Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Ok smart people, I found a new to me critter. A bit larger than a mouse. Is it a vole?View attachment 3864762Sort of a squished in face rather than the long and pointy nose. Grey/blue underbelly.



And earlier today...which cannot be entered in the wildlife contest....
View attachment 3864763

Yes looks like a Vole to me.


Hahaha they all look like they are wanting in RM, you should let them in

(That doe and fawn look aweful ribby don’t they?)

 

[knoturavggrl]

That is what I did.

I took my shavings/bedding storage area and made that into Hen House-A and Hen House-B, I also took Truly’s big 10x20 stall and made it into the Summer House. It’s all inside the barn so it’s snug in the winter and the main part of the barn is cool. Unfortunately the Hen Houses get like an oven because of the sunlight shining on that side of the barn - northwest corner - from about 11am till after 8 at night.

As you know my gang have the run of the barn all day when I am at work. When I get home and on the weekends they get outside. They have a lot of stuff to entertain themselves with in the barn.

Yeah, I am really liking the idea tbh. The pole barn approx 24ft x 48ft and is currently not being used for anything. It is all dirt floor though. I am thinking of making 2 8x8 coops that have separate runs side by side. The coops would have a floor raised up about a foot off the ground. Each run would be 8 x 10. Plenty of room for chickens that get a fair amount of free ranging time. It would be nice to be able to shuffle em around as needed. Then in third spot I want to build a good sized brooder (big enough for a broody mama and some chicks) type area and also for food, first aid, and general storage. It would also be 8x8 but without a run.

 

[BeastBaby]

Did you treat the coop, too, so they don't get reinfested?

I did not, at least not in a timely manner.
I am unsure of whether I was seeing Northern Fowl mites or Lice, but once I felt certain I wasn’t looking at the Red coop-loving mites, treating the coop became less of a priority. I did end up fully cleaning out the coop/changing shavings, as well as the wood chips in the larger run, but there was a two week gap between those three cleanup stages.

 

[Marie2020]

Wow. And I thought only cats had 9 lives. That poor thing has gone through a lot. My girl also has bad teeth. She has had several teeth pulled. This last time my vet asked me if we wanted to chance putting her under with her age and problems. I told him..she's in pain..I've had toothaches. :/ I hope this doesn't sound heartless but I told him it would be easy for her to go while asleep. She did fine! Thank the heavens. I love this little cutie. You asked about pain relief. Tramadol is working for her many different pains going on. She still has that ..pretty good..quality of life that I can see. Like I said, she's a Shi Tzu, I keep her coat shaved but her ears and tail. Doesn't have that furry face. You can tell that she is wagging her tail happily in the one. View attachment 3862823View attachment 3862822

She is really beautiful absolutely gorgeous

It's not only his tooth, he has very bad arthritis too and has lost a tremendous amount of weight. He's eating really well infact he has always been food orientated.

The veterinary nurse didn't hold out much hope if he went under and with so many issues. I can't risk prematurely ending his life. He's still happy and enthusiastic when it comes to outings. So I'm just making the best of things.

This magnesium is working amazingly well. He's sleeping much better and doesn't seem to be in so much pain.


Thank you for sharing your beautiful girl and your advice. I will look into the tramadol. When the time is right and he's worse I'll use these pain killers

 

[rural mouse]

Yes looks like a Vole to me.


Hahaha they all look like they are wanting in RM, you should let them in

(That doe and fawn look aweful ribby don’t they?)

Thanks for the id.

The deer: yearling twins just cast off mama. New crop just started appearing this week. DH has seen a couple. I haven't yet. They're all a bit ribby this year and I'm not sure why.

As fast as letting them in, the rest of the story...

And

 

[Ponypoor]

Thanks for the id.

The deer: yearling twins just cast off mama. New crop just started appearing this week. DH has seen a couple. I haven't yet. They're all a bit ribby this year and I'm not sure why.

As fast as letting them in, the rest of the story...
View attachment 3864852

And View attachment 3864853

Sherlock doesn’t seem to worried about them. I am sure my chooks would be all lined up squawking- ready to attack the deer

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah, I am really liking the idea tbh. The pole barn approx 24ft x 48ft and is currently not being used for anything. It is all dirt floor though. I am thinking of making 2 8x8 coops that have separate runs side by side. The coops would have a floor raised up about a foot off the ground. Each run would be 8 x 10. Plenty of room for chickens that get a fair amount of free ranging time. It would be nice to be able to shuffle em around as needed. Then in third spot I want to build a good sized brooder (big enough for a broody mama and some chicks) type area and also for food, first aid, and general storage. It would also be 8x8 but without a run.

I had put down paver bricks in there so left it as is, it’s great as I can walk in and get eggs, clean the floor and roosting ledges - takes like 5min. I keep a couple inches of shavings on the brick floor to be softer to land on, and it’s a good insulator for winter.

One thing I found with the chooks in the summer when it’s hot they like to lay on the brick floor to keep cool. And in the straw bedding when it’s cold in the winter

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah, I am really liking the idea tbh. The pole barn approx 24ft x 48ft and is currently not being used for anything. It is all dirt floor though. I am thinking of making 2 8x8 coops that have separate runs side by side. The coops would have a floor raised up about a foot off the ground. Each run would be 8 x 10. Plenty of room for chickens that get a fair amount of free ranging time. It would be nice to be able to shuffle em around as needed. Then in third spot I want to build a good sized brooder (big enough for a broody mama and some chicks) type area and also for food, first aid, and general storage. It would also be 8x8 but without a run.

I only use the Hen Houses for night time roosting, and nest boxes.

The rest of the barn is free range access during the day. Lots of fun areas for them to scratch around, looks for spiders and bugs, hide in and hide eggs haha.

My older chicks and the bantam chickies are out full time now - they were being harassed by Curly too much in the Summer House. In the main barn they have places to get away from the mean girls.

It helps they can fly better then the older ladies

They sure love that old round bale.

 

[Sally PB]

Ok smart people, I found a new to me critter. A bit larger than a mouse. Is it a vole?View attachment 3864762Sort of a squished in face rather than the long and pointy nose. Grey/blue underbelly.



And earlier today...which cannot be entered in the wildlife contest....
View attachment 3864763

Yes, I think it's a vole too. They look like pudgy mice, but the tail is only an inch or so long. That's the first thing I notice about them.

 

[rural mouse]

More pic (or maybe duplicates) from the photo shoot

Focus

Rose

Daisy

Jane (I think?) If I stay still, you can't see me, right?

Blanche and the yearlings (Castor is at the door)

Broody Mera