Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

HOLY CRAP!!!

It just swooped across the yard at my eye level. Right across the pool. It was not after the ladies, this time. I was standing in it's way, just in case It just swooped past me like I was no concern.

Make sure your chickens are safe.

Also, I think Aurora's poop is royal, not holy.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Interesting Notes

Good News
Aurora spotted it. Everyone did as they should. It was not interested in them from what I could tell.

Bad News
As usual, it is not afraid of me.

Aurora alarmed and all the song birds went quiet. Not the other way around. I think she spotted it first.

I noticed that first.

Éowyn was out with us. She stopped and looked towards the tree. That started me looking in that direction for the threat.

Then the hawk chirped. I know that sound is one a Cooper's Hawk makes and that's how I found it in the tree.

At least you and your chickens are safe! I get hawks here too, but none of them have gotten my chickens. The roosters alarm first and everyone runs away while the hawk flies over.

 

[Ponypoor]

HOLY CRAP!!!

It just swooped across the yard at my eye level. Right across the pool. It was not after the ladies, this time. I was standing in it's way, just in case It just swooped past me like I was no concern.

Holy crap! Whoa Nelly

I am so glad you have that additional netting up, and really glad Aurora was so vigilant

 

[bgmathteach]

An alternate theory of the crime.
Another break-in at the Chicken Palace. Once again chaos in the servant quarters.
No eggs to break as I took yesterday’s haul into the house.
That is Calypso up in the rafters and Tassels up on the storage box.
Not pictured but Pooh was there too up on a storage shelf. Suspicious that she was present at both events - maybe not as sweet and innocent as she appears!
We know Calypso is a flyer - she was the one that flew away during the hawk attack a few weeks ago. And Pooh is small and a Legbar so she too can fly. But I think they all got in via the rafters as all doors were securely closed. So even hefty Tassels is able to go up there!
Both Tassels and Calypso flew down and out without difficulty. Pooh had got herself cornered on the shelf and I had to persuade her to take a ride on a broom handle.
I heard the kerfuffle and thought that maybe a fox had got inside the Chicken Palace even though I was right outside by the only entrance watching for crows.
Initially I couldn’t get in because they had knocked brooms and stuff over blocking the door.
I am not sure what I can do to prevent this. It seems that the spirit of Eli lives on and they are remembering her lessons about hanging out on the rafters!
Never a dull day with chickens!
View attachment 3744908

I know it will be a pain to get up there, but you could close off the rafter access to the servant quarters with wire - or even some screening. I suspect that now they know they can get in - and they had a very yummy treat the first time - it WILL continue to happen unless some exclusionary measures are taken.

 

[bgmathteach]

I have been looking in the rafters to see how I could screen it. For various structural issues it is not easy to do without impeding my ventilation baffles (closed at the moment, but open in the summer), or creating a loft that they will sit on and rain poop down on my head!
If you remember I screened the whole space and it still didn't stop Eli from getting up there.
Sigh.

How do the baffles work? Can you take pictures of the baffles - maybe both open and closed so I can see how they operate and are attached? I have a bit of a thought, but need to see how they operate and might/might not be impeded by what I am thnking.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Well I didn’t fool the chickens. Let’s hope the crows are at least curious enough to come find the peanuts!

I just tried my crow call. It sounds pretty realistic to me and gets good reviews from turkey hunters who claim it makes the wild turkeys believe there are crows in the area.

The idea is to call the crows a provide peanuts for them out in the middle of the field where the squirrels are less likely to venture.

No crows have responded so far. But the chickens all froze in place. They stood stock still like this for several minutes after I sounded the crow call.
View attachment 3744837

There is the predator call from crows, when they are mobbing it, and there's a more regular call, a contact call. That's the one you want to mimic. At least you have a good call to warn your chickens with.

