Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Thank you too, this is very helpful!
I had been to their web site last year and also read questions on Amazon about it, and still couldn't come up with this list you just made. Ah, so with the base plan you use the app and not the web site to access (& no rent to pay for cloud storage)?

I will have to decide on whether powerless with batteries (likely) or not, as I think I can get power out there for both the summer and winter locations, but I'm sure I can't run ethernet or hard-wire LAN stuff out there like @Ponypoor does, it will need to be wireless. I just found out from DH that the thing we have for getting our cell-based wifi is a "coffee can" situation and it does have LAN sockets on the side which we are not using, so I could plug a base station into it. The limitation might be distance from the coop to the base station.

I can make suggestions but it really comes down to money...

Technology is great but not magic, and when you live in the country or in a situation were you're not close to power, high speed internet, etc that is when one realizes just how much limitation there is to technology!

Bain of my existence are those (not naming my sister...) who tell me to just log onto Netflix and stream my fav shows

Ok whining tax for technology:

A very young Pangoo before he became a Rooster-Brat

 

[Ponypoor]

1. Doritos chips can be used as kindling for a fire when camping out. (They will burn for quite a bit)
2. A wayward hen, can stop the United States Pentagon in their tracks! And become an internet sensation.
3. If it’s really cold outside, stay inside!
4. I am proof positive, that chickens will make you crazy!
5. Memory loss is natural as we age!
6. I forgot what #6 was supposed to be.

...you had me at #3... But

Oh darn I forgot what I was going to say, where was I...?

 

[BY Bob]

....and guaranteed to go down in the middle of your morning teams meeting

That does stink when that happens!

Tax

 

[featherhead007]

Anybody have experience with an egg bound hen? Rocks-Anne isn’t feeling too comfortable at the moment. I have her on my heating pad. I think that she needs quiet and time alone?

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

So the last week I've been giving Chiquita time to free range with the flock. It started out supervised with me hovering and following her every move. The last 3 days I've pulled myself back from being the helicopter parent and giving her a hour of unsupervised time. It is going well, I've only put her up once with a blue cochin feather stuck between her toes. Chiquita is not a trouble maker, but she will not back down if a larger hen challenges her. She has figured out the horses, and gave Dirt his peck on his nose when he sniffed her. She also has a deep hatred of cats, and has my big boy Jack terrified of her. I think when things fully settle down and she has fully established herself she will be towards the top of the pecking order. She sticks close to Poppy and her boldness is rubbing off on Poppy. Poppy herself now with Chiquita as back up will not submit to some of the bigger hens when food and treats are involved. Chiquita does respect Butter, all it takes from Butter is a growl and she will back down. I sort of see a alliance forming before my eyes. Queen Butter is recruiting a army of tiny terror silkies to do her bidding for her. I really never thought the chicken yard would for the most part be run by the silkies but it is happening. Even Branch is not the bottom rooster and has the bluff on Basil.

 

[featherhead007]

Catastrophe avoided

Anybody have experience with an egg bound hen? Rocks-Anne isn’t feeling too comfortable at the moment. I have her on my heating pad. I think that she needs quiet and time alone?

Catastrophe avoided. She finally laid her egg and feels much better.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Catastrophe avoided

Catastrophe avoided. She finally laid her egg and feels much better.

I'm glad she laid her egg and is feeling much better.

 

[bgmathteach]

This is Donk. Without wishing to sound like a twelve year old contributor, she's been acting weird for a while now. I spent some time with Tribe 3, to which she belongs this evening.
View attachment 2330642
View attachment 2330646
I prefer to do what health checks I can with the roosters in daylight while they are standing.
This is Notch getting a comb and wattle check, I also did his legs, crop, mite check and bum check.
Of course this involves walnuts and of course Myth feels she is entitled to anything I offer Notch.
Knock the fourth tribe member is in the coop still upset that I have confiscated the most recent clutch she has been sitting on.
View attachment 2330647
View attachment 2330648
View attachment 2330649
View attachment 2330650

BFTP:
@Shadrach Oh, My, he has a wonderfully interesting comb. I don't think I have ever seen one this full & complex before! I have a couple with 'walnut' combs, but not so large nor spikey. Absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Ponypoor]

That does stink when that happens!

Tax
View attachment 2984378

Nice to see them out and about this today?

 

[bgmathteach]

I find it hard to believe what you did affected her propensity to go broody. Is this really true, or coincidence?

Well, according to @Shadrach , a bad/traumatic experience has....whether it definitely did or not in my case, I obviously can't say for sure...but generally speaking, if a hen has the instinct/hormonal fluctuations to go broody, one would think she would again, given similar living conditions.