Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Nellie is louder and will go for an hour when her box of choice is occupied (where Jess went broody....both times). Blanche and PITA will also go off LOUD....PITA gets Cheetah to echo her and go running to do her bidding.

I can hear them from inside the house with all the doors and windows closed. Now if they'd do this when something is in the yard (and only then) it would be great. As it is, I go running out to check (cheetah makes the same call when the neighbor's cat comes to visit (good hunter), Castor moves unexpectedly or close to the girls (hope he does if the fox come back) and when I can find nothing (leading me to believe the wind turned his feathers inside out). if I can get him to about 3, we may stand a chance with building of wisdom. Silver is fantastic and Pear isn't far behind. The rest? (Think long term, think long term, think long term, think long term)

 

[RoyalChick]

Betty Betty Betty

it is 630 am here and the coop complex is closed today. After they were locked in for 2 weeks I have left the complex open for a week so they could have all the free range they wanted. Well it is raining out today and Mrs BY Bob and I have no desire to sit in the rain all day and supervise them.

Betty beleives that this is unfair. She is walking around the coop bawking her head off angry that she is closed in. This is actually and effective strategy as I really don't want them disturbing the neighbors. However I know if I give in now I'm only going to encourage the behavior moving forward. It's a delicate line for certain.

Here she is with Phyllis chiming in, hoping to be released.

A formal complaint to management - you had better be thinking about your response!

 

[BY Bob]

A formal complaint to management - you had better be thinking about your response!

They got my response. They are still locked in. We drive a hard line here when dealing with disgruntled employees.

 

[RoyalChick]

I use 2×2s or 2x4s long way. That way in the winter I know their toes are covered. A 2x4 long ways gives a nice flat surface for her to essentially stand on. No curling of the toes required. That is what my main roost is. Maybe that would help. You need to remember though, she will want to roost with everyone else, not alone. I might switch the roost in the brooder section first to see.

In the brooder she has a small branch and a 2x4 on the flat side. I recently added a true 6x6 to give her a bit of a platform to jump up to their preferred sleeping spot in the box on the top of the heat plate.
The main Chicken Palace roost is bigger than the true 6x6 - it is probably closer to 8" in diameter and rounded (it is a tree trunk).
One modification I could do is lower the main roost if she has difficulty getting up and down - but that is a big job - probably require 3 of us - because it is a heavy tree trunk! And I don't yet really know her capabilities. Mostly mine go up the ladder to the roost and I don't know if she will be able to manage that) but the Roadrunners often fly straight up and Diana often flies up from a log that is about 20" high. Even Maggie has perfected a hop up from tree trunk approach.
I know, I just have to take it step at a time and see how it goes. Just sharing what swirls around in my head.

 

[rural mouse]

Well, the trio inside are doing fine, if a mite lonely. They're going back out by the 2 week mark (I hope). The pair outside are keeping up with mama Jess and she's moving away from me with them. Indicating she wants to keep them? The bigger lot got tossed out by me (again), but didn't have to be locked out. They stayed out and started working on breakfast around (and occassionally in the middle of) the bigs. Several bigs permit much closer proximity than others. Storm and Twirp will let the littles get within a foot without protest, so the integration/supervision is happening.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm so jealous. That looks wonderful. How are you doing with the Covid?

My test yesterday was still very positive and I still have symptoms. Slooowly improving, though. I can go back to the office Monday. Working while sick was quite difficult, as actually. I’m looking forward to feeling good again!

Tax

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The greenhouse frame mover is finished and tested. It's good enough and works! But the ends of the lifter get caught in the net easily, so it took some practice to figure out how to maneuver with it to get it inside the frame. I'll be moving the complex soon and I'll post a picture then. Here it is, with a few fluffy butts:

Here's Butters and Peanut shoulder-to-shoulder.

 

[RoyalChick]

My test yesterday was still very positive and I still have symptoms. Slooowly improving, though. I can go back to the office Monday. Working while sick was quite difficult, as actually. I’m looking forward to feeling good again!

Tax
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Lovely picture but To feel better soon.

 

[RoyalChick]

Bernadette - daring to hope.
I can’t quite see her leg position but she didn’t have to try three times to jump up.
Sooo hoping it is the vitamin deficiency and nothing else.
Off out to top up her vitamin water.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Nope. I think I said this earlier. It is the lid off of the prefab. I'm using it to protect some grass seed.

I would call that a grow box, that's what I would do to make an area safe from chickens that they are going to eat later...