Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Life went bonkers.

Over the weekend, shifted departments at work....except had a perpetually changing date (no one knew exactly what was going on). Shift is done.

Went to in-laws after work Monday to help process a bison (they fell into opportunity). Going back on friday/Saturday to process the other one. Cutting and steaks were done by the time I got there. Double ground, weighed, and packaged roughly 100 pounds of burger. Didn't get home until late.

Woke early Tuesday. Started coffee pot, went to feed critters. Back to coffee to pour first cup...pot not working....check over, make sure no blockages...it won't even try. Head to town, gas up, get coffee, find place to run Sherlock, head home just in time to let out chickens and leave for work.

It's been THAT sort of a week...

View attachment 3732920Happy birds

New Coffee pot soon?

Yea I was freaking out - my vet is in Florida I would have had to call in a vet from over an hr away. My friends hubby leaves for work at 5am - my BIL is retired and doesn’t get up till 11 (WTH?!) or answer the phone till then.

So I would have had trouble finding someone to help haul he up. For a flash of a second I figured I could hook her to the pickup an drag her to more solid ground - I guess she read my mind because she gave this great heave ho struggle skating around on the ice and was up - I laughed and cried all at once sheesh!

I am getting too old for that crap.

Age whining tax
More chooks on Mnt Poopmore from the weekend
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Awwww and is t Betty just so darn tootin cute with her curly locks?
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That Betty is going to steal some

 

[featherhead007]

Sir knight was listening to me when I was calling him names. I do it all the time, but when I called him “my little brown buddy” he seemed to take offense to that. He stood up and wham! Cocorico!!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

It rained again last night and this morning. It's set to come back next week. The mud will become even worse. Great.
At least the chooks like to scratch in it.

Tax:

 

[BY Bob]

I find my heavier girls will lay right through the cold unless it is bitter, bitter cold (like below 0 F for multiple days - then they might 'skip' a day). The lighter ones (weight wise, not color wise) tend to stop if there is deep cold for more than a day. But, I also find that the heavier girls are more likely to take a short break (like, an extra day or two off, or space out the eggs - such as every other day instead of 3 or 4 days in a row) when it is super hot. They each have their stressors - just which it is depends on their build. That said - my BRs are good layers, but not 'super layers' like the Leghorns, so I am glad Glynda and @RebeccaBoyd 's suspects are taking some time off - even if it meant we had to deal with close to 0F weather here for a few days to a week!

I know I'm not upset that she is taking time off. 1 hen laying is more than enough eggs for us.

 

[BY Bob]

I'll dig up some pictures of the stuff.
A table that sits in the corner. They get on top, they go underneath. Doubled the space in that corner.
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This is one of the feed stations. The back is to a wall, but about 15" away, so they can run behind it, out of sight for a moment.
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The dirty thing to the right of Robin is the Chicknic table. Another thing to be on top of, and I have a bowl of their feed underneath too. I can't find the picture of this when it was first built.
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All 3 of those are either built from pallet or scrap wood.

The "balance beam" log. The fence is from the chicks' integration last summer.
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The ramp to nowhere. The chicken climb it and dig around under it.
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A cool stump. That's Middle, mid-molt last year.
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I really like to use stuff that they can be on or under. Adds some space.

I love the different entertainment choices you have provided. Nicely done

 

[featherhead007]

I’m not upset that Dakota decided to perch on my knee with her cold muddy feets. But I still called her names. That redheaded girly fart tart!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

"Ooh, They look good, but I can't reach them!"

"I'll get them for you!"

 

[featherhead007]

I’m not upset that Dakota decided to perch on my knee with her cold muddy feets. But I still called her names. That redheaded girly fart tart!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

7 egg haul today!

 

[featherhead007]

Does this look like a bird that is wanting to go home to the coop?