Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

oh, I think I officially 'hit my stride' - I'm now officially an 'Enabler"

Goofy-ness tax (hmm, maybe just 'stating the obvious' tax)

Friend and her male escort:

Momma 'escorting' two of her littles back to bed from the 'outside' pen.

Note: escorting is in quotes, because it was a hullabaloo trying to get them back into the mudroom for the evening!!!

 

[BY Bob]

Explore their website, how to return is on there. Your situation may be different than in the US. Here they even had a map app on the website that would show me where I could go to send an item back (no packing required) and how to do it.
When they were The Gang Of Four. I miss Peanut very much.
View attachment 3588416

I'm certain you do. You will never forget her.

 

[BY Bob]

Went out to feed this morning. There was a bird on the other side of the olive trees. Went up to look. Was StormView attachment 3588453View attachment 3588452View attachment 3588454View attachment 3588451View attachment 3588450Final count: 5. 2 black/blue, 1 coco (like whiskey), 1 yellow, and 1 yellow with black head spot ( like Havoc). Went out to the nest. 5 eggs not hatched. Dunno what happened to the other 3, but took the 5 and tucked them under Jessica.

She's sheltering under the olive tree to the left of the pics now. I have a sprinkler tucked under the one above that, so lots of wild water for them.

5 chicks! Congratulations and well done Storm!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Argggg I miss my chickens so badly!! I just want to get back home.

I'm at my cabin in North GA. Its not home though. I don't miss the bugs but I miss South GA.
I'm on a river though. It's super pretty.

 

[BY Bob]

A tribute to a fallen Queen.

You came into this world during the wee hours of May 15 2020. The world was going crazy but you were a innocent ball of yellow fluff. We cannot say tiny because Butter girl, you were never tiny.
View attachment 3588724
It did not take you long until you were towering over your siblings. Yes at this point I was questioning you on if you were a boy.
View attachment 3588730
You were also a pig, you never saw a day of hunger in you life. If it could be swallowed, you swallowed it.
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Not even 3 months old yet but getting a preview of the beauty you were to become.
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Exactly 4 months old here. Butter you already had mom wrapped your toes. The phrase "Whatever Butter wants, Butter gets" was already in use.
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You never got into trouble as a youngster, you had minions for that. Instead you excelled at napping and supervising your future domain.
View attachment 3588738
The snow and the cold never bothered you. You had extra fluff for protection and used it as a backdrop, and a snack.
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You bucked the orpington trend of being broody. Chicks were not in your cards although you saw many of them come and go in your life. I could always count on you to ensure fair treatment at night once their momma's abandoned them. They knew they could count on you to shield them from pecks and flocked to you. You did become a mother though thanks to momma hen when your daughter Squirrel was born.
View attachment 3588742
Butter dear you gave me your first scare a month shy of your first birthday. You managed to receive a glancing blow from Dirt while he was playing. You were paralyzed and for the first few days unable to stand even with assistance. We were preparing ourselves to let you go when you rallied. 5 days in you laid a egg again letting us know everything was ok internally. You also started to stand for short times with assistance. Your stay inside cemented it in your mind that if you wanted to come inside you could and would. In fact you took it upon yourself to ensure stays inside your next 2 winters when you molted extremely late and it was either bring you in or let you freeze.
View attachment 3588743View attachment 3588744
Once you rejoined your flock in 2 months your limp was gone and you could run again. You also at that point took over as the undisputed Queen of the flock. You were never ruthless but was able to keep the others in line with a simple glare. Momma hen even backed down to you.
View attachment 3588753
Farewell my sweet Butter. May you have your fill of raisins every day and nap until your hearts content.

Just beautiful. What a tribute.

I'm so very sorry that you lost her so young.

 

[RoyalChick]

A tribute to a fallen Queen.

