Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Morning everyone! I actually slept last night and though I need more...I'm better for sure. Maybe I'll nap at lunch. That's the joy of working from home.

Eenie and kids were still on the platform this morning! That's the good news. This is the bad news. View attachment 3609895
I need a way to clean this off now! My heretofore un-befouled platform is now a poop depository. I may scatter some shavings on there after I scrape it off, so it's at least easier to clean.

I know some of you use ledges and shelves that they roost on instead of roosts... don't you have poop piles every day???

But all is well at the coop. Here's a couple two-fers.
View attachment 3609905View attachment 3609907

Manny is such a pretty Roo love his colouring.

Re: poop - yep I use a ledge with my kiddos, I put a fine layer of shavings there; in the morning I clean poopies off the ledges I have a spatula I use to flick them into a small pail. Takes me about 3 minutes to clean all the ledges (Hen House and Summer House), then I have a small garden hand rake that I smooth the shaving on the floor with and pick poops from there. Tops 5 min.

Sweeping the barn alleyway about 10 min though - ugh. Slippery stuff chicken poop!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

What’s up with Momma Hen? I am hoping she hasn’t decided to go hide away and brood

I do not know what is up with that hen. To my knowledge she is not laying. After her last group of chicks were sold she went into a pretty good molt that lasted a few weeks. That has been over with now for some time and her face has been red for almost 3 weeks now. I know her eggs, they may be white, but not the bright white of the leghorns, more of a creamy white. She is old, maybe she is finally done with laying? I will not be upset with her if she never again lays another egg or broods any more chicks. She has more then earned her retirement.

 

[Ponypoor]

I do not know what is up with that hen. To my knowledge she is not laying. After her last group of chicks were sold she went into a pretty good molt that lasted a few weeks. That has been over with now for some time and her face has been red for almost 3 weeks now. I know her eggs, they may be white, but not the bright white of the leghorns, more of a creamy white. She is old, maybe she is finally done with laying? I will not be upset with her if she never again lays another egg or broods any more chicks. She has more then earned her retirement.

Well for her and your sake I hope she has hung up her ovary for good!

 

[Ponypoor]

They went outside!

Went to check everyone and they were outside! Tried some leaves (a two-fer Tuesday),

and pecked in the dirt!

Then a gust of wind scared them and they ran back inside

Another two-fer - two tail feathers - Diamond seems to have a rather odd tail feather grouping,


But sure has lovely green feathers.

 

[RoyalChick]

You can do 2 things. If you have the adhesive shelf liner stuff, you can put that on when it is cleaned, then sprinkle shavings on top. That said, they will scratch most of the shaving right back off in no time. I slather a couple of coats of spar urethane on any platforms/poop boards or nest box floors. Makes clean-up very easy, especially when sprinkled with some shavings on top.

The particle board is far from smooth - so it would easily take a couple of coats (2-3) to make it smooth enough to clean easily. If you have some exterior grade paint, hanging around, a couple of coats of that should do the trick. Alternately - If you have an old pillowcase, put that on top and just shake it off each morning until it is really disgusting - then it can go into the compost (assuming it is cotton, that is) or washed and reused some more.

I had one of those rubber mats - I don’t think it is real rubber - that are supposed to stop cats tracking kitty litter around the house. Didn’t work for that as the cats chose to pee on it instead!
I washed it and had it rolled up in the garage. I cut it to fit the ledge (in my case the platform of the fire escape) and then I put shavings or shredded paper on top.
I can just lift it off and shake it out or hose it down if need be.

My other platform is the roof of the extra nest boxes and I actually put a slight pitch on that and used scrap plastic roofing shingles and made a mini roof so I can just sweep stuff off.

 

[Lilion]

Glad my prayer was answered. You were able to get some sleep!

Awww... that's so sweet! Thank you!

You can do 2 things. If you have the adhesive shelf liner stuff, you can put that on when it is cleaned, then sprinkle shavings on top. That said, they will scratch most of the shaving right back off in no time. I slather a couple of coats of spar urethane on any platforms/poop boards or nest box floors. Makes clean-up very easy, especially when sprinkled with some shavings on top.

The particle board is far from smooth - so it would easily take a couple of coats (2-3) to make it smooth enough to clean easily. If you have some exterior grade paint, hanging around, a couple of coats of that should do the trick. Alternately - If you have an old pillowcase, put that on top and just shake it off each morning until it is really disgusting - then it can go into the compost (assuming it is cotton, that is) or washed and reused some more.

Interesting. Since the particle board isn't staying forever, I think I'll just stick some shavings up there for now. At some point I'll be cutting it down to just a shelf across the back and in front of the nests. I may do something more permanent to it then.

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy Tuesday everyone.
Here are two pretty chickens.

And two headless chickens

And I could do with some advice.
It seems to me that Bernie is becoming more actively aggressive to the Pentagonists.
Could it be something to do with them getting closer to laying? She particularly has it in for Sylvie who I think is getting close - her comb and face are red and she has checked out nest boxes and oyster shell.
I thought they would become more acceptable to the flock queen as they came into lay. Have others seen this? It is not yet drawing blood and the Pentagonisys are fast and fly well so they escape pretty well. Any experience? Anything I can do (probably not)?

 

[Ponypoor]

Happy Tuesday everyone.
Here are two pretty chickens.
View attachment 3609976

And two headless chickens
View attachment 3609977

And I could do with some advice.
It seems to me that Bernie is becoming more actively aggressive to the Pentagonists.
Could it be something to do with them getting closer to laying? She particularly has it in for Sylvie who I think is getting close - her comb and face are red and she has checked out nest boxes and oyster shell.
I thought they would become more acceptable to the flock queen as they came into lay. Have others seen this? It is not yet drawing blood and the Pentagonisys are fast and fly well so they escape pretty well. Any experience? Anything I can do (probably not)?

Love how the sunlight is shining on them in that first photo

Re: Bernie - not sure what I can offer... (other than a really nice Roo )

 

[featherhead007]

Happy Tuesday everyone.
Here are two pretty chickens.
View attachment 3609976

And two headless chickens
View attachment 3609977

And I could do with some advice.
It seems to me that Bernie is becoming more actively aggressive to the Pentagonists.
Could it be something to do with them getting closer to laying? She particularly has it in for Sylvie who I think is getting close - her comb and face are red and she has checked out nest boxes and oyster shell.
I thought they would become more acceptable to the flock queen as they came into lay. Have others seen this? It is not yet drawing blood and the Pentagonisys are fast and fly well so they escape pretty well. Any experience? Anything I can do (probably not)?

You are right. Those are too pretty chickens!

 

[RoyalChick]

I think Bernie is my roo! I worry she might get really aggressive with anyone who tried to mate her beloved hen Babs!