Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Thanks! It is a humble coop and run with only 5 girls.
We buried hardware cloth below the 4”x4” interior base boards. So for the only intruders we have are the itty bitty field mice. I do wish we had a deeper overhang on the coop and run. It would make it easier to get eggs without having water run down my back when it rains. I suppose a coop is like anything else, you can always think of changes that could help with the design. I hope you have an awesome day!

I am forever tweeking my coop. I dont believe I will ever be satisfied. It's part of the fun!

 

[Shadrach]

Shadrach! I'm glad you're here! Good morning. I have a question for you.

I have a cockerel who, for the last week, has been sounding the alarm just before dusk. When he does I always go running out to see what the problem is, and there is never anything going on. He gets quiet the minute he sees me. What I have noticed is that the girls are all going into their coops at that same time. The cockerels are still separated from the hens and pullets, but I'm wondering if he is telling them to go inside. Would this make sense to you?

If that's what he is doing, I think I have a very protective and good cockerel on my hands.

No, not really Valerie.
If he can see the hens going into the coop he might be calling them to join him instead.
Generally going to roost is a fairly quiet business, apart from the roost position squabbles.
It's almost impossible to say with any certainty without being there to see all the activity.

 

[ValerieJ]

No, not really Valerie.
If he can see the hens going into the coop he might be calling them to join him instead.
Generally going to roost is a fairly quiet business, apart from the roost position squabbles.
It's almost impossible to say with any certainty without being there to see all the activity.

Thanks. That makes sense too. Maybe he's a bit alarmed that they aren't in his view anymore. I feel so bad for my cockerels right now. Can't wait till they get through this stage and the pullets are laying so they can be with the girls.

 

[Shadrach]

Gorgeous!

I mentioned seemingly a bit unkindly that Hurry wasn't as good looking as her mum.
I have over 3200 pictures spread over various hard drives and couldn't find the one I would like to rest my case on. I've found it now.
This is Ruffles and Fat Bird. They were best mates until Ruffles got killed by a Husky recently.
Ruffles hatched in 2012. Ruffles is on the left.

 

[Shadrach]

This is Tackle, daughter of Fudge, granddaughter of Ruffles.

 

[Shadrach]

Hinge, who got attacked by a Goshawk a few days ago finally flapped her wings today. Her left side I assume is still a bit painful because the flap was a bit uneven. I've just had her in the house for an inspection and feathers are beginning to appear under her wings again.
Hinge is now officially off the sick list.
She does however need to be careful about where she goes. If she has to rush for cover she's going to be a fraction slower and that is all it takes to die here.

 

[RoyalChick]

The fancy cameras arrived (thank you @BY Bob for the information that helped me find them) and last night I set one up. It definitely works, but I haven't learned how to use it properly. It recorded 'no activity' overnight. But this morning from the footprints in the mud I can see that there is a Raccoon super-highway running all the way around the coop! I still have one Raccoon vulnerability in the Chicken Palace that needs to be closed up so I am definitely locking them up tight each night.

 

[RoyalChick]

This is Tackle, daughter of Fudge, granddaughter of Ruffles.
View attachment 2019796View attachment 2019797View attachment 2019798

She looks like my Elizabeth - not just color and tail feathers but how she 'holds herself' if you see what I mean.

 

[Shadrach]

She looks like my Elizabeth - not just color and tail feathers but how she 'holds herself' if you see what I mean.

I do. I think I mentioned that I rather liked your Elizebeth. Now you have a better idea of why.

 

[RoyalChick]

I do. I think I mentioned that I rather liked your Elizebeth. Know you have a better idea of why.
Yes! I totally see it!