Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Awe, they are messy, but they are such wonderful creatures, and much more cold hardy than the chickens!

Water outside coop only! In winter/cold, I line floor with hay or straw on top of either small shavings or pelleted bedding for them. Change out hay/straw daily. (This works well for me as I toss it into the run on top of any remnants of snow blown in or missed by the shovel,View attachment 2977382View attachment 2977383View attachment 2977386 and both the chickens and ducks are happy about that!

I'm sure I must owe some taxes for something by now, (@MaryJanet , )
Tax:

They are Indian runners, 2 hens but they sure were cold today all huddling together in the straw, and mucking around on the water their beaks where getting frosted. I worry they are getting cold stressed. Her hens seem ok other than their combs on a few getting frost bite.

Next winter they are coming to my barn, they will be able to have the run of the barn during the day and a warm place to sleep at night, I will have to make a seperate room for them in the barn, my hen house room is only big enough for my gang!

 

[Ponypoor]

Awe, they are messy, but they are such wonderful creatures, and much more cold hardy than the chickens!

Water outside coop only! In winter/cold, I line floor with hay or straw on top of either small shavings or pelleted bedding for them. Change out hay/straw daily. (This works well for me as I toss it into the run on top of any remnants of snow blown in or missed by the shovel,View attachment 2977382View attachment 2977383View attachment 2977386 and both the chickens and ducks are happy about that!

I'm sure I must owe some taxes for something by now, (@MaryJanet , )
Tax:

Only one white one ? Does she lay white eggs?

 

[bgmathteach]

Do they molt this time of year, every year?

NO...never. Usually my last/late molters are finishing up around Thanksgiving...and I always considered that late. This has been a crazy year for molting....my first didn't start molting until between Thanksgiving & Christmas this year (except for my two broodies, but that was because of their 'broody molt'. It has been very nerve wracking, this 'wait until it is frigid to molt' thing!!

 

[bgmathteach]

Wow ya safety first for sure. If you're doing wiring have them run some to you coop you can always do the trenching yourself to save money and just get the electrician to wire it in.

Yeah, we have the trenching done and conduit laid, but the next room in the house isn't ready for him yet....and we need to upgrade our main junction box before adding anything...so hopefully this spring

 

[bgmathteach]

Only one white one ? Does she lay white eggs?

Yes, one white peking...hasn't laid yet, she is an august hatch...but should lay white eggs. One Buff orpington, also lays white eggs (one of my 2 co-broody gals - those 2 will be 5 this spring) one 1/2 rouen, 1/2 Khaki campbell, again, white eggs. Rest are all khaki campbell. They start the lay cycle laying eggs that look like they are dirty (grayish cast that gets mottled as the wet bloom hits the straw bedding), but as the season goes on, looks more white,,,until you put it next to something pearly white. I have 8 hens/ducks, and one drake.

 

[BY Bob]

NO...never. Usually my last/late molters are finishing up around Thanksgiving...and I always considered that late. This has been a crazy year for molting....my first didn't start molting until between Thanksgiving & Christmas this year (except for my two broodies, but that was because of their 'broody molt'. It has been very nerve wracking, this 'wait until it is frigid to molt' thing!!

This is very interesting to me. You have 2, @RoyalChick has 1. I have never heard of any chicken molting in January before. Never. Something is going on but I can't figure what would cause this!

 

[bgmathteach]

Wow that one is a beauty! What kind of cat is it?

Ummmm, a rescue? LOL
Long hair domestic 'mutt', but an absolute sweetie and an *almost* fearless hunter! She has caught many a squirrel, chipmunk, mouse, and even a couple of rabbits ( ) However, she is scared of the chickens!

 

[BY Bob]

Ummmm, a rescue? LOL
Long hair domestic 'mutt', but an absolute sweetie and an *almost* fearless hunter! She has caught many a squirrel, chipmunk, mouse, and even a couple of rabbits ( ) However, she is scared of the chickens!

Most cats I've known are afraid of chickens. I don't think that's unusual.

She is a spectacular looking cat. Nice to know she is a good cat as well.

 

[bgmathteach]

This is very interesting to me. You have 2, @RoyalChick has 1. I have never heard of any chicken molting in January before. Never. Something is going on but I can't figure what would cause this!

Yes, something very odd is a-foot this year (well, a-feather!) However, my percentages of molting now is much lower than @RoyalChick given that I have just over 90 birds (just about 80 chickens). I had thought the 2 that are nearly done were the last of them...then these two started! I actually had to put saddles on them as their backs were completely naked and I was afraid they would freeze or, at the very least, get frostbite there from exposure. Those 2 I have been taking off the roost at night and putting them in a nest box with a small hot water bottle buried in the straw. So far they have been okay, but I am quite worried about them tonight. It is supposed to get down to -3F and the wind isn't supposed to die down until around midnight. I thought of bringing them in, but my one plastic dog carrier has a 'hen and a friend' in it as my rooster tore her comb. (Young one trying to sneak a mating in quick-like and got shoved off the girl [while holding onto the back of her comb instead of neck feathers] by top dog 'White Boy')

 

[BY Bob]

That did not go as planned

Hattie got down and Lilly is now alone. Hattie must have been peckish.