Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Cynthia12]

I've tried thinking of ways to make it better. But it would be hard. Strong welded wire, covered with 1/4" hardware cloth perhaps? Also, bigger around. Something no one can reach through, and also no one could crush (picturing a dog pouncing on it).

We have our coop pretty well protected. Wire and tarp on top, chicken wire all around the bottom half. It's just the big free range area. No way to cover that whole area. I have put a couple of A-Frame's out there for them to scoot into if they thought they needed to. Silly girls jump up on them. They do go through them at times.

 

[drstratton]

Final Free Range

I let the ladies out for some final minutes of free range before they were locked in by snow. Here they are enjoying their freedom.

The beautiful ladies! Are you supposed to get much snow Bob?

 

[Cynthia12]

I've tried thinking of ways to make it better. But it would be hard. Strong welded wire, covered with 1/4" hardware cloth perhaps? Also, bigger around. Something no one can reach through, and also no one could crush (picturing a dog pouncing on it).

And it just hit me you were talking about the ball! . Ok, so now you know my coop is ok. lol...yeah, that ball idea would be best ..I think..under supervision for a bit.

 

[drstratton]

That triggered a visceral reaction in me based on an experience of the last big snow and blizzard we had here a couple of years ago.
Will you forgive me a long story? I will pay chicken tax, and feel free to skip over it!
Let's call the story: 7 ways to die
SPOILER ALERT - I actually survived to tell the tale.
The storm was supposed to start at about 4pm and I was on an overnight business trip in NY the night before. I left NY in plenty of time (around noon). There was no snow and I was sensibly dressed for a business meeting and had an overnight bag.
I took a car service from NY to NJ.
As soon as we emerged on the NJ side of the river it was clear that the storm was somewhat different in NJ. Complete white-out. We drove very slowly. Nonetheless the driver lost control of the vehicle multiple times raising the distinct possibility that I would die in a multi-car pile-up on the NJ Turnpike. Way to die #1.
Eventually we got to within about a half mile or less of my home and there was a huge tree down with an electric wire snaking across the road. The driver could go no further. No problem I say! I know where I am I will walk the rest of the way - and out I got. I figured I could bend down and pass under the fallen tree at the roots end staying well away from the wire and not even touch the tree (and isn't wood an insulator anyway?!). As soon as I got out of the car I saw the error of my ways - my glasses don't have windshield wipers. I could barely see the tree let alone the wire. I was bound to get electrocuted as I stumbled around on the road. Way to die #2.
But I made it past the obstacle and proceeded in the general direction of my home enjoying the amazing peace and quiet of deeply falling snow. Beautiful to be out in nature in the snow. And then I heard the cracks like gunfire and I thought it must be hunters and there I was stumbling through the woods and I was bound to get shot. Way to die #3.
Then I realized that both deer and hunters were sensibly not out in the blizzard and the noise was huge tree limbs falling under the weight of the snow. And there I was in the woods and they were falling randomly around me. I was bound to get crushed by a falling tree limb. Way to die #4.
So I try to figure out whether it is safer to walk hugging the tree trunks because the branches might miss me, or as far out as possible because the falling branches would smaller. I aimed for trees that looked younger and hopefully less likely to break. Based on all that I decide to leave the road through the woods and go cross country to get to open meadow as fast as possible. And I come out in the meadow (the same one where the foxes now lurk watching the Chicken Palace) and once out of the woods the snow is up to the top of my thighs and I am not so much walking as wading through it. And if you have ever done that it is really hard work. And I am getting seriously short of puff and I realize that an out of shape older lady was bound to have a heart attack with this much exertion combined with a dose of fear. Way to die #5.
But I keep on going and force myself to stop every 3-4 paces and count to 10 in order to 'rest', and I do well until I take a step and my leg goes down a rabbit hole and I am flat on my face in a snow drift and I realize I am bound to break a leg and be unable to stand and will be discovered only when the snow melts. Way to die #6.
But I manage to pull my leg out of the rabbit hole and somehow get myself upright and I keep going. But by now the blizzard is in full force and I can't see a single recognizable landmark. I cannot see the roof of my house which must be 'just there' or possibly 'just back there'. I have huge trees and I can't see a single one. I was too stupid to remember that my smart-phone has a compass app, so I was destined to walk in circles until I was exhausted. Way to die #7.
Then suddenly there I was at my back door - I nearly crashed into it as I didn't see the house looming. So with great relief I go feeling pretty pleased with myself that I have cheated death 7 times and my smart watch buzzes encouragingly to say I have only 5 minutes to keep going in order to complete my 30 minutes of exercise for the day.
And from that I have learned to just stay home in a blizzard!

