Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ali James]

Well, I made a tactical error while my girls were out free ranging.

The husband and I were assessing what wood we had lying about to make my long roosting coop with and, as it happened to be afternoon tea time and I felt peckish, I brought out some rice crackers and hummus to snack on.

All the girls came running! I had to shoo them away so I could eat!
It didn't deter them much though and they all had a bit of the remaining hummus for afternoon tea.

Who da thunk?

Ha! My Charlie went from being 'absolutely-not-a-lap-chicken' to me having to push her off me if ever I tried to eat anything whilst out in the garden with them!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm so Mad at Myself

it got smoking hot in the coop yesterday before I noticed it. The coop can get quite hot in the summertime when the late afternoon sun clears the birch tree. Yesterday was really the first day since Sydney started setting where it was that hot without afternoon thunderstorms. I never even considered it.

That was until I lost Phyllis.

It was 7:30 pm and I could not find Phyllis. Now Phyllis goes to bed early but that would be 90 minutes or more before sunset. That's silly early. Before I panicked and started looking outside the fence for her, I checked coop cam.

There was Phyllis on the roost clearly roasting. That's when it hit me. I ducked inside to see and the inside coop temperature was 99°F (37°C). I removed Phyllis from the coop and put the fan in the front window.

I then took Phyllis around to all the best worm locations. Moving boards, planters, etc. Until she had eaten them all and the coop temp had dropped by 15°F.

I feel so guilty now about poor Sydney sweltering all afternoon in that heat.

The fan will now remain until fall.

Roosting Adjustments

So the new warmth in the coop led to new roosting locations. Here is how roosting has been working ever since Sydney went broody. Aurora normally gets to the roots too late to get to the high roost. I took the photo because she had gone to bed early for some reason and made it up there.

Now the high roost is obviously going to get less air circulation than the main roost, even with the fan. So it will be warner up there. That just so happens to be where the temperature sensor for the coop is as well so I get the extreme reading.

The extension on the roost that Maleficent loved so much is right in front of the window. Now right in front of the breeze from the fan.

Normally when Phyllis roosts for the night she goes for the high roost. Then Lilly comes in and makes her get off of it. Phyllis goes to the spot that Daisy (the greatest hen ever), Patsy, and Lilly all thought was best prior to the introduction of the high roost. Hence the arrangement above.

Last night everything changed. See the video. This Ovid after the fan was in the window.

I did not think to take a picture of the final roosting positions but when I locked the complex up last night, all the big girls were on the low roost with Aurora starting right into the fan, feathers fluttering like she was in a Mariah Cary video.

 

[BY Bob]

I gave my girls some mealy worms this morning as an extra treat after breakfast. I even added some to the shell grit dish when I put in fresh grit to remind them it was there.
Guess who came running to drive the young 'uns off whenever I put a little pile down for them?

View attachment 2181310

That's my girl.

Don't let those young'uns have nothing they ain't earned yet. Darn tootin'. This here's my yard!

 

[BY Bob]

So glad that Moon is on the mend.

I adore snakes, provided they are not venomous and frightened .
Such beautiful, soft, smooth creatures.

I agree. They are very cool creatures. I love the feel of them, warm and dry as they are. They serve a good purpose too controlling the mice.

 

[BY Bob]

I love your "way back" adventures. Even it it makes me tear up sometimes....

Excuse me while I blow my nose...

It's a very sentimental thing for me and I have to be in the right mind to do it. So many wonderful dear friends that are no longer here. It was great to remember them all for a while yesterday.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, I made a tactical error while my girls were out free ranging.

The husband and I were assessing what wood we had lying about to make my long roosting coop with and, as it happened to be afternoon tea time and I felt peckish, I brought out some rice crackers and hummus to snack on.

All the girls came running! I had to shoo them away so I could eat!
It didn't deter them much though and they all had a bit of the remaining hummus for afternoon tea.

Who da thunk?

Hummus is like a thing with mine too. They would knock me down, if they could, to get at it.

We can eat nothing outside without Hattie staring at us waiting patiently for her part. Much like the dog used to do. Others will eventually get bored and leave but not Hattie. Not until she gets something.

 

[BY Bob]

Due Date

@Ali James asked a good question this morning.

When is Sydney 'due', as it were?!

I have actually not calculated it out before now, can you believe it?!

Today is 10 days to hatch so that would make hatch day......June 17. That's just 2 days before I head to my see my daughter in Detroit to celebrate Father's Day!

Yikes!

That is cutting it close. Does anyone know how accurate 21 days is?

Preparing

Also, while I am thinking about it, what do I need to have on hand for Sydney and the chicks? I'm assuming I need special feed, lower watering dishes.

Please advise all you experienced hatchers.

 

[BY Bob]

On Duty

Hattie is on duty this morning

So that Aurora can do this in safety.

 

[BY Bob]

On Duty

Hattie is on duty this morning
View attachment 2181356

So that Aurora can do this in safety.

View attachment 2181357

It got too hot. She moved to the shade.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm sorry they put you through it. Of course I'm sure it is perfectly normal and I know you are doing the right thing by letting it play out. I'm just glad no one was seriously injured.

I find it really hard. There is nothing I can do to make a better situation.