Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[drstratton]

Let’s hope I did this right… just wanted to brag on my son a little… he is in the very beginning of the new Gwen Stefani video
He lives in LA and has a band… and does other things too

This is so awesome! I'm glad he's doing well!

 

[Ponypoor]

I've a coop question. I may be having to move my coops soon. We have these coops built out of rectangular frames. They are not buried. They look like this:
View attachment 4189403
I realized @TOMTE 's run looks similar. Something like that.

I'm going to be in a area with predators like coyotes and the such. My idea is to bury the frame two feet into the ground, wood and all. My Dad's concern with doing so is that the wood and wire will rot. Would this be a viable way to do it or will it rot/go bad/work badly?

The coop is built out of these frames on all side, connected together. We have two coops like this.

You can use a wood preservative to paint the bottom of the frames. I wouldn’t bury them, but you can get wire panels (called hog or cattle panels) and lay them on the ground as an apron to deter animals from digging under your coop panels.

Next place the coop panels along the middle of the panels so that you have both the outside and inside the coop protected by the panel apron.

To anchor the coop panels you can use rebar driven into the ground a couple feet, next to the frames ends, and use ‘u’ brackets to clamp the rebar to the coop panel.

Not sure what your weather will be like but a good solid roof will help keep the whole thing weighed down.

Remember if you are now getting snow, you will need to use something that can bare the weight of this.

 

[drstratton]

4 hours of fiddling to get the door inplave and swings. Still had to jurry rig a latch. DoneView attachment 4189208View attachment 4189209

Now for a shower and a popsicle where I can see what they think now. They cussed me out....A TON while working on the install. Kiddos to DS for helping and getting the latch figured out@

That looks so nice! Glad you finally got it in!

 

[drstratton]

He’s definitely cute!View attachment 4189259View attachment 4189260

He most certainly is!

 

[Ponypoor]

I'll get back to you on this tomorrow, time I was sleeping! Didn't realize it was so late.

Sheesh - meant to reply to Notabitail!

Sleep deprived for sure!

Mr LC says ‘smarten up Hooman! And get me some meal worms while you’re at it!’.

I love his wee wattles!

 

[drstratton]

Got the coop and run cleaned today. It's been needed for a while. Nice to not be assaulted by flies as soon as I step in

View attachment 4189263
View attachment 4189264
So fresh! So not smelly anymore!

View attachment 4189265
Those blood stains aren't going anywhere though... Dang comb peckers.

View attachment 4189266
I wetted down the ground in there too, been way too long since the last time I did and it was really dusty. The water took a long time to soak into the hard ground.

Now that's one thing I can scratch off my to do list! Next is epsom salt foot soaks for Esme and Gytha. I'll start that tomorrow. I pulled off one of Esme's scabs earlier and it actually looks pretty healthy and pink underneath. Fingers crossed it's a quick and easy treatment for both of them.

I love your coop and pen, what a nice space for them!

 

[drstratton]

You should NEVER let your chickens use power tools, NO EXCEPTIONS!! Next. They will want to borrow the lawnmower

They can borrow my lawn mower anytime they want. I would love the extra free time...lol

 

[drstratton]

I've a coop question. I may be having to move my coops soon. We have these coops built out of rectangular frames. They are not buried. They look like this:
View attachment 4189403
I realized @TOMTE 's run looks similar. Something like that.

I'm going to be in a area with predators like coyotes and the such. My idea is to bury the frame two feet into the ground, wood and all. My Dad's concern with doing so is that the wood and wire will rot. Would this be a viable way to do it or will it rot/go bad/work badly?

The coop is built out of these frames on all side, connected together. We have two coops like this.

In dry ground, while the wood will eventually rot, as long as it stays dry, should hold for a few years. However, rainy seasons, hoses, leaky buckets....will accelerate that process. A hardware cloth apron spread around it will prevent digging into the coop. How to anchor it....I'm not sure on.

If you have rocks on your property, that's what we mostly used. We have a lot of rock. Free dog deterrent. I'm not home for a few days or I'd share a picture. Hardware skirt with rocks to anchor it, would work even better.

 

[drstratton]

Mugs Monday!

I've been waiting to share this since last Monday!
Opal decided to hop up on the back of my chair! Hi mom, whatcha doin, got any treats?

 

[WhoDatChick]

This so awesome! I'm glad he's doing well!

Thank you