Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I have not tried eucalyptus. He’s not sneezing very often, but I worry anyways

You know, when the horses are sick with runny noses I stuff Vicks vapo run in their nostrils.

Maybe put a wee dab on his beak by his nostrils…? (And I do mean wee dab)

 

[ManueB]

Well, you are forgetting that I have one distinct advantage that you don't. The majority of my chickens are straight run - either purchased or hatched. BUT: I do not keep all the boys (1:1 is NOT good), I do process the 'extra' roos when they are between 5-6 months old for the most part (sometimes a bit older, depending on growth rate/breed.) This gives me the option of choosing which ones to keep, and which ones to send to freezer camp. I keep the 'best' roos. Good confirmation, good with the ladies, not mean to me. They don't have to be perfect...but good in ALL three areas, and the best of the 'good' are the keepers. That makes for a lot less drama when the 'boys' are in the 8 + mo. idiot phase. (They do start before then, but are controlled by the older, bigger roosters, and the time of year....late fall or winter is slightly calmer than the prime mating season of spring through early summer....and by then, the good ones have settled into their spot & groove (summer, that is. Early spring...well...still a bit of a 'as the world turns; drama then!)

I'll make a suggestion - it might not work for you, but it may help. I'm not sure what your coop looks like that you have now, nor if this suggestion will 'fit' in your space...but here goes:

Do you have a 10' or 12' by 4' space? (maybe 3 meters by 1 meter? That is close, dimensional wise) I am a firm believer in a raised coop as it gives them 'coop space' without reducing 'run space', and does double duty as bot coop AND covered run space to protect from elements.


so, I am thinking something 12' X 4' Base framing. Have 2 'coops' proper on this frames, raised anywhere from 3-4 feet, depending on wire height easily available. Have the coops be roughly 3feet by 4 feet, one on either end. So, think of stepping into the 12' X 4' framing...long side facing you - in the center. on the left, one coop, the 'width' if the framing, by 3'+ deep (could easily go 4x4instead of 4x3, here), Turn to your right, the second coop will be the same. That gives you 2 'coops' of roughly 4' x 3' (12 sq. feet, slightly more than 2sq. meters). Have the pop doors face the center, at the back, with a 'platform 1 - 1.5 feet deep that runs the roughly 4 or6 ft. space left. both pop doors open onto that, then a ramp down (make the ramp easily moveable/removable so it isn't in your way if needed to access easily the back. Framing is full length on the back, but front has a wide 'human' door between the 2 coops, with a pop door within the human door. Roof the entire width. This gives you at least 24 sq feet of coop space (or 32 if you go 4feetX 4 feet) PLUS if gives you a full 48 sq. feet of covered run space all in the same foot print. Having a partial wall centered at edge of coop either side(say, 16 inches wide, or 1/3 of the depth of the frame) will give roos and hens something to 'circle around', you can put roosts 'under' each coop, and I would run 2 roosts parallel to the long side of overall coop complex, within each individual coop. (so 2, 3ft - or 4', depending on how you frame out each 'raised' coop portion) roosts within each coop. If you are able to add more run space attached to (in any way shape or form), that would be great, too. I know this is probably really hard to visualize. I've attached some really rough pictures. (oh, I like external nest boxes...so one on either end of long framing/external to each coop proper, so it doesn't decrease coop space AND you can gather eggs without entering run complex, if needed.

P.S. I have absolutely no idea if lumber is sold in imperial units or metric. If metric, approx dimensions would be: 3 or 4 meters long X ~1 meter deep. Coop floors at approx 1m high, and front roof of coop about another 1m above floor, back roof of coop (for sloped rood) about 2/3 meter above floor of coop. Each coop proper, on the raised framing would be about 1 m 'wide' x 1 meter deep (or 1.5 m deep, depending on ultimate length of full base) This should leave you with 1-2 meters between the raised coops, but still under the full length roofing.

okay, bad drawings, but hope it helps you visualize what I'm trying to get at:

These first two are looking at base (sort of) from above, roof not yet 'on'
View attachment 3309346View attachment 3309347

This one is looking at coop complex from front:
View attachment 3309350

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to put that together , it is really creative. Are you the kind of person who like to organize spaces and who's good with logistics by any chance ? It's too finalized for where I'm at, though. I think I need first to make a list of our requirements, limitations and possibilities, to help me get a clearer view of what we need exactly, in regard to what's feasible. Once I get to post this, I may ask you again your opinion . I'm so terrible at that kind of thing ( material organisation) I wonder how I ever managed to do my previous job. I guess I was good at making competent people do the work for me ?

