Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

We all have escapees!

And we all have ‘work in progress’

Looks good so far!

True that ^^

 

[TOMTE]

We all have escapees!

I just had one earlier this morning! One of my SLW pullets, Gytha. I hang out in the garage pretty much all day with my dad, so I was sitting in my chair and I looked out the side door. She was just standing there looking in, looking lost and embarrassed

I walked her back to the garden and opened the gate and she ran back in. I wish a got a picture, it was so funny to see her standing there like "um... I need help?" HAHAHA

 

[Sylvester017]

@Lilion
Here is my 'get away from the brat cockerels' extra roost. Please excuse the poop in it - it gets used a lot - even with the bratty cockerels now gone!View attachment 3939745
You can't see it in this pic (the one I took for that came out blury), but I put 'runners' under the legs to make them more stable - scrap lumber, front to back, under each set of legs & then screwed to them (pre-drill any holes so the hard plastic doesn't crack!) The corner scraps on the top are just to elevate the 2x2 so they can actually roost on it. As you can see - it gets used a lot - they love it! It is high enough so harassing pullets or cockerels can't reach them, big enough for 2 easily (actually, if it was in a good spot, sun wise, for preening - 3 could fit). In that section of the run (which is 3' high), it is the highest roost, so that makes it popular, too, and it can be run under easily, as well.

Did I mention that it was FREE, too??? I got 2 of them from the swap space at our transfer station. I will do the same to the other one when I get a chance - I wanted to see how the first one worked before making the second one. Here is a link to what it is (I wouldn't buy it for that - but you might easily be able to find something similar for free!)


Some Monday Mugs:

Sleeping mugs:
View attachment 3939753
View attachment 3939751View attachment 3939752
A Georgie mug:
View attachment 3939756

A rooster watching over his laying hen mug:
View attachment 3939757

Those little resin side tables are great! We got a couple of them for $7 each at Walmart years ago as elevated stands for potted plants. They withstood harsh sun & rain conditions without warping so last year we searched everywhere to get a couple more. No stores around here carried them any more but we found them w/only a beige pair selling out on Amazon for $35 so we got them. We bought a pair for only $14 originally!!! Now the same little tables are $60+ for a pair on Amazon & only come in dark ugly recycled green!!!

I do love the solid design of these tables cuz not only are they outdoor durable but the design of the legs allows rain water to drain down the sides of the legs, the resin doesn't warp, & there are so many uses. I used one indoors to prop up my broken splinted/braced arm when I was sitting at the table, one is on the front porch to hold packages as we unlock the front door to come in, we have one as a potted plant holder of a very large Rosemary herb plant, and one by the coop to put down treats while sitting in a folding chair to gather hens for treat time!

Here is a photo of one of our more agile Silkies who can jump up on the table.

Front porch tables

https://www.amazon.com/Compamia-Sun...93153&sprefix=resn+side+table,aps,159&sr=8-66

 

[Sylvester017]

View attachment 3939776View attachment 3939777View attachment 3939780

Some very calendar worthy photos! We love dogs too

 

[bgmathteach]

Dad and I have loose plans for building a bigger coop out of half of the run. Since we plan on free ranging the smaller run shouldn't be an issue but maybe we can expand on that too later...

You don't have to 'lose run space' by adding a coop. Build the coop up off the ground (2' to 30" is a really good height - gives the chickens plenty of height underneath, and makes the coop part a nice height for cleaning out, picking up chickens, collecting eggs, etc.) Then the space does double duty!

What are the dimensions of the run?
I would suggest making a coop across the back side at around 30" high, with the nest boxes extending outside the current run, so you can collect eggs without entering the run/coop. This way, the nest boxes also don't take up 'coop space' either.

If the run is 8' wide, you could easily make an 8' x 4' raised coop (32 sq. ft.) If you have lots of run/free-range space, the general rule of thumb of 4 sq. feet doesn't need to be followed, especially if you partially wrap the sides of the run with plastic or tarps to give them additional sheltered space in the winter. (i.e. like the back and side of the run that is under the coop).

