Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Really Sharp Pointy Teeth

I caught this fellow on camera last night. Despite the protestations of some British comedians that they have very sharp pointy teeth, I dont think he is my villian.

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The little Skunk did come back at 2:00 am again. Nothing else showed up.

I am going to redirect the cameras to aim at the coop tonight. I want to see what the skunks may be doing when they come around. I still see no signs of any digging going on.

Awww that's a nice surprise! I remember when Mr Bunny has hanging out with the hens in autumn that was very special.

 

[MaryJanet]

We use medium to large river rock at the base of our coop/run combo. It doesn’t keep the little bitty field mice out but works well for any true predators. The mice are drawn by the little bit of feed spilled by the girls during the day. We do not leave any feed in the run at night and have never put feed in the coop. The picture is of the coop when the girls were about 8 weeks old. They are now 23 weeks old. Once the hardware cloth was removed from the egg door the hinges were switched to the bottom. Live and learn. . The rocks also help to deflect rain runoff. Also - I have added another couple layers of rock. I should take a new picture but you get the idea.

That's a nice coop! I love the colour!

 

[MaryJanet]

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 like the idea of deep eaves. Next year I hope to build a big henhouse with a coop at one end and a large covered run - lots of other things too - and deep eaves for shade in summer ⛱

 

[WhoDatChick]

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.
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This is gorgeous!! It looks like a beautiful Christmas card!

 

[Shadrach]

Just as a general comment on coops.
I'm so pleased I went for small coops high off the ground. I would still do the same should I have to have chickens in a run. I understand why some people like their walk in coops but all have a problem with security where the coop meets the ground. Most predators from what I've read have dug their way in. A few rip chicken wire away but the mistake was using chicken wire in the first place.
I can check under all the full time coops here. I've watched a pole cat try to break into Tribe 2's coop and with half it's pulling power reduced by only having two legs on the ground. Most ground predators have problems gaining access while at full stretch.
Raised coops also give a degree of protection particularly when going to roost when the light may be failing. They are also great for when it rains.

 

[MaryJanet]

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

Me too!

Ivy has been using the roof of the little coop to practice her escape artiste act. Yesterday I came outside to find her sitting on my comfy chair, which is outside the chickens yard, saying "ta daaaa!!!"

It doesn't really matter in terms of safety, but I like to do a head count several times a day for my own peace of mind.

So now I must relocate the little coop away from the yard perimeter.

 

[ValerieJ]

Just as a general comment on coops.
I'm so pleased I went for small coops high off the ground. I would still do the same should I have to have chickens in a run. I understand why some people like their walk in coops but all have a problem with security where the coop meets the ground. Most predators from what I've read have dug their way in. A few rip chicken wire away but the mistake was using chicken wire in the first place.
I can check under all the full time coops here. I've watched a pole cat try to break into Tribe 2's coop and with half it's pulling power reduced by only having two legs on the ground. Most ground predators have problems gaining access while at full stretch.
Raised coops also give a degree of protection particularly when going to roost when the light may be failing. They are also great for when it rains.

We are building a walk in coop next month, but it will have a solid floor. The attached run will be set up with either an anti digging apron or hardware cloth buried a foot underground. That seems safe to me.

 

[micstrachan]

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.
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She really is stunning, isn’t she? I’m so sorry you and her tribe lost her.

 

[Shadrach]

Bracket, her 4 four chicks and what seems to have become aunt Lock.
Lock is the only other blond hen in the tribe and is currently the most junior hen.
I handled Bracket a lot when she was ill and although I'm sure if I went to pick her up it would annoy her now, but she hasn't let her chicks develop any sense of fear of me as far as I can tell. Lock seems to have picked up on this feeling and seems completely unbothered by my presence. Not all the chickens here are quite like this.

 

[Shadrach]

We are building a walk in coop next month, but it will have a solid floor. The attached run will be set up with either an anti digging apron or hardware cloth buried a foot underground. That seems safe to me.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished project.
I don't need walk in type coops here so that's one factor that makes the choice easier. The chickens only go into the coop to sleep and occasionally to lay eggs.
It's not even that coops and runs built on the ground have digging issues, they're just harder to make secure and inspect and maintain.