Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Another excerpt from my bio. In high school, I volunteered as a sighted guide for the blind. We had so much fun, going everywhere and doing everything. I was voted Braille institute’s sighted guide for the blind, volunteer of the year three consecutive years . I really miss those days, and the wonderful people too.
One day, I was bored, so I picked up a phone book and the rest was history!

That’s a Wonderful anecdote - have you ever thought of doing that again? Sounds like you really enjoyed those days

 

[RoyalChick]

Another excerpt from my bio. In high school, I volunteered as a sighted guide for the blind. We had so much fun, going everywhere and doing everything. I was voted Braille institute’s sighted guide for the blind, volunteer of the year three consecutive years . I really miss those days, and the wonderful people too.
One day, I was bored, so I picked up a phone book and the rest was history!

Wonderful You could do that again.

 

[BY Bob]

Isn't the new high roost perpendicular to what she is on? I thought what Sydney is roosting on is the support for the high roost, not an actual roost?? )Isn't Aurora behind her on the high roost?) Or am I just confused?

It is easy to be confused. The old high roost, which is still in place and where they are roosted, actually had roost locations on all three sides. I had to widen the supports when I put it up because they were roosting on the supports. I've had as many as 5 hens up there at one point. To only give Aurora her butt to peck at, Sydney at times will roost on the support facing out like she is tonight. .

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I am very glad to hear Peanut is acting/feeling better!!

That looks like a great set up for the girls for the winter!

Question - in the last picture there is cardboard. Do you have it bent, so part on the ground under the bedding, then bent up the side to prevent a draft at the bottom of the tarp?

I do believe that if I were a chicken, I would be very happy in that space this winter!

The cardboard is just straight down to the ground, sitting pretty flush. There’s going to be more old ramial wood chips (or a new bag of shavings, and hemp on top) and leaves piled up against it. Ideally I want six+ inches of litter, last year they loved digging around in it and even dust bathing in it. I’ve left a lot of ground exposed for now so they still have foraging in here, little leaves and grasses are growing, one reason to not fold the cardboard to have some flat on the ground, I want the ground access, especially as this run is now permanent.

Got the doorway ready for more litter with a board across the inside to keep it in and a couple logs to ease the ladies' exit. The Omlet run door is absolutely on the ground, not at all good for winter climes. I have to keep it very clear there. I might get a log to put down on the outside for when I let them out but today they hopped in and out with ease. The piece of rubber is over the latch to keep from having to knock it clear of freezing rain and snow. I set up a further windbreak in the back there, and turned on the coop warmer panel. This sudden change has not been good for them with their molts, Peanut was shivering today when I held her for her antibiotics. I got the tarp on the right pulled over properly, ready to close it up for winter with the wire panels, but for now leaving a narrow way in and out.

Here you can see this piece of cardboard got wet from rain and snow blowing in the open door edge next to the working doorway. Need to cut and duct tape a shower curtain for that part still.

Last year I had the tarps down to the ground and the cardboard between the tarps and the wire. The stiffness of the tarps left a breezy gap which the cardboard helped. But the tarps do wiggle some with heavy wind, and the run litter would get scratch-thrown and pushed into the space between the wire and the cardboard, pushing the tarp out and rendering the litter inaccessible. Once snow accumulates, the gap to the ground is not an issue in most places anyway, I pile it up along the outside walls, not too high, keeping some places good for sunshine and seeing out, others higher where they want to gather and feel safe and snug to rest and preen (I suspect it’ll be that corner where the dust bath is now, see how they are hanging there).

So this year I changed it - the tarps are actually going to be higher and not at ground level, maybe four to six inches up. But the grommets are still zip tied to the wire wall at the bottom. The cardboard is serving the windbreak purpose, and the wood roof supports are handy for wedging it in between them and the metal poles of the run, and the litter I’m going to be piling up helps hold it there (plus they could be zip tied). Hanging the tarps higher gives me more coverage high up the walls, particularly the short sides east and west, where there’s triangular spaces I want for ventilation but have to figure out still how to manage.

The group getting warm by the coop panel. Left to right, in back Hazel hogging it, Peanut on the right. Butters looking right at us on the left in front, and poor Popcorn out in the dust bath on the right. I might pull the dust bath further out for more room, but not sure they'd let her get closer anyway.

Here's another pic of the temporary windbreak set up while I narrowed the opening on the right to the yard that wind was blowing in.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wonderful You could do that again.

SHRA Tax.
Diana falling asleep by my side.

 

[BY Bob]

I did a egg count for this week. With only 9 girls laying, I got 72 eggs for the week. I thought they deserved something special for their hard work so tomorrow they have a big bag of Craisins to share.

Well deserved on their part.

Don't tell them but I am getting exactly 0 eggs a week right now. They are a bunch of lay abouts. And what punishment do they get. Only a crab and cheese omelet to share today.

I would not let yours find out about it.

 

[BY Bob]

Is there any drama due Sydney’s feathers trespassing? Like kids, some of my gang just can’t roost next to each other!

Nope everyone is well separated. Very little pecking.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m invo

That’s a Wonderful anecdote - have you ever thought of doing that again? Sounds like you really enjoyed those days

with the food drive in town.

 

[BY Bob]

SHRA Tax.
Diana falling asleep by my side.
View attachment 3322076

Wonderful.

 

[BY Bob]

I did a egg count for this week. With only 9 girls laying, I got 72 eggs for the week. I thought they deserved something special for their hard work so tomorrow they have a big bag of Craisins to share.

Im surprised @bgmathteach did not point this out but I think you have at least 10 layers likely 11. There are only 7 days in a week. They all would have had to lay 8 eggs in 7 days. That is unlikely.