Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Just a thought.
Might it not be better to have a bit more height in the living area. If you allow say 200mm from the floor for perch height that isn't going to leave a lot of headroom when one of your hens decides to stand and crow in the morning.

I just ducked out before it got too dark to measure.

Their current coop is about 68cm (~26 ") internally from the floor to the highest point of the sloping ceiling. Their perches are about 27cm (~10.5") off the floor leaving them with about 41cm (~16") headroom currently.

My girls are about 35-40cm (~14"-15.75") tall when standing upright and relaxed so the current coop is a little snug.

The new coop will have lower perches that are just high enough to get a rake under. The distance from floor to ceiling is 69cm (~27") the whole length. Since I will be using a branch for the main perch, the height off the floor will vary from about 10cm (~3") to about 25cm (~9.75"). Head clearance will be from 59cm to 44cm (~23.5" to 17.5")

Ideally I would like a lot more head room too, so the heat has somewhere to go, but there should be enough to be comfortable at least.

We are mostly recycling left over wood from other projects and the frame of an old water bed so we are limited in the size we can make and the finished coop will be extremely heavy.

I'd be interested in your coop dimensions if you are able to share Shad. I'd also love a photo or two to show to hubby. I know you have shared photos before but I don't know where to find them amongst all our threads!
Do your chooks use a ramp or ladder to access the coops?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

There is Life on Mars!

I intecepted these videos transmitted back from the Mars rover. I think NASA is keeping something from us. I'm not sure it's intelligent but it is life.

I thought I might have seen rodent sign so I set up a camera to watch. Turns out it is feathered rodents digging holes.

The videos are red because the nighttime filter is still down. It did not flip up like it should. I need to wack the camera once to fix it.

Poor Aurora is looking rather disheveled. Deana can sympathise, she is moulting too.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Coop Progress

Our old water bed frame had doors you could lift to access storage underneath.

These will be for ventilation in the new coop. The front and back wall will have 2 lifting doors and the sides one each. I have added wire for safety.

I helped hubby do most of the back wall today. I do plan to paint it when it is finished for weatherproofing and to cover all the mismatched wood.

 

[BY Bob]

It's stupid 'o clock' in the early morning and I've woken up worrying about things.
I've been organizing my pictures on the back up hard drive.
Thought I would post this as back tax.
View attachment 2441816

That is a great photo. Very nice.

 

[BY Bob]

Coop Progress

Our old water bed frame had doors you could lift to access storage underneath.
View attachment 2441926

These will be for ventilation in the new coop. The front and back wall will have 2 lifting doors and the sides one each. I have added wire for safety.
View attachment 2441927

I helped hubby do most of the back wall today. I do plan to paint it when it is finished for weatherproofing and to cover all the mismatched wood.
View attachment 2441928

View attachment 2441929

This is looking very good so far.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

There is Life on Mars!

I intecepted these videos transmitted back from the Mars rover. I think NASA is keeping something from us. I'm not sure it's intelligent but it is life.

I thought I might have seen rodent sign so I set up a camera to watch. Turns out it is feathered rodents digging holes.

The videos are red because the nighttime filter is still down. It did not flip up like it should. I need to wack the camera once to fix it.

Love love love love watching chickens scratch! Can hardly get enough of it!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Coop Progress

Our old water bed frame had doors you could lift to access storage underneath.
View attachment 2441926

These will be for ventilation in the new coop. The front and back wall will have 2 lifting doors and the sides one each. I have added wire for safety.
View attachment 2441927

I helped hubby do most of the back wall today. I do plan to paint it when it is finished for weatherproofing and to cover all the mismatched wood.
View attachment 2441928

View attachment 2441929

How do the vents stay open? Is there something like a hinge that cocks open there?

 

[featherhead007]

You get one that is heated. Not much else you can do. Tractor Supply has them.

Or; California property for sale: 1.5 acres good water, Sewer (Not septic tank) county zoned for livestock. Far from other neighbors. $240K With house.

 

[featherhead007]

Coop Progress

Our old water bed frame had doors you could lift to access storage underneath.
View attachment 2441926

These will be for ventilation in the new coop. The front and back wall will have 2 lifting doors and the sides one each. I have added wire for safety.
View attachment 2441927

I helped hubby do most of the back wall today. I do plan to paint it when it is finished for weatherproofing and to cover all the mismatched wood.
View attachment 2441928

View attachment 2441929

Me and my ex wife bought a waterbed one day, but it was a big mistake. We started drifting apart right after we started using it!

 

[BY Bob]

Le Rat est Morte

I feel confident in saying that the rat problem has been resolved. Sansa demonstrated to me on the Mars cam this morning how one of the tunnels was reopened. There has been no sign of any activity at the shed. While I am not declaring victory, I am feeling confident and much better about leaving them in the complex.

I will be closing off the rat tunnels this afternoon.

Does this make me an official rodenteer or do I need to hunt them one at time for that title?