Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

@rural mouse Is the snow tracking far enough East for you to get some? I hope so, but not in an overwhelming amount.

Stay safe everyone, with all these crazy storms, I wish all safety for you and your furry & feathered friends.

Weather tax:

Theme: 'Me and my shadow'

 

[ChicoryBlue]

IF you are able to get a carabiner through the smaller welded wire, you should have that go straight to the eye bolt, and forget the ziptie. These carabiners would probably work well and be the easiest to 'deploy' in your situation. They come in assorted sizes. I've used a few and LOVE them.

Not sure about your first sentence, because I am able to get the carabiner through the welded wire fence now...Do you mean since I am able?

I'll consider your idea, actually I did consider that but I could revisit it once I get more pieces ready to go and tested in place (the platform over the crosspieces). I didn't want to do it that way initially because I think I actually want it to give a bit this way and that. Hooking to an eyebolt directly would require closer tolerances, wouldn't it? I want it to be easy to hook and unhook. (btw It isn't a real eyebolt here right now, it is a cup hook.)

Sorry for the length of this. For the summary sentence go to the bolded part below!

The coop & little run is a tractor. The wire walls flex, the run can twist and my ground is uneven. I try to get it set all straight and level of course. I'm planning on moving it twice a year, to and from the winter & summer locations. I'm not sure how twisted or flexed it is right now compared to how it might be later on. In other words, what standard am I constructing to right now?

Other consideration - has the ground heaved? I know by one of my Big Run latches and new wood roof frame part of it has heaved and then went back. The latch just made it by the frame bracing unheaved; heaved I had to wedge a piece of wood in there to push it away.

So bottom line to all of the above - For the height I want the platform, I wasn't sure of the size carabiner that could get hooked through the nearest horizontal welded wire AND be exactly the right length and fit to go to an eye screw or bolt, year-round. So something in between those things solves that (chain, zip tie; a rope would get eaten).

The link didn't work directly but copied goes to stainless steel S-Biner style carabiners, that's what you're talking about? I have never used them.

Here's the Buckeye's early perch situation. They're seven weeks old. I had wrapped places for their little feet to grip firmly. They loved to climb the tubes of the ladder rails.

 

[featherhead007]

Not sure about your first sentence, because I am able to get the carabiner through the welded wire fence now...Do you mean since I am able?

I'll consider your idea, actually I did consider that but I could revisit it once I get more pieces ready to go and tested in place (the platform over the crosspieces). I didn't want to do it that way initially because I think I actually want it to give a bit this way and that. Hooking to an eyebolt directly would require closer tolerances, wouldn't it? I want it to be easy to hook and unhook. (btw It isn't a real eyebolt here right now, it is a cup hook.)

Sorry for the length of this. For the summary sentence go to the bolded part below!

The coop & little run is a tractor. The wire walls flex, the run can twist and my ground is uneven. I try to get it set all straight and level of course. I'm planning on moving it twice a year, to and from the winter & summer locations. I'm not sure how twisted or flexed it is right now compared to how it might be later on. In other words, what standard am I constructing to right now?

Other consideration - has the ground heaved? I know by one of my Big Run latches and new wood roof frame it part of it has and then went back. The latch just made it by the frame bracing unheaved; heaved I had to wedge a piece of wood in there to push it away.

So bottom line to all of the above - For the height I want the platform, I wasn't sure of the size carabiner that could get hooked through the nearest horizontal welded wire AND be exactly the right length and fit to go to an eye screw or bolt, year-round. So something in between those things solves that (chain, zip tie; a rope would get eaten).

The link didn't work directly but copied goes to stainless steel S-Biner style carabiners, that's what you're talking about? I have never used them.

Here's the Buckeye's early perch situation. They're seven weeks old. I had wrapped places for their little feet to grip firmly. They loved to climb the tubes of the ladder rails.
View attachment 3372118

Pirates

 

[BY Bob]

I opened the back door, to the yard, to see if Jaffar was interested in going out. NOPE, he refuses to go outside. We both had steak and eggs for breakfast.

I would not go outside either. Rain or steak and eggs. Easy choice.

 

[BY Bob]

Build Update

Got a row of hardware cloth on the upper part of the little run Sunday, and need at least another row. But it was too cold yesterday to work outside with a bare hand.

I finally had a good idea for keeping the platform crosspieces from slipping off of the run's welded wire sides and dumping the platform, so I worked on that inside. I wanted it all easily removable. Had to account for the thickness of the platform and the width too. It came to me right when I woke up. Sleep is the best! So I worked on that inside:

After a fruitless search for hook-n-eye screw-in eyes in our storage I saw some cup hooks. Screwed them into the underside of the crosspiece.
View attachment 3371646

Used pliers to make into an eye
View attachment 3371647

A long zip-tie through it. Happens to be removable but that's good if changes are needed.
View attachment 3371648

And a carabiner to latch on to the zip tie. Not sure if the carabineer would stay on the welded wire, or stay with the crosspiece. Probably the latter.
View attachment 3371654

Tried it out this morning, seems good so far!
View attachment 3371655

On to a proof-of-concept model of how the ladder might attach to the platform.

Very clever!

Did you consider cutting a slot in the end of the board and fitting the crossbar of the wire frame in that slot? I did that with the roost in my dog crate so it would be stabile but removable.

 

[BY Bob]

Fascinating! I guess they are no threat to her position.

Exactly. And if she provides them with food, her allies.

 

[BY Bob]

Did Betty ever get some of that?

Yes she did. I gave her some of her own.

 

[BY Bob]

Something amazing happened outside. One of the Anconas, Asia, jumped on my lap and cuddled for awhile. They have been avoiding me this whole time.

That is just the best! Congratulations!

 

[RoyalChick]

Third night on the same rafters inside the coop part of the Chicken Palace. Also they went straight there rather than spending 15 mins surveying options.
Hopefully they have settled on that being home for now.
Bernadette definitely considered trying to join them, or maybe she was thinking of going up there to throw them off their rafter, but she thought better of it in the end.

 

[Ponypoor]

No, post, post, post, please!

I have absolutely no regrets about sharing!! I know that they will have so much more of your time and love than I could give them on an individual basis - and it is so wonderful to see them happy!

I'm just sappy, is all!​

I think it's awesome that the two of you are sharing the love of your chooks - so lovely