Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Go a head and run nest boxes the whole way along. Have the lower row stick out a bit farther for a step/ledge in front of the upper, then the shelf/roost and you're good.

And do the end 1 row of taller boxes.

Yes! Egg-actly - that way I can have a step for them to hop/flap up on.
Oh yes that has potential... I could then run the shelf all along the long wall under the window, along the short wall (right side) and a bit down the other long wall in a 'U' shape.

AND I can alway put a 'higher up' roost that only my 'fliers' can get up to if I want - they can use the 2.5' shelf as a launch up to the high roost along that short right side wall....

 

[Ponypoor]

While pondering my Twig situation all night I might have a option where I at least could see him if I wanted. I have a family member who likes all the twig photos I post and is interested in a couple hens if I have them. I may reach out to them today and see if they would be interested in Twig if I part with 2 of the October pullets. If I do this I also have to choose which of the October girls to keep. Perdita definitely stays. I could let meko go. That leaves Ducky and Grackle to choose between, again, tough choice. If it means a good home for Twiggy though and 2 of the girls I will do it.

That would be perfect! Any chance you can part with an older hen also? It would be a good placement for him that way you can still breed some hens to him if you wished.

 

[RoyalChick]

So, 4-5" of a wet, heavy snow. (sorry @rural mouse , I'd send it your way if I could, I know you need the moisture), and the chickens are having NONE of it!

Um, that's okay mum...we'll just stay here under the roof for now.
View attachment 3421343

Well, you girls do what you want - I'm getting out of the damp, cold, yucky weather - I don't want my feathers to frizz!
View attachment 3421344


Meanwhile, the 'water chickens' have this attitude:
View attachment 3421346
Hey, what's all the fuss.....
View attachment 3421347
aren't you going to open the gate so we can play in this white wet stuff???

I do love the water chickens!

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes! Egg-actly - that way I can have a step for them to hop/flap up on.
Oh yes that has potential... I could then run the shelf all along the long wall under the window, along the short wall (right side) and a bit down the other long wall in a 'U' shape.

AND I can alway put a 'higher up' roost that only my 'fliers' can get up to if I want - they can use the 2.5' shelf as a launch up to the high roost along that short right side wall....

If you do that I am willing to bet that your non-fliers will be trying to get up to the higher up roost. And I would bet similarly that some of them will succeed!

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor coukd you give us the dimensions of the coop. I know from experience that the cameras distort things a little so to get it properly in my head the dimensions would help.

4' x 10' by 8.5' high. Short walls are south and north sides; long walls are west and east side.

Window in the west side long wall, and another on the north side short wall.

Doorway is on the east side, long wall, right by the south (left side) short wall where I have that shelf I put in - which is a big hit with everyone.

Shelf on the south (left side) short wall - Sophia was in the nest box yesterday - don't know if she laid an egg or was just pretending....

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

That would be perfect! Any chance you can part with an older hen also? It would be a good placement for him that way you can still breed some hens to him if you wished.

Oh you mean like those egg eating cochins? I swear if they eat one more egg I'm turning them into chicken noodle soup. I could be very tempted to let those 2 girls go as well.

 

[Sally PB]

While pondering my Twig situation all night I might have a option where I at least could see him if I wanted. I have a family member who likes all the twig photos I post and is interested in a couple hens if I have them. I may reach out to them today and see if they would be interested in Twig if I part with 2 of the October pullets. If I do this I also have to choose which of the October girls to keep. Perdita definitely stays. I could let meko go. That leaves Ducky and Grackle to choose between, again, tough choice. If it means a good home for Twiggy though and 2 of the girls I will do it.

Oh, this gives me hope! Let us know if it works out.

 

[Ponypoor]

Um, they were put in two weeks ago I think. so one or two more weeks!!

Wonderful! I will be looking for some baby photos!

Yeah, I know! I will probably post them on Sunday if I get any!!

Awesome! I look forward to hopefully seeing some geegee (horse) photos!

Yes - that is closer to what I had in mind.
Either on that wall, or on the one at 90 degrees to it, you could have some nest boxes that are taller. With only 2.5' to play with in height, each nest box would only be 12" tall inside. That is what I have and it works fine. Even Maggie was fine with it. But Bernie is very tall and she is choosing an alternative set of boxes where the ceiling of the nest box is a good 18" high. I think that is more comfortable.
So you could have 1-2 taller nest boxes and 2-4 'double-deckers' as you have drawn.

Hmmmm - yes you are correct I will need taller boxes to accommodate those Bielefelder and Brahma ladies when they get big.

@Ponypoor I just thought of a caveat, that I'm sure @BY Bob would appreciate, given his laments with roosting:

While I would suggest 2 long roosts (much easier for you installing) you might want to 'break up' the roost by putting up a plywood divider or two in the middle of each roost, so a hen on one side of hte divider can't reach a hen on the other side. (kind of like nest box dividers...but for the roost!)
.

Good idea. I can put steps up to the shelf on the long wall where the door is (sort of like I have already). And put a divider along that long span - of course you do know that someone will want to roost on that divider hahaha!

 

[Ponypoor]

Go a head and run nest boxes the whole way along. Have the lower row stick out a bit farther for a step/ledge in front of the upper, then the shelf/roost and you're good.

And do the end 1 row of taller boxes.

Yes I will definitely need to ensure I have more boxes, as I am sure once those chicks land at my place I likely wont be able to part with any of them.... And even though Penelope, Blanche and Sophia hardly ever lay they still do sit in the box for some portion of the day. I think they just go in there to get away from the others and have a snooze!

But if there are those 10 young pullets laying even 4 days a week I will need to ensure enough boxes. Especially when those silly Silkies go broody - and my mutts also.... having 4 at one time last year broody meant a lot of squabbling over favourite boxes.

If you do that I am willing to bet that your non-fliers will be trying to get up to the higher up roost. And I would bet similarly that some of them will succeed!

hahaha - if Fluffy can make it up there I would be amazed - but you're likely correct. And why give them an option.... I think I will have plenty of space for them by running the roosts along that 10' wall, along the 4' short wall and then part way down the other long wall.

Oh you mean like those egg eating cochins? I swear if they eat one more egg I'm turning them into chicken noodle soup. I could be very tempted to let those 2 girls go as well.

Wow - they eat eggs ? what naughty little so and so's! And they are to pretty! But no maybe not those, not for first time keepers

 

[Ponypoor]

I am definitely turning Truly's stall into a Summer Coop for them to roost in at night.

This is a 10'x20' area so there will oodles of space to work with, and I will just put in temporary roosts that I can move about. I can then put in the huge hurricane force fans to keep them cool hahaha

They like to hang out in there lots anyways...