Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Those are probably the only clean ones!

Actually, Buttercup’s butt is clean, but she’s molting, so there are bare patches, too.

Speaking of molting, for everyone on this side of the world, are your birds molting right now? I have a lot of molters going on… Seems a bit early. Bridge, Lucky, Ester, Buttercup, Little Mill, and Cashew are all molting!

I have been watching Sydney and Phyllis for signs of molting. Phyllis lost 3 feathers while grooming with me yesterday but that could be post broody. I found a Sydney tail feather yesterday so I'm watching her as well but no one is dropping a ton of feathers yet so no wholesale molting at this point. Mine usually hold off until September to molt.

 

[BY Bob]

She's a lot better, thank you for asking. After being in tears and begging hubby to stop giving her treats, she has has only one day with a multiple lay (1 soft egg, 1 shell less). No droopy tail moods and her normal eggs seem to be leveling out in size.
Not sure if the treats were cause or correlation, but they didn't need the empty calories he was gifting them.

We still haven't seen the vet yet but have an appt scheduled later this month.

This sounds very promising. I'm so happy that she might be improving a little.

 

[Lady Red]

Is your coop door battery solar or electric,? I really would love on for the winter

My current coop door is LR powered. LR power is notably unreliable in early mornings or inclement weather. And the warranty has long expired.

The new coop will get an automatic door to lead into the run. We are situated for any sort of power usage, electric, battery....solar may be a little dicey bc probably do-able.

 

[BY Bob]

Mine are still too young to do a full molt (based on my reading...obviously not my own experience, so you know I'll be proven wrong!)
Is it normally a summer thing?

For mine it's usually September/ October when they molt. It happens every year with mine.

 

[rural mouse]

Ha! Mine seem to view my lawnmower as a large, loud food processor too! They won't hardly even get out of my way. I have to shoo them out of my path.

Ours run from the noise. It doesn't help any that between drought and raising babies we quit mowing for a while to provide more cover for them. Once the babies (storm) are big enough we'll have snow/winter winds...some of the weeds will help with cover then too.....i guess we won't be mowing until next spring. Time to trim out the tree suckers by hand...again...

 

[BY Bob]

Automatic coop doors?

Anyone have one they love?
My area is humid and we get cold winters (almost as much snow as RC ). I'd like a manual override and most definitely want one that doesn't crush a bird if she's being a brat and blocking the door.

I'm leaning to the ADOR1 model because it looks like it fits the needs and isn't scary to look at. The JVC one looks overly complicated.

We have power to the coop, so wired or battery operated is fine.

Would love your inputs!

I have had the Ador for years and it works amazingly well. I highly recommend it. I did have it bind up in a snow and ice storm last year and not open but that was a freak instance and I corrected it with a "cover". They now sell a little awning to put over it which much make sense if you get a lot of snow. I absolutely recommend the Ador as much as humanly possible. Mrs BY Bob loves it as well.

 

[BY Bob]

Pity me.. this is the first night that all, yes ALL, the chooks are in the barn/coop, and went inside willingly! My babies are growing up. But now I feel horrible separation anxiety (empty nest syndrome for you slower peeps) now it’s just me, and my books, or YouTube. Early flight tomorrow morning anyways. So I guess that “things just work out for the best “

You will make it! Be strong and let them be.

 

[featherhead007]

You will make it! Be strong and let them be.

It was a long lonely night. I usually fall asleep, listening to their cooing. I hope there’s no drama in the coop and run while I’m gone today.

 

[BY Bob]

Does Jaffar crow in the middle of the night? I more or less keep chicken hours myself when left to my own devices!

Jabber did. All the time! I beleive that is one of the reasons the neighbor filed the complaint against him.

 

[BY Bob]

That record is exactly 10cm high with 9 exactly 3oz eggs under her allowing for a 30.78 degree slope from the hghest point on the back to the nest base. Position must be held for more than one hour...

I dunno Bob but she just had the ability to look very flat.

thanks for playing along.