Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Have you seen Fisher tracks? Weasels/Stoats and Fishers are my fear here. I think of fox and coyotes as opportunistic hunters. They cruise by and check and move on, maybe the strategy is casting a wide net and catching by surprise. The weasel family do that too but persist in a deadly thorough way when they find a possible meal.

This I know very well.

Cats do appear to be an effective solution.

 

[BY Bob]

Didn’t get as cold as I expected - when I checked at 06:30 it was only -27C (16f).

But sister is still at -37C (-34f) now that’s rootin tootin cold!

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It’s warmed up to -24C here at 9am.

Chooks are not happy, I told her in line, I’m not happy about it either!

Just be safe. I know you worked in these conditions but still, a mistake can be deadly at those temps.

 

[RoyalChick]

Is Nutmeg showing any interest in laying yet? I don't recall any pics of her face lately, just the rear end! She's always foraging somewhere, head getting down to business I suppose!

Oh yes she is laying. She flies off the roost at 3 or 4 am to go to the nest box. And yes, she is a very busy lady.

 

[RoyalChick]

Have you seen Fisher tracks? Weasels/Stoats and Fishers are my fear here. I think of fox and coyotes as opportunistic hunters. They cruise by and check and move on, maybe the strategy is casting a wide net and catching by surprise. The weasel family do that too but persist in a deadly thorough way when they find a possible meal.

They terrify me. I have never seen any of them, but I am sure they are out there.

 

[Ponypoor]

Just be safe. I know you worked in these conditions but still, a mistake can be deadly at those temps.

Thanks I will be safe - the biggest thing is that one must wear so much clothing (layers) that initially [before warming up] it's cumbersome!

This morning I trod on poor Ruth's toes because I was so bundled up I wasn't as nimble as I would normally be. Don't worry Ruth is ok, and she gave me a good talking to haha.

I am about to go out and crank up the Diesel heater (I don't think I really mentioned it much yet), I am hoping it starts, as we all know how bad Diesel is in the cold to run. I hate dealing with Diesel but I couldn't find a gasoline powered one at all.

I'll let you all know how the heater works in this really cold weather when I get it cranked up, my plan is to have a spot I can plunk that lawnchair of mine down, and have the chooks come visit - an indoor oasis if you will

 

[Ponypoor]

I haven’t seen a bobcat but I know they are in the nature reserve next door.
And my snakes and spiders seem benign.
Clutching at straws here!

Ummm well I have seen my chooks eat black widow spiders here - which really freaked me out.

Snakes - yummy!

As for predators - aerial ones panic me
The most.

Right now the weather (cold) worries me.

I just want to put a huge greenhouse over my property - no worry of predators or cold

 

[Ponypoor]

I will be safe - the biggest thing is that one must wear so much clothing (layers) that initially [before warming up] it's cumbersome!

This morning I trod on poor Ruth's toes because I was so bundled up I wasn't as nimble as I would normally be. Don't worry Ruth is ok, and she gave me a good talking to haha.

I am about to go out and crank up the Diesel heater (I don't think I really mentioned it much yet), I am hoping it starts, as we all know how bad Diesel is in the cold to run. I hate dealing with Diesel but I couldn't find a gasoline powered one at all.

I'll let you all know how the heater works in this really cold weather when I get it cranked up, my plan is to have a spot I can plunk that lawnchair of mine down, and have the chooks come visit - an indoor oasis if you will

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Just be safe. I know you worked in these conditions but still, a mistake can be deadly at those temps.

I seem to have done something to my right ankle, I have absolutely no idea what I did but it is hard to bend or walk with. This is why I trod on Ruth, I couldn’t really move properly (and all the clothes) - poor Ruth

 

[Ponypoor]

Bea went into the nest box and Peaches has been looking too. They went out, then somebody did an egg song! No egg.

Bea nosed around the coop and went back in and dug around in a nest box, went very quiet and stayed there. I checked an hour after she left, no egg.
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Late this afternoon discovered this in the run litter!
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Everyone hanging out while Bea was in the nest box
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Mr. B(rylcreem) Shehnai
Always on the job.
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Holy Dinah he’s a handsome boy

And what a rich vibrant colour he is - wow!



Do you think it’s a first egg, I would have thought they laid a more brown egg, that looks more olive.

 

[Ponypoor]

I do!

Silkies are not only gorgeous chickens, but they also lay eggs, roosters protect their flocks, and even one (MB is a wet frizzle cuckoo rooster) loves it when it's freezing rain and dances in it!

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I was NOT eggspecting that - well done!!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Hope all of you expecting unusual amounts of snow and cold, stay safe and warm.

Frostbite isn't a worry here but I've been meaning to put something on a few combs and wattles I've noticed looking very dry from the wind. Thanks for the reminder.

A bit of mineral oil, I also use that on the horses manes and tails helps keep the hair from drying out.

I use it on the really dry flaky combs. Wattles I don’t seem to have issues with.