Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Wild birds perch on the overhead power lines and communication lines all the time. My birds see this, and must be thinking “why can’t we do that?” Poor Dotty

 

[Kris5902]

This was bound to happen

What do you get when your giant outside cat wants to snuggle after having stopped in chicken poo.

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See at least with Spouses and Roomates you have a chance at training them not to track the poopy everywhere, Goats and cats not so much… of course we all know chickens make a game of stepping in the nastiest poop they can find before jumping up on your head or shoulder so… that’s expected, but we hope for a little better from the mammalian family members!

 

[featherhead007]

See at least with Spouses and Roomates you have a chance at training them not to track the poopy everywhere, Goats and cats not so much… of course we all know chickens make a game of stepping in the nastiest poop they can find before jumping up on your head or shoulder so… that’s expected, but we hope for a little better from the mammalian family members!

Do your chooks do that to you too? (Jump on your shoulders with poopy feet)

 

[Kris5902]

I looked at solar for the barn, but it was so expensive for what I need so I have a power line from the house my only big draw is the water pump out there which is only used for about 15min a day. In winter I have a small radiant heater in my office/water/feedroom.

Do you have lights in your chicken coops?

I don’t light the coop, but we do keep a lantern in the Barn for the Goats… just upgraded to some rechargeable batteries for that too. Because DH when he works at the pub gets home late and Arduinna is such a daddy’s goat our bedtime routine is goats into the barn and fed for the night, harnesses and collars removed (horns and collars can be very bad) then Chickies closed in for the night dinner and generator for an hour or two to keep the trailer battery topped up for the night, at 10:30-11 we turn the generator off and give the goats one final check together, treats, pets, and lights out for the night. When I need to do something in the coop at night I just wear a headlamp, evening head count and such

 

[Kris5902]

This all puts me to shame. I was so proud of myself getting my electric fence to work!
I am in awe.

I wish I had an electric fence… Jimmy is trained to electric… and last night I had to rescue a very angry Raccoon from a meat tractor. I won’t say they are raccoon proof as that is tempting fate too greatly, but if they are inside looking for spilled feed when you pull up they panic and can’t get out.

 

[RoyalChick]

In good, but painful news, Dotty has experienced the electric fence.
It was distressing to watch. She was trying to eat the bottom horizontal wire (which is not live) and her comb touched the next wire up (which is live). That is exactly how it is supposed to work I guess.
She shot 3’ in the air vertically and ran off shrieking and leaping in the air like the whole ground was zapping her (which it wasn’t).
Now I have to hope:
- she is smart enough not to do that again
- she realizes that she should not touch any part of the fence, it isn't just that specific spot she needs to avoid
- she has sufficient community spirit to teach the others so they don’t all need to learn by experience
- the foxes have the same reaction

Tax - my ladies out exploring the wilderness.

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Well unsurprisingly we can’t rely on Dotty’s community spirit. I missed the exact moment but either Diana or Maggie or both just encountered the fence. I looked up to see both in the air with a lot of shouting and flapping. It was a different part of the fence than Dotty’s encounter.
I sure hope they understand this soon!

 

[RoyalChick]

Do your chooks do that to you too? (Jump on your shoulders with poopy feet)

I begin to see there are advantages to not having cuddly chickens!

 

[Kris5902]

Can you tent the brooder in some way, to help hold in some of that heat?

I plan on moving these fluff balls outside as soon as I can! Last night they chose to ignore their heat plates and snuggle instead, despite repeated attempts to relocate them. I gave up and went to bed as my attempts were disturbing them more than anything else. Any distressed peeps will wake me up, so… everyone made it the rough the night ok, and my main worry (crushing deaths in the pile) didn’t happen

 

[BY Bob]

Yes. And I am glad I happened to be able to see it as I have been quite worried about how it would play out.
All in all it wasn't too awful (Dotty might disagree).
So now I can go back to worrying about Bernadette’s foot, Maggie’s diarrhea, that I haven’t had an egg in 10 days, and how to adapt the Chicken Palace for a special needs chicken.
Lord that makes me tired just listing it all!

Remember, they are great companions.

 

[BY Bob]

Dotty a little bug-eyed and bewildered after her fence encounter.

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Poor baby. Maybe she shouldn't peck your ankles so much. Perhaps a little karma at play.