Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Good morning / afternoon everyone - have a great day!

For Pony Sunday we had a Beaver dam collapse which cause road damage on Friday. They are incredible builders but even they have engineering failures it seems!

https://www.ctvnews.ca/barrie/article/beaver-dam-collapse-forces-emergency-closure-on-muskoka-roads/

Proof that you should never get mama beaver angry!

 

[featherhead007]

Big Scare

We has a near miss today. I nearly lost Hattie to the high heat.

This happened today when the temp was around 90°F (32C). The coop at the time was 92°F.

I heard this sound in the backyard and I have never heard a chicken make this noise before. It took me a while to determine it was coming from the coop. The nestbox to be specific.

I went around and opened the nest box as I was trying to see her face. I actually caught her laying the egg. If you listen close you can hear it hit the nestbox floor.

She left the nestbox and went out into the yard.

She was walking with her head held high and her tail down with her wings stabilizing her.

Sadly, Aurora saw her and decided now was the time to rid herself of her long term enemy. She helped on Hattie and started pecking her in the head.

Fortunately, I was not to far behind Hattie and got there quickly. No time for video. I scooped her up and brought her into the house.

This was her state when I got her into the house.

She sat in my lap for a while and then she wanted down. So I put her down and she wandered over to the sink and laid down on the coop floor. The air-conditioning blows right out across the kitchen floor so I let her go.

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She would not drink or eat any watermelon. She just lay there panting.

Since she was comfortable, I went out and got the dog crate. I set it up in my office and she is resting there now.

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I have decided to keep her inside all night in the coop air-conditioning.

I am very concerned about reintroducing her tomorrow. I am hopeful that with her feeling better Aurora will leave her alone. I hope i don't need to intervene.

How is Hattie this morning?

 

[featherhead007]

A while back we posted an article about the EU developing vaccines - different countries took on different species (chickens, turkeys, ducks & geese). I think Turkey & France were 2 of the other countries - can't remember the 4th atm.

I think that Turkey was trying new vaccines on turkeys,

 

[Ponypoor]

It is awful. 90% humidity. Even before the heat of the day really kicks in it is unbearable outside. I only go out to place blocks of ice underneath broody Tassels who I now suspect of pretending to be broody so she can get the free ice delivery service!
Yup. Just checked the camera and there she is settled down exactly where I placed the ice brick.
Next time I go out with a new brick I will put a small fan on her to try and blow the ice-air onto her face.
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Oh I wouldn’t put it past her to be doing that I am sure she will appreciate that fan!

I am keeping the door to the feedroom closed as it’s cooler in here, might bring Red in here also. It’s too sudden and too fast for this heat! What ever happened to easing into the summer season?

Keeping that cooler/fan on for the nest boxes.

 

[Ponypoor]

Proof that you should never get mama beaver angry!

I was trying to see if it was an old abandoned beaver pond. When the supply of trees dwindle they move on, and when the dam breaks the flooded area left behind becomes a meadow rich in silty soil - trees eventually grow again and over time the beavers will
Move back.

I am going out to flood some puddles for the chooks to paddle in - it’s very hot and steamy here. And we all know how much they love to splash around in the water

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The brooder setup here, hopefully a far cry from Chickatraz! (@featherhead007). Added more Up places, and rearranged it some for landing runways and an alley for foot chases!

I bought two of the ~40x40 ones, they zip together on the outside, and I clipped the inner bits together too at chick height and covered the walkway. They make a one-piece double one but the zippered doors are on opposite sides which didn't work for me. It doesn't have a floor so I used cardboard and taped it down.

 

[featherhead007]

The brooder setup here, hopefully a far cry from Chickatraz! (@featherhead007). Added more Up places, and rearranged it some for landing runways and an alley for foot chases!
View attachment 4154520
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View attachment 4154522
I bought two of the ~40x40 ones, they zip together on the outsude, and I clipped the inner bits together too at chick height and covered the walkway. They make a one-piece double one but the zippered doors are on opposite sides which didn't work for me. It doesn't have a floor so I used cardboard and taped it down.

That’s great! Now they won’t be so bored. It looks like they even use the walker!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I was trying to see if it was an old abandoned beaver pond. When the supply of trees dwindle they move on, and when the dam breaks the flooded area left behind becomes a meadow rich in silty soil - trees eventually grow again and over time the beavers will
Move back.

I am going out to flood some puddles for the chooks to paddle in - it’s very hot and steamy here. And we all know how much they love to splash around in the water

View attachment 4154523

I love this picture, it is so beautiful. Change the hen to Mrs. E, and I get to see this sight every day. George really has become the spitting image of his daddy. I swear he is Mr. P made over. Right down to the fact that the other night he let someone peck a blood feather in his topknot and now has a good scab in it.

George, unless it was one of the 2 momma hens you do NOT allow the girls to peck you like that young man.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I am excited about a event that is happening down at the barn this coming Sunday. For the first time ever a trade day is happening.

Horses, poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits you name it, it is welcome. They are also allowing vendors to set up yard sale items which has mom happy.

Me, mom and my sis are going to set up. Mom and sis have yard sale stuff "junk". I will have eggs. Eating eggs and thank goodness the silkies are back to laying as I can also have hatching eggs. I've shared their post to all my local facebook poultry and livestock groups for them. I hope my chicken people come out in full force.

I am not actively seeking anything new, but I am not above trading some hatching eggs for something that catches my fancy. Or outright buying something. I have a empty incubator that would love to be filled with either different silkie eggs, polish eggs, buff orp eggs or Americauna eggs. If there is a blue egg laying Americauna hen or Easter egger brought down there I will buy it for sis. I also can see mom having me buy a buff orp pullet or two if there is any offered.

 

[Ponypoor]

I love this picture, it is so beautiful. Change the hen to Mrs. E, and I get to see this sight every day. George really has become the spitting image of his daddy. I swear he is Mr. P made over. Right down to the fact that the other night he let someone peck a blood feather in his topknot and now has a good scab in it.

George, unless it was one of the 2 momma hens you do NOT allow the girls to peck you like that young man.

Gosh I hope he doesn’t allow this pattern to happen like with his Dada, poor Mr P is destined to be scraggly looking it seems! Today he is in the run separated from the others, he has his favourite ladies with him. Well minus Betty and Laverne of course.