Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

It was really windy again today, I went to town and the roads hadn't been plowed, a couple hrs later still not plowed. I almost ditched the truck when I hit a 3' drift that tried to suck me into the ditch!! Got it out and stayed on the road... Others not so lucky.

What makes a person driving a BMW sedan think they can get through a 3' high 300' long drift! Hahaha I was hard pressed to get through it with my 4x4 pickup with aggressive snow/mud tires!! Fun times tho! Reminiscent of driving those logging roads I am so fond of

It was really warm though +4, the sun has some strength to it now, my gang made break for it when I opened the front barn door, they found a 4' patch of grass that had been blown clear of snow around a fence post and went to town digging, scratching and pecking at heavens know what haha

Chickens love to chicken outside if at all possible.

 

[BY Bob]

How did the coop improvements go today?

Why I just posted them!

 

[BY Bob]

You also have a holiday tomorrow? It's Family Day here, a provincial holiday.

Presidents Day tomorrow. Government holiday. Banks take it off too.

 

[BY Bob]

That's really great! I bet she will be a firecracker! Wonder if the other ladies are thinking ' the cheek of her '.

She has Moxie that Betty. I'm certain more stories are yet to come.

 

[Ponypoor]

Why I just posted them!

I am psychic haha

 

[rural mouse]

Chickens love to chicken outside if at all possible.

Mine were scratching away in the grass...the a snow squall (winter storm warning, my foot!) blew through. They took shelter.....under the deck by the wood pile, NOT in the coop. Right back out as soon as thesnow passed.

 

[Ponypoor]

What a Day

Today was one of those days when you realize why you go through the heartbreak. The sun came out today and by afternoon it was 40°F (9.4°C).

I went out and let the tribe roam. They got in almost 4 hours of free range!

And I got to enjoy it with them!

The best news of the day, Lilly never sat down once! Even better, I saw her scratching! Incredible!

Here she is on a 2 minute walk-about in the sun!

I saw Betty lay her egg today, so that was her yesterday! Her and Aurora laid today.

View attachment 2999999

Then there was the coop project for today, installing an outlet in the Cluckle Hut so I can run the heater and the heated water dish. I did not plan adequately when I built the Cluckle Hut to have the electricity I would need.

Since I was not running an electrical line to the coop at this time, I needed to be able to plug my outlet into my extension cord. So I purchased an 8 foot long, 14 gauge replacement power cord for a power tool. I wired this to an outdoor outlet and installed in on a stud in the Cluckle Hut.

First I drilled a hole in the wall of the Hut so the wire could come in. Then I mounted the box and fed the wire through it.
View attachment 3000002

Then I wired the outlet and fastened it to the box.
View attachment 3000003

I then put the right side of the outlet box back on.
View attachment 3000004

And placed an outlet cover on it.
View attachment 3000001

I then ran the cable for the heater over the door opening. The heated water dish will sit right below the outlet.

I plugged it in and we were good to go!

View attachment 2999997

I had to build a level place to set the heated water dish as they fill right to the rim. Something I do not like about them. If you are not level, they drip and the cord is too heavy for you to hang the water dish. It will not hang level. Making the level platform for it took too long and I ran out of daylight to fill it and put it in. Here you can see a normal water dish in its place.

View attachment 3000000

Of course my running late messed with roosting. Check out who is roosting where tonight.

View attachment 3000030View attachment 3000031

Phyllis had been roosted next to Betty but Aurora threw her out. She ran out of daylight to throw Betty out and let her go.

It really was a lovely day and the ladies had a great time, including a snack of shrimp which I hand fed to them in little pieces.

For you @Ribh it ended with this splendid sunset..
View attachment 2999998

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

Good job! You're hired! When can you start

Did you get one of those heated waterers like I bought?

I agree the cord is my big pet peeve. And yes if not level the water doesn't flow properly...

Also on mine, the vessel twists into the base in two settings, one keeps the vessel closed so water doesn't flow into the base, the other way it twists on allows the water to flow into the base. The other day I twisted the base on in the closed setting....

Does yours do this?

 

[BY Bob]

Good job! You're hired! When can you start

Did you get one of those heated waterers like I bought?

I agree the cord is my big pet peeve. And yes if not level the water doesn't flow properly...

Also on mine, the vessel twists into the base in two settings, one keeps the vessel closed so water doesn't flow into the base, the other way it twists on allows the water to flow into the base. The other day I twisted the base on in the closed setting....

Does yours do this?

Mine does not have a closed setting, only Open.

 

[BY Bob]

What a Day

Today was one of those days when you realize why you go through the heartbreak. The sun came out today and by afternoon it was 40°F (9.4°C).

I went out and let the tribe roam. They got in almost 4 hours of free range!

And I got to enjoy it with them!

The best news of the day, Lilly never sat down once! Even better, I saw her scratching! Incredible!

Here she is on a 2 minute walk-about in the sun!

I saw Betty lay her egg today, so that was her yesterday! Her and Aurora laid today.

View attachment 2999999

Then there was the coop project for today, installing an outlet in the Cluckle Hut so I can run the heater and the heated water dish. I did not plan adequately when I built the Cluckle Hut to have the electricity I would need.

Since I was not running an electrical line to the coop at this time, I needed to be able to plug my outlet into my extension cord. So I purchased an 8 foot long, 14 gauge replacement power cord for a power tool. I wired this to an outdoor outlet and installed in on a stud in the Cluckle Hut.

First I drilled a hole in the wall of the Hut so the wire could come in. Then I mounted the box and fed the wire through it.
View attachment 3000002

Then I wired the outlet and fastened it to the box.
View attachment 3000003

I then put the right side of the outlet box back on.
View attachment 3000004

And placed an outlet cover on it.
View attachment 3000001

I then ran the cable for the heater over the door opening. The heated water dish will sit right below the outlet.

I plugged it in and we were good to go!

View attachment 2999997

I had to build a level place to set the heated water dish as they fill right to the rim. Something I do not like about them. If you are not level, they drip and the cord is too heavy for you to hang the water dish. It will not hang level. Making the level platform for it took too long and I ran out of daylight to fill it and put it in. Here you can see a normal water dish in its place.

View attachment 3000000

Of course my running late messed with roosting. Check out who is roosting where tonight.

View attachment 3000030View attachment 3000031

Phyllis had been roosted next to Betty but Aurora threw her out. She ran out of daylight to throw Betty out and let her go.

It really was a lovely day and the ladies had a great time, including a snack of shrimp which I hand fed to them in little pieces.

For you @Ribh it ended with this splendid sunset..
View attachment 2999998

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

And did anyone else notice the Lilly is back up on the high roost?! She is definitely feeling better today.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine does not have a closed setting, only Open.

I felt so guilty! Esp after last week when I forgot to put water out !!

But overall I am happy with it.