked out of her collar happily cheeping away. I took them out to Blueberry and for the next hour came out every few minutes to check. All are fine, happy and eating and drinking and staying under momma. That was enough stress for one day, but when I went to tuck everyone in at dark I found my day was not over. Bunny decided for once the stall was not the place to sleep and took them to her nest in the coop on her own. But I hear loud distressed cheeping and realize she only has 2 chicks. Instead of following their mom into the coop 2 of them squeezed into the gap between the coop and the house and were too far in for me to reach. I had to find a fishing pole and gently prod them out the other side. That took a while as they did not want to move. When I finally got them out they were very cold as well but were happy to be reunited with their mom. It was dark by then, but before I came in I had made sure to stuff the opening on both sides of the coop about a foot high so they should not be able to get trapped again. Another check on Blueberry and her chicks which are all under momma asleep and then I go look for Raven. The night before I had to move them to their box from underneath the 4-wheeler but thankfully last night she behaved and had taken them to her box on her own. It's days like yesterday that I question having chickens, and my thinking that letting the momma's do the brooding is easier.

Wow! Glad you found those 3 in the nick of time! So stressful!!! And I hear you about chicks finding tight little places to 'hide' in or 'get lost' in! Glad everyone survived, including you!