Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

All of us on time zones ahead of you?
Are you in Hawaii?
Agree you can consider FBA educational.

Not in Hawaii. Far West Texas.

 

[notabitail]

I think @BY Bob had his chickens knocking on the big coop's door. Mine do the same thing.

 

[notabitail]

 

[bgmathteach]

I see she has claimed dibs on the remote! Better watch it, she will take over your laptop next, and be on Beakbook all day long!

 

[featherhead007]

But does she fly better than Phyllis?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/urvjhw1ff365nlz/20230404_102252.mp4?dl=0

Probably not, but Marie flies higher than Phyllis:

 

[RoyalChick]

I think @BY Bob had his chickens knocking on the big coop's door. Mine do the same thing. View attachment 3470900View attachment 3470901View attachment 3470902

Love that!

 

[Ponypoor]

Hector is the good boy....mostly. he's the incredibly patient one who escorted Nox all over the yard when she was looking for a place to lay getting started...and got completely ignored. He's also the one who tried to squish Twirp...who Karate kicked him. She still pushes him around. He's the one who tries to thump Horus and Kren when they're trying to double team a girl. I've watched him knock one or the other off, then turn around to nail the other sneaking in while the one is getting thumped. Jessica has decided He's her roo.

Obviously there's still quite a bit of jockeying for the girls. Kren has decided Thing is his...she's not so enamored with the idea, but does turn towards him to avoid the others. Maizie seems to be ok with Horus....some of the time. There's still a lot of attempted hen stealing. Cuckoo is glued to Cheetah's side. Whiskey is firmly entrenched as Cheetah's second. Twirp and Storm blithely go where they like and thump any boy at their own whims. Silver and Pear have been staying with Hector and the Idiots, but aren't exactly receptive of their attentions. Recognizing the youthfulness of the group and helping educate, I think.

Oh, and Horus is showing his mother's propensity for screaming. I took Thing out for some much needed scratching time (her nails are a bit on the long side). She was out of sight...he started the same type of screaming Nellie does when she wants to lay and her chosen location is occupied/someone is too close to her spot. Kren echoed the bukbuk scream, but NO ONE can match Horus or Nellie for volume on that.

Now that is true daytime drama at its best!

 

[RoyalChick]

View attachment 3470903
View attachment 3470904
View attachment 3470905

I do love those crazy combs.

 

[GregnLety]

Nope, here they are:
(Had to wait until Hubby got home, couldn't find the charger!)

So, note the following:
1)I forgot hinges & latch for rear door to clean out coop; can do large door entire width (so it would be ~4' wide by 2.5' high), or do double doors, each 2' wide (ish) X 2.5' high for cleanout.

2)Also, I put the roost closer to the back for 2 reasons - give quiet nest box that wouldn't be pooped on (instead of centered from to back of coop) , and since I was making it low (about 6" high...with bedding even 'lower', so that Goldie could get up on it AND wouldn't hurt legs hopping down....if it was closer to front (instead of back), she would have to get over it to get to the nest box. I thought too much higher...she could get under it, but might hurt leg hopping down.

3) I put a 30 degree slope on the roof. Using a 45 degree angle would increase the height in the center about 10"

4) I figured that 4' of roofing on one side would open up. It would give you 'top' access to the coop AND a 1' 'overhang' that would also give you access to the pop door/ramp combo.

5. I assume you could put a lenght of rubber at the peak of the coop about 6" wide tht you would screw ON TOP OF the roofing panels. This would flex for opening the coop proper roof, while still weather proofing. Since I have never done this, I'm guessing. Maybe an 8" wide rubber/flexible strip (4' long) would be better? This isn't included in parts list as I am not sure exactly what you would use, nor how it comes.
6) I assume you could use the 2' ends from rafters as bracing (angles bracing) to give more stability to structure..

To pull/more the coop, and either put eye bolts on sides of base & rope, or drill small holes diagonally through front left & right corner (through both front and side base frame on the diagonal) and run a rope through & knot.

If predator pressure is light during the day, you could put 2 sets of 10" wheels on it - 1 set front & one set back...will still want a rope for pulling, though.
10 " wheels I
10" Wheels II
View attachment 3469869View attachment 3469870View attachment 3469871View attachment 3470072


I do apologize for the crude drawings ahead of time!

I was thinking something like this, but the roof line is the same - coop through run. (better image than mine), but it (mine) is, obviously bigger.

Thanks for sharing @bgmathteach

I am building a simple version for the guinea to stay in during the day. I am letting them out at night to do their patrol and roost where they please. Fortunately predator threat is very low here so for Goldie I think I'll put 4 wheels on her tractor. I'll post pics of the Guinea tractor later today. Goldie's tractor will be much nicer as I am going to borrow some of your ideas for it

 

[GregnLety]

Latest update for Mike: Heart doctor was here. She said the right side of his heart is very weak but he could go home if the medical doctor agreed, she did not agree but moved him to step down care. So another day or so here. Pt had him walk 250 ft.