Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Tedi is sporting a cute Buckeye Fascinator back there
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How stylish!

 

[BY Bob]

If they are like here you’re seeing them adjusting to the new routine…not necessarily whether they will ultimately “take” confinement well. But do you offer any protected yard space at all, and enough square footage where they are?

I don’t offer supervised free ranging now much at all which is a big change. But having given them an alternative of net covered, electric-fenced space with two different foliage environments, and not offering the free ranging option for some time, they've adapted and seem to be pretty happy making the rounds in there through the day and aren’t asking or trying to go out anymore. They have a good routine of woodsy rhododendron time, fieldsy-wildflower-whatnot time, resting & eating & drinking in and near the covered run on litter time. Rinse, repeat! It will get much smaller for winter, but I’m also adding to the covered run litter space.

Seems like you are balancing safety and variety very well for them.

 

[BY Bob]

We have the enclosed pen attached to our coop. There's a chicken door with access into the free range pen. It's about 100'long x 50'wide.
Here's a couple of fun video's of my girls & roos from 2020.

Here's the coop and enclosed pen.
Our fence is over 80" tall.

The coop in 2020 with a fresh coat of paint and a new nesting box. We used to have bantams, so the nesting box was inside. We had to make room for 20 full size chickens.
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The enclosed pen.
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We added chicken wire to the nesting box for the hot days of summer.
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View of the enclosed pen and gate from the free range pen. The gate is big enough for our tractor. View attachment 4211100View attachment 4211101
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A favorite roosting spot is this volunteer grape behind the enclosed pen.
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Their favorite dust bathing space between the back fence and the back of the enclosed pen.
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Looking towards the far end of the free range pen. A nice sheltered area with rocks, trees and space to dust bathe.
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I love your setup. Thanks for sharing some details.

 

[drstratton]

I love your setup. Thanks for sharing some details.

Thank you. Thanks for letting me share it here and I think I can safely say again...lol

Glad you're back!

 

[BY Bob]

Yes they are beautiful. My favorite of the littles, is the little roo Gizmo And running Running second is Elsa, my little snow princess.
Here’s Giz again for your pleasure:View attachment 4206904

So gorgeous!

 

[BY Bob]

We got four new tan eggs today. Two were actually in a nest box!
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And two were in the pumpkin patch
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Just because
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Great job finding the secret nest!

 

[BY Bob]

Whelp I was wrong about which hen laid that dark egg. Got another one this afternoon. Caught her in the act. It was one of my buffs. Was NOT expecting that. So I ask thee, do I have Buff Marans here, perhaps?

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That is way too dark for an Orpington. Definitely more of a Maran color.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Everyone, I need some help.
So, all of the chickens are currently in this area of the yard.

However they cannot get along. Tony is attacking them as well as Parmesan and I need them to get along because I plan to put them in the same coop together when the weather gets colder. The problem is because the coop (AKA shed) is small and I can only imagine them fighting non stop during the cold season. These little ones are like wild birds, always running around, getting scared and all that. Can anyone give me any tips to calm the little ones down and stop Tony and the twins from attacking them? It's getting to a point... I know that Ancona chickens (Raven) have an active temperament. Ameraucana chickens (Hawk) tend to be curious and calm. Hawk seems to show the curious part but the calm part, not so much.

 

[BY Bob]

Integration time has arrived -

The little bantams have moved out to coop two days ago. I grabbed the wire crate our puppy outgrew and put up cardboard barrier that lets the chicks have a small spot where the big kids can’t bother them. Set up food and water right outside of it. So it is separate from the big kids and the eat and hide if need be. First night they got stuck outside after the auto door closed so we had to fix that but tonight they were all inside the coop when we went out to check on them!

No injuries though the big kids are harassing them some. From what I can tell this is just the way of the chicken. I am just glad this set up seems to be working and they remain safe and sound.

I haven’t gotten to take any photos but I snag some tomorrow.

I swear it was yesterday they were this big.

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Always an exciting time. Setup sounds well thought out.

 

[bgmathteach]

That leghorn personality. They are their own birds.

Yes, Apache is too smart for her own good!!!!

My one separate pen, I toss scratch feed into the run so when I go into the mobile coop to let them out - they are focused on the run and not the 'people door' so they don't get out.

Well, one morning I was walking out to that separate pen and swore I heard footsteps behind me. I glance over my shoulder, and don't see anything - shrug my shoulders and start walking again...and again I hear footsteps!!!! (what the heck???). This time I fully turn around...and there was petite Apache. (how did she make enough sound for me to hear on soft, moist grass??). She stopped with one foot in the air - mid step. I turn around & start walking...she does too! Well, she had learned that when I toss scratch grain into the run through the fence, a few pieces always hit the fence and bounce out. She had learned this and would always come out shortly after I was there to pick up the few scraps...this time she was following me! Dirty (smart) bugger!