Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Egg update.

Half the eggs all over the floor of the coop. Other half still in nest, covered in yolk. Jess snuggled in on a fake egg and a real one (got the fakes to try to get PITA to lay elsewhere). Nest eggs cold. Disposed of eggs: partial development in 3. At a guess, quit a week ago. Now to test her and see how much she wants to sit on empty nest.

I have my two Silkies loving a golf ball past 3 week between the two of them, sharing the same nest! I could have shoved a dozen eggs under the two silly girls. And tonight I noted that Curly is snuggled under fluffys wing! Wow they weren't kidding when they said silkies are very broody!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Let me measure them tomorrow. I have lowered them twice now and I don't remember how low they are now.

They love going up so high but then look so awkward trying to get down, I am so paranoid of the wee silkies and old Penelope.

I want to keep the happy to get up higher but also keep them safe...

 

[Ponypoor]

Ban

Not sure were I was going with that but think it was supposed to be barn haha not ban.

 

[MaryJanet]

They love going up so high but then look so awkward trying to get down, I am so paranoid of the wee silkies and old Penelope.

I want to keep the happy to get up higher but also keep them safe...

Do they have a ramp?

 

[Ponypoor]

Frigid Ranging

The wind is still howling so despite temperatures in the high 30s it was brutally cold outside. However, because of Lilly and my job, it has been 3 days since the tribe got free range so I bundled up and let them out for 2 hours.

Interesting item number 1: One tough frizzle. Only Betty the frizzle, stayed out the entire time.

Interesting item number 2: Lilly comes out. Lilly jogged out and stayed out for 5 minutes before packing it in.

Interesting item number 3: Betty split her time in thirds. One third with Phyllis, one third with the big girls, Hattie and Aurora, and one third alone (mostly because everyone else went in). She assiduously avoided Sydney at all times.

Here she is with Phyllis.

And working the wood pile with Aurora
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Interesting item number 4: Hattie's behavior. Hattie did not come out at first. She watched everyone from the porch.

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Hattie did come out once Lilly went in. She wanted a couple of walnuts. Lilly must have said something to her.
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Surprisingly, at one point, Hattie sprinted over to Sydney and forced her to bow down and submit. I don't know if Sydney was eyeballing her or what. I missed the reason for the behavior and my hands were too numb to work the camera on the phone to catch a picture.

After maybe 10 minutes out, Hattie went back in and sat in the doorway to watch everyone else.
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Interesting item number 5: In and out. Sydney and Aurora did not stay out the entire time, rather they would be out for a while and then run back in the coop to warm up. After a bit, back out they would come. They did this at least 4 times.

Interesting item number 6: Tortured Aurora. Betty did not want to go back in. So after everyone else went in her and I walked around the yard. This drove poor Aurora crazy. She was certain that at some point I would sneak special food to Betty and she would get none. So Aurora paced the porch. Not wanting to come out but watching just in case I had some secret treat for Betty. She even came part way out once when I removed my hand from my pocket and she was certain the moment for secret treats was at hand.

@Ribh @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @LozzyR @ChicoryBlue @micstrachan

Note sure what happened was trying to type barn ended up ban... My repetitive stress issue in my arm is acting up again!

Wanted to say the barn windows let sun in and the chickens sit in the sun on the hay...

 

[micstrachan]

People. I am beyond happy that it is Friday and that the days are getting longer. The girls got a whole hour of free range time today! I know… That is really sad to be excited about a single hour, but it is still winter here and I work full-time.

Little Mill went to bed early along with Lucky. Lucky is always first to bed, and Little Mill is almost always second, so it’s not a big surprise. Those little corner roosts are the coziest spots. Little Mill is pretty much always on that one, and Cashew and/or Roxy is on the other. Little Mill used to always roost upstairs on the lower roost that’s in the upper coop (pop door visible to the right of Millie in photo), alongside Ruby. But that changed when Ruby left us.

 

[Ponypoor]

Sorry work and free range is preventing me from posting when you Aussies first check in. I know I'm a little late for you all at this point.

You know what I say - work is a four letter word! But I hear ya... Got home late tonight, all the creatures were grumpy and cold - I did note that it was still light at 6pm now! Woohoo.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow! Such a lot going on there.

I had an idea Betty and Sydney would be friends because they had so many chats the first couple of days.

I'm so pleased Lilly felt good enough to come outside for a while!

I find it very interesting that Betty (who wasn't living at your house when the hawk struck) is comfy staying outside while all the others go inside sooner. I know there are other factors at play, but it feels like a thing to comment on.

I don't think can just be dismissed. I'm sure it has something to do with it.

I find that if I'm observant there is always a lot going on. Chickens are never dull.

 

[Ponypoor]

People. I am beyond happy that it is Friday and that the days are getting longer. The girls got a whole hour of free range time today! I know… That is really sad to be excited about a single hour, but it is still winter here and I work full-time.

Little Mill went to bed early along with Lucky. Lucky is always first to bed, and Little Mill is almost always second, so it’s not a big surprise. Those little corner roosts are the coziest spots. Little Mill is pretty much always on that one, and Cashew and/or Roxy is on the other. Little Mill used to always roost upstairs on the lower roost that’s in the upper coop (pop door visible to the right of Millie in photo), alongside Ruby. But that changed when Ruby left us.
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Is that Towles on your roosts? How do you keep them clean?

 

[BY Bob]

Egg update.

Half the eggs all over the floor of the coop. Other half still in nest, covered in yolk. Jess snuggled in on a fake egg and a real one (got the fakes to try to get PITA to lay elsewhere). Nest eggs cold. Disposed of eggs: partial development in 3. At a guess, quit a week ago. Now to test her and see how much she wants to sit on empty nest.

Oh my. That's disappointing. I'm sorry that was the outcome.