Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Good night everyone ️

Good night Marie

 

[Sylvester017]

Poppet update.

She is angry and all puffed up. She has not committed yet to setting on nothing. She was out and about when I went out a few minutes ago to refill their feeder and waterer. Overnight she added more feathers to her nest so she is serious and getting close to setting. Since that one night over a week and a half ago before she started back laying I have been religiously collecting eggs from that pen. As much as I love silkies, and highly recommend them to everyone let this be a warning. They do not need a nest of eggs left alone for a couple days to go broody. They will brood air and dirt when the mood strikes. And with some hens, the mood strikes often.

Silkies are terrific & determined broodies. They'll brood over anything. The younger the Silkies the more determined they seem to be.

A younger VIOLET ~ 2013 ~ she decided to hatch a cucumber slice in the nestbox!

 

[Ponypoor]

For. me:

Shade cloth on open areas of the runs,
I have coolers with nipple waterers, they get a large block of ice every morning,
and I put some water & ice in 'wading pools' (i.e. short rubber dishes) that the chickens like to 'wade in' in the heat to cool off.

When it is really bad, I also freeze some beverage containers (1 & 2 liter soda bottles, 20 oz powerade/gatorade bottles) full of water and bury then in their dirt bath bin and put some in a corner of he coop for 'colling stations'. NOTE: I wrap the bottles in an old wash cloth or hand towel (depending on the size bottle), then put that in a paper bag. The towel acts as a little bit of insulation so it thaws a bit mroe slowly - plus absorbs condensation...the paper bag protects it from chicken poop so I don't freak out about it going back in the freezer for another use .

I bought a couple of battery operated fans (I don't yet have electricity out there), and place them strategically in the runs. (they come in at night to recharge)

I will also moisten areas of the run in the shade that they use as alternate dust bathing spots.

Thats all I got!

I like the idea of the wading pools. I will try this for my gang this summer.

 

[featherhead007]

But if I get a few silkie chicks from Shannon I will have to give them back! I get to enjoy the chicks them hand them back

Just like grandparents do!

 

[RoyalChick]

For. me:

Shade cloth on open areas of the runs,
I have coolers with nipple waterers, they get a large block of ice every morning,
and I put some water & ice in 'wading pools' (i.e. short rubber dishes) that the chickens like to 'wade in' in the heat to cool off.

When it is really bad, I also freeze some beverage containers (1 & 2 liter soda bottles, 20 oz powerade/gatorade bottles) full of water and bury then in their dirt bath bin and put some in a corner of he coop for 'colling stations'. NOTE: I wrap the bottles in an old wash cloth or hand towel (depending on the size bottle), then put that in a paper bag. The towel acts as a little bit of insulation so it thaws a bit mroe slowly - plus absorbs condensation...the paper bag protects it from chicken poop so I don't freak out about it going back in the freezer for another use .

I bought a couple of battery operated fans (I don't yet have electricity out there), and place them strategically in the runs. (they come in at night to recharge)

I will also moisten areas of the run in the shade that they use as alternate dust bathing spots.

Thats all I got!

I tried the wading pool idea but they weren't interested. I think I need to put a rock in the middle like an island.
I like the insulated water bottle idea. May try that this year.

 

[featherhead007]

Good night everyone ️

Good night Marie

 

[Sylvester017]

I like the idea of the wading pools. I will try this for my gang this summer.

Because our Leghorns would stand in water dishes is why we switched to nipple waterers & turned on a sprinkler too for chickens to wade in.

 

[RoyalChick]

Because our Leghorns would stand in water dishes is why we switched to nipple waterers & turned on a sprinkler too for chickens to wade in.

Of mine only Pooh has ever stood in the water bowl. Strange.

 

[featherhead007]

I tried the wading pool idea but they weren't interested. I think I need to put a rock in the middle like an island.
I like the insulated water bottle idea. May try that this year.

My whole back 40 is turned into a water park on very hot days. I’m not worried about the wastewater, it goes directly back into the aquifer. The property was once a riverbed, but now it’s full of life and rich soil.

 

[Marie2020]

But if I get a few silkie chicks from Shannon I will have to give them back! I get to enjoy the chicks them hand them back

Sighs
Here we go again