Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Here's pics from today, didn't get the wide shots of the setup yet, just pics of the new Buckeyes, it was the magical time between the adults going to roost and the juveniles going to their coop and hanging out before packing it in. Here they were perching and scrolling my phone before bed while I worked on the coop camera and fixing the fan charge wire in there (am thinking we'll get hot weather again before it really cools down so not taking them out yet).
At one point four of them were pecking all over the phone screen. They managed to change the camera settings!
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Buckeyes have some of the most beautiful feathers. They are gorgeous.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Can you get some new pictures of Roxy?

From what you are describing she sounds almost like Poppet.
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Yeah, she may end up looking quite similar but with a lighter head poof and darker body? I swear I do see fully white feathers mixed with grey in lines but it’s doesn’t stick out as much as the black and white. She she may well be a blue cuckoo but with the fuzzy feathering, I am guessing she will end up looking blue. Only time will tell for sure. Not upset in the least she is a pretty little mystery.

Meanwhile I am late for work because of that ‘sitting and watching babies’


Should say I was late since it’s now past 9 and I have been her a couple hrs hahaha

Ha!I still stick with my statement, time spent chicken sitting is always a good thing!

The blessed Crows! In the morning they are awake, flying, patrolling the city neighborhood, & cawing before any other birds are stirring. LOVE our Crow murders too for chasing off the hawks while leaving our chickens & yard alone

Yes!!! I am happy to leave tribute. We live very rural and the part they play in helping to keep our flock safe can’t be overstated. Truly a blessing to have them here.

Always an exciting time. Setup sounds well thought out.

Thanks, everyone here has had so many great ideas. I took what had and tried to create a set up that would give them a solid safe space. Just as have seen others here do.

I just took the crate out the other day but they can get under the nest box so a hiding spot still remains where no big chicken can follow. They aren’t roosting yet but still piling up in a quiet corner. I will work on this in the coming weeks. It’s going to chilly and I’d rather them not be on the ground if I can convince them otherwise. They aren’t roosting yet getting picked on less than Pebble which is a whole other post.

 

[drstratton]

Firewood, furniture woodworking, bedding (need a wood chipper for that).

Check Craigslist and Facebook marketplace for someone LOOKING for any of those. You might be able to find a less financially painful deal. If you were near by, I'd jump on the firewood option.

last resort, get the wood chipper and turn it all into bedding for your coops.

You can rent wood clippers. That's a great idea.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Pony Sunday & Caturday

https://www.newsweek.com/hilarity-maine-coons-dont-realize-backyard-visitor-2125058

Ha! I am so glad the kitties are inside. I am sure they do think they could take that hawk but goodness I wouldn’t want to risk it.

 

[RoyalChick]

Grey foxes are good climbers, and can climb a vertical fence. (and trees, etc.) They have reticulating claws like a cat, and can extend/retract their claws...it keeps them sharp for climbing/grabbing things, and also helps them when climbing non-porous things like fences. Having an outward facing/angled portion on the top of a fence can help keep them out...but they are also very good jumpers...so I would go with a fence at least 6' tall (solid fence they could jump onto) if you go the route of solid fence.

Electric fence is good...but I have found my chickens flew over electric fencing (I used to use a mobile coop with the tallest electric poultry fencing I could get....and it was still short enough they could fly over (not onto then over) - at least my better fliers. Especially if they had anything to 'launch off' even if it wasn't close to the fence. (i.e. think of @BY Bob 's Aster - flew at 4' high for a very long distance...they feel more confident trying for a distance with not needing much lift....and are quite successful. Even heavier birds would try that over needing a straight up 4' height.)

Just my 2 cents.

I am somewhat chill about them flying over the electric fence as long as they can fly back if they encounter a fox.

Tax: this little monster stole the peach pit from Calypso and ran off with it. No wonder Calypso isn’t so keen on the Littles!

 

[drstratton]

I am somewhat chill about them flying over the electric fence as long as they can fly back if they encounter a fox.

Tax: this little monster stole the peach pit from Calypso and ran off with it. No wonder Calypso isn’t so keen on the Littles!
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You know, looking at her from this angle, she kind of has a Cruella vibe going on!

 

[RoyalChick]

Pony Sunday & Caturday

https://www.newsweek.com/hilarity-maine-coons-dont-realize-backyard-visitor-2125058

Oh my goodness!

 

[RoyalChick]

You can rent wood clippers. That's a great idea.

You need a really industrial scale chipper for a tree that size.

 

[TOMTE]

The girls are locked in the run for at least the next few days, until they get their glue back. Been too stressful to let them roam when 2 are going off to the neighbor's house while 1 is hanging out near the garage and the other one is who knows where.

Girls, I know your leader is gone. So figure out who's going to take up the mantle (I know it takes time)

I wonder what I can expect to happen... Will Sybil step up since she was #2? For the moment it looks like she's still the boss of everyone else. But Gytha is a bit of a bully so I wouldn't be surprised if she takes this opportunity to push Sybil around, because Aliss isn't there to keep them in line (I've watched Aliss scold Gytha for disrespecting Sybil). And Magrat is such a spunky little thing, will she try to boost herself up the ladder? I've seen her and Sybil go at it a few times since Aliss got injured. Just staring contests though, no fights. Of course, Magrat did the same thing with Aliss so maybe it's just her weird way of bonding with the lead hen? She still gets bullied/pushed around by Gytha and Esme... It's all so interesting! I LOVE CHICKENS!

Poor, stir crazy girls. Locked up, and on such a beautiful day.

 

[RoyalChick]

You know, looking at her from this angle, she kind of has a Cruella vibe going on!

But when she walks she looks so silly with all those feathers on her legs!