Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lexicon]

Lexicon and I both know what real -45C is (not that drivel the weather man says when it’s -20 but feels like -40, hahaha).

And in the winter the sun will rise around 9:30 am drift along the horizon and set around 3:30 (Lex will get even shorter days then I would get in northern Alberta ).

And the sun rise and sun sets - last for soooo lone and are soooo beautiful. And the cold! It burns at -40, the extension cable to plug my truck block heater into the power (the block is a heater keeps the engine warm so the oil and fuel won’t gel, so the truck starts in cold weather), well the plastic coating on cheap extension cord just becomes so brittle it crack and breaks! Making the power cord useless and have to thrown out - darn it!

I really don’t know how Lexs chickies survive that cold, but they are thriving! My silkies had it rough last winter. I have a radiant heater panel for them.

This is true, but thankfully we don't get long spells of -45C.

In December the sun rises after 11:00 am, but is so low in the sky that it never clears the trees on our forested property, so we don't get actual rays of sunshine until much later in the spring.

It sounds bad, but it is not. A crisp night sky filled with stars, Northern Lights, no crowds, lots of lovely snow to play in, it is really a great place to live.

Winter tax:

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick has something very close to these ornaments hanging at her palace.

Good memory! Indeed I do. I think they may be the same. Mine were described as lawn ornaments but they aren’t great for that as they tend to fall over so I stuck them in between the framing and the wire of the Chicken Palace.

 

[bgmathteach]

The challenge is getting into the woods to harvest the worst areas. We have some seriously rough country and a dearth of road, tracks or other access. Packing trees out via horse back (or other pack beast) is so far beyond practical. There have been enough hissy fits about the environment to ban motorized vehicle access, logging, or other use beyond hiking through brush I some areas. Those same areas are frequently in need of major wood hauling or become the new fire area. It's a fine balance to maintain, and NEVER easy or simple.

Do you know anyone with a draft horse? Limb the trees and cut to a length that could reasonably be pulled through the woods, pull them out, and cut to stove length when at a vehicle access point. The brush part is harder, but you can do similar with larger limbs, but bind a few together.

Our 'new to us' house was, at one time, owned by a gentleman that logged exclusively with horses. They (the horses) loved to work. He would hitch them up at the site, tap them on the butt (flank) and they would pull out to the loading site. His son would unhook the log tie up the chain, and do the same - and they would return to be hooked up again! He had 3 horses, and would rotate them, using 2 each day. (My current neighbor, who is in his 80s knew him.!)

Tree Talk Tax:
One of my Welsummers.

Wow, I just created an alliteration! (and I am NOT a language person)

 

[featherhead007]

I'm so sorry you and Mrs BYBob had this happen

Along with @bgmathteach suggestion of conditioning her, have you tried doing this like hairdressers do? Ask Phyllis' namesake! Hairdressers always use devices to section the hair and keep everything they aren't dealing with out of the way when they do even slightly complicated/layered cuts. This way you will be able to see her eyes, find the bases of the feathers and move higher up the shafts, and cut where you intend. Get soft cloth covered bands.
Like this, only you could do two or three tie-ups so you can at least see what you're dealing with. It's only a temporary "do"
View attachment 3256895

Punk rockers! Actually, that one looks a lot like Pat Benatar!

 

[featherhead007]

I’m having henpecked hen problems tonight. Dakota wanted inside, and so I brought her in. But when I wanted to take her back to the coop, she went nutz! “I’m staying inside with you tonight daddy, I don’t care what you want me to do. I’m staying!!!!” I guess she’s staying

 

[BY Bob]

Apparently my sister is not the only one who has resigned themselves to the fact I love chickens. My brother has too. He even has me more figured out, I don't just love chickens, I love my boys. Here is my birthday present from him.
View attachment 3256780

That is amazing! I love it.

 

[BY Bob]

Today the gals got to stay on their nests out of the way while we did hay. Those 2 were the best behaved.

Now buttercup on the other hand kept getting loose running amok

Is the hay all in?

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks.

I remember him (roostie?). Poor guy was gone after got almost healed up if my memory serves me correctly.

Yes something else got him. I do not remember what. Very sad.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m having henpecked hen problems tonight. Dakota wanted inside, and so I brought her in. But when I wanted to take her back to the coop, she went nutz! “I’m staying inside with you tonight daddy, I don’t care what you want me to do. I’m staying!!!!” I guess she’s staying

I’m officially Hen-pecked!

 

[bgmathteach]

I love your set up.

Thank you. My hubby made it for me (the brooder itself). It is 4X3 feet, and expands to 4X6' this group is larger than I usually do at once...so I'm a bit nervous for when they get to around 4wks old....bigger, but not fully feathered enough to go outside in a coop & run without heat, especially this time of year.

Additionally, I have always tried to give my chicks "up" for enrichment purposes. They love it. Knock on wood, I have NEVER dealt with a case of bumblefoot. Not when I was a lad and not in over 9 years of chicken raising this go around.

Your's and others' comments are very reassuring. Thank you

Although, now I wonder what I'm doing wrong that I have cases of bumblefoot......