Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Maybe @RoyalChick could loan you Eli & Babs??? They would teach your chooks how to properly utilize those tree branches!

My girls LOVE it.
@TX Chick Noob
Here are a few pictures of it: (Please excuse it's current condition - I've had for about 5 years now, and probably should be replacing the 'bag' and cleaning it up a bit!View attachment 3408882View attachment 3408883
And all it cost me was the screws to add the rails, roosts, and bottom board (not visible) to give the leggs a bit more support.

I also repurposed a free curio cabinet that someone was giving away because the curved glass in th e door broke. I removed all other glass (kept mirrors), replaced glass shelf with scrap plywood cut to size & added a roost, drilled holes and added some eye bolts to hang treats and such - again, except for hardware (eye bolts, screws) all was free/scraps. My dustbath (a mortar tub that had been built into a raised water table for kids) I got at Habitat for Humanity for $5, and attached some roosts off of it. My chickens love and utilize all 3 things regularly!

Curio cabinet: (dust bath in background)

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Dust bath with added branch roosts:View attachment 3408887
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Edited to add: @TX Chick Noob : If you look closely at the right lower side of the curio cabinet - you will see one of the plant extended hooks I suggested earlier - that is one of the many I use to hang apples, cabbage, etc. Some grocery stores have 'getting close to need to be used' area for veggies & fruit. i am able to snag a bag of apples once every few weeks - usually at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost - to hang for them. (I go through pretty much 1 full plastic bag per 'hanging' given the # of chooks I have. However, the apples are usually still in good enough shape you could use some to make bakes apples for you and hubby as a desert. (when I make mine, I core the apples, fill the core-hole with raisins or dried cranberries, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake until tender. YUMMMMMY ( and, while does have a lot of carbs, is definitely a healthier desert than most.) That way you could use a bag of apples - between you & the chooks - before they go bad.

RE: Babs and Eli - NO! haha!

Buttercup and Misty already freak me out enough with their escaping all the time! When I get home I am going to make sure they are not able to get out of that Rooster Run at all. Then Babs and Eli can come and visit all they want

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine would revolt if they knew there was a mouse that I was keeping from them. They are little carnivores. I also had a question answered yesterday that I really deep down did not want the answer to. I've told you all that they stalk the wild birds and chase them if they come in the yard. In a way I've kind of wondered, but really did not want to know what would happen if they ever managed to catch one. Yesterday a poor cardinal was not quick enough. Raven managed to snag it. It's death was quick and then a chase ensued of several of the hens wanting Raven's prize. In the end, there was much chasing playing keep away and then all interest was lost. After they had their fun, and a few more pecks at it they all walked away and ignored it. I hope the squirrel that is brave and comes into the yard saw this. They do not like him either and chase him every chance he gets. Hopefully he was watching and learned his lesson to not cross the creek.

Holy crap-a-doodle

Wow - just wow!!! That is terrifying! I know I joke about telling my mum not to fall down in the barn, they would be all over her.... but in the back of my mind I always wonder - what if???

 

[bgmathteach]

She is a lovely big fluffy lady! Do you know what she weighs?

I am guestimating, as I don't have a scale, but between 8 & 9 lbs...probably closer to the 9, as she feels about as heavy as a 10lb. hand weight - but some of that is probably the awkwardness of holding her on my forearm versus how you hold a hand weight.

 

[Ponypoor]

Eli is planning on giving flying lessons on BeakBook. Be afraid chicken tenders. Very afraid!
I love the curio cabinet. I use those mortar tubs too but for the kitty litter trays. Eli and Babs had them to bathe in during quarantine. I like the built up idea.

Tax: lesson 1 in Eli’s flying school - Babs needed some one on one instruction
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I absolutely LOVE that photo It has a sort of disturbing quality to it, but it is a good catch!

 

[Ponypoor]

Happy Caturday!
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Ooooo Jungle Kitty - what a Pretty Kitty - love her colour.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thank you.
I think maybe I am ready to get another one like her. She was very special so I am not sure yet.

Did Bernie lay another egg today? I am all balled up today can't keep up!

 

[rural mouse]

Congratulations! 3.5hrs is not so far away I make that trip from camp to Peace River every Sunday for groceries! Can't wait to see photos of them!

1) Quarantine: they will be pretty big at 12 weeks of age - esp being Brahmas
Can you make a temporary coop for them in your garage? I am told they don't fly much so you could likely get away with a 3' wall. I would aim for a 10x10 area if you can't free range them for a couple hrs a day.

2) Integration: If you can split your run up into 2 sections, they can see but not touch each other. I did this with Mr P, he could see the ladies but not touch them.

I am sure your group will be fine with them, I am eggcited to see them when you get them!

3 foot wall could still be gotten over if they get curious....

 

[featherhead007]

I absolutely LOVE that photo It has a sort of disturbing quality to it, but it is a good catch!

That pic gave me a nightmare when I first saw it. (Or it might have been the burger I had)

 

[featherhead007]

It’s my mouse, I caught it, and I don’t want to share it!

There’s another one in the trap now too. Mice attract each other I think.
I don’t like it when they disc the fields around here. Critters run for cover, and straight into my yard.

 

[bgmathteach]

Calling all enablers!!

I have secured my Blue Partridge Brahmas (3 pullets) but they are 12 weeks old and will be arriving at some point in the next couple of weeks. They are 3.5 hrs away so its still being determined if I will drive to go get them or have them shipped. All depends on shipping costs.

I need to mentally review the steps for properly bring in new flock members. Help me if I am missing anything.

1. Quarantine (30 days): will my brooder tent work set up in the garage likely suffice for this length of time?
2. Integration - need to acquire a round pen like for small dogs so they can see each other but not hurt one another or would a large dog kennel be more ideal?

I don't know how big your brooder tent is - so not sure on that. If it is in the garage, you might be able to add what I'm referencing below for the integration piece to your brooder tent to give them more space.

For the integration piece: I'm assuming you mean something like this. If you put it against the run or coop wall, so it could be more like 4' deep by 8' long* ( using 8' of a coop wall as 4th 'wall'), to give them 32 sq. feet of space - instead of the 16 sq. feet the pen would give by itself, it would be enough. Just note that you would need to put something over the top, such as left over chicken wire or mesh or something - even scrap plywood if you have it. The spaces between the panel wires are wide enough to slip a 1" to 1.5" X 4' long dowel through at the 8" high crosswire for some roosting space. ( brace it in place with a ball bungie or 10" bungie cords at each end & stretched tight around the wire framing to keep it from sliding, rolling and moving in general)

* 2 panels wide sticking out from wall (4')...4 panels long (8') , then the last 2 panels to turn & return to the coop wall again)

Sorry, I am such a math geek, and think in imagery/spatially that sometimes what I'm imagining doesn't always translate well for others...I hope this makes sense. If not, I can draw a crude sketch that might help.