Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Glad I’m out here too. There’s a stray dog in the yard

Dog removal successful. Ran and climbed back over the fence to the neighbors yard

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh my goodness what an ordeal! That is so many pounds of COB to have a bag fail Well, an ordeal the chooks don’t seem to mind

OMG what a mess!
Here’s the cleaning crew. Just two handfuls of scratch, and off they go!View attachment 3686004

I was able to salvage some of it for the horses and the rest I will dole out to the chooks over the next couple days.

With the price of feed these days I am not wasting any more than I have to. Thankfully the chooks were able to clean up what I couldn’t salvage, so that there was none left to attract vermin.

 

[Ponypoor]

Glad I’m out here too. There’s a stray dog in the yard

What?! Holy moly! Bad dog!

 

[Ponypoor]

Dog removal successful. Ran and climbed back over the fence to the neighbors yard

Sheesh ! A strand of electric fence twine will fix that dog next time

Run it about 6” higher than the top of the fence hahaja!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

@BeastBaby
Your coop and run look great!

You asked about my setup. I think the area the chickens can roam safely in under the netting right now is about 30 ft x 40- 50 ft? Then there's electric fencing further out from that.
Pics:
I have a few of these moveable greenhouse frames (3) so I can walk under them there. I generally run the netting from the runs to the greenhouse frames and it's easy to move under it. They are 7' high, 7' wide and 12-13' long. This pic you can see how the aviary netting runs from one to the ground, held down sort of tight with stones, bricks or landscape blocks.

Here below is where the E fence goes up the slope. The transition up is the only spot there's a potential gap, once you're on a slope it's a straight line. If you have a pole at the transition point that helps lessen it. Here also you can see part of the power line to the run. I ran power out from our garage/barn, through an upstairs window (which we keep open a crack even in winter for ventilation) out and over to the hillside, then along the woods and back down, over the tripod of 2x2's and into the run. The bunch of fence nearest is extra fencing gathered up since earlier when I made the fenced area smaller.

Here's the low area of netting far to the left, I had enough to put poles under it to get a little more ranging space. There's not much area where the netting is close to the ground, I try to have a pole propping it and have the net come pretty straight down, I fear a hawk trapping someone under the net so I try to keep the angles steep.

Here's the end of the netted area, this is a clump of maple saplings and lilac bush and the net comes down on the far side of the clump but hugs the trees, so the birds have the bent branches over them. The electric fence goes past this on the right and in between a bunch of trees and swings up and around. That non-netted enclosed area I would let them out in when I'm out there doing things. It is the shady summer coop spot and had more netting in summer but I've scaled everything back prepping for winter.

 

[rural mouse]

Jersey Giants

If I remember correctly, Hector is all or part Jersey Giant.

That said, it reads correctly, that Hector is bigger than Whiskey, who is about 8 lbs.

Hector is black australorp. Rusty (in my profile pic) was a jersey giant and even bigger than Hector. That's Pear in front of him.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

My grandmother could really use some thoughts and prayers please. Just found out this morning that her brother passed away early this morning from a heart attack. This is a huge blow to me and mom as well. Uncle Larry has been the only one of her surviving siblings who visits grandma weekly and would call several times a week to talk to her. His visits helped not only grandma but me and mom more then he could ever have known. Just sitting at our kitchen table having a few cups of coffee with him before we woke her up to let her know he was here allowing us to vent our frustrations was healing. He alone knew what we are dealing with and in his way he was the only one who helped. We already told grandma this morning, she demands having the phone beside her in the mornings and we did not want her hearing it from someone else. So far she is taking it well but we can see she is very close to breaking down.

So sorry for your loss, so sudden and a shock

I hope you all can draw strength from the precious memories you have.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Mr P

I cleaned up more of his sores, and got a closer look at his ear - looks like gunk in it. I applied some antibiotic ointment and I also started him on amoxicillin - I figure with the extent of the skin involved, feathers and his ear, also he likely has some cellulitis going on with his skin and feathers. I also gave him some Tylenol and put him back to bed - he is not a happy fella being handled, and he is still finishing up moulting.

Boy these chooks are as much work as the horses!

I was thinking maybe an antibiotic could be good depending on the extent of the infection and how long you estimate it's been going on. Are you seeing pus in or near his ear, is the area swollen? I hope to read ahead that it's not too bad after all!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Finally, I got some time and decent weather to do some chicken sitting

 

[Ponypoor]

I was thinking maybe an antibiotic could be good depending on the extent of the infection and how long you estimate it's been going on. Are you seeing pus in or near his ear, is the area swollen? I hope to read ahead that it's not too bad after all!

Yes he is doing much better, and feeling better too! I will keep him on the amoxicillin for 14 doses (7 days). There is discharge from his ear and I suspect now, that is his issue. Ear infection in poultry is very problematic, and not always easy to treat so I am making sure to clean it daily and using antibiotic ointment also, for the skin.

I am also giving him Tylenol and he is actually so much more peppy and active.