Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Can't Keep Us In

this morning's temperature was 10° colder than they had forecasted. As you can see it was up to 9° from 8° at 7:25.

I'm really glad that I brought the newbies into the garage last night. That's just too cold for my standards. The Big Girls would not be kept inside by the cold. As soon as the door opened they went right under the coop.

 

[RoyalChick]

They will be fine. They are all grown up right? Where was the frostbite, her comb? I used to put vaseline on my leghorns combs when it got real cold. They hated it but they never got frostbite. My ccop is not heated but the full grown ladies can handle pretty cold temps. As long as there is no moisture build up in the coop and they are out of the wind.

Yes they are fully grown and laying and generally seem very healthy - energetic, curious, chatty, and always scratching around. Maggie has a particularly big and floppy comb and she will definitely lose some of the tips to frostbite. The issue is the temporary housing situation - I took over the chickens from a school project and I don't think the coop is adequate. To be fair it is a good job for a teenage project, but it has drafts and as you know it has been very damp so I think that must be why she got frostbite. The Chicken Palace will have lots of ventilation and will be cozy and draft free but we are still a few weeks from it being ready for moving in. I must say the garage was a good decision for last night and was much easier than I expected - no fuss!

 

[RoyalChick]

Can't Keep Us In

this morning's temperature was 10° colder than they had forecasted. As you can see it was up to 9° from 8° at 7:25.
View attachment 2026789

I'm really glad that I brought the newbies into the garage last night. That's just too cold for my standards. The Big Girls would not be kept inside by the cold. As soon as the door opened they went right under the coop.

It is all too cold for me. I was going to tackle the mouse situation in the garage this morning but I may just go back to bed instead!

 

[BY Bob]

Yes they are fully grown and laying and generally seem very healthy - energetic, curious, chatty, and always scratching around. Maggie has a particularly big and floppy comb and she will definitely lose some of the tips to frostbite. The issue is the temporary housing situation - I took over the chickens from a school project and I don't think the coop is adequate. To be fair it is a good job for a teenage project, but it has drafts and as you know it has been very damp so I think that must be why she got frostbite. The Chicken Palace will have lots of ventilation and will be cozy and draft free but we are still a few weeks from it being ready for moving in. I must say the garage was a good decision for last night and was much easier than I expected - no fuss!

I would suggest some vaseline then. It will keep the moisture off of her comb if it gets that cold again. I'm not sure it is forecast to do so though.

 

[RoyalChick]

I would suggest some vaseline then. It will keep the moisture off of her comb if it gets that cold again. I'm not sure it is forecast to do so though.

Thanks for the advice - I will give Vaseline a go. I didn't really want to touch her comb until the frozen bits fall off in case it hurts her. I inspect it every day and I am confident there is no infection and no swelling. I will try gently and see how it goes. Generally she is not shy about expressing her views so I imagine if it is tender she will let me know in no uncertain terms!

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks for the advice - I will give Vaseline a go. I didn't really want to touch her comb until the frozen bits fall off in case it hurts her. I inspect it every day and I am confident there is no infection and no swelling. I will try gently and see how it goes. Generally she is not shy about expressing her views so I imagine if it is tender she will let me know in no uncertain terms!

Mine never liked it. But I never lost any comb to frostbite. Including this one.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine never liked it. But I never lost any comb to frostbite. Including this one.

View attachment 2026805

Wonderful! Did you Vaseline her wattles too? I haven't heard about frostbite on wattles as much but would think it could also be a problem. I plan to tackle Maggie this afternoon!

 

[BY Bob]

Wonderful! Did you Vaseline her wattles too? I haven't heard about frostbite on wattles as much but would think it could also be a problem. I plan to tackle Maggie this afternoon!

I did her wattles as well. Why not, you are there already.

 

[biophiliac]

Back to Farming

With apologies to @Kris5902 who really is farming, I feel like I am back on the family farm. The big coop and the whole system around Fluffy Butt Acres is designed so that the chickens have the freedom, food and safety which they need with less inconvenience for us.

I am not a morning person. It takes me an hour most days to just get out of bed. I am a night owl. Always up until midnight sometimes later. Well, all week I have been up with the sun. Why? Nothing is automated with the old prefab coop. I need to take out food and water and release them from their confines.

I went to college to get away from this life. I will always remember my Dad asking why I wanted to go to college and my response “because I want to work in air conditioning”. Now three little pullets are dictating my life and getting me up on their timeline.

Integration cannot come soon enough for my sleep.

 

[BY Bob]

Returning Home

The newbies have left the garage and are back in their new home.