Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

I use a treadle feeder too. It has been outside for years and is not much worse for wear.

It used to have a label on it that said "Chookateeria". It doesn't have adjustable openings like Ribh's, I just use a clothes peg to prop it open and make the opening smaller and smaller by moving the peg forward until the chooks get the idea.

I have a treadle feeder too, two in fact (but the newer one isn’t being used). When I had three ISA Browns they learned to use it beautifully, but then Charlie the Australorp and Bessie the Barred Rock were so big they could reach it without standing on the treadle, and couldn’t work out how to get into it. The Faverolles can use it but will often stare helplessly at it until I put a brick on the treadle.

 

[LozzyR]

Awwww, that's lovely news RB.

The reason that I thought of putting posters up is because not everyone has/uses FaceBook. I don't. (I know, I'm in the dark ages. )

You’re not missing much ACM. I use it for business but not so much personally anymore. It’s good to keep up with interstate and international friends though.

 

[LozzyR]

Deana used to lay enormous wrinkled eggs quite often. She is 5 years old now and hasn't laid an egg for several months thank goodness. I did help her along with personal lubricant and extra calcium supplement a few times as I thought she might be egg bound.
Her egg shells started getting really thin too.
How strong would you say the egg shell is?

What did she think of you applying the personal lubricant? I can picture her looking very indignant!

 

[Shadrach]

Photo Essay

Yesterday morning was so lovely. I got lots of quality time with the ladies and they were so happy. You can tell from the wonderful clucking they make.

I took blind photos, photos from odd angles and slow motion videos. Let's start with another slow motion. This one is Aurora eating.

How about some Hattie for all of Hattie lovers out there.
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My new best friend Sansa. Her feathers crave sunshine. Spectacular.
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How about a shadowy figure having a drink?
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My too black hens were enjoying snacks together
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Of course Phyllis always needs her own photo shoot anytime the camera is out.

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It was so warm yesterday I gave the cats a treat and opened my office window for them
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Was that cat tax at the end there Bob?

 

[LozzyR]

Imagine the campaigne posters!

“Purple corn for everyone!”

 

[Shadrach]

Very hard - feels like the shell is very thick.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[Shadrach]

After watching them eat the very sad, trampled, pooey dead grass in front of their run, I started some sprouts and offered it from my hand yesterday. It had just gotten nice little green seed leaves. They took an interest and everybody tried them, then came back picking at it for seconds and thirds, but didn't go to town on it. Consistent interest but not craving. It was new. Today they went at it with more enthusiasm. I might try it in soil in a pan and with a cover so they can pick and rip and tear at it, more natural for them?
It's a sprouts mix that I bought in the beginning of the pandemic when we hunkered down and didn't go out at all and figured out ways to get fresh green things to eat and cook (i.e., we grew more celery from the root of the store-bought stuff, dug and brought in outside chives, garlic and parsley). I was going to buy wheat grass to sprout for the chickens and remembered this. It's broccoli, crimson clover, red radish, & alfalfa seeds. Eat your vegetables!

I got some pictures of their roosting arrangement the other night. The coop light has come on, in a few minutes the autodoor will close. Of course they were taken aback to find me creeping all bent over up to their pop door at that time of day (the coop run is I think 38 inches high) , and it made them a little unsure what was going to happen next.

So the two in back stood up. That's Queenie of course in front and to the right, facing out. I can't tell who is who here with the Buckeyes, but I think the "sentinel" here besides Queenie, the one always standing and watching, might be Popcorn. View attachment 2555135

Somebody is also in the front, facing in. She never looked up during this photo shoot. Can't a girl get some rest!

The one in the very back took a look for a while, then went back to facing left, she's parallel to the back wall.
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On the right middle back is another, here preening a bit, she did look up when I tried to get a closer shot, and they all got nervous and unsettled so I backed off. In this shot you can just make out on the right the edge of the doorway to the nestbox area. That's a removeable panel divider with a sliding door in it. There is outside access from the side into the nestbox for collecting eggs. The coop light (and the round handle mechanism on the back panel) is roughly in the middle of the whole coop box.
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It was a still, cold night (5F, 0.3F in the morning after) and they are not using the whole area available to them, they are more or less snuggled up.
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What lovely pictures. My elder sister has a similar coop.

 

[micstrachan]

Happy Friday!

(sorry... Bridge has s bit of a skid mark)

 

[ChicoryBlue]

What lovely pictures. My elder sister has a similar coop.

And she likes it? Dislikes it? (if you know either)

 

[featherhead007]

What did she think of you applying the personal lubricant? I can picture her looking very indignant!

sick!