Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I know I owe everyone a Chicken Palace tour but somehow I always get swamped with chores. But I can’t resist sharing this because little part as I have the pictures.
Part of the Chicken Palace design is that I have a small storage area so I can keep my chicken stuff. In the storage area I have salvaged an old kitchen cabinet (just 12” deep).

The doors are on the people side and the chickens can enter through cut-out arches in the back of the cabinet. The idea was they would lay their eggs in the cabinet and I can collect eggs from the people side.
Of course I had no idea how the Princesses would view this arrangement. So on their first morning sleeping in the Palace I was anxious to check it out ....

Diana and Elizabeth each picked a separate cubby in the cabinet to lay their egg - looks like it is a huge success!

 

[LozzyR]

I know I owe everyone a Chicken Palace tour but somehow I always get swamped with chores. But I can’t resist sharing this because little part as I have the pictures.
Part of the Chicken Palace design is that I have a small storage area so I can keep my chicken stuff. In the storage area I have salvaged an old kitchen cabinet (just 12” deep).

View attachment 2040751

The doors are on the people side and the chickens can enter through cut-out arches in the back of the cabinet. The idea was they would lay their eggs in the cabinet and I can collect eggs from the people side.
Of course I had no idea how the Princesses would view this arrangement. So on their first morning sleeping in the Palace I was anxious to check it out ....
View attachment 2040752
View attachment 2040753
View attachment 2040754

Diana and Elizabeth each picked a separate cubby in the cabinet to lay their egg - looks like it is a huge success!

That is a fabulous design!

 

[BY Bob]

I have made an observation between the last time I got new chooks and this time. When I got Bessie and Charlie, Lucy and Chickie were noticeably stressed. They were quite vocal over the two-week quarantine period. This time, the two of them plus Charlie have been pretty chilled. They could hear the newbies panicking when I grabbed and boxed them to clean the cage, they didn’t say a word and continued to sit and relax. Did they learn from last time? That suggests intelligence and memory.

It would indeed. I guess my Lilly isn't as smart. Lots of complaining this time. Still.

 

[BY Bob]

Amazing! Cute name and beautiful flock! Soooo cute!!!!

Laura

Thank you so much. It's been quite a journey. I hope you enjoy following along.

 

[BY Bob]

A comment for all who post and/or read.
The volume of posts and the wonderful pictures and videos is large. It just isn't practical to respond properly to every post.
Imo everyone spread over the three threads does an amazing job just going through and reading them.
These three threads are about the only threads left on BYC that haven't morphed into chat and drivel. I think you all do a great job and tbh these three threads are about all that keep me logging in each day.
I joined BYC to talk about chickens and all of you have made this very enjoyable.

We are so glad you found us. You are a great contributor to all the conversations.

 

[BY Bob]

I know I owe everyone a Chicken Palace tour but somehow I always get swamped with chores. But I can’t resist sharing this because little part as I have the pictures.
Part of the Chicken Palace design is that I have a small storage area so I can keep my chicken stuff. In the storage area I have salvaged an old kitchen cabinet (just 12” deep).

View attachment 2040751

The doors are on the people side and the chickens can enter through cut-out arches in the back of the cabinet. The idea was they would lay their eggs in the cabinet and I can collect eggs from the people side.
Of course I had no idea how the Princesses would view this arrangement. So on their first morning sleeping in the Palace I was anxious to check it out ....
View attachment 2040752
View attachment 2040753
View attachment 2040754

Diana and Elizabeth each picked a separate cubby in the cabinet to lay their egg - looks like it is a huge success!

What a clever design and repurpose. I love it!

 

[BY Bob]

No One Seriously Injured

I watched on the camera this morning as everyone woke up. There were about 10 minutes between everyone moving around and the coop door opening. Phyllis had to be pretty quick for those 10 minutes.

Aurora started it by chasing her off the roost. The downside to the new lower roost, they can all peck at hens below them without getting down.

So poor Phyllis with no vision of what is above her had to find a safe space. She eventually did.

The door then opened and she scooted out. The Bigs went out behind her.

Sansa and Sydney hopped down and found the Mirror.

I leave it to @MaryJanet caption the conversation for us all.

So Farmer Bob heads out to release them into the yard.

I find Phyllis treed.

The Bigs are all standing at the entrance to the prefab coop and Phyllis is up on the outside roost in the coop. So I opened the big run door and let them all out.

The Bigs took off. Phyllis came out a few minutes later and came to stand next to me. I walked her over to the side door and opened it. She called to Sydney and Sansa and they emerged from the Big Coop to join her outside.

The big change for tonight is going to be Phyllis on the high roost, either alone or with her prefab roosting buddy Sydney. Sansa is going on the main roost. I have a sneaky suspicion the Sansa may have knocked her off the high roost last night.

No pullets were harmed in the events outlined above.

 

[BY Bob]

How Do You Bring a Large Extended Family Together?

Well the italian way is food, especially pasta. Something amazing and organic just occurred. The Bigs were at the back door begging for food. I grabbed some pasta that we had in the fridge (there are always some there) and threw some out for them.

Well Sansa saw them eating and thought, that must be good. She hopped onto the deck and I tossed some to the far end. Before I knew it, all 6 were eating together, mostly peacefully. Here is the video.

I am so warmed inside right now and proud of them all. Especially Sansa for not being afraid. She may turn out to be a great leader some day.

 

[RoyalChick]

How Do You Bring a Large Extended Family Together?

Hold on, I count 8 birds. Are those the visiting ducks we see in the background? Or has @BY Bob secretly expanded the flock even more?!

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

How Do You Bring a Large Extended Family Together?

Well the italian way is food, especially pasta. Something amazing and organic just occurred. The Bigs were at the back door begging for food. I grabbed some pasta that we had in the fridge (there are always some there) and threw some out for them.

Well Sansa saw them eating and thought, that must be good. She hopped onto the deck and I tossed some to the far end. Before I knew it, all 6 were eating together, mostly peacefully. Here is the video.

I am so warmed inside right now and proud of them all. Especially Sansa for not being afraid. She may turn out to be a great leader some day.

I know food always makes me happy and much more agreeable!!

It's always so nice to see every one get along. They've come a long way in a short amount of time.

I hope the ducks got some pasta too, everyone is family when you're Italian!