Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Really Cold for the First Time this Year

I have a thermometer/hydrometer in the coop to keep an eye on humidity in the winter time. We got our first really cold night of the year last night.

Coop Temp and Humidity (-5.4°C)

Outside Temp and Humidity (-10.4°C)

 

[WhoDatChick]

Hear, hear.

Biggest spider i ever saw was bigger than my foot. Not by much, though.

I couldn't get out of the car quickly enough...

Oh ma ga

 

[ValerieJ]

I love coop builds. You will link the thread for us when you start won't you ValerieJ?

Sure!

 

[ValerieJ]

Hear, hear.

Biggest spider i ever saw was bigger than my foot. Not by much, though.

I couldn't get out of the car quickly enough...

How did it get in the car??? Was it wearing a seatbelt?

 

[ValerieJ]

Are the flock losses due to predation?

Yes, mostly. I did lose a couple to mysterious illness. Didn't have a necropsy done. They were a year apart.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

Without the rooster, Maleficent sits in my lap. They swarm me when I come out. When Jabber had the flock, that did not occur. He kept them on the other side of yard away from me and when they came around me he did not like it and would try to shuffle them away.

That’s very interesting, as if Jabber viewed you as competition for his girls, or an unwelcome distraction.
I guess I am wondering also if the rooster alleviates some of the hen to hen bullying, which was a problem for us in our previous rooster-free flock. It’s not something I would deliberately obtain (or keep) a rooster for, but just a curiosity about how much roosters “moderate” conflict if it gets out of hand.
In the meantime, August stays off to the side when we enter—wary, alert, only going in for mash or treats after I have backed off. I do have a few hens who like to peck my legs, and a small “cohort” does tend to shadow me through the run and at this stage he has not intervened. Hoping this is a good sign.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

How did it get in the car??? Was it wearing a seatbelt?

Maybe it was thinking it was an Uber.

 

[ValerieJ]

Maybe it was thinking it was an Uber.

 

[Kris5902]

That is a very beautiful spider. I bet it made you jump at first sight though!

I’m getting better at not jumping too much. Granted the spots previous occupant made me squeal “widow” a bit and drop the couch back into place. Then DH was just “let’s not mess with it” ummmm venomous, and living under where you put your butt? Nope! She had to go outside. I appreciate them, even though I’m still terrified.

 

[Kris5902]

Really Cold for the First Time this Year

I have a thermometer/hydrometer in the coop to keep an eye on humidity in the winter time. We got our first really cold night of the year last night.

Coop Temp and Humidity (-5.4°C)
View attachment 1997974

Outside Temp and Humidity (-10.4°C)
View attachment 1997975

Brrrrr! Too cold for me... way too cold