Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

You probably won't like this but have you considered getting a smaller one that is lighter/less cumbersome to flip?
Like this

Or a fill from the top one? (i.e. nipple waterer)
Like this one

I would LOVE a smaller one. And in the summer that is what they have. But I haven't found a smaller heated one. Grrrr.
And yes - the nipple waterer would be an option. They have a nipple waterer on a heated base inside the coop already, so I could just abandon the hanging waterer in the winter altogeher and let them deal with the nipple one.
But I am a softy - and they clearly prefer the open one (though they are perfectly adept at using the nipples).
Maybe I just need to practice more - the second time today (after I washed the floor of the servants' quarters in the Chicken Palace) I was clearly already a bit better at it!

 

[RoyalChick]

So our little windstorm on top of all the other crazy weather lately did more than just remove one of my French doors, it also dropped a smaller cedar across the road near our trailer (DH and I took care of that yesterday on the way down to drop off my moms smokes) and did this to our Dogwood Tree. This was the second largest Dogwood in the Province of BC, and was debatably older than the largest as well.View attachment 3003076

Don't write it off just yet. I had a RedBud that got split down the midde in Hurricane Sandy and everyone said to take it down but I let it be and it regenerated into a really interesting shape that creates a lot of shade because it went 'out' rather than 'up'.

 

[Kris5902]

You probably won't like this but have you considered getting a smaller one that is lighter/less cumbersome to flip?
Like this

Or a fill from the top one? (i.e. nipple waterer)
Like this one

Oooh I like the second one! This morning I had to chip the ice out of our waterers. And had started filling one before realizing I hadn’t blocked off the outlet… got DH to stick his finger over the hole while I filled and got the lid on… lol too tired to bend over, or put down the water jerry, to fix it

 

[Kris5902]

Don't write it off just yet. I had a RedBud that got split down the midde in Hurricane Sandy and everyone said to take it down but I let it be and it regenerated into a really interesting shape that creates a lot of shade because it went 'out' rather than 'up'.

Pretty sure the remaining upright branch will be ok… but the poor tree is a mess. all of those downed branches are huge though, especially for a west coast dogwood this puts it in better perspective, it’s around 3-4’ at the trunk and about 100’ high

 

[Ponypoor]

That's a Galah. They are the clowns of the parrot world. If someone is acting silly here in Aus we will call them a Galah.

I like it! That's awesome!

 

[fuentemoon]

The temp dropped so fast last night that the chicken waterer was frozen when I went to bring it in around 10 pm. 27°f when j went to the store at 10 this morning. I think it got down to 17°f
They are saying 19° tonight. But at least it was sunny! I bought the girls some grapes yesterday.

 

[fuentemoon]

Oh and I got a lovely bite for thanks
But no blood this time, usually she pecks straight at me instead of bites.

 

[BY Bob]

While I was posting those pictures Dotty hopped up to supervise so I got a better close up of her poor damaged comb. Not looking that great.

View attachment 3002788

I think she might keep that yellow point. Overall that's not too bad as well.

 

[BY Bob]

Will she allow you to gently massage the comb at the base of the yellow tip? Encourage more circulation there? A little coconut oil would lube it up to reduce friction, and should be absorbed in before tomorrow night when it gets frigid again.

(Personally, I think I would stay away from the black tip...but I'm not schooled in that kind of thing (frostbite), so....

Stay away from any damaged tissue. There is nothing you can do to help it. The comb is designed just for this. Keeping her from having more damage is key.

 

[BY Bob]

Everything reliable I have read (like university extension courses) says not to touch it.
I don’t know any better so I am following that advice. Also of course none of mine love being touched (though Diana did have a bit of a sunbathe on the coffee table by my chair) so I try not to unless necessary.
I hope I am doing the right thing.

You are doing the right thing. Leave it be.