Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

Actually, I think that’s pretty smart! Who wants to grip onto a stick/plank all night when you can have a nice, comfy bed?!

Not smart. First to get eaten in a predator attack. It's why they're supposed to roost.

 

[LozzyR]

Not smart. First to get eaten in a predator attack. It's why they're supposed to roost.

Ok, fair enough. Mine would get picked off their perch anyway, but a predator shouldn’t be able to get in.

 

[Ribh]

Adolescents! "Tap tap tap tap can we come in and go on beakbook?"
"Pleeeease!"
"oh yeh, pleeeease!"

Or toddlers:
Tell me a story, tell me a story, before I go to bed! You said you would, you know you should so tell me a story before I go to bed.

 

[Ribh]

Ok, fair enough. Mine would get picked off their perch anyway, but a predator shouldn’t be able to get in.

Oh, no a predator shouldn't be able to but the chickens can't know that.

 

[Shadrach]

The Toe

In case you have never noticed, Aurora has a broken mis-positioned toe. She arrived at Fluffy Butt Acres with the toe already broken and healed incorrectly. I was not going to break and reset it. She obviously has gotten along fine with it in that position. However, as she stood on the chair next to me this morning, I noticed that her toe nail seemed much longer than the others. I wonder if I should trim it for her. It does not look like it is wearing off add the others are. What does everyone think? Here it is.
View attachment 1964109
And how would I trim it? I trim my cats' front nails so I am not afraid to do it. I'm just wondering how to trim a chicken's nails as well.

I try to avoid cutting if at all possible. I do file toe nails with an engineering needle file.
My view is if a toe nail grows at an excessive rate unless you are prepared to file/cut regularly it may be better to let the chicken adjust

 

[Shadrach]

The last one is actually Lilly. I thought about cleaning that butt but it has been so cold I wanted to hold off. Since it is going to rain tomorrow it may not make a difference so perhaps a bath is in order.

In ten years I have never bathed a chicken.
I pick the poop off with my fingers.
I have two seniors who don't manage to clear the feathers as well as they used to. I do trim the feathers below their vents from time to time, especially if they start to develop a rash from the uric acid.

 

[Shadrach]

It could be that Lilly threw her off the roost and it got too dark for her to roost again. I wish I knew. In case I need to intervene at some point.

No one is sick. I know that much, thank God. And we know nobody is laying eggs.

Do you have a light in your coop Bob?

 

[LozzyR]

Oh, no a predator shouldn't be able to but the chickens can't know that.

I think my girls must be pretty complacent then. I’ll have to be extra vigilant on their behalf.

 

[BY Bob]

Adolescents! "Tap tap tap tap can we come in and go on beakbook?"
"Pleeeease!"
"oh yeh, pleeeease!"

 

[BY Bob]

Do you have a light in your coop Bob?

I do not have a coop light. The window in front captures the setting sun so they have light late. I do not supplement light because if nature says they should stop laying then I want them to stop laying. I use a lantern whenbteching new pullets where to go at night.

I have been wondering why the new girls are suddenly struggling with going to bed at dusk. As I thought on this last night maybe it could be Lilly being a bully on the roost. They have always waited for Lilly and Hattie to settle before they go in. With Hattie in the nesting box, maybe that battle was viscous last night.