Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

True. That's certainly possible. Do you practice shooting a lot? I can't remember the last time I shot a gun.

Last time I shot a 22, my oldest was about 8. Before that, I was about 12....and getting sharpshooter awards. Still had the aim with the kid...and an unfamiliar weapon. Will be doing some shooting practice just to get a feel for this one.

 

[Ponypoor]

Some of the ways I know that colic can be caused is by drastic temperature changes, or eating too much dirt. I’m sure that there are more ways, but those are the two that I know.

Mouldy feed, frosty grass - which I deal with sometimes with younger horses, the older horses eat hay first then go for the grasses. To deal with that I always give feed and hay before turn out in the morning. Fill their tummies up. Changes in feed, not drinking enough water, being in a stall all day all the time, as you pointed out dirt - in sandy locations horses can get their stomachs filled with sand. And tumours… the great unknown.

 

[Marie2020]

Could be anything - you know horses…. I do need to worm her so will get that done this week.

She is a grey which are prone to all sorts of tumours, and she is elderly. There is always that wonder of what’s going on inside, there could be a tumour on her intestines that would be very bad in the long run. In the meantime I just make sure she gets proper feed and drinks lots of water.

Maybe a little mint as well. It may help with pain

 

[Ponypoor]

Well my plan today is to get the 4 silkie ladies in with Teddy, they visited him for about an hour yesterday and they pretty much ignored him - poor fella hahaha. I’ll need nest boxes for them in there, easy to put together a few of those.

I want to put up the netting along the horse fence side to keeep my naughty fliers in. I think about 2’ of that will deter them from flying up there, might also have to do that on the 6’ fence section also as they easily fly up there.

The electric fencing I started to install last year along the coop I will finish, and I will put up a perimeter fence of electric 4 strands along where I used to put the electric netting - that should keep fox out and chooks in - zap!!!

I’ll run the electric along near the property fence line is they can get under the trees and brush but not cross over to the neighbours - hope!! Zap! Keep the foxes and other canine critters away.

Now if I can figure out some hawk deterrents…..

Red sitting in the sun in the barn yesterday

 

[RoyalChick]

Hmmm, they are both looking the same way - is there a window off to their right (our left)? Was there someone/something outside? Was there a noise from the servant's quarters or something? Interesting that they are both 'glancing' in the same direction.

I also find it odd that ALL are facing the same way. I usually have 1 or 2 that face the opposite way. When I take the bunch of them off the high branch (usually 5) 1 or 2 of them are facing the barn - the rest the other way. If I take the two facing the barn first... when I come back for more, there is always one that has turned around, so 2 facing away - 1 facing towards! (Gotta have look-outs facing both directions??? )

Yes there is a window off to their right (our left) so they probably heard or saw some critter outside.
I salvaged 5 Anderson double hung windows with their sash mechanisms (mostly) still working. Also 4 good quality exterior doors.
So when I designed the Chicken Palace I designed it around the windows and doors!
I like that I can open the windows in the summer to give them some breeze and close them in winter and get a fair bit of passive solar heating.
When I took Babs down off her improvised roost she was facing the other way so I guess she turned herself around.
Earlier in the night they were facing different ways.

 

[Marie2020]

Maybe a little mint as well. It may help with pain

Hello @Ponypoor

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Yep they bite hard!!

And @janiedoe As the Servant of a biting hen, though we have a bit of detente for now I was wondering about an "e collar" for when you have to do something on them and within their reach and can't wrap them well enough. Have you ever looked into one for Goliath? This doesn't apply to filing a beak, but I wonder for elsewhere? Nails / feet I think I can get a football hold and see their feet, but what about the other end!

 

[Marie2020]

Getting my caturday picture in a day early. I'm completely tired out. Long story

 

[Marie2020]

Princess the other day

 

[Marie2020]

They sometimes have it at my local Agway store, but not reliably so I get it from Chewy. I order cat food at the same time so I spend enough in one go to get free shipping.

I do the same