Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

My town, homeless people would visit that container all day long.

And I would be OK with that too.

 

[featherhead007]

And I would be OK with that too.

But the extra stuff is supposed to be for the chooks

 

[featherhead007]

Also, many food banks are also available, and I actually work at one often. Then there’s also food stamps available, and churches here are always open to help with food and other needs.
Something has to be saved for the chooks!

 

[GregnLety]

No pics today, had to do chores. While it was a nice sunny day I applied herbicide to my pond and finished the rebuild of the picnic table. Still need to flip the table on it's end and paint underneath but my back and shoulder forced me to tap out for now.

 

[ValarieF]

Hi Everyone,
I was just thinking - don't know if Corned Beef and Cabbage is as popular around St. Patty's day in other places like it is here in New England....but while at the grocery yesterday, went to pick up a cabbage...and there was a LOT of outer leaves that people had pulled off in the cabbage bin. Well, I grabbed most of them and asked the produce clerk if I could take them for my chickens - he said "Sure, saves me the work of picking them up and disposing of them. If they say anything at check-out, tell'em Mike said you could have them" Girls loved them today - all gone!!

This is what I usually use for greens and such for the girls.


Also, been thinking about a couple different posts over the last few days:

@RoyalChick & @ValarieF
In my chickens' defense, they were going over the 5' fence before I put up the additional snow fence. What they have learned, they never unlearn - so they were determined to still get over that fence and 'free-range' The one that would fly into the snow fence at the 5' mark, she couldn't get the lift to land on top of the snow fence, but she was determined to be able to get out. And the dirty buggar taught some others her trick!
When my chickens would land on the top of the snow fence, it would give a little, and they looked just like @RebeccaBoyd 's marshmallows on the tarp. So, the wire on top like RC suggested will probably work for some, and will be more effective IF it is done BEFORE they learn to fly over the fence. That said, I still think it is a risk, especially with dogs on the other side.

Taxes for the long post:

See how the girls use the coffee table to 'avoid the attentions' of the Roo:View attachment 3413998View attachment 3413999

My little friend with her private feeding:View attachment 3414000

Winter wonderland this morning:
View attachment 3413997

Yeah I will expand to more open are but Im going to enclose it all. I think they are safer that way.

 

[rural mouse]

I don’t know where the bad weather went, but it’s sunshine and warm out now. The chooks are out playing in the sun.

Just got home thermometer reads -2F. One on the car was reading -6F.

Those are NOT clouds hiding the mountains. That's the wind picking up the snowy powder from the last couple of days and redistributing it...again. I'll take your BAD weather and call it good.

Last week's warmer temps

 

[rural mouse]

Aww. Just went and gathered eggs and changed out the frozen waterer (it never got above 32 today and the wind was cold) and I think my handsome Manny has a bit of frostbite on his comb. It rained all day yesterday and then dropped into the low 20's. Strange it would happen now when it got way colder this winter. Was it the damp? Anything to do for it? He really doesn't let me catch him. View attachment 3413970View attachment 3413971

Yes, That does look like frostbite. LEAVE IT ALONE. At this stage, it's painful and messing with it makes it hurt more and can lead to infection. Doesn't look bad. More like he'll keep the points.

A bad case looks more like poor Whiskey here

Eventually, he lost most of it

Pre frostbite glory

 

[featherhead007]

Finally raining here. My indoor rooster is actually indoors tonight. Jaffar has had a long day.

 

[Lilion]

A bad case looks more like poor Whiskey hereView attachment 3414058

Eventually, he lost most of itView attachment 3414057

Pre frostbite gloryView attachment 3414063

Poor baby! What a pretty comb he had.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine are much the same. Any interaction must be initiated by them or they run. I could get them if I had to but probably only at night when they are roosted. They will occasionally come visit me but they are gone like a flash if I reach out to touch them. I am okay with letting them decide. I love just watching their antics.

I make it a habit to make sure all my chooks are good with being handled. I need to worm them, check them for any injury, catch them out in the field running amok.... I don't want them panicking when I pick them up. Everyone of them I can walk up to and pick up - whether they want it or not! But of course after I pick them up they get a treat so they really quickly know that if they get picked up they get treats hahaha.

The only issue is with Mr P, he is very flighty as he wasn't really socialized much, I guess, before I got him. I do make a point of picking him up off the roost some mornings and bringing him out to the girls some mornings. This way he isn't too freaked out if I have to handling him at times. Also I am too old to be chasing them around - they run faster than I do