Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

This reminds me I've been meaning to ask since @RoyalChick mentioned her chickens went to bed toward 4.30 pm because that surprised me. At what time do your chickens get up and roost and how long before /after sun rises or goes down ? Mine go out of the coop at 7.30 am, when there is just enough daylight to see, but the late partyer roost about 30 to 40 mn before night at 7pm, and most are in bed half an hour before.

Mine roost at slightly different times. I have one coop that is pretty shaded, and those chickens go to bed about 20-30 min. before the other coops (the others are all pretty close to each other.) This one coop goes at the hint of the sun setting, presently at about 6:15 pm. Then, there are stages for the rest. My older girls roost first, the first couple starting at about 6:30 pm...with the youngsters roosting last (partially because they are young, partially because they sneak in after everyone is roosted so they don't get harassed.) They are roosting about 6:50ish, just before the light is gone.

Then...there are the ducks & geese. Oh, boy!!! They are thinking about going to bed once the sun has set and you are at the point of just being able to see, but not well, without a light. (again, 6:50 ish presently) However, when I am locking everyone up and move the few roosting in the trees into the coops...the ducks say 'oh, party time! and any in the coop come running out quacking up a storm! It is almost like having young kids who grudgingly go to bed at10 seconds to 8pm (when they have to be in bed by), but the minute you turn your back, they are sneaking down the stairs to the playroom to play again! The only REAL difference is this: the ducks aren't shy about it and don't sneak!!!! They do get the routine, though...and after a couple of loops around the neighboring coop, I can gently herd them into their coop and they settle down as I lock them in.

As far as the morning, the ducks are alert/awake whenever I go out there...even if it is pitch black still in the morning, and start quacking softly. If I say my greating ( Good morning girls, morning my duckies!) They quack loudly/excitedly as they know I'm going to let them out. Once it is light enough for the chickens to see, they start streaming out of the coop...again, youngsters first, with most of the older girls bringing up the rear. They come out shortly before 'dawn' in the dusky light, but more towards brighter rather than darker. A few will hop off the roost at the first hint of light, and wait for 'mom'. I can't/won't let them out before light, though, due to raccoons! They would be sitting ducks (pun intended) Until I can get a solid (but clear) roof over the second half of my main 'run within a run' so it is completely secure, that is how it has to be.

 

[GregnLety]

I drive by the same housing development day after day and my only thought is I wish it wasn't there. Lety drives by it and sees opportunity. She talks to the construction crew and come home with 2 loads of lumber which was going to be scrapped. All that's wrong with it is it has some nails here and yonder. Looks like Jeff and I will be pulling some nails this weekend. Will use some of the lumber to rebuild the picnic table which is decaying. The remainder is to be used for a coop for sister A's chickens. I probably have enough metal for the roof and if the new job goes well enough I will buy the rest of the material.

 

[bgmathteach]

I hope this won't come off as negative, but I think if I had read this thread before getting my chickens, I wouldn't have gotten them.

I have been truly wondering about this lately. Would I recommend getting chickens to someone any more? I'm not sure I can answer that with confidence any more.

I still would recommend getting them. They are such a joy! However, I would definitely counsel them about secure run & quality coop...with enough space in the run to not need to free range. I do think that they (chickens) need some free-range time to be happy, but I also think that, unless you are willing to take significant losses, free range time must be limited to when you have the time for full diligence in watching them. They can't be an impulse purchase without forethought and planning - unless you want extra heartache.

The joy, they bring me is immeasurable, and while the heartbreak is horrible, so would a life be without the joy and love they bring.

I guess this sums it up: to love deeply also means to hurt deeply, as you can't have one without the other.

 

[ValarieF]

I am fascinated to know how they test for that in 2 hours. It feels to me like memory is a more complicated thing than could be tested in that time.

Pictures and sounds and brain waves. My first visit she put me through a test to remember her words and I couldnt remember them later. Then she asked a few other things
It was a long morning.

 

[fuentemoon]

I must confess I haven't read the whole thread. I read about 400 pages from the beginning, then backward from when I joined around the may 15 this year to november and it was so sad a period I stopped. And now picking it up from the huge fight in November 2020. I hope this won't come off as negative, but I think if I had read this thread before getting my chickens, I wouldn't have gotten them. So much heartbreak! But now that I have them and I love them, I also love reading about how others are doing and I learn so much on this thread, both chicken knowledge and how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster.

