Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

They are a handsome pair. I see. I've now been told that the grey hhen in question is a Legbar/Marans cross. I really don't know enough about these breeds to know if that's right or not. Shame some crosses do not inherit the copper hackles and do inherit the feathered legs. Also the Marans crosses that were in the tribes had a deeper grey colour. I'm going for Legbar/Marans cross for now, not having anything more concrete to go on.

Works for me. Are you certain the others aren't Marans then?

 

[Chicken poppy]

You are correct on the dark brown eggs an Marans but if she is any kind of mix that could be out the door.

Agreed, i do constant research on eggs because for some reason it intrests me, i love how almost every breed has a brown shade of an egg lol!

 

[BY Bob]

Don't forget the box of tissues to wipe your eyes when you say goodbye to them as house chicks.

This is so true. I've been sad since I finished the coop yesterday. One more cuddle tonight and then they start out on their own.

 

[BY Bob]

Alarm!

Hattie just sounded the alarm and everyone has frozen. Including the chicks.

One of the chicks peeped and Hattie growled again silencing her.

This video is right at the end as Mrs BY Bob comes outside and breaks the spell.

 

[Chicken poppy]

This is so true. I've been sad since I finished the coop yesterday. One more cuddle tonight and then they start out on their own.

Right?! Theys nuggle up in your hair and be all cute, and the next moment their laying eggs out in a coop.

 

[Shadrach]

Things are going to get rough for a bit with my posts. I hope I can get the spoilers to work.
As some of you know, I've taken on some of the care duties of a group of chickens that live on an allotment plot not far from where my daughter lives.
All the chickens are rescues and more recently Ex Batts. This lot of Ex Batts are part of 2000 rescued by a farm in the next county. This farm contacts the people they know who keep chickens and asks if they can take any of the Ex Batts. The person who has been trying to run the allotment project and look after the chickens and geese, unwisely imo took on 14 Ex Batts.
The coop is disgusting as is the run. The person who has tried to take care of the chickens just doesn't have the knowledge, or the time to do more than feed them basically. There used to be aperson who was at the allotments full time. This person built the coop and run and maintained the place. He died over two years ago and the place has slid into the state it is in now.

My first priority was to get them fed properly. I bought decent pellet feed at 17% protein and 3.5% calcium. All flock feed isn't easy to come by locally. They were getting fed once in the morning at what I estimate to be a bit over half of what they need.
My next priority was to get them out of the run as often as I could. They are not safe out without supervision. The Ex Batts don't have a clue about the outside world.
I started gently with half an hour a day out of the run and kept a close eye on where the Ex Batts went and what they tried to eat. On the first few outings most didn't even scratch the ground for bugs etc. They've got the idea now from watching me weed and the other hens scratching. There are tow or three that stand around looking a bit bemused by it all. I might add this is not thhe way I would go about things in better circumstances. I must work with what I have at the moment.
I've increased their time out over the last week. I've made small repairs to the allotment border fence in the hope that it will stop them wandering too far away to keep an eye on and still be able to get on with stuff.
I have plans and I think the money to expand their run by 59 square meters, 635 square feet. I doubt I'll get much by the way of help.
This is the view with my back to the coop and run as it is now. I'm hoping to fence up to the two wooden post in the distance just past the bucket.

This is the view if I trun around to face the coop. This was waist high in nettles and brambles up to where I'm standing and a bit. The stuff on the right of the picture will give you some idea of what it was like.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Oh my gosh! That is horrible. Is there anything i could do to help! Your amazing for helping them. Thats crazy small!

 

[Ribh]

Things are going to get rough for a bit with my posts. I hope I can get the spoilers to work.
As some of you know, I've taken on some of the care duties of a group of chickens that live on an allotment plot not far from where my daughter lives.
All the chickens are rescues and more recently Ex Batts. This lot of Ex Batts are part of 2000 rescued by a farm in the next county. This farm contacts the people they know who keep chickens and asks if they can take any of the Ex Batts. The person who has been trying to run the allotment project and look after the chickens and geese, unwisely imo took on 14 Ex Batts.
The coop is disgusting as is the run. The person who has tried to take care of the chickens just doesn't have the knowledge, or the time to do more than feed them basically. There used to be aperson who was at the allotments full time. This person built the coop and run and maintained the place. He died over two years ago and the place has slid into the state it is in now.

My first priority was to get them fed properly. I bought decent pellet feed at 17% protein and 3.5% calcium. All flock feed isn't easy to come by locally. They were getting fed once in the morning at what I estimate to be a bit over half of what they need.
My next priority was to get them out of the run as often as I could. They are not safe out without supervision. The Ex Batts don't have a clue about the outside world.
I started gently with half an hour a day out of the run and kept a close eye on where the Ex Batts went and what they tried to eat. On the first few outings most didn't even scratch the ground for bugs etc. They've got the idea now from watching me weed and the other hens scratching. There are tow or three that stand around looking a bit bemused by it all. I might add this is not thhe way I would go about things in better circumstances. I must work with what I have at the moment.
I've increased their time out over the last week. I've made small repairs to the allotment border fence in the hope that it will stop them wandering too far away to keep an eye on and still be able to get on with stuff.
I have plans and I think the money to expand their run by 59 square meters, 635 square feet. I doubt I'll get much by the way of help.
This is the view with my back to the coop and run as it is now. I'm hoping to fence up to the two wooden post in the distance just past the bucket.
View attachment 2856625
This is the view if I trun around to face the coop. This was waist high in nettles and brambles up to where I'm standing and a bit. The stuff on the right of the picture will give you some idea of what it was like.
View attachment 2856627

It's a big job, Shad, but it should keep you out of mischief for a good long time!

 

[BY Bob]

Sounds good to me Bob. The only tweak I'd suggest is a second place to hide from a Phyllis attack, at the other end. I'm worried she will be between them and the little escape door at the nest boxes. A sheet of ply on bricks maybe?

Maybe their heat block will work as well. I could put that at the other side as well. I think @RoyalChick used hers like that.

 

[BY Bob]

If you do end up with the coop, eventually it might need bracing under the nest box. Last year we added shelf brackets to keep the nest box from sagging.

I did that as well. Plant hangers work well and are decorative.