Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

They vary. In the coops 10 to 16 " off floor for all but my more movable pens/coops. Those can be up to 30" off ground (and yes, still bedding on floor/ground)

In the runs, most are 2-3 feet high, one set is 44" high as it is it is on top of my broody/injured/separation pend. That is approx. 3" high...and the roosts are about 8" above the 'roof' of that pen - in teh run. The roof has a few inches of sand on it, but most 'fly-hop down. The primary coops are elevated about 3+ feet off ground, but they use a ramp to get up/down....they really CAN'T fly the way it is set up.

However, there is a huge pine tree in the run. The more able flyers do fly up into the tree, and the only way down is to fly down. The lowest branch is about 5" off the ground - the rest they roost in are up to 7' high. I hate to cut those branches as they provide good shade and some cover from hawks.

It's more about jumping than flying. There is a roost height where they seem to jump down and impact hard. That is what you want to avoid. I lowered mine a while back because Hattie was hitting too hard in my mind. They land lighter when flying down. I would not cut the tree limbs.

I would watch for the ones where they might be just jumping down and maybe lower or raise those.

Does that make sense?

 

[rural mouse]

This is right on!

For example there is actually a "scientific" study that says hens are more attracted to roosters with the biggest wattles.

The ones who can find good food and safe places to lay/hatch eggs are more likely. Kinda like the "I've laid an egg!" Is actually "come escort me back to the tribe"

 

[RoyalChick]

It's more about jumping than flying. There is a roost height where they seem to jump down and impact hard. That is what you want to avoid. I lowered mine a while back because Hattie was hitting too hard in my mind. They land lighter when flying down. I would not cut the tree limbs.

I would watch for the ones where they might be just jumping down and maybe lower or raise those.

Does that make sense?

Other things you could do @bgmathteach, are to provide intermediate height landing spots - my main roost is about 4'6" off the ground at the downhill end and I have a couple of strategically placed tree stumps to land on for those too impatient to use the ladder.
Also, very thick bedding to land on - my guess is under the pine tree is a nice thick heap of old pine needles to provide a spingly landing place. You could even supplement that with other leaves in heaps so they have a nice bouncy soft landing.

 

[rural mouse]

You could not drag the the trunk out with a horse? I can't imagine packing logs on a horse.

Logging tax
View attachment 3256849

I couldn't either. Historical logging took teams of mules. We cut the tree, knock the branches, then cut the trunk to stove length. Those logs can still be HEAVY depending upon tree size. They're of manageable size, but it does mean picking it up, packing it to the pickup and stacking it in the bed. The more you can fit into a load, the better, and if you can haul a trailer to load too, great. Just don't forget to leave room for the gas can, chain oil, chainsaw, axe, wedge, and gloves....and go out EARLY. It's hot work and the cooler air helps. If you have to pack the logs uphill to get to the truck..... if you can drop a tree, and roll the logs downhill to the truck.....
Doing with a horse just isn't practical.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hey Kelly, wanna go fishing ?

I am a Newfoundlander - we invented all sorts of fishing

 

[BY Bob]

I don’t need to attend that church, especially if I feel that I’m a target for ridicule.

If it makes you uncomfortable, then no, he should not be doing that. You should mention it to him so he knows and can correct his behavior.

 

[bgmathteach]

That may be part of it. Sharp stones leading to cut feet. But it doesn’t sound like it happens that often.

Well, their run has plenty of bedding..in the exposed to the elements area a good amount of wood chips, with shavings that go on top (and/or leaves and/or pine needles, depending on time of year) as stuff gets added. In the covered part of run, shavings (again, and/or leaves and/or pine needles depending - usually a mix of all three fall into winter until I run out of the leaves & needles.) In the coop proper I use a a finer version of the pine shavings (not sawdust, but being finer it is more absorbent). However, chickens like to scratch and dig. I am always finding a rock here or there that they have dug up from under the bedding in the run ...and when things are composted and ready to use as dirt, I am always amazed at the amount of small rocks that are in there, as I pick out ones I see in the runs before it ever makes it to the compost pile.

P.S. @lightm The roost for the chickies isn't bricks. It is 100% wood scraps. 2X3 on side for roost itself, and short 2X4s for the base on either end....stacked. It kind of makes 'steps' for the littles to hop up before they can fly. They were all lightly sanded on ends to remove burrs, and the roost itself I sanded the 'sharp' edges to give the edges a bit more rounded feel. I do that of all my board roosts.....though the majority of my roosts are either dowels or fairly straight branches, I do have some 2X3 & 2X4 roosts. I don't have a router, so the first time I did it, I was expecting it to take forever, but it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be!

 

[BY Bob]

That place isn’t my regular church either.

I was wondering about that. I can't imagine you regular pastor doing that.

Tithing

 

[RoyalChick]

You know that if I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about something, (maybe it’s important?)

I am wondering if he wasn't intending to hurt you, but instead was rather awkwardly trying to establish a connection by trying to joke around.

 

[Ponypoor]

I turn the light off

He's a night owl not a chicken