Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Storm season coming sooner than we need. Can you believe Sept is just about here ?!

I am dreading winter.

And guess what happened here today

Spoiler: you'll never guess

one of the ladies turned up broody....Kate, who is 27 WEEKS old....

 

[Ponypoor]

Happy Pony Sunday! Boy it's hot out here. Working on the coop today, but it's slow going. Still, I do hope we can get them in, in the next week. Maybe Labor Day. We got the run frame put together...a totally NON-predator proof tubular metal frame thing from Amazon. But soooo much faster and cheaper than building one from scratch. Taking a break now.

Unfortunately, we have an egg eater. Every few days I find one on the floor or in the run. They had all been Sheba's. She tends to drop them where the mood takes her. But last night I found egg...no she'll at all, just egg...in the nest box. I'm not at all happy and don't know who's to blame or what to do.

Here's a picture. Not a pony... but a real cutie, huh?View attachment 3928540

He i s a sweetie

Are you sure it isn’t an egg that is brittle and breaks and then they eat it? That is what happened here with Butterscotch’s eggs. Drive me mental trying to keep eggs washed!

And here's our work for today. Flooring where there was no flooring. A door that is hinged and in place. A frame over which the wire for the run needs to go.

View attachment 3928636
View attachment 3928637
It's 98° and the humidity makes the heat index 109. I'm done. View attachment 3928639

looks wonder. Good job!

It’s been hot here also, my BIL and I were. Just spent putting up hay. We did 100 yesterday and 200 today.

But double that because we had to first load it on the trailer, 100 bales at a time, drove to my place, and unload it into the loft.

To loft is about 40C up there!

The horses were being ever so helpful pulling bales off the trailer for us. Brats! We would have to go and get the bale and bring it back to the hay elevator.

 

[Ponypoor]

And guess what happened here today

Spoiler: you'll never guess

one of the ladies turned up broody....Kate, who is 27 WEEKS old....

Holy Dinah - you’re doomed!

 

[Ponypoor]

Off topic but I need to share.
I gave a speech at my church today. It was professionally recorded and documented.
The pastor of my church is sending a message to the mayor of our town with compliments on my speech. The subject matter consisted of the homeless issues, the food and clothing bank I am setting up, and the neighborhood watch program that I will be leading. They know me as “The church deacon, chicken man and air wildfire spotting guy”
Anyway, this small town has grabbed me by the heart and didn’t let go!

Good for you, always good to be involved with your community.

 

[Ponypoor]

It is done
View attachment 3928699
Working on a little egg collecting basket for @Sylvester017 now.
Here's Cocoa, the chick my kiddo named. Verrrry cuddly and seeks me out to ask for them.
View attachment 3928703

That’s awesome. Good work!

Silkies are very friendly

Tonight Clyde decided he loves my
Left hand. So Mr LC Loves my right hand and Clyde the left one - not the worst dates I have ever had

 

[rural mouse]

Holy Dinah - you’re doomed!

I would actually rather she not hatch now with winter coming on. I just hope she stays long enough to wallop the stuffing out of Tuff. Best thing for hormonal idiots is pestering a broody hen.

 

[Ponypoor]

Ooooooo, Awwwwwww, Wow ~ Misty ~ a Blue Ameraucana? or EE w/ inherited Blue Ameraucana genetics? The Ameraucana club would automatically disqualify any purebred Ameraucana as pretty as Misty just for laying any other color egg but BLUE! Any egg color of white, offwhite, tinted, pink, mint, more greenish than blue, etc, other than a definite blue tint is a disqualifier in their SOP.

And they are sticklers about feather colors too! Even if a purebred Ameraucana layed any shades of blue but feather color isn't right the bird still gets disqualified.

From a private breeder I've had a couple Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas that layed light blue eggs (my BYC avatar profile pic) & as dearly as I loved the bird I wish we had just a sweet EE from the feed store! Paid for two pullet Ameraucana juveniles + shipping & one died before a month & the survivor lived only 3 yrs. Would've been cheaper to get 2 EEs from the feed store & who cares if the eggs have more green than blue shells? Guess it matters to the club.

Anyway there are so many other genetically bred blue layers developed now the feather colors on the new breeds are getting less important since they aren't recognized APA breeds.

And yes, we're not getting younger & every day I face physical limits. My 93-yr-old Auntie passed away this year & she stressed using canes, quad canes, sturdy rolling walkers, bathroom aids, handled stepping stools, avoid rushing, no heavy lifting, watch steps or curbs to avoid what happened to me ~ carrying a package that obstructed my view while rushing! That'll LEARN me!

Pls watch out for that slippery yard poo!

She’s a mutt I have her, Whiskers and Buttercup who are her hatch mates. She does lay green/blue eggs and Whiskera also ( same colour). Buttercup is a splash and lays blue eggs.

I have offspring from these ladies -Mr P is their Dada - and they lay true blue eggs. My Azur Blue lay Robin Egg Blue
Eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would actually rather she not hatch now with winter coming on. I just hope she stays long enough to wallop the stuffing out of Tuff. Best thing for hormonal idiots is pestering a broody hen.

Yep true!

 

[Ponypoor]

I missed saying, but I'm sorry to hear about your injury. Get well soon! The run won't actually be predator-proof. We'll do some things to make it harder for them, but really, it will be more predator-resistant and chicken-proof. The shed the coop is in will be Fort Knox though. Chickens go in at dusk, door closes, safe chickens.

That said, I've gotten into the show Homestead Rescue. They make a coop darn near every episode, usually because they have predators eating all their birds. You know what they use literally every time? Yup...chicken wire! The only time I saw them use welded-wire (covered with chicken wire) was for freaking timber wolves! Raccoons? Chicken wire. Foxes? Chicken wire. Coyotes? Chicken wire. I sit there watching, saying, "Well that's not gonna work!"

But they don't listen to me.

Electric fencing - zap! Best thing ever .

 

[Sylvester017]

I missed saying, but I'm sorry to hear about your injury. Get well soon! The run won't actually be predator-proof. We'll do some things to make it harder for them, but really, it will be more predator-resistant and chicken-proof. The shed the coop is in will be Fort Knox though. Chickens go in at dusk, door closes, safe chickens.

That said, I've gotten into the show Homestead Rescue. They make a coop darn near every episode, usually because they have predators eating all their birds. You know what they use literally every time? Yup...chicken wire! The only time I saw them use welded-wire (covered with chicken wire) was for freaking timber wolves! Raccoons? Chicken wire. Foxes? Chicken wire. Coyotes? Chicken wire. I sit there watching, saying, "Well that's not gonna work!"

But they don't listen to me.

TY for the good wishes!

DH was talking chicken wire for another project in the yard & I said no. It's not for our chickens but I don't care! I cringe whenever I hear "chicken wire" ~ might as well use tissue paper for a useless project!