Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Good looking leaf litter! And I love the idea of those wide boards on the side. You could probably pile those leaves up super high. Makes it seem like a chicken’s ball pit.

I used to use cardboard, and that works, but they will eat some of it in bits when it gets wet. Not that much, usually just where it gets soft and “pluckable.” They eat small bits of litter and other amazing things - shavings, chopped hemp, sawdust, and I saw Hazel eat long pine needles last year. Anyway the cardboard worked pretty well for the most part. But the wood eliminates that edible, will last longer over at least several seasons, and it is stiffer so I can put it on the inside of the wire run.

 

[BeastBaby]

I wouldn’t say it’s well thought out, more like evolved, adapted over time with lots of research looking at others’ setups, and unfortunately with horrible experience. We haven’t had any attacks (that I know of) since I secured the aviary netting to the ground. I had an attack on two hens, with one death, when I had put up the netting like a canopy over part of the area, and the Red Tail merely went to one side and got under it.

I’ve read about hawks and owls that will just land on a post or frame holding up netting and look to get in, looking for gaps, but we haven’t had that either. They have landed high up on branches of nearby trees to watch, which I’ve eventually seen long after the chickens warn and freeze, but not lately, the resident killer (probably juvenile) Red Tail moved on, and the Coopers mostly hunt elsewhere. But they all soar overhead, which I see, and something flies by through the woods (probably the resident Coopers) next to this open area, the chickens see it and warn, but it I haven’t seen it.

You know, you (and @BY Bob) have it much harder being in a city /suburban environment, where fear of humans is often reduced or gone. There’s lots of non-chicken prey with little daytime competition there. If you go back in this thread you’ll see that just being outside with them while they’re unprotected has not always been enough to deter an attack by a hungry aerial predator. Bob hasn’t reported lately on it but he used to go out with a powerful nerf-type gun so he could drive one away from across the yard if he had to.

Oh I didn’t know about your death by hawk, sorry.

Cooper’s hawks land on my posts to look in. And we now have a resident owl that hangs out as well! But I find those wildlife sightings super cool while they’re in their run.
If only I could do something about the danged raccoons.

The nerf gun days!
I would read FBA during downtime with a newborn, and remember those posts! I feel like in Bob’s yard the humans and chickens have to do more coexisting, so the chickens get the run of the place… but have to deal with human amenities such as a pool and no netting. Fortunately my yard is compartmentalized due to the terraces so they get their netted off zone and I get my green grass yard for picnics and kids.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Whats the black material you used to hold the wood the the concrete block?

You’re asking me, right? That’s a rubber bungee cord. It works because it does not have to completely hold it in place tightly, just stabilize it. I can move the concrete block some this way or that and it stays there. The log is an old cedar log and isn’t rounded on that end, and the log sides are kind of ripple-y, corded? so it lies nicely against the concrete. The other end is the root end, all wider and pointy, so it is nicely wedged and bungeed between some boards.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Oh I didn’t know about your death by hawk, sorry.

Cooper’s hawks land on my posts to look in. And we now have a resident owl that hangs out as well! But I find those wildlife sightings super cool while they’re in their run.
If only I could do something about the danged raccoons.

The nerf gun days!
I would read FBA during downtime with a newborn, and remember those posts! I feel like in Bob’s yard the humans and chickens have to do more coexisting, so the chickens get the run of the place… but have to deal with human amenities such as a pool and no netting. Fortunately my yard is compartmentalized due to the terraces so they get their netted off zone and I get my green grass yard for picnics and kids.

In that same time frame a hawk came down and attacked Butters again, who squirmed away, and as it hopped over to get her against the fence I ran towards them and all the hawk did at first was flap-jump up onto a chair back. It was so hungry it really had to decide before flying away. I appreciate their lives and what they have to do, and they are very cool, but not in my back yard.

I like the looks of your chicken areas and yard. The terracing does dictate how you can arrange it but it looks nice and big enough. Raccoons - you need at least very good wood framing or welded wire and hardware cloth. I think @rosemarythyme and others have basically chain-link fencing around their complex. Raccoons have nothing but time to figure out where your weaknesses are. And they are strong. On Facebook I know of someone who put hardware cloth all the way up the side of their run, not just three feet, because they lost chickens who were roosting up high but near the wall.

If you can run electric fencing around just your chicken terrace that will help, because it is a deterrent to further investigations.

 

[SimpleJenn]

You don’t like cinnamon? Me neither! Tough time of year for that.

Allergic, actually! I found some chocolate chip shortbread "log" cookies, my favorite. And mint fudge!

Kiddo got to carry the cookies I got her!

 

[Ponypoor]

Awe. Who is it? All I remember is that you had a chick named Babe who you have to Sophia, right? I forgot the others. Is it from them? How are those lovely babies doing?

This is Babe, all grown up, she should be laying any day now.

This is Cash whom I thought might be a Bielefelder, but who knows.

Ruth

And Sue

It will be interesting to see what colour eggs they lay.

To top things off here are Mr P - I still need to finish his hair cut

And Twister looking for attention.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes. Exactly. But we were talking about a dog climbing a fence where his feet would no longer be on the ground.
In that case the solution used for rocky soil would work to zap a dog who was climbing the fence and had his feet off the ground but was in contact with the second wire.

Yes that would complete the circuit, if it’s a chain link fence though you’re golden !! ZAP!

Gosh I love electric fence so much entertainment with kids, goats and horses…. ZAP!

 

[Ponypoor]

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Hahahaha that was the best part of that whole movie in my humble opinion

The chooks love my mum - and why shouldn’t they she gives them all sort treats

 

[Ponypoor]

Mornin! My mom is taking me to a bake sale here in a bit. Hopefully I can get some cinnamon free goodies.
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Gave the ladies a whole corn stalk. They mostly wanted out of the gate! Not even afraid that the dog was in the backyard.
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Here they come!
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The first three, surprisingly Ash wasn't the first out. Granted, she stole the piece of bread I had in my hand so I guess she was busy...

The daily stampede

 

[notabitail]

Yes that would complete the circuit, if it’s a chain link fence though you’re golden !! ZAP!

Gosh I love electric fence so much entertainment with kids, goats and horses…. ZAP!

You gonna set up a live camera so we can watch the zap? It seems like something you'd do.
(And you could add the donation feature so people can give you money).