Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

That's a nice egg! I wonder who? Will you be monitoring more closely in case you can catch them at it?

One or more of the Buckeyes just started to lay again, I know it was Butters who went into the nest first, on Feb 4th.

Yup. I keep checking the camera but it will likely be tomorrow until they lay again. They usually take a day off after the first one.

 

[Marie2020]

Geeze! There is nothing your eyes do not miss. There was never a screw in that hole.

Or one missing

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Great ideas. I kind of prefer the shed idea. Love the idea if hardware clothing the doors! I’ll see if I can find a shed with a bottom. And we’ll have to level the ground snd put pavers or something under it.

Here's a picture of a table outfitted with roosting bars from a BYC member (@Shezadandy ). Interesting it's on wheels so can be moved for cleaning out the floor.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/post-25330479

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
@aart 's setup:

These came from contributions in a recent post asking about shed coops https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/#post-25330479

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Some foam insulation and 1/4"OSB fixes all problems cold and hot.

I think a pole shed would be quick easy and cheaper than other options... That was the route I was going to do before I settled on building a room in the main barn (which I now appreciate! As I have power, water, and internet). Might still do a pole shed for daytime outside time....

What's a pole shed? Like a pole barn, posts in the ground that are the wall "studs"?

 

[bgmathteach]

That is a cool idea...but those 2 roosts are awfully close together!
@micstrachan : though it wouldn't have wheels, an easy/quick roost might be one of those inexpensive plastic folding tables...with roosts like this on it.
2 of these...and you could later put them in the run, once you have more permanent roosts in the coop, for 'run enhancements'

https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/enduro-4-steel-frame-folding-table/product/222820

https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/enduro-6-folding-banquet-table/product/222819

I don't know if you have an Ocean State Job lot out there, but you probably have something similar where you could get these very reasonable.

 

[micstrachan]

Here's a picture of a table outfitted with roosting bars from a BYC member (@Shezadandy ). Interesting it's on wheels so can be moved for cleaning out the floor.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/post-25330479
View attachment 2986166

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
@aart 's setup:
View attachment 2986167

These came from contributions in a recent post asking about shed coops https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/#post-25330479

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[micstrachan]

Here's a picture of a table outfitted with roosting bars from a BYC member (@Shezadandy ). Interesting it's on wheels so can be moved for cleaning out the floor.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/post-25330479
View attachment 2986166

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
@aart 's setup:
View attachment 2986167

These came from contributions in a recent post asking about shed coops https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/#post-25330479

Oh, yes. Those are readily available here, at least they used to be.

DH is telling me to hold off on buying anything until we’re sure we are moving. What??? Pretty darn sure we are moving, and the chickens need a place to go. Since it’s very close by, we might be able to move them afterward, but I really just want to get this done. Large items can take weeks to ship. I need to figure out where to have things shipped. And large trucks wouldn’t have a turn around spot at the new place, so it would drop at the bottom of the driveway and we’d take it up in pieces in DH’s truck. And someone will have to meet the delivery truck. Shipping here would be easy, but then we’d have to move it.

Thank you all for the ideas. Keep ‘em coming. I know I can check the BYC coop forums myself, but I’m looking for sheds and need to work, too.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Here's a picture of a table outfitted with roosting bars from a BYC member (@Shezadandy ). Interesting it's on wheels so can be moved for cleaning out the floor.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/post-25330479
View attachment 2986166

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
@aart 's setup:
View attachment 2986167

These came from contributions in a recent post asking about shed coops https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shed-coop-poop-boards.1508923/#post-25330479

Maybe someone has noted (I owe back tax anyway!) In that first picture, the double roost bars are too close together. But that's the basic idea.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, would it be crazy to have a shed shipped here? If by some miracle we didn’t move, I could always use a good shed. The fact is, someday we’re going to have to move, and I’d rather it be on our terms. DH is trying to figure out if we can get an investor to buy both properties and hire him as the contractor to build on the other property while we live here. It would be an off market sale. Sounds attractive, but not super likely, and we’d still eventually have to move. And more buildings on this site make it much less attractive to live in. And I think a giant construction site would be scary and dangerous for chickens.

Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to put my foot down and order what I want. DH has two carpenters who do excellent work, but they are pricy. I’m sure DH could arrange for them to help me if it came to that. I was just hoping this move wouldn’t be so expensive. Maybe we can get some sort of cash for keys deal to help with expenses.

 

[micstrachan]

It sounds good, but no pics of the inside set warning bells off for me. Many commercial coops have roosts too flimsy to hold birds larger than bantams. Would it be possible to do the disassemble on your existing to bring along and get the open air tarped "coop"/fence to use while yours is being put back together? The tarped one could then extend your run space, hold roost/climbing apparatus, and provide a bigger, sheltered time with the girls space. Bringing your existing coop would also minimize moving stress as the girls would be back in familiar quickly. Using the teen to help build (reassemble) could put it back together quickly. You'd also be able to inspect all the parts and replace any in need of that at the same time.

After watching the install/build video, I'm still concerned about the roosts themselves. The video is well done, the coop is well done and as long as it matches what was shown, fantastic! I still question the roosts dimensions/ sturdiness.

I missed this. If the roosts were bad, I’d use my own. I like to slip 2x4’s into wall brackets.