Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Kelly, I searched for Cochins here in the valley. None to be found. I didn’t want to fly to Arizona, just to get one bird

 

[Candiru09]

We've had many feathered feet birds ~ both Silkies & Breda's... our climate is mild... no snow. However, I've seen owners shovel snowpaths for their Silkies. All depends on what you want to do for your feather footed birds. They are hardy, just so caked mud doesn't dry on their foot/leg feathers. Other than that they are like any other chicken.
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Good thing our yard is basically all sand! It rarely ever gets badly muddy.

 

[featherhead007]

Well kiddos, I have a flight in one hour, my bed birds are not traveling with me.

 

[notabitail]

It looks like we had a freeze last night here. Poor Felicitas is all pin feathers.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The visual block curtain is a really good idea.

Yesterday worked on the construction (still; the roof) and put down shavings on both sides of the divider. I moved the curtain visual block to a partial middle position, about 1/3-1/4 blocked, hoping that with the distraction and shavings interest and that it was the middle of the day they might be near-ish each other without angst. It is interesting that generally even if they can hear the other chickens it’s mostly the sight line that matters.

Hazel positioned herself where she could root around in the shavings but have a little column of curtain between herself and the young Buckeyes, and nobody else seemed to have much problem.

Later in the day it was time for roosters to go a’wooing and I put more of the curtain across but loosely, and that was good until Hazel looked a little nervous even while far away and I saw dear Shehnai had found a low spot in the curtain, and with a really stretched neck he could see over it!

 

[featherhead007]

Vector, San Francisco Municipal airport. Wind, s/sw awaiting final ground clearance and finishing my coffee. This diner makes better coffee than my church does (don’t tell them that) I’m a bit concerned about the frost warning at 4000ft

 

[ChicoryBlue]

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.

Great ideas here, thanks!

I have a couple of these camo leafy blinds that have worked really well for the dappled leaf hide. But they aren’t very UV resistant, and haven’t lasted, in two years the material has gotten pretty beat and nylon threads are coming out of the “leaves”. Not available right now on Amazon. The chickens really liked hanging out under it, it let air move and provided shade too.

 

[rural mouse]

Yesterday worked on the construction (still; the roof) and put down shavings on both sides of the divider. I moved the curtain visual block to a partial middle position, about 1/3-1/4 blocked, hoping that with the distraction and shavings interest and that it was the middle of the day they might be near-ish each other without angst. It is interesting that generally even if they can hear the other chickens it’s mostly the sight line that matters.

Hazel positioned herself where she could root around in the shavings but have a little column of curtain between herself and the young Buckeyes, and nobody else seemed to have much problem.

Later in the day it was time for roosters to go a’wooing and I put more of the curtain across but loosely, and that was good until Hazel looked a little nervous even while far away and I saw dear Shehnai had found a low spot in the curtain, and with a really stretched neck he could see over it!

Opportunities for him to look give her opportunities to realize he can look but not touch. Good for both.

 

[rural mouse]

Great ideas here, thanks!

I have a couple of these camo leafy blinds that have worked really well for the dappled leaf hide. But they aren’t very UV resistant, and haven’t lasted, in two years the material has gotten pretty beat and nylon threads are coming out of the “leaves”. Not available right now on Amazon. The chickens really liked hanging out under it, it let air move and provided shade too.

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Wonder if they've got some more durable ones in "hunting blinds" with some of the sporting goods sites like Cabela's

 

[RoyalChick]

For Thirsty Thursday I bring you the ‘(not so) Littles’.
Apologies to those who saw this already earlier in the week.
12 weeks old. Tassels has finally given up tidbittting for them and has started to lay again (which probably means she is about to go broody!).
Roosting time has been taking some odd turns. Not sure how it will settle.