Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

THIS is EXACTLY what I am thinking!!! Except… I was thinking of a hole between the sides. Eliminating the wall altogether is a better solution. DH could figure it out. I think the roof might need trimming if they were that snug.

Could you use the wall pieces? Maybe pivot them to connect to the other coop? You'd have to expand the floor, supports and roof the section, but it would essentially make 3 coops in 1 (space wise), and maybe make a simpler place to add the ventilation, more roost space...maybe do a "tree" kinda like a kitty tree for during nasty weather. Or allow a shelf (or something like) for your portable heaters...anyway, builds extra space that could be worked with more later.

 

[Kris5902]

OK!

THATS IT!

I NOW REQUIRE MEASUREMENT TAX!

or I call the Iron Beak!

View attachment 3012872

Oh no not the Iron Beak

The taxes in this thread are killing me! I would have taken the phone out while cleaning the barn… the chickens Loved the little wormies under the nasty hay I was shovelling. Sorry guys, it was a bit of a heavy labour day and I didn’t want to risk my phone with the poop, head butting, and muck!

 

[Kris5902]

Evening bedtime is always drama, the chicks have no interest in going to bed, and would rather share supper with the Big Blue Monster Reenie

View attachment 3012949

Now I REALLY have barn envy! Lol, but you can totally keep your weather!

 

[Kris5902]

Not responsible for seed or seedlings lost due to nature (animals included).

Careful we might get hit with a disclaimer tax next!

 

[featherhead007]

Make me do math in the morning and this is what happens!

 

[featherhead007]

Careful we might get hit with a disclaimer tax next!

 

[featherhead007]

I’m just checking in. Me and Jaffar are bored with the movie we were watching. He wants to sleep now.

 

[bgmathteach]

Brilliant! I wonder where one aquires on railroad tues? Or maybe cinderblocks could work?

Probably pressure treated 2X4s, or (cause I don't like pressure treated around chickens), 2X4s treated with linseed oil...so you can secure the hardware cloth.

 

[Kris5902]

I suspect small amounts won't hurt cows, but unfortunately, there is research regarding abortions/miscarriages/early delivery in cows from pine needles. Based on what it says, it seems that it is most common in harsh winters with little else for forage where they eat a fair amount & develop a 'taste for it'. [No, I am NOT jumping all over you...I've seen cows eat pine needles and cedar, too!]

Regarding chickens, there is this study testing immunity & serum cholesterol levels, and fermented pine needle powder on antioxidant/oxidative stress on broilers.

Additionally, there is a study (with some positive effect) on hepatic cancer. (in humans)

So, it seems pine needles are fine for some animals, and not so much for other animals. (note the bovine study mentions 'no effect' on some other traditional livestock)

Well you can always come try to tell our cows that! they don’t have enough to eat of them in the first place, either… we are mostly Doug fir, grand fir, red cedars, arbutus for evergreens, Garry oak, alder, and big leaf maples for deciduous. There are a few pines here, and they don’t get a lot of them, but in free ranging cattle short of cutting down all the pines there’s not much stopping them, except their own common sense. There is one highly toxic invasive weed that is causing troubles in the deer, goat, and possibly the sheep. Some sort of tansy is all I recall, my goats seem to avoid it. I do let them browse all the trees they want, even cedars, trusting them to not eat toxic plants… except around that darn rhododendron at the old folks home… I kept Ardy far from that because I can’t tell the dried/ fallen arbutus leaves from the rhodo ones!

 

[Kris5902]

Are they Jamaican jerk chicken because that's delicious!

If anyone wants to share a recipe I’ve got at least five, possibly as many as seven volunteers…