Good morning everyone. Just reading and catching up while for once everyone is asleep here. It is blissful, all I hear is Branch crowing and the dogs beside me snoring as I drink my coffee. Well, that and Rosie coughing. We spent 3 hours at the doctor yesterday only to know for sure it is not strep. Sometime this afternoon they will have the results back from the respiratory panel. She has not been this sick in a long time, and I do not like that her chest hurts and it burns to breathe. Grandma is giving me grief to keep her in her room as she does not need to be sick yet she keeps trying to come in there to check on her. I hate to say it, but yesterday I thought to myself I hoped Rosie sneezed on her. I know, bad me, but she came out of her room to use the bathroom and she sprayed Lysol at her, almost in her face and it caused a coughing fit. I have since hidden all 3 cans of Lysol that we have outside on top of the feed. This afternoon per Rosie's request I'm making vegetable beef soup. For 3 hours I will have to guard the stove and pot to keep grandma away from it. Rosie only likes how I make it and grandma likes to go behind people when they are cooking and add things to it.

I'm sorry that Rosie's so sick, on top of all that's going on with your grandma. But I love that she will only eat the beef soup you make . I hope you're not too worried.
We're having a situation with RSV in France where children's hospitals are completely overwhelmed - they're having to send dozens of kids to the other sides of the country in the medicalized trains they made for COVID. Doctors have been warning throughout all summer this would happen, to no avail.

Out of subject and nearly politic statement tax : in the past week Gastounet has caught up on the hormone wagon! He now crowes, tidbits, mates Piou-piou, and keeps his hens safe. The only funny thing about his dreadful relation with Théo is that they now have crowing contest. I love it! Here is a clip of one of his first successful try.

 

[Ponypoor]

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to put that together , it is really creative. Are you the kind of person who like to organize spaces and who's good with logistics by any chance ? It's too finalized for where I'm at, though. I think I need first to make a list of our requirements, limitations and possibilities, to help me get a clearer view of what we need exactly, in regard to what's feasible. Once I get to post this, I may ask you again your opinion . I'm so terrible at that kind of thing ( material organisation) I wonder how I ever managed to do my previous job. I guess I was good at making competent people do the work for me ?

I'm sorry that Rosie's so sick, on top of all that's going on with your grandma. But I love that she will only eat the beef soup you make . I hope you're not too worried.
We're having a situation with RSV in France where children's hospitals are completely overwhelmed - they're having to send dozens of kids to the other sides of the country in the medicalized trains they made for COVID. Doctors have been warning throughout all summer this would happen, to no avail.

Out of subject and nearly politic statement tax : in the past week Gastounet has caught up on the hormone wagon! He now crowes, tidbits, mates Piou-piou, and keeps his hens safe. The only funny thing about his dreadful relation with Théo is that they now have crowing contest. I love it! Here is a clip of one of his first successful try.

He’s a handsome boy!


Mr P didn’t even bat an eyelash though when I played it for him

 

[featherhead007]

The rooster has come back to life! Jaffar is now outside with his ladies and is wasting no time being a rooster!

 

[featherhead007]

You know, when the horses are sick with runny noses I stuff Vicks vapo run in their nostrils.

Maybe put a wee dab on his beak by his nostrils…? (And I do mean wee dab)

I’m wondering if I should get a second opinion, from a different veterinarian, who might know what Jaffar’s trouble is.
(Afraid that the veterinarian I took Jaffar to, doesn’t know poultry as much as I thought)? I don’t know .
He’s out there crowing big time now.

 

[featherhead007]

He’s a handsome boy!


Mr P didn’t even bat an eyelash though when I played it for him

I only got a funny look from Jaffar when he heard that video.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to put that together , it is really creative. Are you the kind of person who like to organize spaces and who's good with logistics by any chance ? It's too finalized for where I'm at, though. I think I need first to make a list of our requirements, limitations and possibilities, to help me get a clearer view of what we need exactly, in regard to what's feasible. Once I get to post this, I may ask you again your opinion . I'm so terrible at that kind of thing ( material organisation) I wonder how I ever managed to do my previous job. I guess I was good at making competent people do the work for me ?

I'm sorry that Rosie's so sick, on top of all that's going on with your grandma. But I love that she will only eat the beef soup you make . I hope you're not too worried.
We're having a situation with RSV in France where children's hospitals are completely overwhelmed - they're having to send dozens of kids to the other sides of the country in the medicalized trains they made for COVID. Doctors have been warning throughout all summer this would happen, to no avail.

Out of subject and nearly politic statement tax : in the past week Gastounet has caught up on the hormone wagon! He now crowes, tidbits, mates Piou-piou, and keeps his hens safe. The only funny thing about his dreadful relation with Théo is that they now have crowing contest. I love it! Here is a clip of one of his first successful try.

He has a lovely crow!

 

[Ponypoor]

I only got a funny look from Jaffar when he heard that video.

Youngsters …..

I think that’s what Mr P was thinking haha

But he has an awesome crow for a youngster!

 

[Ponypoor]

He has a lovely crow!

Agreed! If that’s one of his first attempts that’s pretty darn good!

 

[ManueB]

Agreed! If that’s one of his first attempts that’s pretty darn good!

Oh no, he's been crowing for two months but up to now only once in the morning and it didn't sound anything like a real crow.