Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Spent an hour with the hubby trying to figure out where the new coop/shed is going. It's arriving tomorrow.

Option 1, is back in these trees. I'm facing North...
View attachment 3578803 Coop will be on the left. Best part about this is shade pretty much all day, but we will have the limbs and leaves to contend with. Water hose will reach without too much trouble. Electric requires hooking together 150' of cord from the house. It's near the existing coop. It does have the bonus of screening off the neighbors junk. I can see this from my living room.

Option 2 is back by this fenceline. I'm facing west.View attachment 3578804
Not much shade, but we do plan to insulate and there's some in the afternoon that would hit the coop. Water is less convenient, but not impossible. We currently have 4 blackberry plants there which we'll dig up but they're doing very poorly there anyway. Electric is much more convenient as this is near our garage. I can see this from my back porch.

Votes?

What way does the prevailing wind come from? It seems like the second option is pretty exposed (potentially) to the wind in the winter. Would/could the coop itself act as a wind break for the run in the winter there?

So, even though the coop will be well insulated - you will still need a good amount of venting, so prevailing wind could cause some drafts in the winter.

1st option: I like the extra shade in the summer - and they looked like mostly deciduous trees, so won't cause shade in the winter - when you WANT the sun to reach the coop/run area.

Really, it comes down to 2 things: what will work for you, and what will work best (climate/wind/shade, etc) wise for the chooks.

 

[Ponypoor]

New baby video. Mama likes feeding them her mealworm treat.

I know right?! I give Sophia a treat, she gives it to her babies

 

[Ponypoor]

So after consideration, we're going with option 1 and putting the shed in the shade. It was my last choice really, being farther from the house and garage for the storage part of it. But having the chickens comfortable is more important...and I will be able to see the chickens from the house. Bonus: it's also almost completely flat there so we don't have to level the shed. Limbs have been cut back and we're ready!

That’s wonderful! Can’t wait to see it come together.

 

[GregnLety]

Go for shade every time!

I agree

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m trying very hard to wait for word from the vet and not descend into total despair about Butters. I don’t know that she has the time to wait on blood results. And I don’t know anything can be done anyway, except to get food into her and see. But the vet said tube feeding her, if her problem is kidneys or liver, might be counterproductive, so I have not. So I’m grieving that she is likely dying. She is weakening. But she still wants to get out and about. Her eyes are half-closed at times even as she explores. She acts so hungry and interested in finding things to eat and in her flock mates eating, but won’t join in actually eating anything. So strange. She might be eating some grass seeds. Anything bigger I’m pretty sure she beaks it and chews a little but throws it out or let’s it drop, and wipes her beak. Not sure if she will drink the electrolyte & probiotic water even. Sorry to vent this horrible stuff, but you all know how hard it is. Thanks in advance.

I am so sorry, CB, that you have to deal with this right on the heals of Peanut - no chance to catch your breath and grieve first before having to jump into this. I am praying for both you and Butters.

 

[Ponypoor]

I’m trying very hard to wait for word from the vet and not descend into total despair about Butters. I don’t know that she has the time to wait on blood results. And I don’t know anything can be done anyway, except to get food into her and see. But the vet said tube feeding her, if her problem is kidneys or liver, might be counterproductive, so I have not. So I’m grieving that she is likely dying. She is weakening. But she still wants to get out and about. Her eyes are half-closed at times even as she explores. She acts so hungry and interested in finding things to eat and in her flock mates eating, but won’t join in actually eating anything. So strange. She might be eating some grass seeds. Anything bigger I’m pretty sure she beaks it and chews a little but throws it out or let’s it drop, and wipes her beak. Not sure if she will drink the electrolyte & probiotic water even. Sorry to vent this horrible stuff, but you all know how hard it is. Thanks in advance.

Can you not even tube feed some sugar water? I use honey and make a sugary water with that. Keep her hydrated and energy from sugar .

 

[Ponypoor]

Once you go black, you never go back!

I’m a spotty kind a gal, and stripes

 

[Ponypoor]

Pony Sunday
I never seem to have anything to post on Pony Sunday. Here is a different animal.

These are three Robin babies.

View attachment 3579162

They are nested in the arbor next to the outside gate. I know this because I was just under attack since I tried to use the gate. Dad Robin is using the roof to keep a steady eye on any goings on.

View attachment 3579163

It’s a day for crazy birds nests hope the mama in the trough hatches hers ok.

 

[RoyalChick]

I’m trying very hard to wait for word from the vet and not descend into total despair about Butters. I don’t know that she has the time to wait on blood results. And I don’t know anything can be done anyway, except to get food into her and see. But the vet said tube feeding her, if her problem is kidneys or liver, might be counterproductive, so I have not. So I’m grieving that she is likely dying. She is weakening. But she still wants to get out and about. Her eyes are half-closed at times even as she explores. She acts so hungry and interested in finding things to eat and in her flock mates eating, but won’t join in actually eating anything. So strange. She might be eating some grass seeds. Anything bigger I’m pretty sure she beaks it and chews a little but throws it out or let’s it drop, and wipes her beak. Not sure if she will drink the electrolyte & probiotic water even. Sorry to vent this horrible stuff, but you all know how hard it is. Thanks in advance.

Sorry you are going through this.
Let me give you a big hug.
And I will accept one in return as at the end of a truly crappy day I had to make the difficult decision to euthanize one of my beloved feline family members.
He had a good life - but at only ten years a really short one by cat standards.
I have been bawling my eyes out and now just need to go sleep.

 

[Ponypoor]

Truly has been doing ok, but I have been keeping them inside. They all seem happier, no bugs and they are all down sleeping at night, I know Reenie and Lulu are down as they are covered in shavings in the morning, and Truly has been down also, she is covered in green horse poop- she is such a messy girl in her stall.

I checked the camera footage to seee if she fell over or actually got down and slept, seems she got down and slept.

Night time hay