Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Aww, poor baby!

Meanwhile her appetite is still great and if there are treats involved she can run like the wind!

 

[featherhead007]

If you can set something up sheltered from the prevailing winds (most common direction, coldest winds) by something solid like a stone wall on 2 sides (maybe more diamond shaped so wind splits to either side)....View attachment 4231455playing with ideas....wind diversions....so basically build a maze with the coop in the middle. Wouldn't have to be a full maze, just set the walls across the opening in the next layer. Granted, more long term project, but could be upgraded to more durable and/or planted with trees/shrubs.

Doesn't help much with coop NOW unless there is a semi-sheltered location to START with, then build the windbreaks off of that.

In settling the Great Plains (Northern Mississippi River, Missouri River areas), people planted wind breaks 3-5 rows wide around the house and barn area. My brother's in-laws have 1 with the outermost a double row of berry type bushes, a double...or triple row (offset from each other) of deciduous trees with the inner most a double row of evergreen spruce trees. The windbreak wrapped 3 sides of the house/yard/barns area with a corn field on the 4th. The whole of the Plains gets wind incessantly, from any direction, and winter winds sweep down from the arctic circle. Northern winds are critical to break up. Summer/fall can get winds out of the southwest or northwest or anywhere in-between. East winds are rare, so that direction is rarely blocked.

Another thing to note. Completely enclosed creates more wind resistance which causes more damage in high winds. The idea is to separate and break up the winds so it's not as strong while still allowing it through. From the sounds of things, your place gets wind from all directions. That's why I'm thinking fully enclose the coop area with open ended walls. The wind has to change direction so much getting through that it loses much of the bite.

Long-term building project, start with the innermost walls, and if you've got a region where 2 stone walls come together, start there and build out.

Edit:

For that batter, building a baffles at the door would also help. Inside or outside doesn't really matter, but run some sort of blockage across that too.

I agree with wind breaks. Central Minnesota (family farm) had breaks surrounding the property. Not hard to find, rows of trees all in the same area, house, barns and equipment bldgs. Outside of that, miles of open fields. Corn, beans, and other crops (seasonal) driving miles to get to the farm from anywhere. I sure don’t miss that bone chilling cold !!

 

[featherhead007]

Confused me as well!

Me confused? Maybe I wasn’t really confused yes I was- no I wasn’t.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I read that as why isn't he trying to mate the BOs....if he could corner one alone...

Not sure what you mean here? He could easily get one alone and run after her but he doesn’t. Tedi is not very fast. But even a lone BO can step toward him and he’ll move off. Not sure how they’re pulling that off with him but he doesn’t try with them at all these days.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The deed is done….

Spoiler: Sorry Bob but it had to be done

Spoiler: And now they can play on the pile of branches!

Before
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After!
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They can see a whole lot better now, true. I don’t think they look half-bad, though they are quite different from how they were. You always said you wanted a couple of Pavlovskayas!

 

[Marie2020]

For Pony Sunday I give you Margo's cow

Never let it be said Newfoundlanders don't have a sense of fun!

 

[rural mouse]

Not sure what you mean here? He could easily get one alone and run after her but he doesn’t. Tedi is not very fast. But even a lone BO can step toward him and he’ll move off. Not sure how they’re pulling that off with him but he doesn’t try with them at all these days.

My thought on that then....he's tried. Each has thumped him, firmly enough he's decided retreat is the better part of valor.

 

[Ponypoor]

I agree with wind breaks. Central Minnesota (family farm) had breaks surrounding the property. Not hard to find, rows of trees all in the same area, house, barns and equipment bldgs. Outside of that, miles of open fields. Corn, beans, and other crops (seasonal) driving miles to get to the farm from anywhere. I sure don’t miss that bone chilling cold !!

Any place with flat open spaces is horrible for wind. Which is why I didn’t like Manitoba when working out there.

When I moved here we planted 100s of trees both deciduous and coniferous ones. These days it’s a wonderful place for the chooks to hide under year round with those coniferous trees. As long as there isn’t too much snow, the trees are good at keeping snow from accumulating at the base of those trees.

 

[Ponypoor]

They can see a whole lot better now, true. I don’t think they look half-bad, though they are quite different from how they were. You always said you wanted a couple of Pavlovskayas!

This is true! I can just pass them off at those!

Yes they can see much better, it’s amazing actually how different they acted. At first they were looking everywhere at everything, acting terrified! Then they saw the pile of branches hahahaha. Oh Bob is right they sure can fly. And hop about on the branches!

They’ll be safer also with the main gang, it’s time they were out with them in the barn during the day, and I want them roosting at night in the Hen House.

 

[featherhead007]

I had to argue with Rooster Cogburn tonight. He was the last one in and he wanted me to keep the run gate open, for easy access to the yard in the morning. When I called “bed time!!” Everyone came running, but he’s at that stupid stage. So is Gizmo, but Giz pays attention. Why are there always chicken issues? Drama I don’t need!