Beautiful indeed. Well worth getting up early!

This reminds me I've been meaning to ask since @RoyalChick mentioned her chickens went to bed toward 4.30 pm because that surprised me. At what time do your chickens get up and roost and how long before /after sun rises or goes down ? Mine go out of the coop at 7.30 am, when there is just enough daylight to see, but the late partyer roost about 30 to 40 mn before night at 7pm, and most are in bed half an hour before.

With mine it depends on time of year and weather. Summer time they are out of the coop as soon as the auto door opens, which is well before I get up. In summer generally 15min after official sunrise and in bed at or just after sunset. Today is very foggy and haven't heard them yet (its 8am,) but they are likely awake. Oh there is Rosie now, she like to announce herself as she passes my window.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a heavy rain day (hooray!) I expect they will straggle out a bit after 8 and be in bed 4:30-5 verses 6 on a nice day.

 

[RoyalChick]

I drive by the same housing development day after day and my only thought is I wish it wasn't there. Lety drives by it and sees opportunity. She talks to the construction crew and come home with 2 loads of lumber which was going to be scrapped. All that's wrong with it is it has some nails here and yonder. Looks like Jeff and I will be pulling some nails this weekend. Will use some of the lumber to rebuild the picnic table which is decaying. The remainder is to be used for a coop for sister A's chickens. I probably have enough metal for the roof and if the new job goes well enough I will buy the rest of the material.

Lety is a woman after my own heart! I learned from my Mom to hang around any place that had a dumpster because no doubt they were having work done and we could pick up some useful stuff!

 

[GregnLety]

He purrs almost every evening once he's settled and most of the girls are.

As for Mr. P, every rooster is his own personality. I don't recall hearing either Rusty or Buster purr. Cheetah has taught all the others to purr too. Hector almost sounds like a growly kid making motor-boat noises.

I agree, all roosters have their own personality. Seems the dominant roosters make less noise. My Silky rooster makes dang near as much noise as the guineas!

 

[rural mouse]

I must confess I haven't read the whole thread. I read about 400 pages from the beginning, then backward from when I joined around the may 15 this year to november and it was so sad a period I stopped. And now picking it up from the huge fight in November 2020. I hope this won't come off as negative, but I think if I had read this thread before getting my chickens, I wouldn't have gotten them. So much heartbreak! But now that I have them and I love them, I also love reading about how others are doing and I learn so much on this thread, both chicken knowledge and how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster.

Beautiful indeed. Well worth getting up early!

This reminds me I've been meaning to ask since @RoyalChick mentioned her chickens went to bed toward 4.30 pm because that surprised me. At what time do your chickens get up and roost and how long before /after sun rises or goes down ? Mine go out of the coop at 7.30 am, when there is just enough daylight to see, but the late partyer roost about 30 to 40 mn before night at 7pm, and most are in bed half an hour before.

Crowing an hour before sunrise (including summer vs winter time), leaving coop 15-30min before sunrise (depending upon which bird, some like to wait until an hour after). Some head for bed an hour before sunset, others wait until the hour after sunset, when light is still out, but sun is behind the mountains.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

This reminds me I've been meaning to ask since @RoyalChick mentioned her chickens went to bed toward 4.30 pm because that surprised me. At what time do your chickens get up and roost and how long before /after sun rises or goes down ? Mine go out of the coop at 7.30 am, when there is just enough daylight to see, but the late partyer roost about 30 to 40 mn before night at 7pm, and most are in bed half an hour before.

Mine start to roost about 30 minutes before sunset. Depending on how many shenanigans there are they are usually all settled down before it gets totally dark. They start stirring quite a bit about 30 minutes before I consider it to be starting to get light, and usually most of them are off the roost by the time I can see without a light .

 

[bgmathteach]

Crowing an hour before sunrise (including summer vs winter time), leaving coop 15-30min before sunrise (depending upon which bird, some like to wait until an hour after). Some head for bed an hour before sunset, others wait until the hour after sunset, when light is still out, but sun is behind the mountains.

Wow, with the mountains where you are, you have a looonnnngggg sunset. Here, it goes from sun is up to it is completely set & dark in a span of 30 min....and vice-versa for dawn.

sun tax: my littles enjoying the sun. Nippy out, but sunny