Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

We are on a hill part of what was a mountain. We are in weather terms severe for winds rain or snow. We were completely stuck through the "beast from the east, so it's really important to me that I get everything right each winter.

As you know amber's not strong and out of my 2 battery hens the largest Agatha, I don't think she's all that robust because I believe she's older than what I was told. So the two mentioned are my main concern.

I was so annoyed too find that I wasn't even on their list as a customer on the day it should have been delivered.

I was blaming the company I ordered through and they most certainly are too blame because they only have customer services the bosses are completely out if touch, so you cannot let them know their suppliers are really irresponsible and dont give a hoot about people getting what they have paid for. It used to be a contract, once you pay they should be obliged to deliver on the specified day of delivery 11 days is grossly out of order.

As a temporary measure, you could partially wrap the coop/run in plastic or a tarp - on the wind-ward side at least to help with the draft/breeze so they have a more sheltered spot. It will also keep out blowing precipitation - whatever form it takes. Best of luck!

And this is for the company:

 

[Ribh]

New Mop Tops

I promised pictures of the new mop tops which the littles were growing. I had trouble getting a good shot of Legertha but you can really see the orange coming in of Sylvie's poof.

Sylvie
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Legertha
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Pin feathers from the top. Legertha has it the worst right now.
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Those sure are some pretty looking birds, Bob.

 

[Ribh]

Poor fella. If anyone can sort it out, Shad can.

I think you can use vaseline or petroleum jelly. My understanding is it's fairly straightforward to treat ~ though that looks pretty bad.

 

[bgmathteach]

Henry 11. You can see the state of his legs in the second picture.
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Oh, that looks painful! ?Scaly leg mites?

 

[MaryJanet]

New Mop Tops

I promised pictures of the new mop tops which the littles were growing. I had trouble getting a good shot of Legertha but you can really see the orange coming in of Sylvie's poof.

Sylvie
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Legertha
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Pin feathers from the top. Legertha has it the worst right now.
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Every time I'm struck by their gorgeous colouring.

 

[bgmathteach]

Oh, that looks painful! ?Scaly leg mites?

SHRA tax:

 

[BY Bob]

Having a moan...

On Monday I paid to get a lift too order carbonated double glazing for my girls coop at our nearest DIY. They told me that it would come in 48 hours but three days was more likely. So I arranged for someone too come here to do this work yesterday, he turned up but my my much needed items didn't.
So I called to see where it was and it had not even been dispatched.

Today I called again and now the company thinks they will send on Monday but I must wait for three more days for it to actually be delivered.

To make my stress levels even worse, we havechad weather warnings of gales and frosts. Clear amber are deceitful useless and uncaring and shouldn't have such a huge company. It's companies like this that's destroying this country

If these girls freeze it's all their fault

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I'm so sorry Marie. You and the ladies deserve better.

As long as they are out of the wind they should be fine. Lilly has survived temps down to -10°F (-23°C) and possibly lower with no ill effects. Chickens are cold hardy.

 

[featherhead007]

Here’s Xzit spending time with me (but she took my chair)

 

[micstrachan]

Hi, friends. I am so unbelievably happy that it is Friday! Do you know what? I forgot to tell you I’ve had another thing I like to use for dealing with mud… coconut coir! I buy it in bricks. I primarily got it for gardening, but I’ve been known to put it in muddy areas, as well.

After six months or a year, I like to take the chicken litter out of half of the run and spread it around the yard. This consists of broken down pine shavings, rice hulls, chicken manure, leaves, etc. There are a couple things I like about it. Not only does it put nutrients back into the soil, but it also keeps the soil nice and loose, especially the rice hulls. In In the run, the rice hulls do not really absorb any moisture, but I do like that they keep things loose in there, making it fun and easy for the chickens to scratch around in. This morning I gave them a fresh bag in the second side of the run, the side where I had just put new pine shavings mixed in and on top. I needed to wait for a day when I knew there wouldn’t be rain, as I don’t want the hulls getting wet when they are fresh. Reason being, I think they have a little bit of rice in there, which the chickens are digging for. If the rice gets wet and sits, it might mold, which you know, is bad for chickens.

 

[bgmathteach]

Scaley leg mites. Shad did mention he had them but I didn't realise it was so bad.

Real SHRA Tax:
(Sorry, no new chick pics, wild momma turkey & her 13 poults will have to do)