Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I will look for cardboard boxes. So far I have put the nesting pads where they are laying thinking that they could at least get used to laying on those. So far they just move them so the box may help.

Perhaps they sure don't seem to like the 7x7 opening, they should fit but maybe they think they cant

They are in the front by the food and closer to the pop door there really isn't a better place the way I have the roosts set up. I may try to redesign when it gets warmer. I am going to add curtains and see if that helps very soon.

Are they laying under the roost so the eggs get pooped on?

 

[knoturavggrl]

Are they laying under the roost so the eggs get pooped on?

It is under the roosts but in the corners and they congregate in the middle of the roosting structure bunched all together at night to sleep so the eggs don't get pooped on thank goodness. Not as clean as nesting box would be but also not directly being pooped on either.

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh how I wish this was true. Unfortunately I have not had surgery yet, haven’t even had an appointment with the surgeon yet. There was a massive server issue that affected the systems of many. many providers Monday. So the surgeons office did it even get the referral. I found this out today and for that taken care of, but was told it is “common” for it to be 7-10 business days after a fracture for the surgery. So I sit here in pain (or constantly falling asleep from the pain meds).

Thanks for thinking about me.


She truly was a treasure, Maleficent the Magnificent. Enjoy the memories, she knew she was loved and she loved you back.

Oh no! that is so sad to hear - technology is good when it works - not so much when it doesn't. Is there another clinic that you can go to? are you in a full leg cast? you should be in a full leg cast from above the knee to the toes - that would ensure that you don't twist the leg and make those end of bones grind on each other which could cause issues with surrounding tissues.

Of I wish I could give you a hug, a cuppa tea and talk chickens with you to distract you from it all.

OK well I am hoping soon you get this settled

 

[BY Bob]

In Memorium

Today is a very sad anniversary here at FBA. While all of our chickens have their place in my heart a select few have really been exceedingly dear to me. Today is the anniversary of us losing one of those very special chickens. 2 years ago today a suspected weasel killed my sweet sweet Maleficent.

So here, in remembrance. are a LOT of photos of my lost friend. Rest in peace my darling. You are dearly missed.

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This is from the coop camera and is the last photo I ever took of her.

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I erred when posting this. It was 3 years ago yesterday.

 

[BY Bob]

Thats what I call my Maleficent the Magnificent

It is a wonderful name.

 

[BY Bob]

It is under the roosts but in the corners and they congregate in the middle of the roosting structure bunched all together at night to sleep so the eggs don't get pooped on thank goodness. Not as clean as nesting box would be but also not directly being pooped on either.

Well that is something at least.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh how I wish this was true. Unfortunately I have not had surgery yet, haven’t even had an appointment with the surgeon yet. There was a massive server issue that affected the systems of many. many providers Monday. So the surgeons office did it even get the referral. I found this out today and for that taken care of, but was told it is “common” for it to be 7-10 business days after a fracture for the surgery. So I sit here in pain (or constantly falling asleep from the pain meds).

Thanks for thinking about me.


She truly was a treasure, Maleficent the Magnificent. Enjoy the memories, she knew she was loved and she loved you back.

I'm so sorry it is taking so long.

 

[RoyalChick]

Ive been thinking on this. How about you thumbtack a sheet or 2 to the rafters or lower to block them off.

Yes I was thinking of some netting to keep them for m flying up there - to keep them from flying up.

A solid surface is going to be better than a net. A net can be confusing to birds. They may try to fly through it.

Can you add something for her to climb to the rafters like a ramp?

Thank you all for engaging on my rafter roosting problem. I am still noodling! I was thinking hessian sacking rather than netting in order to reduce the chances that the Math Majors get entangled in it. Bob, I am nervous about using thumb tacks because I would worry they would pull out (especially if an angry chicken tests the barrier) and could get swallowed!
All this is made very difficult because of the hill. The rafters run parallel to the slope - so at the top they are about 9' up and at the bottom they are a bit over 11' above ground. Of course they can't fit at either end because of the slope of the roof so it is the middle that I need to block.
How to get to the middle? Given the slope I can't just lean a ladder against the rafter because of the slope (I don't love ladders at the best of time - but with one leg meaningfully lower than the other I think I would get in trouble!
The diagram below is a cross section through the coop. I think they usually go from either roost #1 or #2 up to rafter 'B' and then either stay there or hop over to rafter 'A'. Eli has hopped over to rafter 'C' but Babs thought better of doing that mid-hop (which is when I got that weird batman picture of her).
I think going from roost #1 to rafter A is too steep and from roost #2 to rafter C is blocked by the built-in brooder/hospital ward.
So my thinking is to drape hessian sacking material as shown by the dotted line on the picture. I could avoid the ladder by tossing it up and over (maybe!) and adjust it using one of those grabby stick things.
I am not 100% sure I have enough of the material - but it is easy to find if I don't already have it.
There is a risk that they go from roost #3 to rafter C or D - that was the maneuver that Babs failed at once when she flew up and came right back down - and of course they are capable of flying right from the ground to rafter C (and from there simply hop to B and then A) so I may have to do even more sacking.
WDYT? This would be tricky to pull off so I might fail, but do you think it is a viable way forward?

