Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Good for you! You deserve some companionship - I hope the time spent is very enjoyable. We miss you, but I would rather you had some real, in person, time - you can always hop on here later!

What she said.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

What she said.

Ditto

 

[lightm]

Okay, I have a very serious question about my chickens health. I don't free range my chickens. They have a decent sized run. It could probably fit 8 chickens, if not more. I only have 4 chickens, but I have had 6 chickens in there. Three roos, three hens. I gave two of the roos away, they were just too aggressive towards me. Pastel is fine though. Should I start letting them out? They are all over a year old, and I am just terrified that something will happen to them. We are working on my coop, and we will have a large area to let them out during the day. They seem happy, but I live on 14 cleared acres, and I own 50 acres total. 50 - 14 = How much non-cleared land I own. I have had to chase my guineas all around in the woods to try and save their life. I love my guineas, but they are no chickens. I would die if anything were to happen to my chicks. What do you guys suggest to do? Wait until they can be let out into a big coop and stretch their legs and wings that way? Or just let them out with my guineas and hope that everyone survives? They are not trained to go back into the coop, but they could learn. I just would hate myself if a predator came and got one.
Another thing... is BBQ a RIR or a Brown Leghorn? She lays pinkish-tan eggs. Could she be a mix of both? Her comb makes me think a Leghorn, but her color makes me think RIR
View attachment 3364095

I am jealous of your acreage. What size is your run? Right now they are sleeping in the run? Do you know how long until your actual coop is built (when they also have a bigger area to be let out)?

Do you have a better picture of BBQ? I think she is RIR from this picture.

 

[rural mouse]

And if you are looking down your horse will likely run you into a tree (been there )

My in-laws had a horse who would take his rider into all the trees with pinecone. On trail rides, they didn't do horse turd fights. They had pine cone fights. He loved being in the middle, but riders didn't always expect being suddenly thrust into the middle of a tree so they could pick cones at the behest of a horse.

 

[ValarieF]

You have to realize that for some of us oldies we are at the height of your tech savvy just posting here.
Even here there are things I haven’t mastered yet!
It is OK. We have other skills. Or so we tell ourselves!

Hey Im old and very computer savvy. I can build a computer if I want.

 

[rural mouse]

Okay, I have a very serious question about my chickens health. I don't free range my chickens. They have a decent sized run. It could probably fit 8 chickens, if not more. I only have 4 chickens, but I have had 6 chickens in there. Three roos, three hens. I gave two of the roos away, they were just too aggressive towards me. Pastel is fine though. Should I start letting them out? They are all over a year old, and I am just terrified that something will happen to them. We are working on my coop, and we will have a large area to let them out during the day. They seem happy, but I live on 14 cleared acres, and I own 50 acres total. 50 - 14 = How much non-cleared land I own. I have had to chase my guineas all around in the woods to try and save their life. I love my guineas, but they are no chickens. I would die if anything were to happen to my chicks. What do you guys suggest to do? Wait until they can be let out into a big coop and stretch their legs and wings that way? Or just let them out with my guineas and hope that everyone survives? They are not trained to go back into the coop, but they could learn. I just would hate myself if a predator came and got one.
Another thing... is BBQ a RIR or a Brown Leghorn? She lays pinkish-tan eggs. Could she be a mix of both? Her comb makes me think a Leghorn, but her color makes me think RIR
View attachment 3364095

Leghorns lay white eggs. Bob has had white leghorns, Featherhead and I have brown leghorns. All the eggs from them are white. If she lays brown eggs, then she is definitely NOT pure leghorn.

As far as the coop is concerned, unlike guineas, chickens will return to the coop on their own once they know it as home/shelter. Yours have been in it plenty long enough to have that feeling. I'm on an acre and a half and my birds don't range over all of it. They do like/need sheltering brush/trees to escape ground predators and hide from aerial ones. Pastel will keep watch and alert the hens to danger. He will also call them to tasty treats and try to tell the ladies where good places to lay eggs are. Whether you let them out or not is up to you.

 

[RoyalChick]

Okay, I have a very serious question about my chickens health. I don't free range my chickens. They have a decent sized run. It could probably fit 8 chickens, if not more. I only have 4 chickens, but I have had 6 chickens in there. Three roos, three hens. I gave two of the roos away, they were just too aggressive towards me. Pastel is fine though. Should I start letting them out? They are all over a year old, and I am just terrified that something will happen to them. We are working on my coop, and we will have a large area to let them out during the day. They seem happy, but I live on 14 cleared acres, and I own 50 acres total. 50 - 14 = How much non-cleared land I own. I have had to chase my guineas all around in the woods to try and save their life. I love my guineas, but they are no chickens. I would die if anything were to happen to my chicks. What do you guys suggest to do? Wait until they can be let out into a big coop and stretch their legs and wings that way? Or just let them out with my guineas and hope that everyone survives? They are not trained to go back into the coop, but they could learn. I just would hate myself if a predator came and got one.
Another thing... is BBQ a RIR or a Brown Leghorn? She lays pinkish-tan eggs. Could she be a mix of both? Her comb makes me think a Leghorn, but her color makes me think RIR
View attachment 3364095

Mine have a coop and predator proof run. Then I have a big area protected with an electric fence. Inside that area I have been planting shrubs they can use to shelter from hawks along with miscellaneous junk they can hide under.
I still confine them to the coop and run if I am out all day.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Looks similar to my Maggie (RIP) who was a RIR. But a word to the wise - never ever take my view of chicken breeds seriously. I am hopeless.

View attachment 3364116

Thank you! She is super pretty!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Leghorns lay white eggs. Bob has had white leghorns, Featherhead and I have brown leghorns. All the eggs from them are white. If she lays brown eggs, then she is definitely NOT pure leghorn.

As far as the coop is concerned, unlike guineas, chickens will return to the coop on their own once they know it as home/shelter. Yours have been in it plenty long enough to have that feeling. I'm on an acre and a half and my birds don't range over all of it. They do like/need sheltering brush/trees to escape ground predators and hide from aerial ones. Pastel will keep watch and alert the hens to danger. He will also call them to tasty treats and try to tell the ladies where good places to lay eggs are. Whether you let them out or not is up to you.

Thank you! Pastel and Bolt are my most special chickens. I love them all, but these are the two where I would become 100% depressed. I do know that he would protect the hens, and as weird as this sounds, that is a problem to me. If there was a predator and he tried to fightit, he would most likely be killed. His spurs are thick and long, but not sharp. I don't think that I am going to let them out. If I can convince my dad to help me finish the big part of my coop, they can go out there. Last Christmas I got an automatic chicken door, so I am ready.
No doubt Pastel, Bolt, Splotch, and BBQ are too!

 

[featherhead007]

Hey Im old and very computer savvy. I can build a computer if I want.

Can you build me a turbocharger for my plane? I could use the extra speed, and the one I have is starting to come of age.