Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Thanks for the gorgeous pictures. I completely understand the stressful holiday situation. I am lucky that we are going nowhere and we also have no guests. This holiday season will be

• catch up with work
• lots of cooking
• house cleaning and organizing
• boardgames and shows

Today I pressured canned squash, in addition to winterize my garden. Like everyone else, there will be a significant temperature drop tonight (about 40F). We brought Light inside since her feathers are so messed up.

The low is going to be 18F (no laughing, very cold for us). You think chickens will be OK outside? They are in a small coop (around 4'X5'), no draft, no heat.

Brrrr that is chilly for you, I think as long as no drafts and dry they should be ok, but I guess only you can assess their level of comfort.

Would you have enough room to bring them inside if needed?

 

[Ponypoor]

Hang in there. Forced family fun will soon be over. Picture #2 is a FANTASTIC Marilyn fluffy butt!

I don't know if I will get any pictures today - the storm is just reaching me now - we are dropping from 60F to 6F in just a few hours (15C to -14C) and the wind is picking up. Lots of storm warnings because of expected 60MPH (96K/hr) winds. I need to secure stuff outside as best I can.
I have decided I will bring the Princesses into the mud room or the garage in the night. It is less about the absolute temperature (though that is pretty cold, but more about the sudden drop and Diana still being only partly clothed).
Both areas stay very cold and indeed I will need to put a heater on in both to prevent pipes from freezing. Having the chickens co-located with the at-risk pipe will be one less thing for me to worry about and they will be asleep anyway so it should be OK.
Hope I keep power.
My one worry about the plan is I have not tried to handle Bernadette and I worry she will freak out on me even in the dark. She is a big bird and if she freaks out it will be hard to contain her.

Wish me luck everyone. And everyone stay safe in whatever crazy weather you are contending with.

I have been looking to see if you made out ok with Bernie bringing her inside. Did I miss an update?

 

[lightm]

Brrrr that is chilly for you, I think as long as no drafts and dry they should be ok, but I guess only you can assess their level of comfort.

Would you have enough room to bring them inside if needed?

Thanks. It is dry and no draft. I think they've gone through low 20's last year and they were completely fine. But it is different this time due to the dramatic drop in temp.

We can bring them all in the garage if we have to. We have dog crates and pet carriers.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Roosters are servants in Aurora's mind. They exist outside the pecking order.

I'm glad you liked the photo. I feel the reaction to that has been underwhelming. I'm very proud of that one.

I loved the photo.

This hen, I have grey hairs because of her I swear. It is 4 out right now. She finally came off the nest to eat and drink. I timed her, she managed to get off the hill, stuff herself and get a good drink of water before returning. She was off the nest for 8 minutes. I do not think she would have came off the eggs except mom tempted her off with a can of wet cat food. She did not budge until mom popped the top then she came off flying. She inhaled the whole can plus a little corn. Mom did try to grab her while she was off, it did not work, could not get within 3 feet of her. If she survives this cold snap and manages to hatch chicks I will have a whole new level of respect for her.
View attachment 3357117

I really wish one of the reaction emojis was a hug. Fingers crossed she (and the babies) make it through with no issues.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I am glad they have settled and sleeping. Do you put anything special over the heating pads?

First an old sheet doubled over, then an old towel also double-thick. Here’s what they look like right now. It’s 0 Fahrenheit out there. In a little while I think whoever’s in the nest box will join them, they usually end up all four together.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

And so everyone, after a day of very extremely high winds, we draw Friday to a close with
Very
Low
Temperatures
I brought in firewood just in case we lose power due to winds.
Ever since our house was built in 1982, the only source of heating there was back then was radiant heating (only on walls and ceiling), but ever since we renovated our home, we've "expanded our options" of heating. We have a heater/AC. Before renovation, the house had no source of cooling (why?) so I guess you had to use one of these ACs, which used to be in the house but we only have that AC in the garage. Instead, we have and still use this heater/air conditioner, which I highly recommend. My dad also took out the siding and replaced it with stone. Big difference.
But there was one thing that sucked when we bought this house.
It had no chimney/fireplace.
I mean, is that a surprise? Every house around us has a chimney. So my dad took matters into his own hands and made a fireplace as our third source of heating. We also have another radiant heater, which you can find here or here but we only use it during camping. We also used this Lasko tower heater for our RV when we went camping in October 2020 as well.
Switching gears to Grandma, she came inside and I don't know what is causing this but she just so happened to start breathing heavily. I don't know if it's her age or something else going on but it's just happening. We gave her some corn and she is happy. Of course, if you plan to take your chickens inside, make sure they only stay for a few minutes. Mozzarella also stayed inside for a few minutes.
Here is a photo of Grandma the other day snacking on a grape... and funny captions.

Grandma followed the rolling grape but now she has no idea where it went. Grandma? Look at your foot.

You blew my cover.

I'm not prepared for this...

 

[rural mouse]

I have opinions on this. I have voiced them before but I will not say anything else right now on the subject. This is my current situation and I do not need karma whispering in any more of my hens ears.
View attachment 3357007

If she hatches and raises a pullet, Karma for the name.

 

[rural mouse]

Sooooo....I have not mentioned anything the last 2 days. I think details have finally been worked out and I will have 2 surprises sometime tomorrow weather permitting. Delivery was offered so 2 white leghorn girls will join my flock. I sadly had to pass on a legbar girl, with delivery fee they were a bit too pricey right now.

Your mom's Christmas present?

 

[rural mouse]

My goodness, this post deserved one of almost everything! Gotta love her determination, and willingness to sit tight, knowing she can't be off the nest long in these temps!
Laugh because of the image of her rushing around and gorging brings,
And a bit of 'wow' and sadness. I can't imaging surviving the cold under that rock....and yet she is determined to have more babies!

There is no logic when it comes to hormones. I do so hope she survives and has a successful hatch. I know you call her evil, bur she has stolen my heart

Mine too.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

And so everyone, after a day of very extremely high winds, we draw Friday to a close with
Very
Low
Temperatures
I brought in firewood just in case we lose power due to winds.
Ever since our house was built in 1982, the only source of heating there was back then was radiant heating (only on walls and ceiling), but ever since we renovated our home, we've "expanded our options" of heating. We have a heater/AC. Before renovation, the house had no source of cooling (why?) so I guess you had to use one of these ACs, which used to be in the house but we only have that AC in the garage. Instead, we have and still use this heater/air conditioner, which I highly recommend. My dad also took out the siding and replaced it with stone. Big difference.
But there was one thing that sucked when we bought this house.
It had no chimney/fireplace.
I mean, is that a surprise? Every house around us has a chimney. So my dad took matters into his own hands and made a chimney as our third source of heating. We also have another radiant heater, which you can find here or here but we only use it during camping. We also used this Lasko tower heater for our RV as well.
Switching gears to Grandma, she came inside and I don't know what is causing this but she just so happened to start breathing heavily. I don't know if it's her age or something else going on but it's just happening. We gave her some corn and she is happy. Of course, if you plan to take your chickens inside, make sure they only stay for a few minutes. Mozzarella also stayed inside for a few minutes.
Here is a photo of Grandma the other day snacking no a grape... and funny captions.

Grandma followed the rolling grape but now she has no idea where it went. Grandma? Look at your foot.
View attachment 3357308You blew my cover.
View attachment 3357329
I'm not prepared for this...
View attachment 3357332

Maybe the temperature change from outside to inside is causing the breathing - she may feel too hot.