Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I think I also want some Cochin chicks also

I wonder what colours they come in?

Cochins come in a huge array of colors...and add more if you include bantams....

Edit to include research info:

"The Cochin was accepted into the APA’s Standards of Perfection in 1874 in the colors buff, white, black, and partridge. Now, there are a rainbow of Cochins available that are accepted by the APA: barred, black, blue, brown, buff, golden-laced, partridge, silver-laced, and white. The bantam version comes in the same colors, plus four more: birchen, Columbian, mottled, and red."

 

[Ponypoor]

OK so the Summer House will be available for more chickens next year, yes? Maybe you might want to make it more winter-hardy, but that's a good project, right?

The Summer house is very large 10x20’ so it would be expensive to insulate and winterize.

Insulation the shavings room was easy, Hen House ‘A’ is 4x10 and the other half of the shavings room now is Hen House ‘B’ which is 6x10. That half will only be partially insulated. The stall wall side I am only going to put up vapour barrier and cover with plywood to cut drafts. All the other walls and ceiling are insulated, the door will be partially insulated as it has a huge window I installed in it.

It will be a warmer less drafty location for the pullets to roost in at night. Right now the Summer House is open and drafty, thankfully it hasn’t been overly cold. But we all know that good weather won’t last - winter will eventually arrive

They might be a bit chilly tonight, they seem to be clumped together.

 

[Ponypoor]

Like Muffy? She will be a splash and once she moults I bet she will get more spots. And she also has nice butterscotch coloured shackle feathers

View attachment 3716939

And let’s not forget that glorious topknot!

And Bob - she lays blue eggs

 

[Ponypoor]

Cochins come in a huge array of colors...and add more if you include bantams....

Edit to include research info:

"The Cochin was accepted into the APA’s Standards of Perfection in 1874 in the colors buff, white, black, and partridge. Now, there are a rainbow of Cochins available that are accepted by the APA: barred, black, blue, brown, buff, golden-laced, partridge, silver-laced, and white. The bantam version comes in the same colors, plus four more: birchen, Columbian, mottled, and red."

Barred?! Silver laced?! Golden laced ??? All that and fuzzy legs?!

Ok I am sold where can I get some I wonder?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Yes, @cfonts used to post here and she was from Hawaii.

Thank you, I couldn't remember who it was. I wonder how the wild chickens are doing now, and the mama who would would come by with her babies.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The Summer house is very large 10x20’ so it would be expensive to insulate and winterize.

Insulation the shavings room was easy, Hen House ‘A’ is 4x10 and the other half of the shavings room now is Hen House ‘B’ which is 6x10. That half will only be partially insulated. The stall wall side I am only going to put up vapour barrier and cover with plywood to cut drafts. All the other walls and ceiling are insulated, the door will be partially insulated as it has a huge window I installed in it.

It will be a warmer less drafty location for the pullets to roost in at night. Right now the Summer House is open and drafty, thankfully it hasn’t been overly cold. But we all know that good weather won’t last - winter will eventually arrive

They might be a bit chilly tonight, they seem to be clumped together.
View attachment 3716962

For winter you'd want drafts only for limited ventilation, right. I don't think insulation is necessary though, just draft blocks. Maybe draft blocking panels that can be removed for summertime for great cooling. You know you really want those brahmas!

 

[fuentemoon]

So wonderful to spend a couple of hours working in the sunshine!
Started clouding up fast around 2:30-3
Merlin dashing down the side yard with Rosie showing shes boss.

They hid in their sheltered spots most of the day, until I went inside.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I see you have learnt from the best enablers here

My plan for the Summer House is to borrow my friends silkie Roo - I was going to do that last Spring but things got in the way.

Anyways my nieces is hel-bent on hatching chicks at her school again, so I think I will give her some silkie eggs this time. We shall see anyways, and that’s a few months away. I can use the Summer House to keep the silkies in with the silkie Roo.

But I have to say I am really happy with my Mr P daughters, maybe I will hatch some to sell, also the guy I am now getting my straw from raises meat birds - first thing I saw when I drove in yesterday was a humongous chicken tractor. So if he ships his birds maybe I can throw a few Roos in with his, to be processed.

Anyways it’s only January so lots of time to worry about that.

I am truly at capacity, and if I want other birds I need to think hard on which I will get. It’s all great to do succession planning for the old birds but if they hang on and don’t pass away then I need to keep my capacity in mind.

Meanwhile I am getting lots of eggs now - 15 today! So they truly are paying for their keep.

Thank you my lovely wee ladies

Birdy pinwheel
View attachment 3716948

It's great to have the space and wherewithal for so many chickens I think. I am calling your pinwheel shots the Ziegfeld Follies!

 

[BY Bob]

And Bob - she lays blue eggs

We are at capacity, but thanks for the hint!

 

[Ponypoor]

For winter you'd want drafts only for limited ventilation, right. I don't think insulation is necessary though, just draft blocks. Maybe draft blocking panels that can be removed for summertime for great cooling. You know you really want those brahmas!

My silkies are very vulnerable to the cold, so they definitely need a good warm draft free place for night time- during the day they are running around and can always huddle under the sweeter heater to warm up. Marty and the chicks like to hang out there.

I have found that they are all good until about -10c then they start to be less active and huddle about. I don’t like that as they then are not eating and drinking. At -20c they are definitely stressed and I keep the horses in the barn to help warm it up. At that temps it’s around -30c outside so the horses are happy to be inside. A few times I have locked them in the Hen House and it’s warmer in there with their body heat they generate. This way they will eat more and drink. But that has only been a few time when it’s been really brutal and cold.