Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Looks like we got just over 6” but the wind has picked up and there are drifts.
Pretty but cold in the wind.
The main roads were well plowed and I made it to my doctors appointment and back without incident.
My neighbor ploughed my drive and dug me a path to the Chicken Palace.
I opened up the pop door and Piglet was keen to be out and about in case snacks were available.
View attachment 4032216View attachment 4032217View attachment 4032218View attachment 4032219View attachment 4032220

Beautiful

 

[Ponypoor]

In these parts I'm not sure anybody would differentiate between straw and hay, and all bales for sale are hay I think. But I know there's a difference - is it the grass type? Season cut? I'm not really sure myself.

Straw is basically the stalk and spent seed heads of cereal grains: wheat, oat, barley. The best straw is wheat straw. Barley straw tends to have ‘barbed’ seed heads which stick to things and animals fur. Oat straw tends to be more ‘grassy’ and I find the horses have a tendency eat it. Straw is used as bedding.

Hay is the cured product of grasses and legumes (alfalfa); it’s used as feed. Hay can also be used as a fermented feed (called haylage) its baled at a higher moisture and placed in plastic sealed bags (those white round ones you see in fields).

I use a mix of straw and hay for my nest boxes, my hay is very soft meadow grasses which makes a soft bedding.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m almost out of canned corn. If I don’t want a mutiny on my hands, I better try to get out to Walmart and buy another crate. (24 cans)
Salt free is the best

 

[featherhead007]

I’m almost out of canned corn. If I don’t want a mutiny on my hands, I better try to get out to Walmart and buy another crate. (24 cans)
Salt free is the best

I have miles of cornfields all around me, but the corn is not the sweet corn that my chooks like. They won’t even peck at the stuff!
My fault for spoiling them with the best food I can offer.

 

[rural mouse]

In these parts I'm not sure anybody would differentiate between straw and hay, and all bales for sale are hay I think. But I know there's a difference - is it the grass type? Season cut? I'm not really sure myself.

If I recall correctly, hay is dried grasses (anything mowable) and straw is the stubble from when the grain heads have been removed (so wheat, barley, oat, rye stems only)....

shra

 

[rural mouse]

I heard that Yellowstone is a spa day for cattle, deer, bison , and hottubbers!

The wild life have been known to take advantage of warmer pockets created by the geysers, mud pots, and hot water. They know it's warmer in those areas and hang out when temps get colder than they care for.

like this (when I got to work)....was -12F at home this morning...

https://www.yellowstone.org/bison-in-steam-video/

even as a chick Hector was vigilant

 

[featherhead007]

I have miles of cornfields all around me, but the corn is not the sweet corn that my chooks like. They won’t even peck at the stuff!
My fault for spoiling them with the best food I can offer.

And to expand on this, chooks throughout history have gotten a bad rap! Easy to raise and easier to eat. so I treat my chooks like any other Royal family and feed them well. (Lobster: It’s not just for dinner anymore)!

 

[featherhead007]

The wild life have been known to take advantage of warmer pockets created by the geysers, mud pots, and hot water. They know it's warmer in those areas and hang out when temps get colder than they care for.

View attachment 4032443like this (when I got to work)....was -12F at home this morning...

https://www.yellowstone.org/bison-in-steam-video/


View attachment 4032445even as a chick Hector was vigilant

Bison taking a steam bath!

 

[rural mouse]

@SimpleJenn I just found myself starting on some crochet chickens for my sister's kids. While going through patterns, I found this...

https://ravel.me/hildegard-the-life-size-crochet-chicken


Includes pics with real chickens!


And a chicken tea cozy!!!
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chicken-tea-cosy-animal-teapot-cozy-easter-spring

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I thought about taking pictures for Mugs Monday, myself and my camera do not work when it is 14F outside.

We had a semi warm-up Saturday afternoon and rain which melted all of the snow on the ground. I think I saw my grass for a grand total of 3 hours. Temps plummeted and the rain switched overnight to snow and by daybreak yesterday it was white again. This time around we got about 2 1/2 inches. It is fine powdery snow.

My flock has finally fully adjusted to this weather and conditions. No longer are they hiding out in the coop and horse stalls protesting their lot in life. No, they are out and about in full swing. They are happily digging away on the creekbank just like it is summertime. Poppet has had little Turkey all over the back yard, creek and takes breaks to take over Dirt's stall for warm-up naps. Goose even said weather and temps be darned and laid a egg. First egg in a week and a half.

Myself, I am a wimp and staying inside. I have went out a couple times for just a few minutes to make sure the chickens and the horses have plenty of fresh unfrozen water and food then run back in.

Here is a old picture for Mugs Monday.