Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Candiru09]

You have a lovely flock, How many chooks do you have?

I have 13
12 hens and a rooster

 

[drstratton]

Good morning all. I have to wait until my husband gets back home. I didn't get out early enough to catch Sable. I had a shot in the bottom of my foot on Monday and chasing a hen is out of the question, don't want to rupture anything. I'll report back once I catch her.

 

[Ponypoor]

Some sad news

I took some time off before I was ready to post but I lost 4 of the 5 bantams I got from Myers. I only have Elma left and the two Silkies from Red Barn. All of SFH’s are just fine.

I believe it was a dog or maybe a fox. I left them free ranging for maybe a half hr. because the kids needed me and when I came back out they were not alive and all the others had hidden.

Fly high Gemma, Gia, Maple, and Oakley.

I do not think I will be getting anymore Bantams. Pebble, Nyx, and Elma will be it I think. Maybe next spring I will look at some smaller breeds like the Shetland’s to cross the divide without risking more bantams.

Oh no! I am so very sad to hear this, I would say dog rather than fox which would haul at least one off to eat, dogs just kill for fun.

Gosh, sending hugs to you and the kids.


Fly high wee kiddies, Twister, Princess and the rest are waiting.

 

[RoyalChick]

In my opinion, both would be good. More roost options: lowish tree branches/sturdy bushes(that double as places to hide under), higher "branches"(semi- ladder "stepping stones"), tree stumps, bricks, points to see above, places to go under (and sit on top of) are ALWAYS good. Even a semi-solid curtain modeled after those bead door curtains can be great. I've noticed that favorite hang outs allow birds to see out but not be seen (dappled leaf canopies). Duplicating synthetically is difficult, but you (and @ChicoryBlue ) have lots of ingenuity and plenty of minds to help spark ideas.

Another "roost" idea I've toyed with (and will probably implement if I'm ever able to build a bigger coop/coop-run combo) is a "tree stand": modeled after a coat stand, set in a solid base and fastened to the ceiling, with 2-3 foot "branches" extending out at most 4 feet at assorted heights in all directions. A 4x4 would be sturdy enough for the vertical, with the branches being 2 x 4 fastened flat side to the vertical or varying diameters found tree limbs, some entirely level and some more like natural branches coming off a tree. If there's a natural more level area bending off the end or a sturdy split at one end for the end perch, even better. Given the right branch, it could even be centered on the vertical. Change the face the next "branch" up is mounted to and you've built yourself an indoor (or in run) roosting "tree", taking up only the area of the length of the branches. How to do the "leafy" curtain....still mulling that one.

Two people a thousand miles apart and one brain between us - that is exactly what I was daydreaming about.
I may not be able to do it as wonderfully as we have in our mind’s eye but I am still mulling.
On the curtains I already use one just outside to create a visual block for hawks. It is bamboo beads and I call it my hippy curtain. I have already thought about how to make one myself (should be easy) and inside I have a fabric one across a nest box instead of a solid curtain.
Lot to think about and of all of the stumps are the easiest to implement - just need to roll and lug!

 

[RoyalChick]

Some sad news

I took some time off before I was ready to post but I lost 4 of the 5 bantams I got from Myers. I only have Elma left and the two Silkies from Red Barn. All of SFH’s are just fine.

I believe it was a dog or maybe a fox. I left them free ranging for maybe a half hr. because the kids needed me and when I came back out they were not alive and all the others had hidden.

Fly high Gemma, Gia, Maple, and Oakley.

I do not think I will be getting anymore Bantams. Pebble, Nyx, and Elma will be it I think. Maybe next spring I will look at some smaller breeds like the Shetland’s to cross the divide without risking more bantams.

Oh no!
I am so sorry. That is devastating.

 

[Ponypoor]

I have 13
12 hens and a rooster

That’s goodly amt of chooks. A good number for your rooster.

 

[RoyalChick]

Perches are good, but Mr. Chips will be able to jump even better than they, farther & faster with each leap, right up there too. Here, Hazel & the BO's wouldn't stay on the perch feeling safe, like "Go ahead and try and mate me here, you can't do it!" No, they are just all panicked in escape mode and jump or flap off down to the ground again.

At least Shehnai's legs are that way now, versus the plump large-framed Orpingtons efforts, and Hazel is five, I'm not sure how painlessly she jumps. They aren't fast, and Shehnai followed them up the perches no problem, like a kung-fu movie. It's like having a giraffe in amongst zebras, his legs are massively long and strong in comparison. But faster and more agile than a giraffe. He trots along in this graceful bouncing motion and jumps with ease like a gazelle, hardly breaking a sweat. Maybe more like a leopard? It's the wild kingdom over here!

Hazel and the B.O's prefer running low and mostly evading, hopefully out of sight. They can't outrun him. A few strides and he's covered the ground they're scrambling across.

Maybe also the pullets are a little smarter about getting away and using under-hidey-spots because not only are they lighter and more agile but they are still in the "we are tiny chicks and can fit under and in everything, we go everywhere!" mentality. I saw one use the low pallet to get away from him for instance, but never saw Hazel or the BO's use it except to stand on. Also just a few days ago saw a pullet use the low table too. They both can get under it but she's faster than he is fitting through it. This whole situation is all new to the Bigs and they have been adults for a few years.

Not sure I've even seen him run at full speed. He hasn't had to run away from anything yet and his instinct seems to tell him not to. He makes warning calls and stands tall and looks at the problem (hawks, crows, woodchuck, etc). I've only seen him retreat once right after a warning, to under a shelter, but it was very close, only a few feet away (and none of the idiot pullets followed him).

@rural mouse @bgmathteach

Helpful. I will have a big range in size from Piglet and Cookie to Geronimo and Tassels. So I am thinking 3D obstacle course to provide for everyone!

 

[RoyalChick]

I read that as ‘Flaps her feet’ hahahahaha it was quite the visual in my mind!

Well honestly she does flap her feet.
I must get video of her running - I really think she gets lift from those silly feet!

 

[Ponypoor]

Well honestly she does flap her feet.
I must get video of her running - I really think she gets lift from those silly feet!

The Noirans look hilarious when they run, it’s like they are waddling like a duck! Henny is the same way.

This morning I stepped on Virginie’s foot feathers and she couldn’t walk - I heard this squawking, looked down and realized what happened. Sorry girl! I need to get a photo of them again, they are growing!

 

[rural mouse]

Two people a thousand miles apart and one brain between us - that is exactly what I was daydreaming about.
I may not be able to do it as wonderfully as we have in our mind’s eye but I am still mulling.
On the curtains I already use one just outside to create a visual block for hawks. It is bamboo beads and I call it my hippy curtain. I have already thought about how to make one myself (should be easy) and inside I have a fabric one across a nest box instead of a solid curtain.
Lot to think about and of all of the stumps are the easiest to implement - just need to roll and lug!

Re: roost tree. Most difficult part would be securing the vertical. I'd been thinking a nice long 4x4 or railroad tie sort of thing but just had the thought of one of those round wooden fence posts. It's already designed to be partially set in the ground and treated to withstand weather. Could be done with a post hole digger/auger and set in cement for added durability. I would still want the top secured as well, so one long enough to reach the ceiling above ground would be ideal....unless 1 or 2 of the branches were anchored to a couple of walls (set out from a corner).....then the top could have a branch or star or platform or be just the top of the post and one (or more) could play "vulture" and sit on the top of the tree.