Rafter roosting tax from Eli - the source of all the anxiety. Isn’t she cute?!

 

[ManueB]

I erred when posting this. It was 3 years ago yesterday.

I have a feeling this day will still feel special and sad in ten years. She was very special to you.

Thank you all for engaging on my rafter roosting problem. I am still noodling! I was thinking hessian sacking rather than netting in order to reduce the chances that the Math Majors get entangled in it. Bob, I am nervous about using thumb tacks because I would worry they would pull out (especially if an angry chicken tests the barrier) and could get swallowed!
All this is made very difficult because of the hill. The rafters run parallel to the slope - so at the top they are about 9' up and at the bottom they are a bit over 11' above ground. Of course they can't fit at either end because of the slope of the roof so it is the middle that I need to block.
How to get to the middle? Given the slope I can't just lean a ladder against the rafter because of the slope (I don't love ladders at the best of time - but with one leg meaningfully lower than the other I think I would get in trouble!
The diagram below is a cross section through the coop. I think they usually go from either roost #1 or #2 up to rafter 'B' and then either stay there or hop over to rafter 'A'. Eli has hopped over to rafter 'C' but Babs thought better of doing that mid-hop (which is when I got that weird batman picture of her).
I think going from roost #1 to rafter A is too steep and from roost #2 to rafter C is blocked by the built-in brooder/hospital ward.
So my thinking is to drape hessian sacking material as shown by the dotted line on the picture. I could avoid the ladder by tossing it up and over (maybe!) and adjust it using one of those grabby stick things.
I am not 100% sure I have enough of the material - but it is easy to find if I don't already have it.
There is a risk that they go from roost #3 to rafter C or D - that was the maneuver that Babs failed at once when she flew up and came right back down - and of course they are capable of flying right from the ground to rafter C (and from there simply hop to B and then A) so I may have to do even more sacking.
WDYT? This would be tricky to pull off so I might fail, but do you think it is a viable way forward?

Rafter roosting tax from Eli - the source of all the anxiety. Isn’t she cute?!

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So you'll probably get some different opinion. Mine is that I would be too nervous about what would happen if one of them got stuck in. Would there be any way you could go up and unstuck them, in that case ? Can you be there when they go to roost with a ladder?
I could be completely wrong and maybe just seeing the hessian bags will dissuade them. But my point is, I would only try this with a backup plan in case of a problem.

Yes, Elie is truly a lovely hen ! I have a question (I'm pretty sure it is not for you RC unless you have just made a jump to the next level in breed knowledge). Some of the black hens who have been shown in this thread share that look (like Maleficent, and Bella also did) with a kind of beard, and a slender neck and face. I don't see at all hens that look like this in France. Does it come from the Ameraucana ?

 

[RoyalChick]

I have a feeling this day will still feel special and sad in ten years. She was very special to you.

So you'll probably get some different opinion. Mine is that I would be too nervous about what would happen if one of them got stuck in. Would there be any way you could go up and unstuck them, in that case ? Can you be there when they go to roost with a ladder?
I could be completely wrong and maybe just seeing the hessian bags will dissuade them. But my point is, I would only try this with a backup plan in case of a problem.

Yes, Elie is truly a lovely hen ! I have a question (I'm pretty sure it is not for you RC unless you have just made a jump to the next level in breed knowledge). Some of the black hens who have been shown in this thread share that look (like Maleficent, and Bella also did) with a kind of beard, and a slender neck and face. I don't see at all hens that look like this in France. Does it come from the Ameraucana ?

My thinking on them getting stuck is that it will simply slide off the rafter to the floor. I won't 'fix' them in any way to the rafter - so pulling on them will have them fall down.
That is the theory!
And yes, of course I can be there - either in person or maybe better watching on camera from outside so I don't influence what they try to do.
And you are right - my guidebook will not help me answer your question about chicken breeds - but I believe it is a trait that the crosses (aka Easter Eggers) inherit from Ameraucana parentage. Ameraucanas did originally get the blue egg gene from Auracanas I believe.
OK - I am so far out over my skis on chicken breeds that I will just shut up and go look for what hessian sacking I have in stock!