Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Holy Dinah! Oh My! Well that’s it, I am never letting my gang out ever again

Gosh I am just right there with you on the heart beats going up, I was expecting bad news with Calypso. Sure hope Pooh is ok, I am in the process of catching up here

I just can’t keep them confined all the time. They so love being out. I know I would not stick to that.
Ideas on how to increase protection have been swirling though my head all night.
In the summer I think they have a lot of cover and ironically my original plan for yesterday afternoon was to plant some forsythia cuttings for them to provide still more.
But in winter there is too much leaf loss.
I need more evergreens for them but also some strings or netting over popular areas.
I will keep them in this week because unless Bernie really managed to hurt that hawk, I am sure it will be back.

 

[Marie2020]

I am finally home and it is Thirsty Thursday

It was an eventful trip involving a 24 hour period where I couldn’t open my eyes without vomiting and also this

View attachment 3724026

And with storms in the UK and the East Coast of the US, flying home from Heathrow was a bit bumpy!

It was a good visit but I am exhausted!

This video is from Sunday while I was still away and the snow had blown in to the Chicken Palace. The Princesses appreciate a frozen treat now and then it seems!

I crawled into bed after I got home last night and was immediately snuggled by purring cats, and now the sun is out and I am sitting outside having a conversation with the Princesses.
It is still only Babs and Piglet laying any eggs.

I have more or less been keeping up here but didn’t always have good reception so couldn’t always react or post. Apologies, I didn’t mean to be rude.

And I shouldn’t forget the cutest thing. While I was away the guy fixing gutters in the barn here asked if he could let the chickens out to play and I said yes. He then texted me all excited because Tassels jumped on his lap to see if he had anything good to share!

Wow, what a journey.
Welcome home

What a sweet guy, wanting to interact with your ladies

 

[Marie2020]

I just can’t keep them confined all the time. They so love being out. I know I would not stick to that.
Ideas on how to increase protection have been swirling though my head all night.
In the summer I think they have a lot of cover and ironically my original plan for yesterday afternoon was to plant some forsythia cuttings for them to provide still more.
But in winter there is too much leaf loss.
I need more evergreens for them but also some strings or netting over popular areas.
I will keep them in this week because unless Bernie really managed to hurt that hawk, I am sure it will be back.

I'd be flying some rag or better still a flag to ward off that hawk.

I particularly liked @BY Bob s flag last year

 

[Marie2020]

Marie and Alex, I wish you two were closer right now since you both have been unwell. Big pot of vegetable beef soup is almost done and I would send some to both of you. Hope you both feel better soon.

You're so sweet Rebecca

Alex and I would cause havoc living near each other. Bur I'm sure we'd be really good friends. When I wasn't telling off

 

[Marie2020]

If only!! I’m thinking about going to town for a double bacon cheeseburger 20 miles round trip. But they sure are good.

Junk food again Alex

 

[Marie2020]

Its Caturday already

What about me

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh my gosh!! That’s terrifying! I’m so sorry your day took this direction.
Bernie the roo though Did she make it into the fray? Do you know what type of hawk it was?

I am reminded why I called her Bernadette in the first place. The meaning has to do with being strong or a brave bear.
Bernadette - brave like a bear.
She has lived up to her name. First when she was so bold as a day old chick. Then later as she battled her leg paralysis. And now, running to attack a hawk.
So proud of you Bernie. I really hope you aren’t injured.
I think she was in the fray - I see some long feathers that are too long for Pooh but Bernie/Pooh’s coloring. Could be the hawk’s feathers which was a very similar color. Bernie’s feathers around her head were all mussed up and pointing in different directions. To me it looks like she went in pecking.
I don’t know the type of hawk - honestly initially I thought it was Bernie! @BY Bob thought the method of attack (from within a tree) sounded like a Cooper’s hawk. It must have been a juvenile - it was quite small maybe only a tad bigger than Pooh and smaller than Bernie - I assume Pooh would not have survived a strike by a successful adult hawk.

