Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

You okay? I usually step in it, not fall off of it! (Just saying)

It's a big manure pile , horses give way more doodoo than chooks hahaha! apparently I am not 19 anymore the path going up is frozen solid but the edge broke way And I dropped down about 3' jarring my right hip, and twisting my right knee...

Scared the living daylights out of poor Fluffy McNugget I am sure she thought the big scary red wheelbarrow monster was going to get her!

Mount Poopmore, the chickies think it a great playground!

 

[Ponypoor]

A creative coop article. You should all check this one out.

The Big Freeze

That's a heartwarming story, always trust your dad, he has knowledge and skills one may not know he possesses!

 

[BY Bob]

I was surprised by his ability to see a coop in a freezer!

A real visionary. That creative gene is amazing to watch in action.

 

[rural mouse]

Ok - question: my chicks are 11 weeks old, I figure the two hens will start laying around 18 - 20 weeks, so that would be spring; will they hold off to start laying do you think? Does anyone have experience with late season chicks?

Mine hit 20 weeks mid October. Unseasonably warm. Started laying. my lone hatchling hit 20 weeks just before Christmas. Unseasonably cold (see earlier post re:-27C). Hasn't started laying yet. My last lot started laying in mid January. the cold has slowed down the eggs from @6/ day to around half that. They're also staying in the coop. None WANT to go out. I'm not going to make them and when temps are this cold (hovering around zero F, -10 to -20C) I keep the coop closed to preserve warmth. Yes, they like (prefer) free-ranging. Temps now, especially with snow falling, mean EVERYTHING is hunkered down waiting it out. Had the largest herd of deer sheltering under the spruce trees since last winter (saw 10-12, may have been more). They watched me take feed out to the coop from distances of 10-15 feet.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine hit 20 weeks mid October. Unseasonably warm. Started laying. my lone hatchling hit 20 weeks just before Christmas. Unseasonably cold (see earlier post re:-27C). Hasn't started laying yet. My last lot started laying in mid January. the cold has slowed down the eggs from @6/ day to around half that. They're also staying in the coop. None WANT to go out. I'm not going to make them and when temps are this cold (hovering around zero F, -10 to -20C) I keep the coop closed to preserve warmth. Yes, they like (prefer) free-ranging. Temps now, especially with snow falling, mean EVERYTHING is hunkered down waiting it out. Had the largest herd of deer sheltering under the spruce trees since last winter (saw 10-12, may have been more). They watched me take feed out to the coop from distances of 10-15 feet.

It's been a rollercoaster with temps here, had snow and it melted three times, now it's freezing and the ground frozen mud like cement, hard for the horses to walk on, I just about broke an ankle this morning doing morning feed.

My chickens are frustrated with not being able to get outside, but my silkies and Easter Eggers are still laying fairly regularly. I was hoping they would stop or slow down!

Yesterday my horse Vet was out and I gave her half a dozen just laid eggs I think because I am in the barn doing chores and the lights are on this might be keeping them laying...

Having said that my cousin's three hens (who are staying here) are hardly laying at all ! So who knows I think anything goes hahahaha! Every day is an adventure! Ok well it's off to work for me, my commute is quite arduous, I have to traverse 400' of frozen ground to my barn office .... (We r under work from home orders which is fine with me!!!!!).

 

[Ponypoor]

I know that personally, I am very willing to learn what is more natural for them when they go broody so I can try to accommodate that as close as I can in their current environment. The thing is that I have no experience or information to draw from. Thats why I appreciate rants and advice so I can learn what is more natural.

What I do is based on inexperience and ignorance, not because I want to, but because I don't know any better. I want to learn and grow so I can be a better steward of those I've decided to care for.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are people willing to learn and do better but they just need the right information and have it be accessible.

(I know this is from forever ago, but I'm catching up. Page 1088 of 7500+, but I will get there!)

I have found that mother nature and the hens own ability is often overlooked, I learnt long ago with horses, cattle, sheep, goats that they know best in most cases, thus I trust my chickens to know what the do.

When my hen went broody I pretty much let her get on with it. Even though she was young and first time mama. I just trusted her to know intuitively what to do, amazing really!

In fact I am amazed that baby chicks just know what to do to be a chicken! When a raven flies overhead they run, hid, and freeze! Amazing! ... Of course there will always be those who are just clueless and those r the ones we protect.

 

[featherhead007]

I have found that mother nature and the hens own ability is often overlooked, I learnt long ago with horses, cattle, sheep, goats that they know best in most cases, thus I trust my chickens to know what the do.

When my hen went broody I pretty much let her get on with it. Even though she was young and first time mama. I just trusted her to know intuitively what to do, amazing really!

In fact I am amazed that baby chicks just know what to do to be a chicken! When a raven flies overhead they run, hid, and freeze! Amazing! ... Of course there will always be those who are just clueless and those r the ones we protect.

Trust me, it’s the same with people sometimes (clueless and need protection)

 

[featherhead007]

Just imagine, Bob is almost here (sort of) he should be somewhere in imaginary New Mexico by now. Or did he take the northern route ?

 

[Ponypoor]

Trust me, it’s the same with people sometimes (clueless and need protection)

We need a tax payment for that
(But agreed!)

 

[featherhead007]

We need a tax payment for that

Here’s some AXES ⛏