Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

I say try. Put some of the refrigerated ones in too. Worse that happens: nothing hatches.

yes this 2, especially if they were unwashed.

 

[Sylvester017]

I am dealing with this as well. Integration is dicey unless a mama raises the chicks. Even then there is some drama though considerably less.

First the Roos one SFH Roo and one Silkie Roo sighh. The silkie is definitely getting picked on and harassed but never to the point of injury. They are both the same age so definitely in the hormonal flood teen phase.

The newbies are also being harassed but it seems a bit less than Pebble. (side note: Pebble is kinda a jerk and does legit bring the heat on himself a lot of the time.) TBH I feel like Thyme is being super patient he intervenes primarily when Pebble is being aggressive with the big girls or with humans. The SFH girls are the ones randomly chasing his little fuzzy butt.

I have that older coop that opens into the run. I am thinking of taking down the roosts in there completely. And putting in hiding spots this would make a kind of indoor run space. It already has an automatic door so it just needs a ramp.

I don’t want them to roost at night in there though it’s not as secure as the new coop is.

Thoughts? Is this a good idea or would they just end up sleeping in there instead?

Current space when confined is:
10x8 coop - 2 separate roosting areas and a large communal nest box.
Run 16x11
Possible additional indoor run space (old coop) is 8x16

In the end we all do whatever funds, space, & security we can provide for our feathered friends. There is a formula for how much minimum sq ft to give ea chicken in a coop & a minimum sq footage for run space per chicken. We have way more than the recommendation after trial & error. Every owner's environment is different too & requires alterations. First IMO is adequate space & then predator security & then flock breed compatibility. Just my 2-&-a-half cents I listen to others' advice & then apply whatever ideas might work for us.

 

[Sylvester017]

PONY... ER... DOGGY SUNDAY!
DH is puppysitting DD'S pups again... for 2 wks

Zonked out to the world

 

[bgmathteach]

Or a log splitter. Might be cheaper to rent a splitter, a small chipper, and a chain saw (24"+ blade)

well, but I HAVE to hire someone to take the remains of that one and the other one down as it is too dangerous for us to fell it.....and it could do a whole lot more damage than what is already done....with a crane & ropes they will take it down in sections in a safe, controlled fashion....and if the have a commercial grade chipper (which they should), most of the branches would go through that and it would just be a matter of the trunks.

10x8 coop - 2 separate roosting areas and a large communal nest box.
Run 16x11

I think that you should add a couple smaller, low roosts. They can be temporary. (I made one out of a plastic 'outside side table') screw a scrap block of wood at opposite, diagonal corners, then screw a piece of 2x2 or 2x3 cut to length to each of those two blocks and 'viola' a lower in height, ~ 2' roost....can be moved later...gives them space to run under plus another roost in the coop. The beauty of this roost is that it is lower than (I think) your primary permanent roosts, so the older/bigs will prefer those higher ones, but this still gets the youngsters up roosting. And, if you no longer need it in the coop later on, it becomes another hide/run under/through/roost on area in the run as both obstacles and enrichment. I got mine for free....you could probably hit a tag/garage sale and find something that would work just as well. ?an old wooden chair (add a roost on the seat to get them roosting) A night stand? (take the flimsy back off if it is enclosed so it becomes a 'run through' as well as a roost on top, etc/, etc., Ohhh...low coffee tables work WONDERFUL, too!

I don’t want them to roost at night in there though it’s not as secure as the new coop is.

I agree with @drstratton - put it in the run.....also gives them extra protected space for when it rains/snows, etc. That said, does it by any chance have 2 doors/openings? Less likely for them to get trapped in there by the bigs if so.

 

[Sylvester017]

Bell-bottom stars name ideas if you decide Cookie isn't a permanent name


https://vintageshowbiz.com/bell-bottoms-70s/

I already like Cookie for Cookies & Cream but your Bell Bottoms idea is cute too... like Belle or Bella, etc. Cute little chick that can have so many "sweet" C&C names

 

[Sylvester017]

Firewood, furniture woodworking, bedding (need a wood chipper for that).

Check Craigslist and Facebook marketplace for someone LOOKING for any of those. You might be able to find a less financially painful deal. If you were near by, I'd jump on the firewood option.

last resort, get the wood chipper and turn it all into bedding for your coops.

& wood chips would be good as garden bed mulch cover too. Some burned wood ash is excellent trace mineral content for growing veggies too. We can't burn wood in our suburbs & have to buy wood ash for our garden beds. Soil gets depleted in growing food veggies & has to have additives in the soil for consecutive plantings.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes this.
And if you need to hire a professional tree service they should give you the chips for free. Actually they like doing that because otherwise they have to pay to dispose of them.

As long as not hardwood shavings do that. The Power company here was trimming trees and they gave me a load of wood chips - I used them for mulch around the gardens.

 

[Sylvester017]

Some, maybe. All? No. We had a 45 pound springer spaniel who climbed the fence to get out. His paws fit neatly into the links. He did have to have a corner to climb in, so a 2x12 across it with a chunk of concrete on top ended his adventures.....once we figured out how he was getting out, double secured it to the house, reinforced the ground all the way around (thought he was digging out). Size wise, anything average fox to large coyote size could do something similar. And might figure out how to use a flat section to do so. They also can dig, so finding a sheltered place to dig under a chain link is also very possible.

@RebeccaBoyd
For keeping them out, my vote goes to electrified fencing too.

There are different safety issues for us city dwellers from rural dwellers. Our city Raccoons & Possums are good chainlink climbers too. & even though cats get over by jumping we've seen them climb up chainlink too. & of course neighborhood bratty kids or vagrants love chainlink to climb over too & bend it all out of shape! Dogs look for easier ways like digging under. We finally pulled out the very old chainlink on the property to install block wall & iron bar fencing for more safety for the hens... and us.

2011 old broken chainlink

2016 block wall & added privacy redwood on top & iron bar fence for front yard.

2025 the backyard block wall almost completely not seen thru our Citrus and Pomegranate trees now

 

[Ponypoor]

& wood chips would be good as garden bed mulch cover too. Some burned wood ash is excellent trace mineral content for growing veggies too. We can't burn wood in our suburbs & have to buy wood ash for our garden beds. Soil gets depleted in growing food veggies & has to have additives in the soil for consecutive plantings.
View attachment 4212634

Good old horse and cow poop

And chicken poop too

 

[Ponypoor]

Wouldn't hurt to try with whatever/all eggs she has....if only a few are fertile and hatch, then that would be okay - she only needs one Roo, correct?

Yep my thoughts eggsactly.

She’ll get all pullets hahahaha. I have all the Roos with the silkies