Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

I'm happy to see that Mugs Monday is still a thing, so I have a contribution. I should probably confess that I have been reading this thread from the beginning, so sometimes I'm gone for a few days when I get engrossed in something. In the last few days I've been caught up in the story of Legertha and Sylvie ( I actually cried), which then made me start researching Coopers hawks. I watched the video Bob took of the murderous hawk sitting on the tool shed, and told my husband about it. He said that when he was five hunting with his father on the old family property in Mississippi, his dad told him to shoot what he called a chicken hawk while they were hunting. Turns out that's what they called Coopers hawks in the old days in Mississippi and they were shot in sight.
Here's Mirabel inspecting my daily poop clean out of the big girls' coop for Mugs Monday, and below is Easter Egger Emily, who is just beautiful but very standoffish:

I wonder why only Cooper's are called "chicken hawks" when ANY hawk is a chicken hawk? I'm just so happy we have Crow murders around here to chase off the Cooper's here!

 

[Labsandchickens8]

I wonder why only Cooper's are called "chicken hawks" when ANY hawk is a chicken hawk? I'm just so happy we have Crow murders around here to chase off the Cooper's here!

Could it be that Cooper's are the hardest to protect your hens against? It seems that the red tailed can only attack in a good sized open area, but the Cooper's are smaller and more agile and go down through the trees and brush? I don't know and am still learning.
The plan is to set up the electric fence ( first section today!!!!!) and add to it as soon as possible.

 

[Ponypoor]

You really do live in paradise. You just maybe need a little less snow!

And not as cold!

 

[Sylvester017]

Could it be that Cooper's are the hardest to protect your hens against? It seems that the red tailed can only attack in a good sized open area, but the Cooper's are smaller and more agile and go down through the trees and brush? I don't know and am still learning.
The plan is to set up the electric fence ( first section today!!!!!) and add to it as soon as possible.

Yep, we all can only do what time & $$$ allows us. We've been modifying/adding to our yard for 15 yrs. It never ends as new challenges or predators arrive on the scene. I mean, we have an 8 ft tall blockwall + 18 inches privacy added on top all around the backyard & still we've had coyote, possum, feral cats, & raccoon in the yard... not to mention the loose neighborhood dogs in the past plus occasional overhead Cooper's too.

For us, the more aerial obstacles we put up may not totally stop Cooper's but hinders them enough to give our quick hens time to duck-n-hide & we've got plenty of junk for them to hide in! We have 3 popup canopies, 2 patio roofs, & 4 trees to cut off overhead flight space in our small suburban backyard ~ w/ several doghouses, makeshift lean-to's, benches, lawn furniture, broken wheelbarrow, stools, shelves, tables, crates, potted plants, trash receptacles, etc etc, on the ground as hiding places.

 

[Sylvester017]

My fear is a friend buying an egg, with a partially developed chick inside. I would certainly loose a customer, possibly even a friend!

As long as there are males in the flock, that's the risk one takes w/eggs. My farm mom put drakes, ganders, & roo's in the freezer. The laying hens were penned separately so she got clear eggs & didn't have to hunt the farm for random nests.

 

[Ponypoor]

Happy Pony Sunday!!
Halga the Nigerian dwarf goat says hi. She broke her leg over the summer so now she hobbles around on three legs. She’s a happy girl though, and she uses her leg that she broke to help her run.
Surprisingly, I don’t like goats. I always loved them before we got three, but I don’t care for them anymore. I still like them but they are far from my favorite animal. Horses, dogs, and chickens are better.
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Heres a timber rattlesnake that Dad killed in the chicken coop. He was probably around 5ft long.View attachment 4262665
And here’s a gorgeous garter snake that was in the hay storage part of my goat pen, next to my free range chickens.View attachment 4262666

Awwwww she’s a lovely goat!

Who’s pet is she?

Those are impressive snakes!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Mugshot Monday
Happy Monday everyone. Here is Mr. Chips mug.
View attachment 4263075

And his main squeeze Piglet together with Geronimo up on the step-ladder tree.
View attachment 4263079
View attachment 4263080

Piglet is a starlet! Is it Mae West if she were a chicken?

 

[Ponypoor]

The silkie babies are growing up. Tonight I fiddled around with how I wanted to settle them, and figured out placing the crate on the ledge in the corner.

There are Curly, Marty, Mr P and Henny beside them, then on the other section are the four Noirans and Holly, that’s Georgie on her own - the brats is broody again.

Whiskers is in the nestbox below the Noirans, and Fluffy has commandeered the cardboard box up on the ledge. She’s moulting so she’s happier in there.

 

[Ponypoor]

View attachment 4263492
Piglet is a starlet! Is it Mae West if she were a chicken?

That would be a great name for a pullet!

 

[BY Bob]

If you are taking anything that thins your blood the risk is way higher, so factor that in, please.



Right, but now we do. We already knew from your previous posts this is an issue, but repeat hits to your head, like on the regular? Not good. And I have thoughts, of course.

Seriously consider at least some kind of warning object - like hanging some hippie beads or something that hits your head before the damaging beam does.

I wonder if there isn't another way to support the coop roof, such as a metal cross-piece that requires much less bulk to be strong. Or an exterior beam that suspends the roof structure. I know you have glass or plastic windows up there? I'll think on this.

You could add a knee wall to your existing structure and raise the roof. Is that tree still in a position that you would have to have the roof that low if you were building it today?

The tree is gone. It died this year and I cut it down to 3 feet tall.

I really am not interested in rebuilding the Cluckle hut and run. I am none the worse for banging my hard head.

I would have to raise the whole thing as the roof is double paneled glass out of sliding patio doors. Very heavy.