Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

When I hung damp cloths they were further from the fan and more where I wanted it cool.
But my bigger question is what you mean by ending temperature. If it is getting hotter and hotter and the swamp cooler kept the temperature steady, then that is success.
I counted mine a success because it kept the area I had it in below the temperature of a nearby area without it.

RC after repairing my swamp cooler, the temperature is now too cold for the room.
100f outside and inside that room is 70f
I don’t know how I did that

 

[featherhead007]

Poor Hen-Rietta, I found two June bugs and presented them to her. She snapped them up and ran, followed by five Barred Velociraptors (who quickly stole them away from her) she came back to me crying!

The thing is, Hen-Rietta is very polite. She waits her turn for treats. Doesn’t push anyone around, but she is quite vocal and will peck the others if they need pecking!

 

[RoyalChick]

I got a real shock this morning.
I came in to the Chicken Palace via the servants entrance and there were no chickens.
Usually Bernie and Babs start yelling at me as soon as they hear me exit the garage and by the time I am inside they are jostling for whatever treats I may have.
No chickens.
My mind went to all sorts of bad places and I was practically in tears before I spotted this.

That is the door out into their chicken yard and I wasn’t sure whether to disturb her so I could open it up.
I waited until she had filled my clogs with dust and litter and then I opened the door.
She immediately went out to sunbathe.

She had a nice nap but then heard something and became very alert. I think she looks magnificent when she is on high alert.

And where was Babs?

The Pentagonists were all in a heap in the mud of one of the uncovered runs and now they are in the butterfly bush cleaning themselves off.

 

[GregnLety]

And a second job to pay the electricity bill

I can't tell that the ac unit in the dog room effects are light bill much. I am anxious to see the cost difference now that I have a new hvac unit in our home.

 

[Ponypoor]

Re: the 3 maybe pullets. The black with all the gold is gorgeous. If she turns out to be a he, then expect red shoulder feathers to appear. Very common cockerel trait with those colors.

View attachment 3566565Like on Tuff, along the upper back of the wing. It usually indicates that hackle and saddle feathers will be red toned over darker/black body as adult. Whiskey, Kren and Horus all had/have them too. Theo would have popped the red shoulders as a chick also.

View attachment 3566575Whiskey

View attachment 3566580Kren

Beauties

Does that chick have leg feathers??

 

[Ponypoor]

I got a real shock this morning.
I came in to the Chicken Palace via the servants entrance and there were no chickens.
Usually Bernie and Babs start yelling at me as soon as they hear me exit the garage and by the time I am inside they are jostling for whatever treats I may have.
No chickens.
My mind went to all sorts of bad places and I was practically in tears before I spotted this.
View attachment 3566845
View attachment 3566846

That is the door out into their chicken yard and I wasn’t sure whether to disturb her so I could open it up.
I waited until she had filled my clogs with dust and litter and then I opened the door.
She immediately went out to sunbathe.
View attachment 3566847

She had a nice nap but then heard something and became very alert. I think she looks magnificent when she is on high alert.
View attachment 3566848

And where was Babs?
View attachment 3566849

The Pentagonists were all in a heap in the mud of one of the uncovered runs and now they are in the butterfly bush cleaning themselves off.

They are so contented and happy looking

You have done a splendid job with them all

 

[Ponypoor]

I did. I set them on the 24th so they were at 10 days incubation. I am going to do it again on Saturday to confirm my suspicions. I did not wait until it was completely dark out to candle the eggs and could not find my best flashlight either so I want to repeat the candling. Also these eggs are tiny and it is hard to hold them just right to the light and not completely cover the egg with your hand. With all that being said from last night I feel confident in saying that for sure 3 black eggs and 1 white egg is developing. 99% sure 1 white and 1 black is clear and the other black I am iffy on.

That’s good then! At least 3 all pullets!

 

[Ponypoor]

When I hung damp cloths they were further from the fan and more where I wanted it cool.
But my bigger question is what you mean by ending temperature. If it is getting hotter and hotter and the swamp cooler kept the temperature steady, then that is success.
I counted mine a success because it kept the area I had it in below the temperature of a nearby area without it.

Hmmmm yes I see your point, later I will repeat the wet towel, I will take a starting temperature in the stall and then hang the towel. The fan is on a slant pointing downward on the horse so hard to hang the towel except on the fan itself.

I will then after 15 min take another temp reading and also in another stall. Right now though I need to run up and grab Tuff my nieces hen.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

The Marshmallows have all been laying for over a month now and I fear I will have problems with them. They have layer feed and calcium available at all times. They go to town on the oyster shell. That being said every other day I am finding at least 1 is laying a soft shelled egg. I know for a fact all 5 laid yesterday as they did it in the porch boxes. 3 of them slept in the coop and they had already been on the roost for 2 hours when I closed it up last night. 2 of them in that 2 hour span laid a soft shelled egg on the roost. They were not in there before the chickens went to bed as I had cleaned the coop a few hours earlier. 1 of the girls is laying a huge double yolk egg practically every day. 2 of the girls are laying smaller eggs but they are also double yolks with tiny yolks. Right now they are happy and appear healthy and hopefully I can resolve the soft shelled egg issue as they get older. It bothers me though and is one of the reason I was reluctant to get Leghorns. Don't get me wrong I am smitten with them. They are beautiful chickens, smart and well troublemakers. I do not think they are destined for a long life though and I am saddened by it if this continues. I also do not think I will ever get production girls again no matter how pretty the chicken is. I will tell you now, if I were to loose one of them tomorrow it will hurt.

 

[Ponypoor]

RC after repairing my swamp cooler, the temperature is now too cold for the room.
100f outside and inside that room is 70f
I don’t know how I did that

You’re in The perfect location for a swamp cooler, low humidity makes them work better.

It’s 86F and 49% humidity here, not that humid really but still makes it hard for a swamp cooler to work well.