Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

That’s great! I wish you every success

Thank you.

 

[BY Bob]

It's a little hard to see well in a 2-D photo because she is a dark color. But in the last picture, there's a spot or two of red, on that side of her neck. Is that a raw spot? Here the photo is again -
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Are you thinking of spraying it green?

 

[featherhead007]

Don't you mean "eggsorcism" ?

No. I meant exorcism! Eggsorcisms are reserved for poultryguists! you said so yourself.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Drill holes in the 2x2 and put a wire ‘ring’ through the hole. Then you could either attach the ring to hooks in the run framing - or more securely attach pad-eyes to the run framing and link to the rings with carabiners.
Just playing around with ideas.

Drilling holes sounds like a stronger way to attach a ring, thanks!

Pad-eyes: one of these things you are picturing? I have never heard this name!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Are you thinking of spraying it green?

That's RC's @RoyalChick 's hen!

It should be blue spray.

 

[featherhead007]

How does a chain and carabiner work? I'm not picturing what you mean.

The 2x2 / pole idea is to make an edge like an awning, like an RV shade pull-out. Then that would connect / hang on a hook in a couple of places. If there were ice / weight already on it, maybe the tension wouldn't be so concentrated at a single point when spread along the pole? (Why I had to cut a couple attach points, the weight pulling on it right there was too much for me to lift /pull enough to loosen the net against the carabiner and get it off.)

I wouldn’t trust carabiners. Those pirates have had a bad reputation for murder and extortion, theft and plunder of innocent lives.

 

[rural mouse]

How does a chain and carabiner work? I'm not picturing what you mean.

The 2x2 / pole idea is to make an edge like an awning, like an RV shade pull-out. Then that would connect / hang on a hook in a couple of places. If there were ice / weight already on it, maybe the tension wouldn't be so concentrated at a single point when spread along the pole? (Why I had to cut a couple attach points, the weight pulling on it right there was too much for me to lift /pull enough to loosen the net against the carabiner and get it off.)

Carabiner: thinking maybe eyeball (autocorrect to that ... twice: E-y-e-b-o-l-t) or some sort of other attachment to the 2x2, chain around what it's connecting to, carabiner to clip back to self. Cam be adjusted for greater/lesser tension by moving where carabiner on end clips back to or completely removed by unblinking (u-n-c-l-i-p-p-i-n-g) for a quick release if you need it down NOW.

 

[BeastBaby]

Hello FBA ! It's the beginning of a very rainy day here. I hope you will forgive me for taking the opportunity to post a long delayed Pony Sunday post even though it's Tuesday. I'll make sure to post a few chickens pictures in there.

First, I wanted to comment on the soft egg issue and the link to calcium and nutrition. In December we took one of the younger hens, Kara, to the vet for a number of issues (I wrongly feared ascites) amongst which laying problems and soft shell eggs. The vet's recommendation, per usual, was to switch back to layer feed only and a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement in the water. The point I wanted to share, is that he said to do this for a month : he considered this was the required length to see if the problem actually came from nutrition or not.
In her case it did nothing to help, so I went back to my usual way of feeding.

We call Kara the witch, because she is such a bully !
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Kara from a different angle.
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Pony Sunday on Tuesday anecdote : at the beginning of March we had two snow storms on consecutive weekends. This coincided with lambing for our village's young couple of shepherds. It was the first year that the lambing took place in their new hoop shelter in the mountain. Because the mobile phone network was down for two weeks, the town couldn't get to the society that usually clears the mountain road, so getting up there was quite a feat, and in fact they had two of their SUV stuck by the shelter for a few days, only the old tractor from the 1960's made it down ! But everything went fine, their power generator held up, and they had around 150 lambs born between the 25 February and the 10 march. I managed to run up during the first storm (though I really regretted it as I had a bit of a fright coming down) and they took me in to show me the babies. I was amazed at how warm it was inside the hoop under the snow, with just the animal heat (and how strong it smelled ) ! Now all the snow is gone, and in another two weeks they will take the lambs out to graze.

The hoop shelter under the snow.
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Can you spy the pony in the snow ? Hint : it's a canine.
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Spoiler

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This is Carlos, an Anatolian / Pyrenneese mix LGD. This dog belongs to another shepherd down the valley and no human can touch or catch him. In late summer the herds mix on the furthest mountain pasture and when they sorted the sheeps out, Carlos followed this herd instead of his. He stayed all winter in the mountain with the rams, was there when the ewes came back from the plain, and now he is part of their LGD's but still no one can catch him. I think he may be better off here, as he is getting properly fed and both humans and dogs are much less mean.

Some of the lambs now
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And some chicken tax :
11 out of 16 in a picture, I rarely get more
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And a twofer from a few days ago as it's pouring now. Annette and Laure
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Have a nice day everyone!

You are a great story teller, thanks for sharing Carlos’ story! Do the shepherds sleep in the hoop house with the herd? If so, is it only for winter?

 

[BeastBaby]

Two for Tuesday
Billy Jean (mottled cochin) & Sweet Peach Tea (Peachy- buff laced sebright with single comb)
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You have some fun breeds! How many chickens do you have? I mean I know it’s technically Zero, but…?

 

[BeastBaby]

Oh fun! Uhm, maybe whoopie pies? They look eclipse like. I’m sure you could elevate the filling.

There is indeed. April 8th. I have invited some folk to come and have tea so we can all watch it together.
I am trying to think of a good cake to bake for an eclipse party - I make really yummy cakes but I can’t decorate to save my life so it has to be simple!


Eclipse tax: busy chickens
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