Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Run Improvements

I have been on “vacation” all week, and we got some improvements made to the chicken and duck runs.

Tired of having to duck or have our hats knocked off by the “low side” of the netting over the run, plus wanted to extend it over the duck run. So we built a big frame about 8” tall to hang it all the way across.

Old version
View attachment 4138416

Frame up
View attachment 4138425

Netting stretched
View attachment 4138424

Sunshade tarp added. Used shade cloth this time, for more air movement and so it doesn’t fill up with water when it rains. It’s held on by a total of 20 tie downs, so hopefully will handle wind without the eyelets ripping out so easy.

Top view
View attachment 4138422

Underneath
View attachment 4138420

View attachment 4138421

Also finally got the blocks around the “duck pond” to help prevent mud and erosion. Had some gravel down but this will help even more.
View attachment 4138417

Those are some major projects. Great job!

 

[BY Bob]

I think I would need to go the 'in their water' route. Can you imagine me trying to dose each of nearly 100 birds 1 by one... AND keeping track of which ones were dosed versus not? It would be hard to get them one by one out of the coop without some escaping!

Not Very practical for you at all. What do you use to dose their water?

 

[featherhead007]

Afternoon in the chicken room, I have five of the six little ones. They needed some air conditioning. Two twisted sisters:

 

[bgmathteach]

Run Improvements

I have been on “vacation” all week, and we got some improvements made to the chicken and duck runs.

Tired of having to duck or have our hats knocked off by the “low side” of the netting over the run, plus wanted to extend it over the duck run. So we built a big frame about 8” tall to hang it all the way across.

Old version
View attachment 4138416

Frame up
View attachment 4138425

Netting stretched
View attachment 4138424

Sunshade tarp added. Used shade cloth this time, for more air movement and so it doesn’t fill up with water when it rains. It’s held on by a total of 20 tie downs, so hopefully will handle wind without the eyelets ripping out so easy.

Top view
View attachment 4138422

Underneath
View attachment 4138420

View attachment 4138421

Also finally got the blocks around the “duck pond” to help prevent mud and erosion. Had some gravel down but this will help even more.
View attachment 4138417

That looks GREAT! What did you use for the pond? A premade pond?

 

[bgmathteach]

View attachment 4138562View attachment 4138563

looks like you have a new worker! You'l have to lighten up on the spring control, though - seems like a bit heavy of a 'pull' for ?him?

 

[featherhead007]

 

[featherhead007]

 

[bgmathteach]

Not Very practical for you at all. What do you use to dose their water?

Actually - I usually 'dose' with pumpkin seeds. Chop them up some (food processor), weigh, and mix in feed daily for ?3 days?, the again 10 days later. I do that every fall.

Once i dosed with pellets - but I didn't like that at all - I was so uncertain each chicken would get dosed!
(mix 1 lb with 313 lbs of feed ....given how chickens will pick though and how little they eat - given the ratio- I was not very confident about it.)

I would love to have access to a liquid doser!!!! (But it needs to be over the counter - I don't have a poultry vet, so no one to prescribe for me.)

 

[bgmathteach]

Musical boxesView attachment 4138638View attachment 4138639

Just like Goldilocks and the 3 bears.....
Hmmmm, nope, this one isn't right
.....Hmmm, nope this one is too far from the action......
Ahhhh, yup, this one is just right!

 

[BY Bob]

Actually - I usually 'dose' with pumpkin seeds. Chop them up some (food processor), weigh, and mix in feed daily for ?3 days?, the again 10 days later. I do that every fall.

Once i dosed with pellets - but I didn't like that at all - I was so uncertain each chicken would get dosed!
(mix 1 lb with 313 lbs of feed ....given how chickens will pick though and how little they eat - given the ratio- I was not very confident about it.)

I would love to have access to a liquid doser!!!! (But it needs to be over the counter - I don't have a poultry vet, so no one to prescribe for me.)

Safeguard for goats will work. It's over the counter at TSC. I just don't know if can dose their water. It is a liquid.