Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

My leghorns are mean. I don't plan on getting the breed again.

I hope their zombie daughters take after Riddick, who is a gentleroo View attachment 4268830
This muppet bites me any chance he gets. Hubby calls him Soup.

Have to say my Azure are sweetie pies, with people and the other chooks. I feel I have been very lucky of late with regards to the behaviour of the chooks. Everyone pretty well gets along, and not one is overly aggressive or mean - even Petra is accepted into the main gang.

 

[Ponypoor]

Sorry to laugh, but yes I can totally imagine how hard it is.
One thing is clear however, you need a headlamp!

.... and don't forget the go-pro cam - we need video entertainment!

 

[Ponypoor]

Sorry, I forgot the polyester issue. I like the lanterns. I think Kelly has a headlamp attached to a hat (which sadly is probably also polyester - but could theoretically be wool or cotton).
I wear my headlamp over the hood of my cotton hoodie - but I don’t have a massive skin issue with the stuff so don’t need to be too careful.

Mine are on an elastic strap that can be tightened or loosened - I use them overtop my toque so I don't get 'dents' in my forehead from the straps. They have various levels and colours of lighting, and can be set to motion sensor on/off or steady light. Also red light which I use all the time around the barn when I am putting everyone to bed, and first thing in the morning when I am feeding the horses.

These days I don't bother turning on the barn lights until I have the horses set up with feed and stall doors closed. I just use the headlamps so I don't disturb the chooks.

I also use my garden lamps like RM does - I place them in the Hen Houses so that the chooks can see to get settled for the night. I put the lamps in there and turn off the barn lights and the chooks go to roost quietly. Less drama....

 

[Ponypoor]

That lantern lights around it and out the bottom. The handle is wide enough to go on the back of 3 fingers so the hand is still usable....sort of. And it has feet so you can set it down...although with the bottom light stiffled, it changes how it lights up the area. You can also change how bright it is. Made by Ozark trail, I think. Found at Walmart for about $10. DH wanted a couple more so he can split wood at night (he works nights so it works). I take mine out to the coop when I have to put out feed in the dark and can even clip it to the bucket handle. I also take it along when walking Sherlock in the dark even though he has a light up collar for those walks. I have a hook next to the patio so can light up the grass when playing with kitties and Sherlock too.

I love my garden lights - they are solar charged batteries too, so handy in the barn so I don't have to keep all the lights one. Turning out the lights sure does quiet everyone down, and the lamps along with my headlamp give me enough light so I am not tripping over things.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Good job! Sounds like a design flaw, do you let the manufacturer know your findings from use?

No, I have assumed that one isn’t supposed to immerse electrical plugs?
It’s a round plug with three inset tiny prongs and a screw-in collar to secure it.

@RoyalChick I noticed Premier sells a waterer kit that includes a rubber pan to place below it when hanging. So, hmmm, are they assuming it DOES drip as chickens use it? I will monitor it here. Or is that for when the nipple gaskets / springs eventually wear out (that is a wearable part)? I replaced the nipples in the first waterer once, after three or four years.

 

[kattabelly]

@kattabelly
Is starting a catalogue of chicken sounds.

Here's another one to add to the catalogue

House hunting

• kattabelly
• Yesterday at 4:44 PM

He thinks he's found a good nest spot.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sorry, I forgot the polyester issue. I like the lanterns. I think Kelly has a headlamp attached to a hat (which sadly is probably also polyester - but could theoretically be wool or cotton).
I wear my headlamp over the hood of my cotton hoodie - but I don’t have a massive skin issue with the stuff so don’t need to be too careful.

Me too, though my headlamp comes off the band and came with a clip to go on something else like a hat @rural mouse
Are those lamps solar or rechargeable? I like them too, and that it hangs.

I have kitchen pot hangers placed all over the run to hang things like tools & buckets. The hangers are nice because the narrow clip part keeps it on the run wire (or metal band as it’s designed for), so that makes it easy to use one-handed without the hook coming off.
https://www.amazon.com/owosald-Anti-Dropping-Stainless-Organize-cookware/dp/B0BMS2B57N

 

[RoyalChick]

No, I have assumed that one isn’t supposed to immerse electrical plugs?
It’s a round plug with three inset tiny prongs and a screw-in collar to secure it.

@RoyalChick I noticed Premier sells a waterer kit that includes a rubber pan to place below it when hanging. So, hmmm, are they assuming it DOES drip as chickens use it? I will monitor it here. Or is that for when the nipple gaskets / springs eventually wear out (that is a wearable part)? I replaced the nipples in the first waterer once, after three or four years.

I noticed that too. Mine do always dribble a bit when they use the horizontal nipples on my bucket

 

[rural mouse]

Mine are on an elastic strap that can be tightened or loosened - I use them overtop my toque so I don't get 'dents' in my forehead from the straps. They have various levels and colours of lighting, and can be set to motion sensor on/off or steady light. Also red light which I use all the time around the barn when I am putting everyone to bed, and first thing in the morning when I am feeding the horses.

These days I don't bother turning on the barn lights until I have the horses set up with feed and stall doors closed. I just use the headlamps so I don't disturb the chooks.

I also use my garden lamps like RM does - I place them in the Hen Houses so that the chooks can see to get settled for the night. I put the lamps in there and turn off the barn lights and the chooks go to roost quietly. Less drama....

Every elastic I have checked is polyester....making it a HARD no!

 

[rural mouse]

Me too, though my headlamp comes off the band and came with a clip to go on something else like a hat @rural mouse
Are those lamps solar or rechargeable? I like them too, and that it hangs.

I have kitchen pot hangers placed all over the run to hang things like tools & buckets. The hangers are nice because the narrow clip part keeps it on the run wire (or metal band as it’s designed for), so that makes it easy to use one-handed without the hook coming off.
https://www.amazon.com/owosald-Anti-Dropping-Stainless-Organize-cookware/dp/B0BMS2B57N
View attachment 4269147

Haven't found a hat that I haven't made without at least a polyester sweat band. And the hand made aren't stiff enough to hold the weight without sliding..

The lantern is battery operated, 3 AA and I have rechargeable batteries. They last a surprisingly long time between charges, too. Kids went through more in their game controllers.

Those hooks look rather handy. Going to keep my eyes open for them.

Temps this morning were down in the teens F, so I'm doubly glad the quad didn't sleep out last night. When I stepped into the coop, I felt a noticeable temp difference. Still have a couple growing in feathers so the extra warmth is necessary