Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

I have a rock band, but nothing like Bob’s three punkers! (And his birds, sing better than mine do) View attachment 2889576

I do like your rock band, as they are an inclusive group, I see!!

 

[bgmathteach]

SHRA tax: View attachment 2889578

I do believe you owe another SHRA tax, as this is a repeat photo
(anything for more lovely chicken pics, )

 

[micstrachan]

There are great plastic clear tarps (they have threads running through them for reinforcement) that are very strong and would withstand that - especially if you put it on the outside of their run (so wire mesh between them and tarp - reduces to some degree the impact and effectiveness of pecking)


If you watch @micstrachan 's video, I believe this is what she uses. It looks white initially, but for a short period she gets close up and you can see it is clear with completely encased reinforcing threads. I don't know if you have access to amazon there, but here is a link through amazon for them:
https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Nursery-Greenhouse-Garden-Approx/dp/B071677C96/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3M9ELJRS7S6QF&keywords=clear+plastic+tarps&qid=1636223572&qsid=133-9415411-9346156&sprefix=clear+plastic+tar,aps,666&sr=8-8&sres=B07K17KNRY,B07R4FN1F2,B08NJ4XRSP,B071677C96,B07TDBMJZ3,B078HJM2VS,B09CDGD3GT,B08LZ847MR,B072HDY7RF,B079YMBKRJ,B08PKYFPPY,B00H7H8CQS,B08MZX8WFB,B08S46MH4T,B0040ZC5AO,B074G2R5PG,B09GB318H5,B0831HDTKY,B09BF7BVTM,B097YNR4JF&srpt=TARP

Yep, those are just like mine. The only thing is, they do partially block the sun. I’m looking into something else, like a really thick greenhouse plastic or something

 

[bgmathteach]

That’s exactly what I do, as shown in the last video I posted. Ugly, yet effective!

No, not ugly, necessary. I meant to respond to that original post with the video (but got distracted! by other posts.) YOU DON'T EVER NEED TO APOLOGIZE for doing something to help your chooks. We all understand! I wrap my run in that stuff in the winter, as the winds really whip down the mountain here in the winter. It is the right thing to do! Maybe you don't like the look, but clearly (pun intended), you like the effect it has...and I am quite sure your chooks appreciate it, too.

 

[bgmathteach]

So I can’t get photos of the chickens right now, as they are still sleeping. And it looks like we’re going have a beautiful sunrise. But I can show you this, which is chicken related. I’ve been giving them one small trees worth of these wheat sprouts every morning for a little while now.
View attachment 2889637

@micstrachan, have you sprouted other things? I currently am doing alfalfa (found some organic sprouting seeds @ Ocean State Job Lot!), and have done peas, as well... this time of year...to try to give something with more protein. Do wheat, barley, etc. most of winter. Unfortunately, they don't get it every day...I presently have 106 birds (10 are ducks, rest chooks), so I can't possibly grow fodder for that many every day in my house! I have one of that exact same sprouter...but about a dozen individual different ones that are roughly the size of 9x12 baking sheets. (Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Sprouter-Soil-Free-Wheatgrass-Sprouting-13-4x9-84x4-72in/dp/B075D4W7JX/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3CNI0E2NRJXOF&keywords=sprouter+tray&qid=1636225860&qsid=133-9415411-9346156&sprefix=sprouter,aps,104&sr=8-3&sres=B01AJJOJD0,B075D4W7JX,B08721HPWX,B07LG82X57,B081Z8D7G2,B08CZKKYDD,B07MXZG8DV,B08NC6B28P,B07839W2L6,B08S3H9WDJ,B086XF2T5D,B08R7GZPXB,B07YVH2HX1,B089LWF65S,B091FVX8HT,B005FVPP04,B07CP644DT,B085SZCV7B,B08ZYN71C2,B07VYTZP25&srpt=PLANTER)

Will be down to about 80ish for the winter...when my youngest 'extra' boys and some of the older girls go to freezer camp. More than I have ever kept over: I ended up keeping more ducks than I usually do, and chicken math plus hens going broody & hatching (LATE!) after I already got chicks thinking they weren't going to this year, kinda got the best of me.

 

[bgmathteach]

Yep, those are just like mine. The only thing is, they do partially block the sun. I’m looking into something else, like a really thick greenhouse plastic or something

I find the ones I use are really good. However, this site: https://www.tarpsplus.com/collections/clear-poly-tarps
has clear vinyl ones, too. Super clear and pretty strong (though not as strong as those you currently use) They are also more expensive, but they do last. Greenhouse plastic is good for 1-2 years - maybe 3 (generally - especially with this application), & doesn't have grommets. I have mostly the ones with the string embedded, but have a couple of the others that I tend to use on the south side or maybe on my mobile chicken tractor.

I have also been really happy with the shade 'tarps'/cloths I have gotten from them. My clear tarps with the strings (other than the first set on amazon) have been from them, too. They frequently (if you sign up/create an account) send coupon codes for an additional 10% off your order, and they have such a range of sizes, that you are sure to be able to get sizes that work for you.

 

[bgmathteach]

Tax

Michelle,
You can put her on your lap without 'handling' her. slip your hand/finger behind her legs...just above her feet an gently press...and she may 'step back' onto your hand...and you can lift her to your leg. @Shadrach explained this waaaayyyy back (Cat.P days). I'll see if I can find that post and edit with quote/link.

EDIT:
Okay, ?help in effective searches? I can't easily find it, and @Shadrach's post I mentioned is somewhere in the first 1100 pages of this thread! (probably not the first couple hundred...but beyond that I can't narrow the pages to search) and searching for @Shadrach on this thread, it won't go back far enough

 

[bgmathteach]

Sunbathing Under Cover

With the hawks out and about, Sansa has located a spot to sunbathe while still under cover. Smart lady.
View attachment 2889722

Lovely! And, she blends in well with the leaves. Great camoflage!

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow. That is something. Mrs BY Bob lived in a house as a child that had a dirt floor basement with an exposed stream running through it. I thought that was crazy.

I think I already posted about my prior place that had a stream running through the basement and the cats would catch snakes and little fish in it and bring them up to the kitchen (presumably so I could sauté them in butter for the spoiled little brats!).

Sounds like Mrs BY Bob would have been right at home.

 

[bgmathteach]

blast from the past:

Oh, the poor thing. Why would someone do that? ppl might think it is funny, but the poor guy can barely run