Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Lots of rain here, amazing amount of rain. Then it turned to snow, but very little accumulation. Looked like there was a moat beyond the new French drain dug on the two wet sides of the run, but the drain worked well and the run litter is dry, the pavers and woodsy / decomposed wood chips soil I piled under the litter are just nicely damp. The trench did its job!

All that hard work has paid off! Well done!

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

What will you do with Grandma?

Put in extra food and water so she and the others have an ample supply for the next 3 days. What we also do is make sure that the doors are closed well so that no other animals come in and attack them, especially in the winter. The only things they can really do in a small coop shed is eat, sleep, sit and roam around the same spot. However, when me and my family take vacations, we try to make it not last too long because of them. Depending on the weather, we would leave them inside (cold) and allow them access to their little space (hot). Since it will be cold, we'll put in hay or dried leaves for extra bedding to make it comfortable for them and warm. It's harder when it's cold since the water can freeze up. But it's never a bad idea for them to use a blanket as a burrito.

 

[Lilion]

I get the feeling you also would be happier without the Roo, it’s not only your hens that need to be happy, you also need to be happy

You aren't wrong. But, I feel guilty rehoming him. He hasn't done anything wrong. He's pretty. He isn't mean. It's not his fault he's a boy. I feel like I'm discriminating against him or something!

I'm ridiculous.

 

[BeastBaby]

Problem is: It's going to be cold in PA.
Another problem: I can't bring her since the family doesn't have a pet and they don't allow animals in the house. Even if they let her stay outside, she's still going to be cold. I would love to bring her, I really do. This really is a problem.

Aw man, bummer. Sounds like my in-laws; they’re not pet people, so when we go my dog has to stay outside. They’re always like “But the sled dogs in Alaska do fine in the cold”… Yes, they do, but I’m not going to get started on that a dog does not acclimate to frigid cold in a span of hours.

 

[BeastBaby]

Lots of rain here, amazing amount of rain. Then it turned to snow, but very little accumulation. Looked like there was a moat beyond the new French drain dug on the two wet sides of the run, but the drain worked well and the run litter is dry, the pavers and woodsy / decomposed wood chips soil I piled under the litter are just nicely damp. The trench did its job!

Awesome job!

 

[Ponypoor]

I appreciate it, Ponypoor. I wonder what you're doing for Christmas.

Finishing up Hen House ‘B’ I have 4 days off work and it’s supposed to be mild so finishing up that task will be my priority.

Supper on Christmas Day is at my place so my sister and her husband and my nieces will be here for supper. I am sure my BIL won’t be of any help in the barn as that day is the start of World junior hockey championship. He will likely plop his butt in a chair in front of the tv and watch that.

 

[Ponypoor]

You aren't wrong. But, I feel guilty rehoming him. He hasn't done anything wrong. He's pretty. He isn't mean. It's not his fault he's a boy. I feel like I'm discriminating against him or something!

I'm ridiculous.

Everyone in this relationship needs to feel happy and secure, if even one of you isn’t happy then there is an issue, two of you are not happy so that’s a bigger issue.

Roos go away and change around all the time - don’t feel guilty for keeping all your ladies safe secure and happy.

 

[BeastBaby]

After one last external parasite check, Perry moved into her integration home today! It’s a tiny coop with a 2x6 ft run within the Fort Knox run, across from the sand box so the other chooks can spend a maximum amount of time in relaxed mode near her. Securing a cover for it was tricky but essential, since pullets Albert and Whiskey love to fly up there.

She also gets a long skinny slice of the daytime extension run. She’s full of pep and energy; here she booked it from one side to the other (as the youth love to do), catching the attention of a couple of rubber neckers.

 

[Ponypoor]

Aw man, bummer. Sounds like my in-laws; they’re not pet people, so when we go my dog has to stay outside. They’re always like “But the sled dogs in Alaska do fine in the cold”… Yes, they do, but I’m not going to get started on that a dog does not acclimate to frigid cold in a span of hours.

We leave our pets at home if the place we go isn’t pet friendly. It’s not polite to bring an animal to such a place and it’s stressful for the animal.

Many times I have had to get friends or family to feed and water my pets. To gut now I am caring for my Vets wife’s cat, he is a barn cat and doesn’t she ‘inside’ a house at all. He is living in the barn and he is very cozy there - I go and check on him every day or two, fill up his feed and water - give him some luvin

 

[Ponypoor]

View attachment 3709528After one last external parasite check, Perry moved into her integration home today! It’s a tiny coop with a 2x6 ft run within the Fort Knox run, across from the sand box so the other chooks can spend a maximum amount of time in relaxed mode near her. Securing a cover for it was tricky but essential, since pullets Albert and Whiskey love to fly up there. View attachment 3709527View attachment 3709524

She also gets a long skinny slice of the daytime extension run. She’s full of pep and energy; here she booked it from one side to the other (as the youth love to do), catching the attention of a couple of rubber neckers.View attachment 3709526

She looks good hopefully she can integrate fast