Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[knoturavggrl]

I went out to check the coop and run before the chicks arrive. Roof needs major work, thanks to that awful storm and its just never going to be secure enough without a full rebuild and a floor—too pricey right now. I’ll patch the roof to stop more damage, but I’m throwing in the towel on the restoration coop for now.

New plan:
I am getting a shed delivered around April 7th.

I’ll attach it to the existing run (solid shape, metal roof, big door). Chickens could eventually have access to the old coop to act as an indoor 8x16 run addition, once they are roosting in the new one.

Shed mods:

• Add 4 ventilation holes (4”x8”) near the roofline, opposite sides.
• Might cut out “windows,” add hardware cloth, and plexi covers for winter.
• Use joist hangers and 2x4s for 8ft roosts (2ft and 3ft high, same side). Thinking poop board possibly, if anyone has one and likes or hates it let me know.
• I have a big communal nest box and hanging singles—undecided on which I will use.
• Old coop’s auto door stays and I will get another one for the shed, plus a hole in the run’s hardware cloth for access.

We’re leveling the spot with creek bed gravel for the shed.
Anything I’m missing? Excited for a cleaner, better-planned coop!

 

[Marie2020]

Silkies are terrific & determined broodies. They'll brood over anything. The younger the Silkies the more determined they seem to be.

A younger VIOLET ~ 2013 ~ she decided to hatch a cucumber slice in the nestbox!
View attachment 4082680

 

[Marie2020]

I went out to check the coop and run before the chicks arrive. Roof needs major work, thanks to that awful storm and its just never going to be secure enough without a full rebuild and a floor—too pricey right now. I’ll patch the roof to stop more damage, but I’m throwing in the towel on the restoration coop for now.

New plan:
I am getting a shed delivered around April 7th.
View attachment 4082774
I’ll attach it to the existing run (solid shape, metal roof, big door). Chickens could eventually have access to the old coop to act as an indoor 8x16 run addition, once they are roosting in the new one.

Shed mods:

• Add 4 ventilation holes (4”x8”) near the roofline, opposite sides.
• Might cut out “windows,” add hardware cloth, and plexi covers for winter.
• Use joist hangers and 2x4s for 8ft roosts (2ft and 3ft high, same side). Thinking poop board possibly, if anyone has one and likes or hates it let me know.
• I have a big communal nest box and hanging singles—undecided on which I will use.
• Old coop’s auto door stays and I will get another one for the shed, plus a hole in the run’s hardware cloth for access.

We’re leveling the spot with creek bed gravel for the shed.
Anything I’m missing? Excited for a cleaner, better-planned coop!

That'll make a palace of a coop

 

[rural mouse]

But if I get a few silkie chicks from Shannon I will have to give them back! I get to enjoy the chicks them hand them back

Like Holly and Jolly?

 

[SimpleJenn]

It was a lovely day today so we hung out with the chickies!

Breezy is bald

Crowded!

Wattles on 7 week old Blue...

Navy bird

If you have the opportunity, get a swing for your chickens. It's hilarious.

Swinging

Comrade the cream legbar...boy

One of the girl marans, not sure if pure or mixed. Her name is Ethel

Chocolate is speckly

Still willing to try the nipple waterer.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thinking poop board possibly, if anyone has one and likes or hates it let me know.

We have poop boards that are sand boxes. Works great! We just scoop the sand every day like we would a cat box. I highly recommend it!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

So these look like Pullets to me, anyone else was to chime in?

I would say a tentative yes...BUT..I'm not quite sure of their age in this photo - I was thinking this was from when she had just abandoned them/gave up 'mom-ing' them, which was at about 8 weeks....so a caveat: an I don't know game birds.

That said, the barred ones are almost certainly pullets - they don't have the 'extra barring' gene of a roo (but mom wasn't barred - so.....they would only get one barring gene anyways - from daddy.....) But I don't see any real waddle development, nor any pinking of combs, which could be starting on both if they were boys at 8 weeks.

I would like to see a current picture of them, though, to compare to this photo (i.e. I tink it is another 2-3 weeks since this one was taken - @featherhead007 please correct my timeline if I am off - with my schedule these days, one day blurrs right into the next!!)

I am hoping to catch up and see what @rural mouse said to this!

 

[bgmathteach]

I was surprised my wet sheets made any difference, but they did.

Try freezing hand-towels/sheet first, and they will make an even bigger difference! (dampened first, of course!)

 

[Sally PB]

Thinking poop board possibly, if anyone has one and likes or hates it let me know.

I love having a poop board under the roost. A layer of sweet PDZ (I get it at TSC), scoop the poop every morning, and there is no poop smell in the coop.

 

[bgmathteach]

@RebeccaBoyd @Ponypoor

Pour on ivermectin for mites/lice right? Buffy gave them to Marble...I need to treat them both before we bring chicks out there. Managed to catch the poor guy again and he's crawling with bite marks above his vent. He was clean when I got him home, and Buffy came from a free range flock.

And diatomaceous earth for the coop...

I'm a bit behind, so you may have already treated - but Permethrin (?sp?) also treats mites - spray on chicken under wings (i.e. armpits where it can hit skin) and you can also spray - around vent carefully. It also treats structures. Just be sure to mix properly. Locally, around here all the Farm/feed stores carry it (i.e. Tractor Supply)

@featherhead007 is correct - be sure to clean out coop, spray it down well, let it air dry, then put bedding back in.

I'm not a fan of diatomaceous earth - but there is a lot of debate both pros & cons. However, i have read a lot about wood ashes in their dust bath to help with mites and such, too. Just make sure it is ashes from good wood (i.e. not ashes from treated wood, etc. - ashes from your wood stove if you used good cordwood in your stove.).