Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Cute little goslings ~ they grow so fast. My Mom had a pet Talousse
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As for the 1930's when women only wore skirts my Mom sure transformed once she became a farmer ~ I guess jeans were becoming the big fashion statement in the rock-n-roll 1950's ~ even our visitor was in jeans too Teehee!
c. 1952
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I like your old pictures. So nostalgic and fun.

 

[featherhead007]

From a memory of the past. It’s possible that you have seen her before.

 

[Sylvester017]

From a memory of the past. It’s possible that you have seen her before. View attachment 3939421

Awwww~ a pink nose?

 

[featherhead007]

Awwww~ a pink nose?

Yes, she had a blushing nose.

 

[Lilion]

If they have started moulting, they will llikely slow or stop laying - depending on how hard they pult, the age of the hen, and the hen itself.

Until you can get the door thing straightened out, i do think it is best for food and water to be in the coop - just in case. But, long term, I think it best if they aren't in teh coop. That is just. my opinion, though. I know plenty fo people that have food and water IN the coop, and plenty that don't...so I guess whatever works for you is what you should do!

The run looks good! They will appreciate a good layer of woodchips - it will attract more bugs and while it will drain, it will also keep the layer of dirt beneath them a bit more moist & give something for worms to work on decomposing - so they will have more bugs and worms to scratch around for!

Sheba didn't moult last year...should have though. Meanie and Eenie did, big time. They're all 2 now or 2 1/2.

We had the food and water in the other coop, the mice were terrible, even with us covering the feeders nightly. That's one of the reasons we want it in the run this time. We've had it in the coop until this weekend but didn't have a top on the run yet. I started using the run for food yesterday. But the door is concerning. They'd live with no food a day or two, but I'd rather they didn't have to, and no water is out of the question.

Maybe we'll see if the other neighbor can look in.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes, she had a blushing nose.

I’m still missing that beautiful horse. Left me so young.

 

[Ponypoor]

From a memory of the past. It’s possible that you have seen her before. View attachment 3939421

Hey Chaco

I hope you and Sally are friends wherever you two are

 

[Ponypoor]

Sheba didn't moult last year...should have though. Meanie and Eenie did, big time. They're all 2 now or 2 1/2.

We had the food and water in the other coop, the mice were terrible, even with us covering the feeders nightly. That's one of the reasons we want it in the run this time. We've had it in the coop until this weekend but didn't have a top on the run yet. I started using the run for food yesterday. But the door is concerning. They'd live with no food a day or two, but I'd rather they didn't have to, and no water is out of the question.

Maybe we'll see if the other neighbor can look in.

I have my feed in n the barn - I used to keep it on the feed room at night but as I have not seen signs of rats or mice in a while I have been leaving it out.

But winter is coming and they will be back. Having said that if it were me I would leave the feed inside, I would rather deal with mice than have wild birds attracted to the feed.

I know there is a risk of AI with the birds, but the mice won’t give the birds anything deadly.

If you clean up the spilled feed daily you shouldn’t have an issue.

But I would try to find some one to help out when you’re away. You never know when the door may malfunction and lock them out - or in. Or something gets in the run. Or weather happens…. Always nice to know someone is able to look out for them

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Oh, what a wonderful b-Day gift for you I do hope Holly's egg hatches - both because you should have another Holly chick, and for the hatched chick's sake - I hate to see a lone chick - they need a playmate & also a companion for when Mom abandon's them!

I hope it hatches as well. 2 chicks always do better then one. If it does not, I currently do not have a better hen to raise a lone chick. Raven has done it before with the first chick she adopted after being broody for only a week. Each time she has raised chicks she hangs onto them for a minimum of 8 weeks. She has had 2 fall hatches that she hung onto until they were closer 4 months. They were huge and still all trying to fit under her. This time last year I was thinking I may never see Raven as a mother again and a bit sad. She fought her way to the head hen position after Butters passing. This spring and most of the summer while I was constantly breaking one broody after another there was one hen who was not in that drama and that was Raven. This was new as she was always a several time a year broody. It was mom's idea to set the eggs when she did go broody. I knew they were older and not a good chance of hatching but, with Raven, I did not need convincing. This chick is going to be spoiled, it's mother is the flocks queen. I can guarantee you that when she is done with it, it will be higher up in the pecking order.

 

[bgmathteach]

Sheba didn't moult last year...should have though. Meanie and Eenie did, big time. They're all 2 now or 2 1/2.

We had the food and water in the other coop, the mice were terrible, even with us covering the feeders nightly. That's one of the reasons we want it in the run this time. We've had it in the coop until this weekend but didn't have a top on the run yet. I started using the run for food yesterday. But the door is concerning. They'd live with no food a day or two, but I'd rather they didn't have to, and no water is out of the question.

Maybe we'll see if the other neighbor can look in.

Can you check the door - is it slightly mis-aligned, or does it need lubrication? You said it was hanging up a bit when opening....are you able to figure out why - and maybe fix it.

I hope if not, you can return it for a replacement that does function correctly. A manual door in the meantime with food and water inside will keep them safe and fed/watered. it looked like a decent sized coop, so should be enough space for the short term until you can get the automatic door figured out/fixed. Maybe add a few 'obstacles' or other things to hop up on. I got a free 'table' (the plastic small tables that are supposed to be 'side tables' to go with plastic chairs), cut some scrap wood for two diagonal corners, and a 2x2 that fit diagonally onto those pieces, and 'presto' instant elevated roost. They can run under it (the small square table) or hop on it & roost. My girls appreciated the extra 'up' space to get away from the boys! Now that the extra boys are gone, I find my lower ranking pullet in that group hops on it a lot. I will scatter feed on the table top for her!

I'll have to get a pic of it tomorrow if I can.