Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

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I would love to hear any suggestions or thoughts as to ways this could possibly work out. I know I really can't protect the kitties no matter what I do because they are outdoors, but I am concerned about raising the risk by having wild birds attracted to feed in a coop. These cats are ruthless hunters and I don't want them catching a sick bird.
 
ILoveDaffy said:
Well, bird flu has been reported in a county neighboring to me. I posted in the bird flu thread asking for advice, but since losing Biscuit, I am more concerned for my cats than getting chickens. I am so disappointed about this. I really wanted a flock this year.
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It’s going to be around forever not going anywhere. The best thing to do is mitigate the possibility of wild birds coming in contact with yours.

Keep feed and water inside the coop, don’t feed wild birds, cover the coop/run with mesh to keep birds out, and pray they don’t poop in your run. Not much you can do about that one. And that’s my huge worry.

I think migrating water fowl are you biggest worry. If you can control them on you property you should be good.

In the past I have worried about the barn swallows that nest in here, I have managed them by keeping them here to collect mud for nesting, I throw buckets of water outside the barn back door for them and they use it. Also they eat insects which I am hoping are mot in contact with water fowl.

But this year I am going to have to seriously rethink the whole barn swallow thing. Maybe let them roost in the hay mow rather than the downstairs. I don’t my know. But I am worried.
 
ILoveDaffy said:
I would love to hear any suggestions or thoughts as to ways this could possibly work out. I know I really can't protect the kitties no matter what I do because they are outdoors, but I am concerned about raising the risk by having wild birds attracted to feed in a coop. These cats are ruthless hunters and I don't want them catching a sick bird.
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Outdoor moggies - yep that’s a tough one.

But keeping all feed inside the actual coop (not the run) will help keep birds away. And in the process protect the moggies so they don’t have so many birds to hunt.

I don’t think song birds are as high a risk as water fowl though, so if you can control the number of birds around then you can control the exposure to both chooks and moggies.
 
Phew! Got a bunch of chicken chores done today! Fresh water, fresh nesting material, cleaned out some of the soiled bedding in their coop, added fresh bedding on top, spread the soiled bedding around the run to get mixed in with the dirt and leaves, added another board in front of the door to allow a slightly deeper layer of bedding (again), one in front of the nest boxes to keep them from kicking stuff out as much, more grit and oyster shells because they tore through them... I think that's it :th

Sybil and Esme both laid this morning, still waiting on Magrat, I'll check again a couple times before I close everything up. But I wouldn't be surprised if she only lays 3 or 4 times a week.
 
Piglet showed some interest in nibbling eggshells. I am hoping that means she is gearing up to lay.
A year ago I froze some eggs but I have used those up so I am waiting on Piglet!

Pooh doesn’t look close to laying. And she really has changed color after her molt.
Here she is today (with muddy feet) sporting a multi-colored mottled vest.
1738446096015.jpeg


And here she is last summer wearing orange. Quite a difference!
1738446466902.jpeg
 
TOMTE said:
Phew! Got a bunch of chicken chores done today! Fresh water, fresh nesting material, cleaned out some of the soiled bedding in their coop, added fresh bedding on top, spread the soiled bedding around the run to get mixed in with the dirt and leaves, added another board in front of the door to allow a slightly deeper layer of bedding (again), one in front of the nest boxes to keep them from kicking stuff out as much, more grit and oyster shells because they tore through them... I think that's it :th

Sybil and Esme both laid this morning, still waiting on Magrat, I'll check again a couple times before I close everything up. But I wouldn't be surprised if she only lays 3 or 4 times a week.
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So a normal day eh? 😉 for me at least!

Well Georgie laid another egg today, I told her thanks I would add it to the 21 dozen I now have….

Thankfully my regular weekly client is back from Florida, so he will get 4 dozen on Monday, I’ll give a few dozen to my neighbour and 4 dozen to my Vet’s son. That takes care of 11 dozen…. Of course by Monday I’ll have another 2 or three dozen

:eek:

Now that’s real chicken math!
 

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