You came into this world during the wee hours of May 15 2020. The world was going crazy but you were a innocent ball of yellow fluff. We cannot say tiny because Butter girl, you were never tiny.
View attachment 3588724
It did not take you long until you were towering over your siblings. Yes at this point I was questioning you on if you were a boy.
View attachment 3588730
You were also a pig, you never saw a day of hunger in you life. If it could be swallowed, you swallowed it.
View attachment 3588732View attachment 3588733
Not even 3 months old yet but getting a preview of the beauty you were to become.
View attachment 3588734
Exactly 4 months old here. Butter you already had mom wrapped your toes. The phrase "Whatever Butter wants, Butter gets" was already in use.
View attachment 3588736
You never got into trouble as a youngster, you had minions for that. Instead you excelled at napping and supervising your future domain.
View attachment 3588738
The snow and the cold never bothered you. You had extra fluff for protection and used it as a backdrop, and a snack.
View attachment 3588739View attachment 3588740
You bucked the orpington trend of being broody. Chicks were not in your cards although you saw many of them come and go in your life. I could always count on you to ensure fair treatment at night once their momma's abandoned them. They knew they could count on you to shield them from pecks and flocked to you. You did become a mother though thanks to momma hen when your daughter Squirrel was born.
View attachment 3588742
Butter dear you gave me your first scare a month shy of your first birthday. You managed to receive a glancing blow from Dirt while he was playing. You were paralyzed and for the first few days unable to stand even with assistance. We were preparing ourselves to let you go when you rallied. 5 days in you laid a egg again letting us know everything was ok internally. You also started to stand for short times with assistance. Your stay inside cemented it in your mind that if you wanted to come inside you could and would. In fact you took it upon yourself to ensure stays inside your next 2 winters when you molted extremely late and it was either bring you in or let you freeze.
View attachment 3588743View attachment 3588744
Once you rejoined your flock in 2 months your limp was gone and you could run again. You also at that point took over as the undisputed Queen of the flock. You were never ruthless but was able to keep the others in line with a simple glare. Momma hen even backed down to you.
View attachment 3588753
Farewell my sweet Butter. May you have your fill of raisins every day and nap until your hearts content.

What a lovely tribute. Such a beautiful hen.

 

[BY Bob]

I had to go purchase some closeup reading glasses for use with my iPhone.
My new eyes see well for distance and said to be 20/20 but it’s easier to read up close now with a pair of $7.00 reading glasses.
Tax.View attachment 3588808View attachment 3588809

I bet you look good in glasses.

 

[Sally PB]

Fly high and free, dear Butter!

 

[Sally PB]

Two-fer:
Pip and Sunny

 

[Lilion]

So, others may have responded already - but I don't think removing the bottom 4' of wall is the best option. Given that the sheet metal proper walls block most of the breeze in the first place, taking down a couple of strategically placed sheets of the metal sides (for best cross breeze/air flow) and replacing them with good welded wire would be a much better overall help, I think.

My thoughts for best single sheets to remove: (won't let me draw on photo when downloaded, so have to describe here)the sheet/panel on the front left corner of coop proper, and back right corner of coop proper. That said, depending on prevailing breeze, might want to do one sheet center back and one sheet on the front of he shed that we can't see in photo, etc.

While it won't be a 2 second job, it shouldn't be too hard. Cut some 2x4s to length to fit upright between your horizontal runners, toe-nail them in so the form a 'solid' vertical line top to bottom the width of a panel, purchase some hardware cloth the height of the space between your newly created vertical 'runners. (I'm guessing your panels are 2" wide (26"), but some are 3'wide..... They make 2', 30" and 3' high fencing, so you should be able to find some that works. You can staple (or screw) the fencing into place under the remaining metal panels, The screws from them should go through the fencing - but you will probably need a few more to secure the fence well than what is used for just the panels.

This is something you can start working on before removing any) of the 'safe' metal panels! You can start cutting and placing the vertical 2x4 sections from the inside of the shed. (just be sure that your metal panels remaining overlap these 2x4s so they can be securely screwed back on all the way up). You should be able to order a roll of 1/2 in welded wire from Amazon. I don't know how tall your shed is - and shipping can sometimes be a bit high for something as heavy as fencing...but if you can even remove one panel that faces the prevailing wind for now, it will make a significant difference. So, 1 roll 10' long by whatever "height" you need to fit over the studs when removing a panel. (example of fencing - TSC and Amazon also have a variety of selections.

(Note -if the panels don't run full length top to bottom (i.e. 2 overlap to run top to bottom), then removing the top 'half' of 2 opposite or kitty-cornered panels will be a big help, too!

That's an interesting suggestion and if we were keeping this coop, it if we had time, we might consider it. But we don't have time, the heat starts in earnest tomorrow, and I don't have help or the ability to do that kind of work. But I thank you for the suggestion, really.

The big door opens up at least 8 feet of wall. I'm going to cut large "windows" in the lower plywood where breeze from that large opening can better into the coop.

In fact, since this is totally falling on me, I better get to it.