Oh wow, I'm so glad you lived to tell the tale...what a terrifying experience!

 

[BY Bob]

My list of cryptids include, but are not limited to:
Bigfoot
the loch ness monster
godzilla, and other Japanese threats
fast Ford cars
honest politicians
And I no longer need to search for the "rare Snowback Polish" Thank you!

I'm so glad I could help.

 

[BY Bob]

My local feed store has salmon faverolles coming in in March, I'm thinking a few might find their way to my house...

Sounds like fun!

 

[BY Bob]

Round 1 of hatching is over thankfully. 5 happy little black fluff balls. The final one hatched last night and it gave me grief. After the 4th one hatched Friday night my mother became convinced that the final egg was a dud. A argument ensued over if it was viable or not, she was afraid it would explode and was bad because she couldn't hear anything inside it and it was impossible to candle. I told her to leave it alone for another 48 hours, well, she caught me outside and decided it was bad and wanted to do a eggtopsy. She cracked a small hole near the air sack and nope, not a dud, just a chick that hadn't internally pipped yet. Thankfully she didn't damage any blood vessels and she stuck it back in the incubator and i spent the next 24 hours trying to keep the membranes moist. Yesterday morning the egg was rocking and could hear chirping so i was hoping it would finish hatching on it's own but had to intervene about 9 last night. It ended up becoming horribly shrink wrapped, and after assisting it out it was super weak but alive. I left it in a bowl in the incubator overnight and honestly thought i'd wake up to a dead chick. Nope, active little one who'd managed to climb out of the bowl. I just put it in the brooder with its siblings and it is wobbly but eating so that's a good sign. There are 9 more eggs in the incubator due in 2 weeks. This time after explaining that they can take up to 23 or 24 days to hatch due to possible hot and cold spots mom promises not to call one a dud right away. This has been a learning experience for both of us, and honestly, its soo much easier to let the hen do the job, but also rewarding when you get to watch them hatch out.
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The last little one to hatch.
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https://www.facebook.com/100003915274138/videos/pcb.2028339460639877/2028334870640336/

They are just marvelous. Congratulations!

 

[BY Bob]

The beautiful ladies! Are you supposed to get much snow Bob?

10 to 15 inches is the latest forecast. Slow but steady so far.

 

[Kris5902]

So, DH and I have agreed that we are going to attempt to lance Roostie’s foot tomorrow. It will be his last day of the antibiotics as well. I have seen hens heal up some pretty awful injuries, without antibiotics, so I’m hoping he feels much better and the little bit of pain/discomfort will be mitigated by a lot of relief once the mass of pus is cleared out. I’ve got a lot of trepidation about this but I really think it’s the best thing I can do for him. I’m a little concerned about the tendons and structure of the foot, bleeding, and I don’t want to be messing around with it more than necessary. If some of the pus is left in the wound do you guys think his own system will eventually clear it out? I’m planning a full clean out and bedding replacement for the hospital tractor this afternoon... and I’m going to move it over a little further and add another large tarp. I hope it stops raining soon.

 

[drstratton]

10 to 15 inches is the latest forecast. Slow but steady so far.
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Oh wow...I hope you don't get that much! Your yard is beautiful though!