Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I would really like to be in a better mood, and say a few jokes or puns, but this air isn’t funny at all. A nice sunshiny day isn’t good, (when blocked off by a brown choking haze.) kinda feels like the aftermath of a bad movie. (Preparing and hiding from fallout from a nuclear issue)

 

[Chicken poppy]

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I have been wanting to do this for some time now. I knew once I started doing this there would be no going back. So I am now diving in and I hope you all enjoy coming along for the ride.

First of all let me tell you how we view our flock as that will help you to understand why we treat them like we do.

Our birds are our pets and we treat them as such. We do not care if someone is not laying eggs. They are welcome to stay at Fluffy Butt Acres until they pass naturally. (Now don't go telling them that! I would hate for word to get out) We do thoroughly enjoy the fresh eggs.

I plan to tell stories from the past as well as from today. I hope you all enjoy and will share stories of your flocks as well.

Youve inspired me to do the same, we call ours “the poop coop” id love to post some stories here!

 

[BY Bob]

Several times I've seen Peanut, while foraging, give Hazel a light peck when she's persistently too close and in her face. Hazel turns away and immediately goes after whoever is closest with a fierce peck. They're just minding their own business but here she comes. She'll walk several steps over just to do it. Once when they were foraging more closely I saw Peanut peck Hazel, Hazel peck Butters, and Butters peck Popcorn. Chicken dominoes, aka the pecking order. Fascinating.

It all goes downhill.

 

[BY Bob]

Youve inspired me to do the same, we call ours “the poop coop” id love to post some stories here!

Please feel free to share. We love stories, especially those with pictures!

 

[Lady Red]

big coop update

still a work in progress, but plugging along!

The full glass door was confusing to them at first, they didn't understand the autodoor in the back was their entrance/exit. After day 3, they are all on board now. I will be putting a film in the lower half of the glass to let light in, but reduce the "oh I see it and I'm gonna go for it" attempts

Here is their primary entrance/exit from the backside of coop.
The auto door mechanism is on the interior of coop to help avoid dirt or ice from getting into the tracks.

Dr. Tacky demonstrates how to use the door

View into the coop from entrance

The berm will be their protected run attached to the coop. It is about 42 inches wide and 26' long.
The height will be close to 4' for roost bars and ease of ppl being able to get inside for cleaning etc.

first section of run...we will have two entry points on either side of coop to access into run.

The roof is a poly carbonite material that lets light through (important since auto door mechanism is inside of the coop)

Interior views

There is electricity inside so we can have the brooder/heater in extreme winter to take the edge off.
There will be 2 vent fans installed as well.
We will side the exterior to match the upper half of our house....but that probably won't happen until next spring.

 

[Shadrach]

If birds were to hatch together, would they consider themselves family? Even if they look different? How would brooding a different breed effect the outcome? I'm thinking if one of mine goes broody next spring I'll put the appenzeller eggs under her instead of the incubator. Would the Appenzellers have a better chance of fitting in if their mom was an established hen in the tribe? @BY Bob how did Ned and Lucky fit in? @RebeccaBoyd what about your Silkies?

I don't know very much about your setup but in general if an established hen introduces chicks then they should be accepted by the group. Once again in general, the more senior the hen the easier it is for the chicks.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

What breed do you think this hen is?
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Don't know - but the other one - just want to say that the body shape is like Queenie was from that angle, and she was young, so maybe a lavender Orpington, and as they get older they round out more?

 

[Chicken poppy]

Please feel free to share. We love stories, especially those with pictures!

This is emily (grey, pullet) and truffles (black, cockerel) they were hatched from eggs and are considered the runts of the group, emily doesnt like truffles and always rejects his gifts, but he keeps trying! (This photo was from many months ago, i can give a updated photo from now if youd like)

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry all, I seem to be hogging the thread today.
I will be off doing chores so will shut up soon. Meanwhile, here is the temporary display for the green striped egg I blew out. I thought it looked cute there.

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Well done for not breaking it.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

All very positive. She's going to be fine.

Thank you so much also! She refused mealy worms again the other morning but joined in on a leavings of a cob of corn this morning, so I think you all are right, and she's coming along. There are new tail feathers peeking out now!