Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Grandma The Chicken]

To anyone who lives in South Dakota and Alaska

I will stop complaining about my 5 F temperature and extremely high winds.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

I also wanted to show you all this video which I've enjoyed several times. Not my video.

 

[featherhead007]

I had a great dinner. Fog rolled in really quickly. Glad I made it home safely. These highways are dangerous in the fog.
Anyways I have my rooster inside so I won’t be all alone tonight.

 

[BY Bob]

Fluffy Butt Friday!

Yay I have photos for today! So happy happy happy!

Fluffy McNugget
View attachment 3356648

Fluffy and Blanche looking on
View attachment 3356647

Buttercup Chic-filet
View attachment 3356643

Wee Marty Pompei and Mr P looking on
View attachment 3356644

Blanche Golden Girl
View attachment 3356645

Dorothy Chic-a-loo
View attachment 3356652
View attachment 3356649


The Gang
View attachment 3356651

Amazing photos!

 

[BY Bob]

It is -2F here right now with wind chill gusts reaching into the -30’s It dropped from the 40’s to the single digits in less then two hours overnight. Crazy cold for Southern Ohio.

I went out this morning brought hot water with me in a bowl and added feed to the hotwater for a mash. They came down from the roosts to eat the warm food. Bucket heater is working well and their water remains unfrozen. Everyone looked good and Oreos comb (my bellwether for frostbite) looks healthy and is the normal pink color.

I did not open the pop door today. I don’t think I should since it could let in wind. Is this what you guys do in weather this brutal? I usually trust them to decide but this time my gut is saying keep in the coop for today.

So far so good!

Hope everyone else who is experiencing this weather is making out well!!

Mine are staying in the coop on their own but I will sometimes lock them in when the weather is really cold.

 

[BY Bob]

You obviously have not learned from my run-in with Karma. In a week now you will have Phyllis broody. She will have infertile eggs but she still will be broody.

I am living dangerously for sure but I'm willing to risk it.

 

[BY Bob]

Sooooo....I have not mentioned anything the last 2 days. I think details have finally been worked out and I will have 2 surprises sometime tomorrow weather permitting. Delivery was offered so 2 white leghorn girls will join my flock. I sadly had to pass on a legbar girl, with delivery fee they were a bit too pricey right now.

You are about to have some new friends to win over. Best of luck!

 

[GregnLety]

I think they have their own pecking order - and really only act as referees with the hens WHEN NEEDED (i.e. disputes between hens) Otherwise, they are there to "Serve & Protect & Procreate" Not necessarily in that order, according to Roos!

I can confirm that, sort of. Years ago I was living with my girlfriend and her teenage daughter. They got into a very heated conversation. Yelling and screaming Goin on. I should have grabbed a beer and walked outside but I didn't. I got drug into it and then they both turned on me. At this point I grabbed a sixer and went outside until it quieted down. Sometimes it is best to let em settle it on their own (hens and women)

 

[BY Bob]

Mine will be outside. They have endured worse. I am concerned because Betty spent the night alone in the Cluckle Hut 2 nights ago for no apparent reason. I need her to be in the Main Coop with everyone else.

View attachment 3357015

They are taking advantage of the heater though. They found its new location fast enough.

View attachment 3357016View attachment 3357017

They are spending most of their time in the Main Coop as they usually do in cold nasty weather.

Betty is in with everyone else tonight.

It's going to be very cold with brutal winds.

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks for the gorgeous pictures. I completely understand the stressful holiday situation. I am lucky that we are going nowhere and we also have no guests. This holiday season will be

• catch up with work
• lots of cooking
• house cleaning and organizing
• boardgames and shows

Today I pressured canned squash, in addition to winterize my garden. Like everyone else, there will be a significant temperature drop tonight (about 40F). We brought Light inside since her feathers are so messed up.

The low is going to be 18F (no laughing, very cold for us). You think chickens will be OK outside? They are in a small coop (around 4'X5'), no draft, no heat.

They should be fine as long as there is adequate ventilation.