 

[ManueB]

I just can’t keep them confined all the time. They so love being out. I know I would not stick to that.
Ideas on how to increase protection have been swirling though my head all night.
In the summer I think they have a lot of cover and ironically my original plan for yesterday afternoon was to plant some forsythia cuttings for them to provide still more.
But in winter there is too much leaf loss.
I need more evergreens for them but also some strings or netting over popular areas.
I will keep them in this week because unless Bernie really managed to hurt that hawk, I am sure it will be back.

So glad they are all safe ! And sorry that after such a rough trip you had such a scare.
We have the same issue in winter. We planted evergreens but they will take a few years to grow.
We try to combine a few deterrents : stuff like pallets and small tables to hide under, string and netting in the places that are the most bare, scarecrows that we move around regularly.
I don't want to be an enabler and I'm the first to tell people to think twice about getting a rooster, but I do believe next to a trained protection dog, roosters are the most effective against hawks. No, they won't necessarily attack them, both of mine are in fact rather cowards, but they stand watch all day and will call for alarm and let both the flock and you know that there is a serious danger.

As for Calypso, I've found out some chickens are really good at hiding. They will hide in tiny dark places like a kitten could, in small holes, under hay stacks... Two of mine do this and now I don't panic if I don't find them after an attack because I know they are very hard to find. Calypso will likely do it again.

 

[RoyalChick]

So glad they are all safe ! And sorry that after such a rough trip you had such a scare.
We have the same issue in winter. We planted evergreens but they will take a few years to grow.
We try to combine a few deterrents : stuff like pallets and small tables to hide under, string and netting in the places that are the most bare, scarecrows that we move around regularly.
I don't want to be an enabler and I'm the first to tell people to think twice about getting a rooster, but I do believe next to a trained protection dog, roosters are the most effective against hawks. No, they won't necessarily attack them, both of mine are in fact rather cowards, but they stand watch all day and will call for alarm and let both the flock and you know that there is a serious danger.

As for Calypso, I've found out some chickens are really good at hiding. They will hide in tiny dark places like a kitten could, in small holes, under hay stacks... Two of mine do this and now I don't panic if I don't find them after an attack because I know they are very hard to find. Calypso will likely do it again.

In a way I am happy about Calypso. Easy to say now she is home and I am not crawling around in the bushes.
I know she has the ability to escape and to hide. And the common sense to come home again.
I am assuming she isn’t injured but I will watch her too today.
Today everyone stays in and gets meat and walnuts as treats.
I have an idea about hoisting a netting canopy on ropes from the eaves - a bit like a sail - over their favorite hangout.
Just for the winter. When the leaves are out it is pretty dense vegetation cover which is why they like it.

Here is Sylvie in the spot she froze in. She refused to move for quite a while. And some of the feathers that mark where the battle started - it moved a good 12’ (4m) while they fought.

 

[Ponypoor]

I just can’t keep them confined all the time. They so love being out. I know I would not stick to that.
Ideas on how to increase protection have been swirling though my head all night.
In the summer I think they have a lot of cover and ironically my original plan for yesterday afternoon was to plant some forsythia cuttings for them to provide still more.
But in winter there is too much leaf loss.
I need more evergreens for them but also some strings or netting over popular areas.
I will keep them in this week because unless Bernie really managed to hurt that hawk, I am sure it will be back.

Yes I know what you mean, my gang is so happy being out and about, I also run through ways I can keep them safe. Realistically I don’t know how I can put anything over top of the yard at the barn, I drive back there too often.

I have half arse plans for putting a hoop roof over the alleyway between the paddocks and the run, it’s 16’ wide and about 100’ long. So that’s rather pricy to do.

Next summer we will see what I can do to protect them, meanwhile they can stay inside for the winter - it’s too cold for them outside.

Have you had a chance to check them today?