Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Read the book, much better and a classic, Tolkien was a wonderful author, he wrote extremely vivid, and fanciful tales Lovely tales to pass the time reading quietly.

Here is a synopsis of the book:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit

Some story tellers have wonderfully vivid imaginations and an understanding of how to entertain their audiences. They are true Bards.

Definitely read the books. I have read and re-read them multiple times. I won't see the movies though because the books are so vivid in my mind.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well being broody is contagious they say. Though so far all I have had are Fluffy and Curly.

What are the odds of Bernie going broody? is her breed known for this? Imagine if you will, 3 of them all at once being broody! I actually don't mind them being broody, they are contained and other than my dragging them off the nest a couple times a day, they stay in one spot so I can easily count them. Like having a baby - feed, change diapers, sleep... It's when they are Teens they are trouble haha!

I am going to owe taxes and will post later when I can get my photos posted.

Don't even whisper that thought!
Eli pecks me hard enough when I drag her out - I am truly terrified of the idea that Bernie would do that. I seriously would have to wear gardening gloves.

 

[rural mouse]

Been a while since I was active, gonna post and then catch up. My semester is over! I passed my classes!

Put wood chips down in the run since the chicks have managed to kill all the grass already.
View attachment 3508630
It being poo and sand was grossing me out so bad.

Something about the wood chips makes this feel so official.
View attachment 3508631View attachment 3508632

Electric netting went up.
View attachment 3508633View attachment 3508642
So now there's more room to explore, although I'd like to get some more shade going and some more interesting things in the area.

And the water tank got an autofiller and updated cups. The cups don't drip!
View attachment 3508635View attachment 3508636
I originally had some knockoff rac cups, which is the bottom one in that pic. They dripped like crazy!

The integration of the hen and rooster into the chick flock is as good as it's going to get, I think, until the chicks begin laying. They avoid her and stay out of her way, but she doesn't chase them and peck at them.
View attachment 3508663
It's also crazy to see them side by side, since most of the barred rocks are practically the same size as her.

My rooster, who is still skittish of me, is no longer panicked at the very sight of a human shadow. And his comb and wattle, which were scabbed and pecked at when I first got him, are showing vast improvements.
View attachment 3508648View attachment 3508649View attachment 3508650

Those are fayoumi, right? Beauties and reputed to be fantastic foragers and predator alert. Should help teach the littles a lot!

 

[RoyalChick]

Been a while since I was active, gonna post and then catch up. My semester is over! I passed my classes!

Put wood chips down in the run since the chicks have managed to kill all the grass already.
View attachment 3508630
It being poo and sand was grossing me out so bad.

Something about the wood chips makes this feel so official.
View attachment 3508631View attachment 3508632

Electric netting went up.
View attachment 3508633View attachment 3508642
So now there's more room to explore, although I'd like to get some more shade going and some more interesting things in the area.

And the water tank got an autofiller and updated cups. The cups don't drip!
View attachment 3508635View attachment 3508636
I originally had some knockoff rac cups, which is the bottom one in that pic. They dripped like crazy!

The integration of the hen and rooster into the chick flock is as good as it's going to get, I think, until the chicks begin laying. They avoid her and stay out of her way, but she doesn't chase them and peck at them.
View attachment 3508663
It's also crazy to see them side by side, since most of the barred rocks are practically the same size as her.

My rooster, who is still skittish of me, is no longer panicked at the very sight of a human shadow. And his comb and wattle, which were scabbed and pecked at when I first got him, are showing vast improvements.
View attachment 3508648View attachment 3508649View attachment 3508650

Welcome back and congratulations on the exams. Looks like you are getting a good home for them set up. I bet they like the woodchips.
I too use the electric netting and I have been planting shrubs to give them shade. Word of advice, net them off and put stones or bricks around their base until they are well established. My lot managed to dig up a year-old 3' high shrub down to the root ball in just two hours. Ugh!

