Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

What's the buff roo's name?

His name is Latitude (latty or Rudy) both names fit him

 

[rural mouse]

Walked out to the coop mid morning with feed and a 4 year old helper. (Coop opened at normal time, but no food/scratch due to drizzly morning and they protested the rain for a while). My helper started tossing grapes enroute to the garage: to Cheetah, Hector, Tuff, and Whiskey. Between her carrying the bag, 2 bananas in it, and working on tugging grapes free, boys kept up on the tidbitting easily.

Everything stopped at the garage when I got bombarded with "what's that?" Food bucket loaded, back out. She started tossing grapes again while I tossed scratch. Then a pause to go down the steps (talking about the next step as we went). More grapes and scratch on out to the coop area. She kept tossing grapes while I got the pellets dealt with and the rest of the scratch done. (FWI, what to do with empty stems is a puzzler for a city child). Bucked down, toss empty stem, bag into bucket, then start on banana. Again she tosses to birds I point out....aim drifts, but...it works. I toss farther out and to sides and behind and keep her in banana pieces.

Last few in the scratch cup to toss. Lots of giggles, all good.


This evening after early dinner and family retreat for bed (jet lag is not fun for kids).

 

[rural mouse]

No doubt but Phyllis would likely move on to Lady after that. If it's dominance.

Replace with the fakes. Maybe she'll keep going there instead...?

 

[rural mouse]

His name is Latitude (latty or Rudy) both names fit him

Ah! The one with Attitude!

 

[featherhead007]

I had to go to town today. I met with my church friend, who bought me this device. He likes to make steaks, but my old rusty bbq wasn’t good enough. He is a very nice guy. He buys me things on a regular basis. Matter of fact, they all buy me things. I’m just blessed I guess:

 

[rural mouse]

No doubt but Phyllis would likely move on to Lady after that. If it's dominance.

Just had a maybe Duh! Moment.... can you close off the broody hut run section leaving the others with the cluckle hut and other part of run?

 

[BY Bob]

Can you cordon off that location with some mesh or safety fencing? Just a barrier to prevent her from getting close. You’ll likely want to keep her away from the mamas once the babies hatch anyways.

I'm just going to flush her out of the box each night. I'll be here every day until hatch time.

 

[BY Bob]

I had to go to town today. I met with my church friend, who bought me this device. He likes to make steaks, but my old rusty bbq wasn’t good enough. He is a very nice guy. He buys me things on a regular basis. Matter of fact, they all buy me things. I’m just blessed I guess:

View attachment 3865548

You truly are blessed.

 

[BY Bob]

Just had a maybe Duh! Moment.... can you close off the broody hut run section leaving the others with the cluckle hut and other part of run?

I did that for Phyllis when she was broody and Aurora was trying to destroy her nest and drug her out of the coop. That is really not practical. I had to take Phyllis out every day and put her back in.

Right now if I disturb her, Phyllis scoots off. I'm going to try sticking with that for now. I know every move that occurs in the coop because of the cameras.

 

[rural mouse]

I did that for Phyllis when she was broody and Aurora was trying to destroy her nest and drug her out of the coop. That is really not practical. I had to take Phyllis out every day and put her back in.

Right now if I disturb her, Phyllis scoots off. I'm going to try sticking with that for now. I know every move that occurs in the coop because of the cameras.

I couldn't remember the run layout from when you were building the cluckle hut. I know you have various sections. Possible idea to play with on your next remodle of the facilities: each coop able to be closed off with a run from the bigger run system or open so they can go round about through the whole thing. Maybe with gates installed within the over all framework of the run? Kinda thinking square out the run area so the winterization is fewer sides?