Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Goldie is home now. While we are confident that her leg will heal it will never be 100 percent. I thought it over and believe I will build a small chicken tractor for her and Itty-bitty. Probably 4 x 8 feet with about 30 inches closed in for a coop section. I'll put the top on hinges so in the evening we can help her get into the coop to be protected from the elements. Any ideas are appreciated. We know we can't put her with her flock but we want her to have a good quality of life.

I think that is a great idea. I don't have any experience with tractors, but @Kris5902 uses them and may have some suggestions

I certainly look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[Ponypoor]

I don’t even know what to think about Xzit. She’s acting broody, but in my experience, I have never seen a golfball hatch . If she lays another egg, I will keep it as it is, where it is, and mark it with a crayon.

And you can give her a few from the other hens also.

I gave Henny Penny 4 eggs one each from four hens

 

[Ponypoor]

Curly update

It looks like Curly might have Fluffy in with her
She hasn't left that nest all day.

Will go out shortly and see what's up.

 

[featherhead007]

And you can give her a few from the other hens also.

I gave Henny Penny 4 eggs one each from four hens

I went back to check on her and she was gone. She had laid her egg and then left the nest to go play with the other chooks.
I don’t see broody about her , at least not dedication. Her eggs have always been the same shape and color.

 

[featherhead007]

Xzit having some corn

 

[bgmathteach]

Goldie is home now. While we are confident that her leg will heal it will never be 100 percent. I thought it over and believe I will build a small chicken tractor for her and Itty-bitty. Probably 4 x 8 feet with about 30 inches closed in for a coop section. I'll put the top on hinges so in the evening we can help her get into the coop to be protected from the elements. Any ideas are appreciated. We know we can't put her with her flock but we want her to have a good quality of life.

Hi @GregnLety ,

This is a really good start. There are tons of options regarding tractors, so look around at lots of options before making a final decision.

These are just some thoughts: she will probably be able to use a ramp, as long as it isn't too steep. Here is a site with lots of grip tapes (I'm sure you are well aware of lots of kinds given your line of work). I think I would make at least 3' of the 8' length* enclosed for the coop. You can have that enclosed part raised anywhere from 18" to 30" for lots of space under, so you will have the full 32 square fee of 'run' space....plus the then 12 sq. feet 'coop' space. You may, at some point, end up putting another chicken in their beyond the two, because another one may have an issue (you could even make the coop part 4' long, so 16 square feel) this will still give you plenty of space for a 'high roost' for Itty Bitty, ?and Goldie if she can fly?, and another hen or roo if you end up giving them another friend. Remember, extra space is always better than not enough - and gives you flexibility for the future.

*remember, part of that space will be nest box(es)

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Hello everyone, I've been on very sporadically, trying to keep up with everyone. The Weekly Synopsis has been great, thank you so much to the scribes!
All is well here. Got some photos -

A few days ago Hazel (left) giving Butters a lesson in not being uppity. Hazel sternly faced her down till she relented. Butters needs regular reminding! In a way, I feel bad for her, it's either her position in the tribe (#3) or her personality, but she gets in little scraps with Hazel (#2) and Popcorn (#4, bottom) pretty frequently.

Peanut sunbathing in the little trench of the drip line of the garage barn. It didn't look like a relaxing experience, but extremely satisfying. In human terms it looked more like a yoga or Pilates position than what we would do while taking in the sun! Foot firmly dug into the grass. Wing held out. Body pressed hard against the warm ground. Ahhhh...

Even yesterday and today, when it was 78F in the shade, while I was all concerned about their heat tolerance and went around putting more shade cloth up, the group really wanted to dust bathe and sunbathe out in the sun instead. Well it was slightly shady over there. That's toward where their summer run will be.

The Big Run with some shade, nobody cared.

Where they all wanted to be, all happily bathing and softly bokking and baking in the heat. I didn't want to get close as that would have disturbed them.

Two fluffy butts this evening, Peanut (right) and Hazel. Of course Hazel's the one keeping an eye on me...

 

[LhickenChicken]

You know you're a tech geek when.....

You dig out your extra web cam and install it so you can spy on the baby chickies.

View attachment 3467766

Guess they have gone to sleep!

Why spy? Why not get them all excited?

 

[Ponypoor]

I went back to check on her and she was gone. She had laid her egg and then left the nest to go play with the other chooks.
I don’t see broody about her , at least not dedication. Her eggs have always been the same shape and color.View attachment 3467825

Well we know she can go broody, so it's just a waiting game
It's still early in the season.
That's a lovely egg BTW.

 

[Ponypoor]

Why spy? Why not get them all excited?

I need do other work, can't sit watching them all day!