 

[Ponypoor]

If it is dry you can use a misting system to give them some cool.
You can spend money and buy a misting system that would run off a garden hose and faucet - they are often sold for people together with patio umbrellas.
Or you can go simple and cheap and just hang wet towels around the place. As they dry they cool the air.
Those methods work less well when it is humid but even in my humidity I had some luck cooling the Chicken Palace by hanging a wet sheet with a fan placed outside the Palace blowing towards the sheet.
It is a nice practical application of science and it is cool (pun intended) when you see it work for real.

Yes that is true Physics in action Evaporative Cooling

I may try this in the Hen House this summer (if it ever gets hot ha!). It is less effective in humid locations (like where I live), but worth a try at any rate.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes that is true Physics in action Evaporative Cooling

I may try this in the Hen House this summer (if it ever gets hot ha!). It is less effective in humid locations (like where I live), but worth a try at any rate.

I didn’t think it would work with my humidity but it really did. I placed a fan outside (away from the dust) and it blew through the hardware cloth over the open window onto the wet sheet.
I think the fan made a big difference in a humid environment. In a dry environment you could probably just wet the soil and get a good cooling result.

 

[rural mouse]

You are good!
Calypso is an Ameraucana - from a line of show birds not an Easter Egger by another name. She is indeed a black beauty - I need to get some pictures of her - she already has a fabulous tail and like Tassels she is mostly feathered but with a bit of a rumpled look around the neck.
You know how I love black chickens so she and Tassels just take my breath away.
Tassels' tassels turned black a week or so ago - they were pale grey before that.
I think her heritage is Marans x Ameraucana but I may have got that wrong. You know - pretty black chicken and I am done!

The tassels would come in from the French marans. If she's supposed to lay olive eggs, then marans or barnevelder would be the most likely for the dark brown paint sprayer crossed over the blue egg ameaucana to get olive rather than green eggs. The barnies don't have feathered feet. Anyway, glad they all have names, are giving the weeds a run on growth rates and are exploring the Palace with the adult ladies. More than likely, there will be some space between them until eggs start. They're still darling.

 

[RoyalChick]

Part of my anti-tick defenses.
It is a mosquito net that goes over my cap and down over my shoulders.

 

[Ponypoor]

Been a while since I was active, gonna post and then catch up. My semester is over! I passed my classes!

Put wood chips down in the run since the chicks have managed to kill all the grass already.
View attachment 3508630
It being poo and sand was grossing me out so bad.

Something about the wood chips makes this feel so official.
View attachment 3508631View attachment 3508632

Electric netting went up.
View attachment 3508633View attachment 3508642
So now there's more room to explore, although I'd like to get some more shade going and some more interesting things in the area.

And the water tank got an autofiller and updated cups. The cups don't drip!
View attachment 3508635View attachment 3508636
I originally had some knockoff rac cups, which is the bottom one in that pic. They dripped like crazy!

The integration of the hen and rooster into the chick flock is as good as it's going to get, I think, until the chicks begin laying. They avoid her and stay out of her way, but she doesn't chase them and peck at them.
View attachment 3508663
It's also crazy to see them side by side, since most of the barred rocks are practically the same size as her.

My rooster, who is still skittish of me, is no longer panicked at the very sight of a human shadow. And his comb and wattle, which were scabbed and pecked at when I first got him, are showing vast improvements.
View attachment 3508648View attachment 3508649View attachment 3508650

Your Roo is a lovely boy - I love his eyes! I think I saw someone post they are Fayoumi - right? I will read ahead to see.

The place looks great! Oh and congratulations on completing and passing your semester

 

[RoyalChick]

The tassels would come in from the French marans. If she's supposed to lay olive eggs, then marans or barnevelder would be the most likely for the dark brown paint sprayer crossed over the blue egg ameaucana to get olive rather than green eggs. The barnies don't have feathered feet. Anyway, glad they all have names, are giving the weeds a run on growth rates and are exploring the Palace with the adult ladies. More than likely, there will be some space between them until eggs start. They're still darling.

Yes. Definitely Marans is in the mix because I needed reassuring about the feathered feet.
For the blue he has Legbars and Ameraucanas and I don't remember which her other parent was.
She is cute though. And black!