Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sally PB]

This is my fear as well. An early hard winter is coming. Hattie does not usually molt until late October. She is in full molt right now!

My family's bees are making tons of honey and whatnot. Means the winter is probably going to be a hard one.

I'm wondering about this winter too. Hubby would love a "hard" winter with lots of snow. Me, not so much. I'll be ordering some new filter material to put over the openings in the coop to cut the drafts down. I also lower the roosts a few inches to keep the airflow above the chickens' heads.

I put clear shower curtains up on the windward sides of the run. If anyone is wondering, yes, they have held up really well. This will be the 4th winter for some of the pieces. The trick is to secure it so that it doesn't flap in the wind. The curtains with metal grommets (instead of just the plastic reinforced holes) are better.

 

[Ponypoor]

Flytrap Trial #1! Let's see how it goes!

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Might be making beer there

 

[Ponypoor]

Thanks! It was a good read!

Thank you MJ

 

[Ponypoor]

If they can fly up inside, what makes you think the WON'T fly up outside?

So far they haven’t flown the coop outside - only Penne has done that.

But I have some netting to go over top of the run for protection from hawks and to keep them in.

But wow can they fly! Butterscotch flew from the one side of the front yard to the other yesterday afternoon! Surprisingly those Azurs don’t fly like that - Twister will fly up to investigate things but otherwise all three are pretty laid back and more interested in whether I have treats or not!

 

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob

Speaking of Leghorns, how big would you say they are? I only ask because those Azurs are TINY. They weigh about the same as my silkies, not sure if they will get bigger as they get older, but they sure are small and petit.

I would have though Leghorns were a big bird and the Azurs would also be big.

Leghorns are small sleek birds. Remember they were bred for optimal egg production. Small birds require less fed. Part of the reason they fly so well is large wing to body mass ratio. The typical leghorn hen only weighs 4.5 lbs or 2 kg. That is slightly larger than Phyllis at 3.7 lbs or 1.7 kg.

The are very lean as The Greatest Hen Ever proves in this photo

 

[BY Bob]

They're multi purpose! Not only do they lay eggs, but they will play with you, are extremely friendly if you get on their good side, and enjoy ruling the world. Ask Bob.

Exactly!

 

[Ponypoor]

Brown leghorn hens (like Nellie) are only supposed to be about 4.5 pounds. Roos 5 pounds. Haven't looked at specs for white leghorns (there can be some variation between colors: light brahmas are supposed to be a pound or so heavier than dark or buff brahmas for example).


Nellie's fluffy derriere in front of Hector's huge size. View attachment 3644611As an australorp roo, he's supposed to be between 8.5 and 10 pounds. I haven't weighed either of them so can say exactly how much they weigh. However, I can say that Hector hefts at more than a gallon of milk (which is about 8 pounds). I had to pick him up the other day, and he was decidedly calm inspite of moulting and being handled.

These 2 with Silver were from this spring. As a wyandotte, silver was supposed to be about 6 pounds.View attachment 3644613View attachment 3644614Leghorns are a slender, narrow (think aerodynamic) build. And are fairly light weight. It's why they fly so well. And they're FULL of personality.

Yes they are very friendly, for me they remind me of a little banty hen - oh I am not complaining about their size as I am happy enough for them being small. I was just really curious as at the Hendrix site they state they are 50% leghorn ancestry.

Also the splash colour and Topsy topknot surprise me, but then with the Araucana background and the fact that the Exchequer Leghorn was an offshoot from white leghorns makes it less surprising.

I wonder if they will start to lay white eggs as time goes on like Glynda.

 

[BY Bob]

Leghorns are a slender, narrow (think aerodynamic) build. And are fairly light weight. It's why they fly so well. And they're FULL of personality.

Great description!

 

[Ponypoor]

I made one of those for the kitchen. It got all the fruit flies but not a single house fly.

You need house poop for that!

 

[BY Bob]

I caused a kerfuffle this evening.
Sylvie has been roosting in her own the last few nights and has chosen a spot where all her poop falls on the fire escape.
They don’t need the fire escape any more so all that is doing is creating a big nasty poop ball.
So I removed the fire escape. It can wash down in the rain overnight and then dry off in the garage and in the next nice day I can scrape it properly clean. Make some tweaks to it and maybe even paint it so it is ready for when I next get chicks.
Great plan.
But it was such a nasty day that it was dark really early and so Sylvie was already getting ready to sleep when I pulled the fire escape.
Silly girl panicked and flew around in the dark.
Now she is roosting here. I have to say, sweet Babs wasn’t very welcoming!
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Silly human. Get your work done before dark. Geeze.