Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

Of course I am sure!
They are all lovely names. Though to @ManueB’s point you should read about them to be sure you like what they are associated with!

I asked my dad if he’d prefer Dionysus rather to Calypso. He likes Calypso more. Thank you for your permission to name another one of my chooks after yours.


I do know that Athena cursed Medusa for reasons that I am not going to say because it’s inappropriate…

One of my least favorite gods is Poseidon. My favorite god (not goddess) is Hermes the giant- killer and the messenger god.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

When I saw this, I knew I just had to show you all.

 

[notabitail]

Ok. Well, Agathae said I could use this as tax so long as she is not in the photo.
iSee iPad iPoop
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Look back at this post that I have quoted. It's the work of Agathae's fluffy butt.

 

[notabitail]

Fluffy Butt Friday.
@BY Bob, do you know what this is?

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Fluffy Butt Friday

 

[notabitail]

Fluffy Butt Friday
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That's a really good photo...

...of a chicken butt.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

That's a really good photo...

...of a chicken butt.

Well, thank you!

 

[bgmathteach]

Hi - am fairly far behind, got an email notice though!
https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/

Yes I have the higher lip part but haven't needed it. My standards - Buff Orpingtons and Buckeyes - can just reach inside the basic lip, and unless the front part is filled with crumbs/powder so the pellets are up at the brim they don't flick pellets out. Both Popcorn and Tedi are sweepers and I don't see stuff coming out unless the front is filled up.

Bigger chickens, or ducks, might be another story, can't they reach further and pull better? So depends on how they feed.

I did get the outdoor weather-proof styles and would recommend that. I still put a protector over or nest to the back corners because that is one weather-vulnerable part when the wind blows. Last summer I had a small piece of spare plastic roofing on top held down with three bricks on one that was out in the open (lashed to the lilac bush/maple sapling). For one in the covered run against the open north wire wall I fastened a wind block on that wall right behind it and that worked.

What I've got are two Medium ones, an old style 2019 one I got in 2020 (had the counterweight) and a new one (works by two springs on the door). I retro-fitted the older one with the springs, the guy sells all the wearable parts cheaply and I keep some on hand. The feeders aren't perfect or maintenance-free - the springs and pull bar will wear over time - but I'm happy enough with them, and am VERY happy with the support I've gotten since the guy is a small business and generous with his advice and help.

My one concern with the new one is that it has a lower back internal divider which goes lower, so there's a smaller space for feed to come through to the front, which should be good, but I'm not sure I've set it level right now, because I am pulling down feed from the back into the front a lot. It does come down into the main feeder area - but my gals can't reach that far back. I've got it secured with a rubber bungee which may be pulling it back, and it's set on pavers on litter, so things may have shifted.

HOWEVER, this feature/bug/maybe it's tipping backwards thing does make the chickens eat the crumbs that pile up in the front. I'm just spoiling them pulling pellets forward - "here, have some fresh pellets!"

Hmmm, I'm terrible with volume also except by a reference. I decant a feed bag once I open it, into clean large tall plastic pretzel jars, like this Utz pretzel container below, and I store them in a covered bin in our garage/barn, which is dark and tends to be cool even in the heat of summer. My idea is that the containers help hold in any smell better than an open bag so rodents aren't attracted. A 40lb bag of pellets will fill about 5-6 of these I think. DH is off pretzels now so these are hoarded items, they're very handy for all kinds of things! I have old glass & metal ones from my mother I store flour in.
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The Medium feeder will fit 3 of these? The Rat-Proof Feeder owner says the new Medium will hold 32 lbs of pellets. With four chickens last summer, two that were basically unwell, and with two feeders (anticipating the new chicks), consumption was slow between the two. So the garage was a better place for the pellets to be stored during summer heat. During this winter I was refilling by bringing one container out with me and dividing it between the two. At most I went back for another container and put that in them also. I just haven't lugged out more at once or lugged a bag out there!

I can test this volume question because I will be cleaning them out and refilling - right now I'm mixing the last of the Nutrena Feather Fixer with some new Purina Layena+ I'm trying and letting it go down as much as possible before filling with just Layena+. (I would stick with Nutrena, but TSC's available Nutrena Layer bags were much too old and the Purina was really fresh.)

thank you, this was very helpful!

Ducks don't 'sweep' like chickens do - they 'scoop' instead of peck feed into their mouth...and sometimes - like an overfull scoop - spill some as they 'chug' the scooped feed into their mouth and swallow (BTW: they either need moist feed OR water right next to the feed to swallow properly, or they can choke)

So, then I should probably get at least 1 extra large (?maybe 2?)and a couple or 3 mediums, then. (I am also planning on making @RoyalChick 's posted bucket feeder - out of m y 4 gal bucket that my 20lbs of brewer's yeast comes in) I think that the 4 gal buckets probably hold about 1/3 of a 50 lb. bag (give or take a bit) I go through (well will be - I'm at my lowest feed/animals wise late Dec through the end of next month) about 300+ lbs of feed a week during late spring through late fall when I send extra young roos and older girls to freezer camp. I would, obviously, need to use a different feeder for the chicks until they get close to POL and are heavy enough to use the feeders (and they will also be on starter or grower during that time, too - so a different feed than my self mixed all-flock))

Okay - after looking at their site and your suggestions/comments - maybe a 4 pack of mediums for most cost efficient purchase...and if I really like them but feel I need more feed - then get 1 extra large. My goal is to be able to have enough feed for us to be able to go away for a week (2 weekends - so 9 days) so whoever I can get to help will be minimally inconvenienced - given they will already have to let out/lock-up, collect eggs and worry about fresh water. While I can have plenty of nipple waterers, ducks need deep water (to clear their nares) - and it is always DIRTY at the end of the day & needs to be dumped & refreshed...hopefully I can have a pond for them by then and let it be for a week.

Short term goal (summer '24): extended run with netting covering the top, with new 8' walls of extended run, and rest of 'safe run' area roofed with solid roofing, & with these new walls, put hot wire up low & high - I already have a solar fencer!


With that in place, and rat safe feeders, be able to go away for a long weekend in decent weather (not winter, as still have to manually put a couple dozen chickens away (tree roosters) for both their own safety and, in winter - warmth.) Hoping to go camping Columbus/Native Peoples Day weekend.

And by the end of next summer (2025) have a new duck run built with small pond dug, and be able to go away for a WHOLE WEEK. In the past 4 years, I have gone away for exactly 2.5 days to attend an Ag teacher's conference with Hubby - which I paid to attend too, as they had some interesting workshops I wanted to attend.

Long winded, too much detail, tax:

Really, a pond for us? We'll get excited when we see it. Until then (or until we see you have something good for us to eat), we'll just keep napping, thank you!

A photo gallery of my sweet, friendly Georgie:

And, for Friday:

A trio of butts belly crop up to the food and water buffet:

 

[bgmathteach]

I doubt it. I bet the Rocks are just more chill and don’t care.

I agree - my rocks are very smart - but just even keeled.

 

[Ponypoor]

When I saw this, I knew I just had to show you all.

@featherhead007

Is this one of yours?