Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Volt is still sick. She spent the night in the shed, ate a bit this morning then decided she knew anything I offered her to eat was drugged up and wouldn't touch anything at all after that. I had to syringe the medication in water into her beak and she was not at all impressed.
There is a thread running about injecting medication into chickens. It's at times like this I wish all treatmentscame in injectable form. It could all be over in seconds.
I took her back to the group at the allotments at midday. Not having transport meant she had to be carried. I put her in a strong shopping bag with a shoulder strap and walked with her head peeking out of the top of the bag. I must try to get a picture. She was fine and she came home with me the same way tonight.
She's in a box on the workbench. Do it all again tomorrow.

Oh dear - poor Volt. I am very familiar with this "you are poisoning my food" phenomenon!
I noticed today as I tried to get more calories into Minnie that there is a safety in numbers mindset. Even though she gets run off by the others she would rather eat what the others are getting than something specifically for her. It makes it all very complicated!
I do hope you manage to help Volt turn around and I do hope you will share a picture of her in the shopping bag.

 

[Shadrach]

I have a question for you fine chicken folk. For those whose hens stop laying in the winter, what happens to their combs? Do they stay bright red or go pale until they start laying again?
Also, do you switch away from layer feed just for the winter?
I feel I should know these things!

They go pale. Some hens combs, it doesn't seem to depend on comb type, seem to shrivel to a small degree.

 

[BY Bob]

More than a guess ! Her face and body, and definitely, like you pointed out, her comb - fat and goes left and doesn't flop as much as Daisy's (and I didn't think that was Daisy behind her but didn't know who).

You are very observant! Great job!

 

[BY Bob]

Not mine. None of my frizzles are that bad tempered. @BY Bob

Wow! that came out of nowhere!

Ouch! I've been smacked.

well played @Ribh you got me good.

 

[BY Bob]

Ouch!

That hurt.

 

[BY Bob]

They go pale. Some hens combs, it doesn't seem to depend on comb type, seem to shrivel to a small degree.

Hattie's shrivels up a little for sure. I'll try and find photos.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm normally in the *do the best you can with what you have* camp ~ with reservations. One needs to educate oneself about the animal in questions needs because that sort of overcrowding is not acceptable. I know my daft lot like to squash 14 birds on a space meant for 8~10 but even they like to spread out in warm weather.

Will you be rebuilding the coop or expanding ~ or just starting from scratch?

As one might expect there are problems. Any permenant structure needs Town Coucil permission to build. I don't think I need to elaborate further.
I can build a new coop but it needs to be built in the current run for security. It would take me far too long to secure another area to nighttime standard.
My daughter and I have a scheme to move the chickens for a few days if necessary.
I'm almost 67 now and what used to take me a day now takes closer to a week.
In the past, about one third of the Ex Batts are dead within a year. This may not happen with their improved conditions and care.
There is of course the, "they are not my chickens" problem.
The overcrowding strangly isn't that much of a problem. I know a lot of stuff gets posted about 4 square feet etc etc but even in Spain there wasn't a single coop that always met this criteria and at times a coop might look much like the one in the picture above with regards to the overcrowding.
If they can get into the run in the morning they have enough room but the run is a desert of mud most of the year.
I can patch the worst of the coop problems. It needs a new floor. The current floor is a piece of lino on a rusted away metal sheet. I would put 18mm ply in and this would make cleaning easier, give me something to fix a better roost bar arrangement to. Similar with the nest box hanging off thhe side. Why do people build nest boxes like this?
Easiest, quickest and most likely is an extension. I would do away with the nest box bit and bolt on an extension there. The extension could house eight without any regulation problems.
I am trying to rehome 4 and by choice it would be the legbars who are never going to be able to free range or even be unsupervised in a large run. They cant see well enough because of the crest and do not pay enough attention to Henry who does know what's what. They also don't seem to be very bright compared to the Red Sex Links.
I'm not expecting Volt to recover nor one or two others so say 20 chickens and with the legbars rehomed that's 16. 16 is workable.
I wouldn't let the legbars sit and hatch should they show the inclination. The Ex Batts and Cloud and Fret I probably would. If that happened then although long term I would have males at some point and then a second coop could become a reality. No male no second coop essentially.
The above is me doing a Bob and thinking out loud but there are options in there somewhere.

 

[BY Bob]

Enhancing and Developing Solutions

A Possible Solution
First, I came up with some temporary protection for when the littles free range. I haven't used this since my oldest daughter played Jr Olympic softball. This should help a little.

It extends the cover from the garden around to the Magnolia tree. That should help a little.

An Enhancement
The first decorations are on the Cluckle Hut.

This is an Enhancement and a Solution

The Phyllistines are on their roost tonight.

 

[MaryJanet]

As one might expect there are problems. Any permenant structure needs Town Coucil permission to build. I don't think I need to elaborate further.
I can build a new coop but it needs to be built in the current run for security. It would take me far too long to secure another area to nighttime standard.
My daughter and I have a scheme to move the chickens for a few days if necessary.
I'm almost 67 now and what used to take me a day now takes closer to a week.
In the past, about one third of the Ex Batts are dead within a year. This may not happen with their improved conditions and care.
There is of course the, "they are not my chickens" problem.
The overcrowding strangly isn't that much of a problem. I know a lot of stuff gets posted about 4 square feet etc etc but even in Spain there wasn't a single coop that always met this criteria and at times a coop might look much like the one in the picture above with regards to the overcrowding.
If they can get into the run in the morning they have enough room but the run is a desert of mud most of the year.
I can patch the worst of the coop problems. It needs a new floor. The current floor is a piece of lino on a rusted away metal sheet. I would put 18mm ply in and this would make cleaning easier, give me something to fix a better roost bar arrangement to. Similar with the nest box hanging off thhe side. Why do people build nest boxes like this?
Easiest, quickest and most likely is an extension. I would do away with the nest box bit and bolt on an extension there. The extension could house eight without any regulation problems.
I am trying to rehome 4 and by choice it would be the legbars who are never going to be able to free range or even be unsupervised in a large run. They cant see well enough because of the crest and do not pay enough attention to Henry who does know what's what. They also don't seem to be very bright compared to the Red Sex Links.
I'm not expecting Volt to recover nor one or two others so say 20 chickens and with the legbars rehomed that's 16. 16 is workable.
I wouldn't let the legbars sit annd hatch should the show the inclination. The Ex Batts and Cloud and Fret I probably would. If that happened then although long term I would have males at some point and then a second coop could become a reality. No male no second coop essentially.
The above is me doing a Bob and thinking out loud but there are options in there somewhere.

Converting the nest box into a coop extension sounds like a workable option for now.

Would your sister take the legbars? I recall her silkie died recently.

 

[MaryJanet]

Enhancing and Developing Solutions

A Possible Solution
First, I came up with some temporary protection for when the littles free range. I haven't used this since my oldest daughter played Jr Olympic softball. This should help a little.

View attachment 2893425

It extends the cover from the garden around to the Magnolia tree. That should help a little.

An Enhancement
The first decorations are on the Cluckle Hut.
View attachment 2893431

This is an Enhancement and a Solution

The Phyllistines are on their roost tonight.
View attachment 2893432View attachment 2893433View attachment 2893434

I've been wondering how the new roost was working out. Is this their first night trying it out?