Again, the general rule of thumb is 4 sq. feet of coop space and 10 sq. ft. of run space per bird. That said, I opt for about 2 sq. feet of coop space per bird - but I have far more run space (depending on which coop & run, 13 - 19 sq. feet of run space per bird - plus they get to free range some.) Note that ALL of my coop/runs combo have additional 'protected from the elements' space besides the coops themselves. (i.e. space under the coops, some of which get wrapped on 3 sides with clear plastic for the winter, one run has a solid 24'x18' roof - backed against a solid barn wall- which also gets 2 sides partially wrapped with clear tarp, etc - so plenty of protected space from rain, snow, wind in bad weather where they can hang out - other than the coop itself.)

 

[featherhead007]

Those little resin side tables are great! We got a couple of them for $7 each at Walmart years ago as elevated stands for potted plants. They withstood harsh sun & rain conditions without warping so last year we searched everywhere to get a couple more. No stores around here carried them any more but we found them w/only a beige pair selling out on Amazon for $35 so we got them. We bought a pair for only $14 originally!!! Now the same little tables are $60+ for a pair on Amazon & only come in dark ugly recycled green!!!

I do love the solid design of these tables cuz not only are they outdoor durable but the design of the legs allows rain water to drain down the sides of the legs, the resin doesn't warp, & there are so many uses. I used one indoors to prop up my broken splinted/braced arm when I was sitting at the table, one is on the front porch to hold packages as we unlock the front door to come in, we have one as a potted plant holder of a very large Rosemary herb plant, and one by the coop to put down treats while sitting in a folding chair to gather hens for treat time!

Here is a photo of one of our more agile Silkies who can jump up on the table.
View attachment 3939843

Front porch tables
View attachment 3939848

https://www.amazon.com/Compamia-Sunray-Resin-Square-Table/dp/B00Q9YXM3S/ref=sr_1_66?crid=2CSX4JL8GY3WF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Niip32Mbm4v8ac2pMpn23NL_nG65MNHdIgcSBaF-Jyla827mk38DVBnRu4NFZGLnWqEFl0zi0I4sntClqY2upcMaRk2VZcl4kpe5xVSf8qhXEPtfB-T7iHTwyuiA-VjeL6uqaNUpPdst5L4uF1i3PQBOA5MKbYEAKSJTm1HnhZ_IXzG1y_N-rMSw2i9xiE5FD2gUJUvMt0Eyw3D-pv-S3zBIZ5pDt179obOacA7HAwsXSARn6zX9Pi8FdoQd2PPGcEBs6uCfN97FVI0dHz3oM3BncboD-8QepvmeD21Q2dw.7ARmsqnZvJXeierzYmBdxflNK6EVh21gQqe3U1ajKm8&dib_tag=se&keywords=resin+side+table&qid=1725893153&sprefix=resn+side+table,aps,159&sr=8-66

“Recycled green” is Soylent Green, and Soylent Green is people

 

[featherhead007]

I’m lucky today. I got a hug from Xzit. Also from little CeeCee.
Holding CeeCee, when she finally jumped off me, she was attacked by Aero. Pulling feathers off her back and biting her. I don’t know why that happened!

 

[bgmathteach]

You don't have to 'lose run space' by adding a coop. Build the coop up off the ground (2' to 30" is a really good height - gives the chickens plenty of height underneath, and makes the coop part a nice height for cleaning out, picking up chickens, collecting eggs, etc.) Then the space does double duty!

What are the dimensions of the run?
I would suggest making a coop across the back side at around 30" high, with the nest boxes extending outside the current run, so you can collect eggs without entering the run/coop. This way, the nest boxes also don't take up 'coop space' either.

If the run is 8' wide, you could easily make an 8' x 4' raised coop (32 sq. ft.) If you have lots of run/free-range space, the general rule of thumb of 4 sq. feet doesn't need to be followed, especially if you partially wrap the sides of the run with plastic or tarps to give them additional sheltered space in the winter. (i.e. like the back and side of the run that is under the coop).

Again, the general rule of thumb is 4 sq. feet of coop space and 10 sq. ft. of run space per bird. That said, I opt for about 2 sq. feet of coop space per bird - but I have far more run space (depending on which coop & run, 13 - 19 sq. feet of run space per bird - plus they get to free range some.) Note that ALL of my coop/runs combo have additional 'protected from the elements' space besides the coops themselves. (i.e. space under the coops, some of which get wrapped on 3 sides with clear plastic for the winter, one run has a solid 24'x18' roof - backed against a solid barn wall- which also gets 2 sides partially wrapped with clear tarp, etc - so plenty of protected space from rain, snow, wind in bad weather where they can hang out - other than the coop itself.)