An alternate theory of the crime.
Another break-in at the Chicken Palace. Once again chaos in the servant quarters.
No eggs to break as I took yesterday’s haul into the house.
That is Calypso up in the rafters and Tassels up on the storage box.
Not pictured but Pooh was there too up on a storage shelf. Suspicious that she was present at both events - maybe not as sweet and innocent as she appears!
We know Calypso is a flyer - she was the one that flew away during the hawk attack a few weeks ago. And Pooh is small and a Legbar so she too can fly. But I think they all got in via the rafters as all doors were securely closed. So even hefty Tassels is able to go up there!
Both Tassels and Calypso flew down and out without difficulty. Pooh had got herself cornered on the shelf and I had to persuade her to take a ride on a broom handle.
I heard the kerfuffle and thought that maybe a fox had got inside the Chicken Palace even though I was right outside by the only entrance watching for crows.
Initially I couldn’t get in because they had knocked brooms and stuff over blocking the door.
I am not sure what I can do to prevent this. It seems that the spirit of Eli lives on and they are remembering her lessons about hanging out on the rafters!
Never a dull day with chickens!
View attachment 3744908

I agree with @bgmathteach and her idea of screening, which is flexible & easy to work with and you can staple it. I would go from the outside of the header right up to the ridge beam. Outside will prevent them from perching on the headers.

1. Left side of picture - I would cut the screening wider to staple to the double cross tie (is that what it's called?) "in the way" on one side of it and then go straight up over it up to the ridge beam. On the other side you can go straight up next to the cross tie.

2. Right side - Same in that you go straight up to the roof rafter and ridge beam, with one side a bit wider so you can accommodate that plank on the header there.

3. Continue all around as necessary. Then see what happens.

I have been looking in the rafters to see how I could screen it. For various structural issues it is not easy to do without impeding my ventilation baffles (closed at the moment, but open in the summer), or creating a loft that they will sit on and rain poop down on my head!
If you remember I screened the whole space and it still didn't stop Eli from getting up there.
Sigh.

You only need to close off the access to the Servants' Quarters, that area has something to do with the ventilation baffles?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

There is the predator call from crows, when they are mobbing it, and there's a more regular call, a contact call. That's the one you want to mimic. At least you have a good call to warn your chickens with.


I agree with @bgmathteach and her idea of screening, which is flexible & easy to work with and you can staple it. I would go from the outside of the header right up to the ridge beam. Outside will prevent them from perching on the headers.

1. Left side of picture - I would cut the screening wider to staple to the double cross tie (is that what it's called?) "in the way" on one side of it and then go straight up over it up to the ridge beam. On the other side you can go straight up next to the cross tie.

2. Right side - Same in that you go straight up to the roof rafter and ridge beam, with one side a bit wider so you can accommodate that plank on the header there.

3. See what happens.

You only need to close off the access to the Servants' Quarters, that area has something to do with the ventilation baffles?

@RoyalChick Unfortunately I couldn't find any specific instruction on what constitutes a "Hey just found some great food here!" call
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/sounds

 

[RoyalChick]

How do the baffles work? Can you take pictures of the baffles - maybe both open and closed so I can see how they operate and are attached? I have a bit of a thought, but need to see how they operate and might/might not be impeded by what I am thnking.

I will have a try - it is a bit hard to get an angle for a photo - I may need to do a sketch instead.
Basically I can open and close a part of the gable ends - and when open the baffle rests on the rafter, so if I block the rafter I get in the way of the baffle.
It may be doable - but definitely tricky!

 

[RoyalChick]

There is the predator call from crows, when they are mobbing it, and there's a more regular call, a contact call. That's the one you want to mimic. At least you have a good call to warn your chickens with.


I agree with @bgmathteach and her idea of screening, which is flexible & easy to work with and you can staple it. I would go from the outside of the header right up to the ridge beam. Outside will prevent them from perching on the headers.

1. Left side of picture - I would cut the screening wider to staple to the double cross tie (is that what it's called?) "in the way" on one side of it and then go straight up over it up to the ridge beam. On the other side you can go straight up next to the cross tie.

2. Right side - Same in that you go straight up to the roof rafter and ridge beam, with one side a bit wider so you can accommodate that plank on the header there.

3. Continue all around as necessary. Then see what happens.

You only need to close off the access to the Servants' Quarters, that area has something to do with the ventilation baffles?

Yes. Just at the end. I need to study it more closely.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick Unfortunately I couldn't find any specific instruction on what constitutes a "Hey just found some great food here!" call
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/sounds

I will be studying the crow calls closely! I think I only did doubles and singles, but several of the ones on that site are three in a row.
I will try that!