Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[lightm]

I wonder what breeds of chickens these are? Is that a popular breed over there do you know?

That fencing looks like netting - I am assuming there isn't the same predator load there like there would be here.

I have no idea about the breeds.

Yes there is netting, acting like a fence. Nothing at the top. I assume no aerial predator.

 

[rural mouse]

A fluffy bit for friday....only a butt...

Yes, they still fit through the door.

 

[Ponypoor]

I love mimosas. Here they're considered invasive, but I think they're so pretty with their fuzzy blossoms and lacy leaves. God only knows what they'd do to my sinuses. Oak trees do it for me and of course in the spring everything is just green with their pollen. And Lilies. In love them and I can't breathe with them near. I'd give good money to be able to take decongestants. I hope you feel better soon.

She's back in the coop. Manny was on her back before she'd been in there 90 seconds! Dang randy roo! She was still wet from laying on wet newspaper but she'll dry. It was still over 90, but we have a fan blowing.

Thank each and every one of you for all your help. It was such a relief to have people to ask. We've learned so much with this little heat snap...my husband, bless him, is talking about buying a portable building (wood) and running electrical to it for an AC unit! LOL. He may be going a tad overboard.

Awwww your husband is a darling! What a great idea actually

Show him some of the Focus on Coops this week it’s a cool UFO coop (i could so do that with my old satellite dish sitting there collecting moss). A couple weeks ago there was this really awesome one

When he is done he can come up here for a visit and help with my upgrades

 

[Ponypoor]

A fluffy bitt for friday....only a butt...View attachment 3560915Yes, they still fit through the door.

That’s awesome hahahahaha
I can’t believe they still fit there!

 

[Ponypoor]

That was epic hahahaha

I wonder what happens is she lays an egg on that toilet!!! Does it float? Would that be considered a freshness test? And a good washing?

 

[Ponypoor]

There is a difference between “wet” shavings and “damp” shavings. People who use the deep litter method, where the goal is for it to compost right in the coop, will tell you there has to be some moisture in the bedding for it to work. When things are too dry they will actually mist the bedding on purpose. The rule of thumb is if you pick up a handful and squeeze it you don’t have any water dripping out, and little to no clumping. So it is ok to get a little moisture on the bedding, just make sure to have plenty of ventilation and keep it turned/mixed up. The chooks will help you with that last part, especially if you throw a handful of scratch or mealworms on top.


You have to remember that my husband does commercial refrigeration for a living. We have three rows of plugs in our barn. One row is wired into a thermostat that is set for them to only be hot when temps are above 85. Another row the plugs are only active when temps are below 40 (for heat lamps, etc). The third row is hot all the time. He gets either digital or manual commercial thermostats that he wires in. But if you Google it you might be able to find thermostats that you can just plug into the outlet that have a receptacle you can plug your fan in to.


When I ordered mine I talked to them and was told you could get all five of one “breed”, or one each of five different breeds, or anything in between. Almost all the breeds they list in that assortment are really just Easter Eggers with a designer label, using slightly different breeds as parents. It will be fun to see what color eggs you get, and if you have crests, miffs, beards, etc.
mine started laying between 19-22 weeks.


Their combs get pale any time they stop laying for an extended period of time, like when they are broody. So it could be the heat but also could be from being broody. I agree with the others to try to provide a wet mash to eat and other moisture rich foods.

Re: thermostats - oooo lucky you to have such a handy husband
My dad would have done that for me he was handy like that (he passed away a few years ago ), now my Uncle helps out, he was a Boiler Mechanical Operator. He is very keen to get things like automatic waterers in the stalls hahahaha; flood lights outside the barn on each corner of the barn ; auto window openers….

I need to get back to work to make more money for all this stuff - I love the idea of auto opening windows. I thought of putting one of those window AC units in, but not sure my power has a dedicated line for this.

 

[Ponypoor]

There is a difference between “wet” shavings and “damp” shavings. People who use the deep litter method, where the goal is for it to compost right in the coop, will tell you there has to be some moisture in the bedding for it to work. When things are too dry they will actually mist the bedding on purpose. The rule of thumb is if you pick up a handful and squeeze it you don’t have any water dripping out, and little to no clumping. So it is ok to get a little moisture on the bedding, just make sure to have plenty of ventilation and keep it turned/mixed up. The chooks will help you with that last part, especially if you throw a handful of scratch or mealworms on top.


You have to remember that my husband does commercial refrigeration for a living. We have three rows of plugs in our barn. One row is wired into a thermostat that is set for them to only be hot when temps are above 85. Another row the plugs are only active when temps are below 40 (for heat lamps, etc). The third row is hot all the time. He gets either digital or manual commercial thermostats that he wires in. But if you Google it you might be able to find thermostats that you can just plug into the outlet that have a receptacle you can plug your fan in to.


When I ordered mine I talked to them and was told you could get all five of one “breed”, or one each of five different breeds, or anything in between. Almost all the breeds they list in that assortment are really just Easter Eggers with a designer label, using slightly different breeds as parents. It will be fun to see what color eggs you get, and if you have crests, miffs, beards, etc.
mine started laying between 19-22 weeks.


Their combs get pale any time they stop laying for an extended period of time, like when they are broody. So it could be the heat but also could be from being broody. I agree with the others to try to provide a wet mash to eat and other moisture rich foods.

Re: combs, I noted that Sophia’s comb has dropped over since she has gone broody I have never seen that happen during winter hiatus with laying - that really bothered me and her attitude was why I got her some chicks . She already looks sooooo much happier and alert.

Re: chicks - I agree they are likely just a mix that lay coloured eggs; I may sell before they actually start laying.

 

[rural mouse]

I wonder what happens is she lays an egg on that toilet!!! Does it float? Would that be considered a freshness test? And a good washing?

 

[Ponypoor]

Hey dogs drink out of the toilet bowl....

 

[rural mouse]

Hey dogs drink out of the toilet bowl....

I stand by my response