Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Ooo hey we need to give Rebecca a new name also!

Crossing the road is just one of those generic ones isn’t it?

Yes, "crossing the road' is one of the 'steps' based on points that they give you name wise.

I was thinking 'Chicken Whisperer', but, in reality, she should be 'Rooster/Cockerel Whisperer.' All the cockerels seem to gravitate to her.

Hmmm, maybe 'Roo Magnet'?

Cockerel Gravitator?

 

[Ponypoor]

I was thinking

I was thinking of her ruby throated humming birds that she loves

Ooo yes! They are little demons here, they fight and chase the hornets and yellow jackets away from their feeders.

They have left now, gone south with my Barn Swallows.

For two for Tuesday I give to you two startles sleeping beauties hahaha - nothing like the Hooman popping up in front of your face and going ‘smile!’ When it’s dark and a flash going off in your face!

Gee I wish they would sit on the horses blankets - crapping all over them

 

[Ponypoor]

Level Roost View attachment 3950535 NONE of my roosts are leveled. Most are eyeball level, but haven't taken a level to any to check.

These are great too. May have to write down/tweak for future. Genetics Juggler....

Yep nothing is level in my barn hahaha - oh it looks ok, but don’t throw a level on it! Gives it character, and opportunities to curse when you want fix or build something in there - one side is 57.5” the other is 56.75” tall hahahaha I would call that good enough!

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, "crossing the road' is one of the 'steps' based on points that they give you name wise.

I was thinking 'Chicken Whisperer', but, in reality, she should be 'Rooster/Cockerel Whisperer.' All the cockerels seem to gravitate to her.

Hmmm, maybe 'Roo Magnet'?

Cockerel Gravitator?

Kentucky Rooster Momma

 

[Ponypoor]

What are the dimensions of the boxes? I am mentally trying to discern that, but they look spacious in some photos and small in others (I am sure it is just the perspective of the pictures), but mentally I can't figure it out. Not that it really matters - but I am curious about the size of the boxes - they look like they would be great coops - I'm wondering where I might inquire for some shipping crates locally, now!!!!!

This is so cool that you were able to get these for free and repurpose them!

As far as drafts - If you are able to get scrap/left over linoleum, that would keep the drafts out for sure. At the very least, if you can get a piece for the bottom - it will make cleanout much easier. (call or go into a store that sells and installs linoleum. They may be happy to give you small 'ends' from a project or a roll-end. It means they don't have to pay to get rid of them - and usually it is too small for another project for them.)

Also, you probably have thought of this - I'm just not seeing it in the photos: what do you have for ventilation? You might be able to frame in a couple of vents - one up high in the back wall and a second either also up high on the opposing wall, or down low on the same wall - for good air flow/ventilation so there isn't too much humidity within the coop - especially in the cold, as that will make frostbite on the combs more likely.

OR - take the top of the top crate off, cut a 2x4 angled diagonally the length of the side of the crate and place it front to back on either side of the top crate's walls, then put the coop top back on...this angled top will help shed water (cover with tar paper, linoleum, whatever as a water-proofer), and screen in the opening in the front with hardware cloth (will be a roughly 3.5" opening the length of the front).

What I love about those crate (other than free - ya!) is that they can be put up on stilts to raise them off the ground! Easier cleaning and bonus space for the kiddos.

I am thinking of (long term) adding something like that to the outside run as a hiding place or roosting place.

 

[rural mouse]

I was thinking

I was thinking of her ruby throated humming birds that she loves

The ruby throated hummingbird clips the eastern edge of the state and goes east from there. The center/eastern plains of Montana sadly have NO hummingbirds. In the Rockies, we get the 2 smallest hummingbirds in the US (there is at least 1 species even smaller): the Rufous and the Calliope hummingbirds.

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/rufous-hummingbird

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/calliope-hummingbird


I love hummingbirds of any kind. Seeing them perch on the brim of my grandpa's hat when I was a kid (after checking to make sure it was him and not grandma) left me with an endless fascination with them. Such tiny little birds, need to eat almost constantly, migrate from the tropics all the way up the coasts, mountains....how do they do it? (So tiny that banding them/ radio tagging is impossible so figuring that out may never happen)

Reminds me: need to take down the feeders this week for the winter (haven't seen any since the beginning of thr month). And start planning what to plant next spring for more food for them.

The Bee Balm is enjoyed by more than just the hummers (and is still blooming)

The tiny little kamikaze from July, guarding the feeders

Violet: enough with THEM! What will you be planting for US?

 

[TOMTE]

Happy Twosday everybirdy!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Hubby has like...20-30 of those crates at his shop so dad is taking a trailer down to grab as many as he can. They'll be good raised planter beds...playhouse for kiddo, maybe even another coop space?
It's very rainy today of course. When I got the birds up Morinth and Samara were cussin about it I think!

 

[TOMTE]

Hubby has like...20-30 of those crates at his shop so dad is taking a trailer down to grab as many as he can. They'll be good raised planter beds...playhouse for kiddo, maybe even another coop space?
It's very rainy today of course. When I got the birds up Morinth and Samara were cussin about it I think!

That's so convenient! I love what you've built so far. I'll have to show my dad, he'll get some ideas for sure. If you ever get more crates than you dont need... We'd take em!

 

[Sylvester017]

The chili was excellent.
View attachment 3949825
My chickens got all the veggie scraps (except the onion!) And a lil bacon grease on their lunches. We're starting to move to pellet food and they do not understand it yet. They will though, just needs a bit of time.View attachment 3949832
This week I will make a batch of spiced apple butter with a bit of brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. It's excellent on homemade bread, or crackers!

Yum Yum chili!!! I love corn in chili! Yum, apple butter!

Pellets? Maybe spray water lightly on the pellets to make them softer. Silkies & chicks have small beaks. I only had one Silkie that ever ate hard pellets and they were the smaller broken pieces. Today we just use organic crumble for the flock.