Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

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

I’ve gotten very behind. So sorry you had the hawk attack, I read it fearing the worst. But it seems Pooh and Bernie and Babs have come out relatively unscathed, that’s good. The hawk swooped down onto Pooh, and they tumbled around and off the open run and then on the ground? The constant motion is a good survival technique and probably prevented the hawk from getting a good grab on Pooh. She is lucky. Butters was grabbed but wriggled away losing feathers without much skin break at all, but some soreness later. I do think the fluff and feathers being slippery and thick is a saving grace! Queenie had one or two punctures but very little actual external bleeding, it was internal, from the neck grabs.

I think that some netting will help, but that it should extend to the tree and bushes and if you can extend it to the ground on the other side of the bushes (hug the tree at height and then go down I suppose), that would be best, so that they have some place to run / fly to and to put something like twigs and branches between them and the hawk during an attack from inside the netting. Optimally they would have some height available with the netting, so they can do a vertical jump-fly avoidance maneuver in any direction. If it just hangs down in front with a slot, there’s nowhere to go and I can see them getting entangled and caught against it, and the hawk will use that.

If you’re out there with them when you deploy this then you’re helping to buy some time. But because the ends by the poles are not enclosed it’s not really a deterrent as much as an options limiter (that’s something though) for a Coopers Hawk, or even a Red Tail (the Red Tail here just dropped down onto Butters beside where the netting canopy ended). So if you’re there and watchful that will be good. To the hawks it’s a tunnel to easily figure out and fly around / into / through. Coopers Hawks are pros at woodland hunting, they understand the woodland understory and flying under and between branches. Pooh was at the edge of the open run in the picture, she will be vulnerable there. So give them room to escape to, thus the extended front edge over the bushes.

But I am wholly in the paranoid camp, as you know. If you can create a netted area that is really totally enclosed, even just a temporary spot you can feel assured they’re protected in, so you can nap and relax out there with them, I’d fully endorse that!

 

[Ponypoor]

Did a bedtime check for eggys, there were none. I actually tucked them in late because my toddler "helped" me put away groceries so it took longer than usual! Did you know that ham goes under the sink? I sure didn't!
I will check tomorrow when I get them up to see if there is an early-morning egg.
View attachment 3728131
I love how dramatic Samara is in this pic! So dark and brooding.

Well of course ham goes there ! It’s dark and cool prefect place for a chunk of meat!

Your girls look happy and content.

 

[Ponypoor]

I’ve gotten very behind. So sorry you had the hawk attack, I read it fearing the worst. But it seems Pooh and Bernie and Babs have come out relatively unscathed, that’s good. The hawk swooped down onto Pooh, and they tumbled around and off the open run and then on the ground? The constant motion is a good survival technique and probably prevented the hawk from getting a good grab on Pooh. She is lucky. Butters was grabbed but wriggled away losing feathers without much skin break at all, but some soreness later. I do think the fluff and feathers being slippery and thick is a saving grace! Queenie had one or two punctures but very little actual external bleeding, it was internal, from the neck grabs.

I think that some netting will help, but that it should extend to the tree and bushes and if you can extend it to the ground on the other side of the bushes (hug the tree at height and then go down I suppose), that would be best, so that they have some place to run / fly to and to put something like twigs and branches between them and the hawk during an attack from inside the netting. Optimally they would have some height available with the netting, so they can do a vertical jump-fly avoidance maneuver in any direction. If it just hangs down in front with a slot, there’s nowhere to go and I can see them getting entangled and caught against it, and the hawk will use that.

If you’re out there with them when you deploy this then you’re helping to buy some time. But because the ends by the poles are not enclosed it’s not really a deterrent as much as an options limiter (that’s something though) for a Coopers Hawk, or even a Red Tail (the Red Tail here just dropped down onto Butters beside where the netting canopy ended). So if you’re there and watchful that will be good. To the hawks it’s a tunnel to easily figure out and fly around / into / through. Coopers Hawks are pros at woodland hunting, they understand the woodland understory and flying under and between branches. Pooh was at the edge of the open run in the picture, she will be vulnerable there. So give them room to escape to, thus the extended front edge over the bushes.

But I am wholly in the paranoid camp, as you know. If you can create a netted area that is really totally enclosed, even just a temporary spot you can feel assured they’re protected in, so you can nap and relax out there with them, I’d fully endorse that!

Hey hello! I was wondering how you were but figured you were busy with a gig. Hope you’re doing ok

 

[Ponypoor]

It’s -11C (12F) right now, the chooks are all snuggle in bed - Red is in the feedroom as usual. I should put my thermometer in the hen houses to see what the temp gets to at night in there.

Hen House A

Hen House B

Horses

 

[BeastBaby]

I just love fresh fallen snow. I love the sound snow makes while falling. Everything stops moving and the world gets so quiet for a time. A good snow storm is a true blessing and something to be savored.

Snow Tax
Aurora marooned in the snow. She flew there from the deck and was stuck. I had to rescue her.
View attachment 3728096

I had a tough time deciding whether to this post for the lovely snow imagery, or because a snow stranded chicken is funny- but HRH awaiting a convoy is hysterical!

 

[BeastBaby]

Do you have salt/sand trucks and plows down there? Or do you so rarely get snow you don’t need them? I always wonder how people manage south of here when they get bad weather they aren’t used to.

I know my dad worked in Dallas one winter on a project down there and they had a freeze up and no one went anywhere! He and his friend went to work as usual the roads were empty, they were the only ones at work, they were both surprised, but like he said they don’t have the salt/sand trucks like here.

Do you have a 4x4 at all ? How do you get around if the roads are bad? Or do you just stay put (much safer!).

Seattle has been investing in increasing its snow plow/driver fleet. Currently they have a robust plan for all the major roads (which did not exist even a decade ago) and making sure there are bus routes still working. However, the neighborhood streets don’t get plowed… so nobody is able to leave home to get to those main streets So yea, we shut down. I suspect an inch of the stuff will cause schools to call a remote learning day.

 

[BeastBaby]

It’s -11C (12F) right now, the chooks are all snuggle in bed - Red is in the feedroom as usual. I should put my thermometer in the hen houses to see what the temp gets to at night in there.

Hen House A
View attachment 3728218

Hen House B
View attachment 3728217

Horses
View attachment 3728219

Brrr!
I’d be interested to know the temp difference between the hen houses and the main open space in the barn. Shame the security cameras don’t show it; having a thermometer component is common in many video baby monitors now though.

 

[rural mouse]

I finally thought of a good use for this picture.
View attachment 3728021
Owly thinks it is ridiculous that some of us here in the south are as cold or colder then you Northerners.

This would also make a good pic for @BY Bob to put with the dinosaur backgrounds....

 

[BY Bob]

I have read that foxes are quite opportunistic and take what is readily available before working for it.
There seems to have been a very good supply of squirrels, so maybe they are easier than digging.
Notice in the video the bigger fox just walks straight by and doesn’t come in towards the coop. It is the juvenile who is all excited about chicken dinner.
Maybe the older ones know there are easier meals elsewhere.
I really hope so!
Nonetheless I am really going to try to hot-wire that area.

I think hot wiring is an excellent idea. I think it is going to the next week. Perhaps you should wait until then.

 

[BY Bob]

What is she doing??

Phyllis took off flying right in front of her. She is trying to back away from Phyllis' wings. Totally random that I caught her in that pose. Isn't it awesome!