Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

I got a dozen eggs today! View attachment 1997053

Wow! How many hens? Do you supplement light?

 

[LozzyR]

I don’t have a stalker at all!

 

[MaryJanet]

Could I cut off the top and try planting that? I might as well give it a go, I’ve got nothing to lose.

View attachment 1997019

View attachment 1997018

It might take. It looks healthy enough.

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok, so I cut the top bit off the frangi and it still looks alive. I mixed sand and potting mix in a pot, popped it in and watered it. It should drain well and I’ll keep an eye on it. If I can save this one I will be happy!

View attachment 1997050

Good luck little frangi!

They're a slow grower so you might not see leaves til next year. Some are deciduous too, so don't worry if its leaves drop.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm jealous of your pretty eggs.

Me too! I got one egg yesterday, none today.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

View attachment 1995716 Inspired by @Shadrach burial photos, I am moving on. I made this to remember Scary as I couldn't really bury her, and now I am fully focused on my other 3 chickens (Maggie, Elizabeth and Diana), on building the Chicken Palace, and maybe, maybe, on getting some more chickens in the spring.

Very poignant RoyalChick

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

On the topic of autodoors, we're in a hot, dry location so I don't have a coop as such, I've been calling it a henhouse. It's got a solid back wall (mini orb but I'm not sure what it's called elsewhere in the world), the side walls are about an arm length mini orb and two arm lengths' galvanised mesh, the front wall is all mesh with a human-sized door, there's a mini orb roof over rhe top, and a mesh floor to keep predators out. I attached the floor to the coop with strong gauge wire using the lock-wire pliers.

So the door situation is manual at present.

But for the new henhouse, I'm planning to use an auto door thingy to lower the ramp into the raised roosting box in the mornings to let the hens come down and raise the ramp at nighttime because I'm thinking of keeping mice and rats out while the hens are sleeping.

I think I'll get a solar-powered one that has a manual timer I can adjust each week.

The fancy new henhouse will have a run built in and the whole thing will be rooved to prevent flying predators and I'll pave a path all the way around the perimeter to prevent digging predators.

Even though it's going to be a very spacious and comfy environment, I'll of course allow the hens out to rumnage around the garden if I'm home to ensure their safety.

So far it's just a dream, but I hope to make progress on it later this year or 2021.

Sounds palatial MJ! Any chance of progress pics once you start?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Hello from Fluffy Butts Farm! I raise standard Cochins, the ultimate fluffy butt!

Hello @Kirkland1610

Those look more like Fluffy Pantaloons than Fluffy Butts!

 

[MaryJanet]

Sounds palatial MJ! Any chance of progress pics once you start?

I thought maybe I'd use a coop build article to track progress for anyone who's interested.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

@MaryJanet, I fully admit I am a bit obsessive about these kinds of projects, but this is how I am working with the guys who are building my Chicken Palace. I draw endless pictures (by hand) and then at critical places (like fitting the 1/2"x1/2" wire mesh) I specify fender washers and screws vs staples etc. I get a lot of the details from BYC because there are so many really helpful posts and people always ready to answer questions. I hope this helps you.
I think I drive the guys nuts with how I want it 'just so'. But they like the chickens and are really into the project at this point! View attachment 1996367 View attachment 1996368

Will there be towers? And battlements? I don't see any battlements!
The plans look great RC