Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Collect frequently, plan on losing plenty to freeze. Fwi, a crock pot set on warm keeps the water from freezing and costs substantially less than a heated waterer.

Freezing here again today, I plan on bringing the horses in at around 3 to help warm up the barn.

My 12 week old chickies are huddled in the hen house roost, I out my heater panel up for them but I don't think it's doing any good. No eggs today, yet I think everyone laid eggs yesterday so they wouldn't have to today! Haha

 

[Ponypoor]

The chickens now have a clear path to the porch. I'm not going to lie, I only started the path. When I went out a few of the kids were out playing including the one who loves my chickens. He ran over and asked what I was doing and I told him why I was clearing a path. He's like "that looks like fun can I help". Here have the shovel have at it. While he cleared the path I refilled feeders, and carried water out to the horses and chickens for the 2nd time today as the hose is frozen. He did such a good job and even swept off the steps and porch that I gave him $5 for his work. I love the neighborhood kids. He also volunteered to help with the stalls in a little bit but I declined. That is what I have a 13 almost 14 year old for.

Awesome! Send him up here he can do my chores!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

My father was 7 when he showed a interest in helping out with animal's, that was early last century.
He landed up breaking in horses (I don't know why but I hate that term) and became a jockey until the last ww2 broke out.

I guess I'm saying that child may have found his place early in his life .

That was a wise move making him wait until he is older with the horses.
My father took a huge risk at such a young age, but times would have been a heck of a lot different a hundred years ago in the UK.

All of the neighborhood kids show a interest in the chickens, and I am all for them inter-acting with them. I actually supply eggs free of charge to 3 of the households when I have excess. I am not ok though with them inter-acting with the horses even though there is a big interest with several of them. I feel bad to a point as I know the love of them, but I also know that they are 1000lb animals that have a mind of their own. My daughter has been around them since she was 1, has been taught how to behave around them and handle them, they have not. And well, if a accident were to happen we live in a society today where everyone jumps on the lawsuit bandwagon.

 

[Ponypoor]

Right. -40 is -40 on both scales. I've experienced -35F. Once you hit -anything F (@ -18C), it all starts feeling the same. Only question is how quickly frostbite can set in. Had around a foot (30cm) of snow (powder) get dumped over the last week (most in the last couple of days). Birds don't want to leave the coop, temps in single digits +/-0F. Been "plowing" tracks with my boots for the critters to get around with. The cat is already using those. Last night, temps were up to @15F (-10C). This morning, thermometer is reading 39F. ??? How?

Tax: BCS (Before Cold Snow)
View attachment 2952312

Anything below +28c (82f) is chilly to me hahahaha!!!

Have regularly been in -43c cold, it's so cold plastic extension cords break don blink or your eyelashes freeze together

I really do not know how people keep chickens in those sort of temps without heat... It's different for cattle and horses they are plains creatures built hot/dry, cold/dry conditions. Poultry not so much!

 

[Ponypoor]

All of the neighborhood kids show a interest in the chickens, and I am all for them inter-acting with them. I actually supply eggs free of charge to 3 of the households when I have excess. I am not ok though with them inter-acting with the horses even though there is a big interest with several of them. I feel bad to a point as I know the love of them, but I also know that they are 1000lb animals that have a mind of their own. My daughter has been around them since she was 1, has been taught how to behave around them and handle them, they have not. And well, if a accident were to happen we live in a society today where everyone jumps on the lawsuit bandwagon.

Yes totally agree, chickens can't kick you in the head or run over you.... Horses dangerous critters.

I lock my chickens away before I let the horses in the barn, esp those silly silkies who do not move very fast. Also lock the kids away when I let the horses in

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

And we have our first visitor to the porch box. Bunny is not impressed with the weather conditions and would like to speak to Mother Nature's manager immediately.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick

I would like too have asked you in private but can't for some reason.

Did you say you did proof reading? I wanted to join a local book club but probably me being silly I felt really awkward. Plus I found the subjects given I really couldn't relate too. I guess I will never write but it would still like to have a bash

Not professionally - but I got some training in proof-reading techniques as a teenager (my Dad put me to work) and they have been both a curse and a blessing since.
In my own professional life I have been good at catching potentially problematic errors because I apply a proof-readers eye. But it is a curse because it is hard to unsee errors and you have to learn not to judge the content by a proofing error!
I think the reason you associate it with me is none of that but when we were brainstorming work that Ribh could do remotely I suggested it as one thing that I believe is still highly in demand and one can do part time on ones own schedule.
By the way, there is nothing like AutoCorrect to get you over proofing errors because otherwise you would lose your mind!

 

[RoyalChick]

I hope you recover soon. You have had it bad lately with the inner ear problems as well. Are you still feeling dizzy?

I know! I seem to be falling apart.

 

[Marie2020]

All of the neighborhood kids show a interest in the chickens, and I am all for them inter-acting with them. I actually supply eggs free of charge to 3 of the households when I have excess. I am not ok though with them inter-acting with the horses even though there is a big interest with several of them. I feel bad to a point as I know the love of them, but I also know that they are 1000lb animals that have a mind of their own. My daughter has been around them since she was 1, has been taught how to behave around them and handle them, they have not. And well, if a accident were to happen we live in a society today where everyone jumps on the lawsuit bandwagon.

That's good your daughter has learned early in life.


If I could make a wish it would be that more people in this world had the opportunity too learn about horses, they are wonderful creatures. Well most of them are

 

[Marie2020]

Freezing here again today, I plan on bringing the horses in at around 3 to help warm up the barn.

My 12 week old chickies are huddled in the hen house roost, I out my heater panel up for them but I don't think it's doing any good. No eggs today, yet I think everyone laid eggs yesterday so they wouldn't have to today! Haha

Not laying should preserve a little more energy for them too beat this cold.