Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

I switched to crumbles because it takes them longer to eat them. It is more work for them to eat and takes them more time. It has been shown that being able to gobble down their food rapidly can lead to behavioral problems in chickens. Therefore I switched to crumbles. It is messier though for sure.

Caged hens get pellets.

I strike a median on less waste by using the pellets, but spreading them out to encourage foraging over gorging. Though I do try to make sure everyone is stuffed full before bed and I make exceptions for weather, moving the chicken tractors, cows, etc, but I have a very different setup from most keepers here. For instance everyone got a good scoop in the morning of about 1&1/2 Cups sprinkled fairly liberally on the ground. Two hours later they all moved forward and got another serving and a slightly smaller amount of scratch scattered on the ground (This prevents bullying and guarding of the feeders, mostly). Two hours later they got full access to the two full feeders until roosting time. They get out between 8-9am, move around 10-12, feeders drop between 1:30-3pm. This is for 11-13 chickens per tractor.

 

[Ribh]

oops. Chicken tax!

 

[BY Bob]

I strike a median on less waste by using the pellets, but spreading them out to encourage foraging over gorging. Though I do try to make sure everyone is stuffed full before bed and I make exceptions for weather, moving the chicken tractors, cows, etc, but I have a very different setup from most keepers here. For instance everyone got a good scoop in the morning of about 1&1/2 Cups sprinkled fairly liberally on the ground. Two hours later they all moved forward and got another serving and a slightly smaller amount of scratch scattered on the ground (This prevents bullying and guarding of the feeders, mostly). Two hours later they got full access to the two full feeders until roosting time. They get out between 8-9am, move around 10-12, feeders drop between 1:30-3pm. This is for 11-13 chickens per tractor.

Sounds like a good method to me. Scattered crumbles would be difficult for them to eat cleanly. Scattering pellets makes more sense.

 

[BY Bob]

oops. Chicken tax!View attachment 2412911​

I love it! It is certainly a tax that brings joy to others.

 

[featherhead007]

oops. Chicken tax!View attachment 2412911​

WOW, A feather carpet!

 

[featherhead007]

Random TAX payment.

 

[Kris5902]

My gosh that was a day and a half. You have some serious adventures.

I have a strange liking for Gus.

Poor Sammy. I assume you are rigging up a way of latching the trailer door open now?

Gus is a total sweetie! I scratch his chin, and head, he’s licked my hand, I’ve patted his shoulders and scratched his Rump. I can’t reach the based of his tail so I don’t know if he would do the dancing cow wiggle like Ute, Ursula, and Rhonda... We aren’t Afraid of him, Andrew and I, and we don’t underestimate his intelligence. He’s not agressive but you need to be aware when you’re around him. I was stuck at the gate (when I was initially going to help with the fire) because his head was right there! Auntie “switch” user was coming over to “rescue” me and I waved her off. It took me several minutes to get him to back up enough to squeeze myself through the gate. Had I known they had been “driving” them off with sticks I may have been less bold moving Around right next to him. And in leading them away. I call the cattle to follow me, I don’t drive them before me. Plus, I’m “lazy”, and it makes for less walking if I can just call them out of a field! One day they will be “my” cows again.

the weathered old (but what I had handy at the time) bungee strap I was using to hold the door open snapped in the winds, today I tied it open with some paracord

I do love the camel post. Isn't that so modern parenting?

My mother was absolutely aghast at it! “That poor child is going to need so much therapy!” To which I told her, “that’s ok, if the post goes viral they can always use some of the proceeds to pay for it!”

 

[Kris5902]

My data speed seems to have picked up a little so here are some shots of tonight’s Roosting... yes, it wasn’t nearly as bad as yesterday, but I was still herding a good number of birds inside and relocating Cass and his favorite girls, who have decided our crate of Windows and doors is just the best roosting spot ever!

I ended up moving Sammy over a bit to the right because I didn’t want him Beak to Beak with Dean first thing in the morning. Little Red was snuggling with the two molting girls, then they decided to peck him. I may need to come up with an adjusted roosting arrangement for him, especially if I move the Meat girls in for winter as well.

 

[Kris5902]

Speaking of Sammy, he has clearly been “attentive” to his ladies, at least Two Dot and Starlight here... they are both “white” chickens ! It was raining most of the day, and someone had very muddy feet!

 

[BY Bob]

My mother was absolutely aghast at it! “That poor child is going to need so much therapy!” To which I told her, “that’s ok, if the post goes viral they can always use some of the proceeds to pay for it!”

There you go!