Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I have deer flies. I think they may be the same as horse flies. Devil’s spawn! One drew blood through my t-shirt. That is the scab that Maggie just pecked.

Yep deer flies, horse flies, blackflies, mosquitoes, and huge green suckers that take chunks out of you

 

[Ponypoor]

There is never just one bunny! While uploading this video one hopped over my foot (of course I couldn’t switch to the camera app fast enough!).
I wonder if the foxes are focusing elsewhere at the moment.
Hope so.

So cute

 

[Ponypoor]

Think I am about done, this heat is too much. We swapped the the metal siding for chicken wire. I'll take some pics when shade comes over.View attachment 3128793

That's pretty warm wow!

It was 25c here today so not too bad. Perfect actually

 

[Ponypoor]

I syringed about 1ml of Safe-Guard goat dewormer direct into their gullet.
I was a nervous wreck about avoiding the trachea. I pushed the syringe almost all the way in before plunging and I had images that I was filling their lungs with fluid as I plunged.
But I think if I had done that I would know by now. All three are foraging around. Maggie is a strong bird - geez she really did not want that to happen and she fought with every ounce of her strength! Diana’s throat is the easiest to visualize so I was most sure with her that I had avoided the windpipe but she has an unnerving trick of walking backwards in the towel burrito so I was left holding the perfectly placed syringe with no chicken in the vicinity!
I am leaving Dotty until after dark tonight. I fully expect to lose a finger.
I am not yet counting this as a new skill - but maybe by their second dose I will feel less scared.
As I typed this Maggie got her revenge - she just pecked a little bug bite scab I have on my elbow. OUCH!!!!

Wow ya I would be worried too!

Can you send me a picture of the worm you used. I will likely worm my gang as they likely need it...

 

[Ponypoor]

Hmmmm Ronny Hawkins has passed away, ripe old age of 87, my mum thinks that's a grand old age... That's a long was off for me, I'm only 19.... Hahaha.

 

[Ponypoor]

I am deeply and profoundly impressed.
Nice job!

Thanks, I put up all that horse fencing too. Not rocket science but it does take time!! I was quoted $10 / foot for the fence, and I have over 3300 running feet of it!!!

So I did it myself.... For way less!

 

[MaryJanet]

I do remember that. It felt like too much liquid for that to work. But maybe I should have tried. Do you remember the volume you were dealing with?

I misremembered. The dose was 0.2ml once a day. Which would be far smaller than a worming dose.

And the tip was from both @CrazyChookChookLady and Shad.

 

[RoyalChick]

I misremembered. The dose was 0.2ml once a day. Which would be far smaller than a worming dose.

And the tip was from both @CrazyChookChookLady and Shad.

Yeah. At 0.2ml I would have done the soaked bread. This is a whole 0.9-1.1ml (depending on which chicken). It sounds like a tiny amount but it was daunting!

 

[BY Bob]

I solved the egg laying on the straw bale. I removed the bale and replaced with two small animal crates - because I just don't seem to have enough nest boxes apparently.

Seems that 7 isn't enough! So they need 2 more... Now they all fight over those two! Good grief!!

View attachment 3128365

Hens and nest boxes. Never enough.

 

[BY Bob]

Started putting up the 1" chicken wire along the horse fence.

I first put a footer board of 1x4 hemlock along the ground.
View attachment 3128609

Then I rolled the wire fencing out, I used a board and some baling twine as a pulley to pull the wire as taught as I could.
View attachment 3128610

Then I tacked to top of the wire in place at each post. I will use strapping to secure it to the top board on the fence, and the footer board.
View attachment 3128611

That looks very good so far.