Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Yeah, me too. I did drive by the pastor’s house and delivered a lasagna dinner for the both pastor and his recovering wife.

Good man!

 

[rural mouse]

I would welcome feedback on my current thinking about anti-hawk netting. I will put it all in a spoiler because it will be a bit of a long post.

Spoiler: Long post with diagrams about netting to deter hawks

First off, I am not trying to cover the whole of the chicken yard (defined by the electric fence). That is too big a project. But there is one area which is very popular with the Princesses - it is where they hang out to gossip and preen.

They like to sit on top of what I call the 'Open Runs'. They are not really open - but they have a hardware cloth roof rather than a solid roof. When I let the Princesses out they like to sit on top of the hardware cloth roof to chat.

In the summer this area is pretty well protected against both types of hawk because there is a tree (evergreen) and very thick lower level bushes and shrubs. Both sets of leaves hide the chickens well from hawks circling overhead, and from hawks sitting in the tree. I think the heavy foliage cover is probably why they like that area so much.

In winter the lower level protection is much thinner because the leaves fall. I think they are still quite protected from the hawk in the air, but a hawk in the tree has a clear line of site to where they hang out. It was a hawk in the tree that plummeted to earth to try and get Pooh.

I have tried to show the rough set-up in the sketch below. Pooh (in green) is sitting in their favorite preening spot.
View attachment 3725925


My idea is to use the kind of brackets that hold flag poles onto the side of houses. I have one - they are cast aluminum and are designed (obviously!) to hold a long pole in place. Some are adjustable, and some are fixed with the pole either horizontal or at 45 degrees.
Instead of a flag, I would attach netting which would drape between two flagpoles to cover the area where they hang out - and drop down over the end of the flag poles but not all the way down to the ground so the Princesses can still jump up to their favorite spot.
In the picture below the purple/blue is to show the flag poles and the netting.

One benefit of the flag pole solution is that it will be easy for me to remove the flag poles to take down the netting in heavy snow or if leaves build up.
View attachment 3725926

Let me know what you all think. All ideas welcome!

Hawk netting tax: Everyone has gone inside because it is snowing and very windy. Here is Pooh enjoying the snacks provided indoors.
View attachment 3725927

Bgmathteach has some great ideas. My thought runs toward stage curtains. Rope to lift the "curtain" from the ground so you're not having to climb ladders all the time either. As I haven't worked with stage curtains, I'm not sure how well it could work or how practical it might be to set up. A thought to keep on the wings (pun intended) as a way to tweak what your coming up with if it's needed.

 

[BeastBaby]

We’re finally starting to claw our way out of the arctic freeze here in Seattle, as the temp made it above 20 degrees (-6.7 C) and will stay that way for the foreseeable forecast!

Fez seemed the hardest hit by the cold- she maintained the basketball poof appearance nearly the entire time… but being a marans, she is also one of my fluffiest gals. Quincy joined her for a feeling-sorry-for-ourselves cuddle.

My son (3yo) helped with the chickens this morning. He was tickled that we finally have a touchable one! Perry was very calm for him and appreciated that he brought her out for some morning mash.

New roosting line-up! For two nights now, Albert and Whiskey have joined the other gals on the long main perch. If they keep this up, it’ll free up the shorter elevated perch for Perry to move onto... whenever I feel she’ll be safe without a cage.

 

[fuentemoon]

Made a water heater?

Yup. Gallon jug of hot water in a bag and into that box in the pic. I don't have a thermometer out there, but it must have added at least a couple of degrees.

 

[Marie2020]

I can also see whoever was unfortunate enough to own all 3 being taken to jail. Assault with a deadly weapon as the charge.

Oh Rebecca you kill me

 

[Marie2020]

Yeah, me too. I did drive by the pastor’s house and delivered a lasagna dinner for the both pastor and his recovering wife.

You my sweet friend are truly a rare gem . I'm so happy to have found you here.

Please don't tell anyone I'm so fond of you, it will ruin my hard case reputation

 

[RoyalChick]

I love the flag pole idea. I’m sure there’s an easy way to anchor the netting to the base- maybe just a carabiner for easy removal.
View attachment 3726148
The problem I see is that it will have very limited usefulness. It’s exclusively protecting that one hardware cloth resting spot? Are you hesitant to draw it out and away from the building? You could create a 15’ (or any distance, really) halo of extra safe space radiating away from the palace if it went from the flag pole and over to the bushes. Maybe set three poles in amongst the shrubbery to tether it to, parallel to the three anchors you’ll have on the wall?

Maybe. There is the tree in the way of going very far. But I will go as far as practical. Good idea.
I can go further on the other side. Once I have the flagpole brackets in place I can experiment with where I can anchor, or just rest the netting. I can also see if a full 8’ of flag pole can work.
Thanks for pushing my thinking.

 

[RoyalChick]

Bgmathteach has some great ideas. My thought runs toward stage curtains. Rope to lift the "curtain" from the ground so you're not having to climb ladders all the time either. As I haven't worked with stage curtains, I'm not sure how well it could work or how practical it might be to set up. A thought to keep on the wings (pun intended) as a way to tweak what your coming up with if it's needed.

Thanks! I started with stage curtains as the model: rings on the fascia board and ropes to pull them up. Then I was thinking how to get them to go out at an angle and flag poles came into my mind.
Maybe Bernie also needs a flag like Aurora has!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Silkies I love them.
First off, the price is pretty fair for a pair. Do you know what colors they are yet? When she was not broody Chiquita was a very reliable egg layer. Averaged 6 eggs a week. They are not huge eggs, but big for their body size. They fit perfectly on a piece of toast to make a sandwich. Silkies do go broody though, and make wonderful mothers. There is a reason many people keep a few silkie hens solely for that purpose. Unless you want to you do not need to bath them. They keep themselves clean. In the warmer months when it rains and it is muddy yes Branch is out there getting himself soaked. A hour on the roost he has dried off and preened himself clean. They do not fly very well, but they are smart. They can get up pretty high, they use their surroundings and create step ladders. Depending on their topknot you may need to trim around their eyes so they can see. Branch does not have a huge poof so I do not trim. He is very alert to the world around him and is normally the first to spot and alert a hawk. If he makes the warning call, the entire flock listens. In general silkies are loveable and up for affection. They are individuals though and not all may like to be handled, Marty for example. I say get them and try them out. Give them a few months to settle in and get a feel for them. If you find they are really not for you then rehome the pair. Silkies are in demand, especially hens.

They are white silkies. I’ve been wanting to breed and hatch our Cornish crosses to sell and process, so I figure that having a small incubator couldn’t hurt, unless she bites… I will show this to my mother. Thank you so much. Apparently they have been raised as pets, and I have a feeling that there aren’t many other places around where I live where they will be loved.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I love my satin silkies! Samara is very friendly to me now that she's laying, and Morinth has even warmed up! I think once I get their permanent coop set up with a nice dust bath they'll be much cleaner.
View attachment 3726098
They were not raised to be pets so it took many months to warm up. I think those pullet hormones actually had the most to do with becoming friendly.

They are so stunning. Who is the black one with the lacing? I’m guessing Samara is the white silkie? I really hope that they get super used to you and that they want cuddles.