Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I use hemp in the poop tray only because of the price. I have been using aged tree-trimmer wood chips ("ramial chips") in addition to baled pine shavings in the run. I think I get a 33lb bag of hemp for $60 (it would be way less, at least half or more less, if I could buy it locally and cart it home, I think it is $20-$25?).

I like it, the chickens did NOT eat it much, which I was afraid of, after they inspected it when I put some down in their run. I think they found it boring. I am interested in composting all the litter and stuff but don't have long-term experience with hemp yet. I am told it composts faster than wood chips and is great that way. So I have a pile started since late Fall that is poop and only hemp and kitchen waste (that did not go to the red worms, my other "farm").

I have an earlier pile from July - Nov 2020 that is mostly poop and ramial wood chips which I will inspect for "doneness" once the snow cover goes. I expect it will need a month or maybe two of warm weather to be fully ready.

The chicken's run litter itself isn't composting much though it is breaking down into tinier bits because it's kept fairly dry throughout the winter with the tarps. That's ramial chips, some hemp, pine forest floor raked stuff, fall leaves, PDZ, wood ashes, and of course lots of chicken poop. So I expect to clean that out and make a pile with it and let it compost through the summer somewhere. Alternatively, it might be great for the perennial plants that need lots of mulch like the blueberry bushes and maybe could compost on them. I have to see about the potential nitrogen levels and what blueberries want.

Sorry for the long post! Chicken tax soon. Still have the video to deal with!

This is all quite fascinating. You have clearly thought this out. I will actually be interested in your results.

 

[BY Bob]

I have no idea what EEs are are all
.

Easter Egger chickens. Sorry we do have some shorthands which we use around these parts.

 

[BY Bob]

They all look like they are actually thinking. Just adorable

Thanks, it took way too long but it was fun none the less.

 

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob I made it to page 518 so far, so I'm slowly catching up! I love that you were able to experience the wild chickens in Hawaii! What island did you visit?

We went to Maui and Oahu. We were there back in 2015. It was wonderful there and, as a bonus, you never knew when some chickens might pop up.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, there you go!

The wisdom of @featherhead007!

 

[BY Bob]

Yup, it's strange but it's a real thing. I suppose it's understandable if they see the place as my coop. They've got better manners than many humans.

That is very true!

 

[BY Bob]

I think my girls are over mud ATM, they’ve had more than a solid week of it. Is coccidiosis only prevalent when it’s warm and wet or just wet? Should I give them some Amprolium tomorrow?

Just wet.

 

[BY Bob]

It’s still Monday in the States, right?

View attachment 2580921

Wow, there really are some similarities between Nyssa and Aurora, aren’t there?!

There most definitely is. It really is still Monday too! She is a real cutie pie.

 

[BY Bob]

Here’s my day
View attachment 2580974

Whilst preferable to last year’s summer, after a week of rain I’m over it!

Yuck!

 

[BY Bob]

I needed a good laugh, thanks!

Laughs at my expense I find are the biggest ones.