Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Evidently deer aren't 'most animals'?

They have devoured mine...ate stalk and all...right down to about 1" above the ground as well! Along with my cucumber plants in the next bed over.They even ate my 'deer resistant' hostas. I would hate to see what they do to the older hosta varieties that aren't 'deer resistant'!!

I didn't know deer resistant hostas existed. I've got a couple of shady beds that I'm plant hunting for.....everything suggests hostas (especially for temp band)........deer LOVE hostas.......still looking....looking.....need to go talk to a local nursery, see if they have ideas....after I move the peony that we didn't plant to a better location.


Friday fluff, from last week. Pear is finally getting her feathers back in and looking pretty good.

 

[RoyalChick]

Have you thought of putting in one of those coop heaters (flat panel ones that are to be mounted to a wall?) They also make ones with removable legs & dual switch that can be used as a brooder plate, or mounted to a wall & used as a heater.
Something like this.

This puts out less overall heat, but I picked up one of these on sale last spring as I am planning on installing solar panels, so low wattage/draw is important...and it will give them a space they can huddle next to if they need to warm up. I will (hopefully) be putting this on the wall of my coop or run for next winter. I've bought some solar panels and an appropriate battery...and am reading up on how to safely create a system (probably will need another battery). So that I can have at least 1 warm area and at least 1 heated (hopefully 2) waterers for next winter. At the rate we are going with the house, though we have a trench and conduit done, I am not confident I will have regular electricity out there next winter...and I am SOOOO over this ridiculous lugging of water for drinking & as a heat source! 3 winters of this is enough!

You lasted two more winters than me with the water lugging! I was clear from the first window that something had to change!
On the heat panel, yes. But my issue is only at night. During the day the whole Chicken Palace faces south so if the sun even thinks about coming out they can sunbathe. I actually tried putting the oil heater on and just the other side of a hardware cloth barrier during the day and only I was interested in huddling up to it!
So it is at night I am worried and something on the wall would only heat one chicken who was roosted up against the wall.
I need to keep noodling this.

 

[bgmathteach]

I didn't know deer resistant hostas existed.

Well, evidently, they don't even though they are labeled as such!

 

[bgmathteach]

You lasted two more winters than me with the water lugging! I was clear from the first window that something had to change!
On the heat panel, yes. But my issue is only at night. During the day the whole Chicken Palace faces south so if the sun even thinks about coming out they can sunbathe. I actually tried putting the oil heater on and just the other side of a hardware cloth barrier during the day and only I was interested in huddling up to it!
So it is at night I am worried and something on the wall would only heat one chicken who was roosted up against the wall.
I need to keep noodling this.

? How far is the roost from the ceiling? Could you maybe hang the first one with wire from the ceiling? While I understand that heat rises, so maybe not the most efficient, it should still give them warmth, especially with the heat side down (top side really doesn't get warm at all.) It is about 18" long, so should give enough heated space for all the girls (if they would only all roost together, of course!)

What I am thinking:
'l' = wall, '*' = roost, '_' = heater

l
l ___________
l
l
*******************************
Not sure if this will work????

EDIT: Hmmm, for some reason, when I post it doesn't keep the 'spaces' I entered between the wall and the heater. I was thinking that with the wall there...placing the heater 8-10 inches away from the wall will still keep that (in this diagram) left most hen warm.

 

[RoyalChick]

A picture perfect fluffy butt from Maggie

But then it all started to go wrong....

A little gust of wind caught her unawares

And then the wind got stronger …..

And then it really blew .. ..

At this point Maggie stalked off in disgust and went to shelter in the Chicken Palace.

Happy Friday everyone.

 

[RoyalChick]

? How far is the roost from the ceiling? Could you maybe hang the first one with wire from the ceiling? While I understand that heat rises, so maybe not the most efficient, it should still give them warmth, especially with the heat side down (top side really doesn't get warm at all.) It is about 18" long, so should give enough heated space for all the girls (if they would only all roost together, of course!)

What I am thinking:
'l' = wall, '*' = roost, '_' = heater

l
l ___________
l
l
*******************************
Not sure if this will work????

EDIT: Hmmm, for some reason, when I post it doesn't keep the 'spaces' I entered between the wall and the heater. I was thinking that with the wall there...placing the heater 8-10 inches away from the wall will still keep that (in this diagram) left most hen warm.

Yes. My thinking is I would insert a hook in the rafters with a chain (that is how I hang water and food already) and attach the heater to the chain so it hangs over the roost. The Sweeter Heater is an enclosed unit and rectangular so a good portion of roost could be under the heat.
I would need to solve the issue of where the electric extension cord would go so I could unhook the heater easily as I would only have it there for the cold season - and to answer your question the rafters are about 4-5' above the roost which is 4' above the ground at the end where they prefer to roost (so not within easy reach for me).
Both the heaters claim to direct the heat downwards and are designed to be hung from above.
I may be over-reacting to the frostbite issue so maybe the whole thing is a bad idea.

 

[micstrachan]

Awww, what a lovely video of happy chickens doing what chickens do!
Thank you for sharing this. I love seeing your videos!

It was so nice to watch this when we are grey & in the midst of that snow storm. Thanks again, it brightened my morning!!

Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

 

[micstrachan]

A picture perfect fluffy butt from Maggie

View attachment 3004684


But then it all started to go wrong....

A little gust of wind caught her unawares

View attachment 3004695


And then the wind got stronger …..

View attachment 3004702


And then it really blew .. ..

View attachment 3004703

At this point Maggie stalked off in disgust and went to shelter in the Chicken Palace.

Happy Friday everyone.

What an absolutely amazing series of photos!!!

 

[RoyalChick]

What an absolutely amazing series of photos!!!

Thank you! I took them on Wednesday and I have been so excited waiting for Fluffy Butt Friday.
It was complete fluke - she happened to find something interesting just in front of my chair so I was right there capturing the indignity!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I finally managed to get a fluffy butt picture of Corona. She did not want to cooperate this morning and insisted her rear was off limits.

This is how she preferred to be photographed.