Post Script (P.S.):

If you are able to build a coop inside the current run space.....if the prefab can be 'improved' a bit to make it sturdy/safe - I would keep that to use as a 'hospital/quarantine/introduction of littles to bigs/ space. It could be moved away from the current run space (for quarantine), or be adjacent to it for intruduction and/or hospital usag. You could probably make easy enough a small 'extension' that would fit against the front and have a small platform and ramp for egress, and have the bottom framing/support present currently sheathed with hardware cloth for a very small safe run with it. It is always nice to have a separate 'extra' space for so many reasons ( getting little - to introduce them safely/slowly, if a chicken gets injured and needs a quiet space, or a safe from being pecked space...or, if you get a rooster - it would make a really nice brooding hut for a broody hen to sit on eggs, etc!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m lucky today. I got a hug from Xzit. Also from little CeeCee.
Holding CeeCee, when she finally jumped off me, she was attacked by Aero. Pulling feathers off her back and biting her. I don’t know why that happened!

jealousy, or CeeCee was upsetting the pecking order - or both.

 

[TOMTE]

You don't have to 'lose run space' by adding a coop. Build the coop up off the ground (2' to 30" is a really good height - gives the chickens plenty of height underneath, and makes the coop part a nice height for cleaning out, picking up chickens, collecting eggs, etc.) Then the space does double duty!

What are the dimensions of the run?
I would suggest making a coop across the back side at around 30" high, with the nest boxes extending outside the current run, so you can collect eggs without entering the run/coop. This way, the nest boxes also don't take up 'coop space' either.

If the run is 8' wide, you could easily make an 8' x 4' raised coop (32 sq. ft.) If you have lots of run/free-range space, the general rule of thumb of 4 sq. feet doesn't need to be followed, especially if you partially wrap the sides of the run with plastic or tarps to give them additional sheltered space in the winter. (i.e. like the back and side of the run that is under the coop).

Again, the general rule of thumb is 4 sq. feet of coop space and 10 sq. ft. of run space per bird. That said, I opt for about 2 sq. feet of coop space per bird - but I have far more run space (depending on which coop & run, 13 - 19 sq. feet of run space per bird - plus they get to free range some.) Note that ALL of my coop/runs combo have additional 'protected from the elements' space besides the coops themselves. (i.e. space under the coops, some of which get wrapped on 3 sides with clear plastic for the winter, one run has a solid 24'x18' roof - backed against a solid barn wall- which also gets 2 sides partially wrapped with clear tarp, etc - so plenty of protected space from rain, snow, wind in bad weather where they can hang out - other than the coop itself.)

Thank you so much for this!! I'll share with my dad

I actually totally forgot that my dad wants to build the coop raised off the ground for the exact reason that they won't lose any run space, and they'll have more cover and shade!

The run is almost 7' by almost 8'. Geometry is not my strong suit so I don't know which is length or width or depth or whatever... So I took a couple extra pics

Front and back are 8'

The sides are both 7'

For winter we plan on wrapping the bottom half of the walls of the run with landscaping cloth because it's breathable but should block out enough wind and drafts, and above that with greenhouse plastic for sunlight, leaving the very top section (below the roof and above that horizontal board) open for ventellation. Should we leave one side open too?

When we get around to building the coop, it'll probably be about half of the run, like the section outlined in red

Post Script (P.S.):

If you are able to build a coop inside the current run space.....if the prefab can be 'improved' a bit to make it sturdy/safe - I would keep that to use as a 'hospital/quarantine/introduction of littles to bigs/ space. It could be moved away from the current run space (for quarantine), or be adjacent to it for intruduction and/or hospital usag. You could probably make easy enough a small 'extension' that would fit against the front and have a small platform and ramp for egress, and have the bottom framing/support present currently sheathed with hardware cloth for a very small safe run with it. It is always nice to have a separate 'extra' space for so many reasons ( getting little - to introduce them safely/slowly, if a chicken gets injured and needs a quiet space, or a safe from being pecked space...or, if you get a rooster - it would make a really nice brooding hut for a broody hen to sit on eggs, etc!!!

This is a really good idea! I think we were planning on keeping the coop just in case we need it for anything. I REALLY like the idea of enclosing the support frame with hardware cloth!!