Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Only Sadness

Joy passed away this morning in my arms. She was not even 6 months old.

In tribute, here is a video of her eating from my hand for the first time only 3 weeks ago.

How tragic ~ Sweet baby. DH & I feel your pain.
Did the vet have any diagnosis/clue?

 

[Ponypoor]

Found this online as I was tying to distract from my restless legs.

Like how he can move his flock, works for a place we’re there isn’t miserable weather half the year.

 

[Ponypoor]

There may be more recent ones out there, but I think Lidocaine is safe based on this study

Yes I researched it’s use. And it’s topical I used and only on a ver small area.

 

[Ponypoor]

That's Mera, my Speckled Suspect HEN!

Holy Dinah what’s with the white wings?!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Mice.
It seems we finally have an invasion. I've always wondered why the feed was spilled randomly. It turns out there are mice living under the coops.

Any advice on how to get rid of them?

1) Store feed in something chew-proof - steel cans
2) feed the chickens via treadle feeders. I have the Rat-Proof Chicken Feeders and I haven't heard about any that have better features yet, these have a cat-door-type opening which I prefer, not the guillotine style. Also holds a lot, enough for my needs, and there's not much spilled feed. The new models are better than the older model (I have one of each)
https://ratproofchickenfeeder.com/Medium-Ratproof-Chicken-Feeder_p_1.html

@RoyalChick just got a couple this Fall. I know the chickens there have learned it, but I don't recall reading whether RC listed the pros and cons and what they do or don't like about it.

I actually need to train the new Buckeyes on my second one, they've been eating out of the regular chick-then-pullet feeders and I've been so busy with this crazy stupid run roof build I've not trained them yet. I also haven't wanted to stress them along with construction going on (though they are pretty chill with power tools); Shehnai is a growing boy and crazy with hormones and I want to take the time to actively train them and not have him especially feel at all insecure about getting enough to eat.

Mice find open feeders in wintertime here. When I watched a mouse go in and out I researched the feeders out there, and when I switched to the treadle feeder I was surprised how more slowly "they" went through their feed. The mice were taking a lot!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Mice.
It seems we finally have an invasion. I've always wondered why the feed was spilled randomly. It turns out there are mice living under the coops.

Any advice on how to get rid of them?

PS You can't trap/kill your way out with mice, you have to make the chicken's area not the local grocery store.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Only Sadness

Joy passed away this morning in my arms. She was not even 6 months old.

In tribute, here is a video of her eating from my hand for the first time only 3 weeks ago.

Loved that video, watched all of it just now. A happy time for her! She lived a good chicken life for her short time.

 

[notabitail]

Gotta watch out for those poop bombs! It's not that they're slippery for me to step on... I just don't relish cleaning the bottoms of my soles afterwards... so I'm really careful where I step

Go barefeet. You don't have to clean your shoes. You only clean your feet.

 

[RoyalChick]

1) Store feed in something chew-proof - steel cans
2) feed the chickens via treadle feeders. I have the Rat-Proof Chicken Feeders and I haven't heard about any that have better features yet, these have a cat-door-type opening which I prefer, not the guillotine style. Also holds a lot, enough for my needs, and there's not much spilled feed. The new models are better than the older model (I have one of each)
https://ratproofchickenfeeder.com/Medium-Ratproof-Chicken-Feeder_p_1.html

@RoyalChick just got a couple this Fall. I know the chickens there have learned it, but I don't recall reading whether RC listed the pros and cons and what they do or don't like about it.

I actually need to train the new Buckeyes on my second one, they've been eating out of the regular chick-then-pullet feeders and I've been so busy with this crazy stupid run roof build I've not trained them yet. I also haven't wanted to stress them along with construction going on (though they are pretty chill with power tools); Shehnai is a growing boy and crazy with hormones and I want to take the time to actively train them and not have him especially feel at all insecure about getting enough to eat.

Mice find open feeders in wintertime here. When I watched a mouse go in and out I researched the feeders out there, and when I switched to the treadle feeder I was surprised how more slowly "they" went through their feed. The mice were taking a lot!

I love the treadle feeders and was astonished how much feed was being wasted before I got them.
Cookie is still a little small to use them but hopefully she will get there soon. I haven’t had to train the Littles - they learned by watching the big hens.

 

[rural mouse]

Mice.
It seems we finally have an invasion. I've always wondered why the feed was spilled randomly. It turns out there are mice living under the coops.

Any advice on how to get rid of them?

1. CATS. Castor and Bijou have been going to the coop with me near closing time. They're lurking around a particular area outside the coop. I suspect it's a mouse exit. One or the other (yes, Castor too) sometimes goes into the coop. I haven't seen any mice in about a month. They still check, so there could still be a couple. Cats plural. Castor by himself couldn't corner them. Together, the mice run from one....into the waiting paws of the other.

2. A bucket trap. Can catch multiple in 1 night. Bait the spinny thing with peanut butter with chicken feed or scratch stuck in it.