Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Goodness what a perspective about trees!
In the home I grew up in there are apples and pears that are about 70-80 years old. Sadly we recently lost a beech that was about 120 years old.
Here in NJ I have peaches that are about 60 years old and a couple of apple trees that are older. I am less sure of their ages but that is what I can gather from people who knew the property before my time.
Oak trees (of which there are many in my part of NJ) live several hundred years. One in a field near my place is about 400 years old - it was damaged last year in a storm but is still going strong.

Tree tax: poor half naked Calypso
View attachment 4019352

There are always exceptions to the rule like Redwoods, Oaks & Pines in more moderate or colder northern climates where trees can survive 100's or 1000's of years but in our southern climate of brutal heatwaves, water restrictions, & smaller land properties tree life is iffy for us. Cactus, Palm trees (ugh) or succulents are becoming the plants of choice. You're aware we removed all lawn to pave both our front & back yards w/ stonework?

If the hens didn't need shady foliage we wouldn't have planted ANY trees at all. We give our fruit trees a 30-yr or less lifespan. Maybe even after we no longer have chickens we may remove them altogether. We're tired of summer water restrictions.
Dwarf Lemon

Pomegranate

Red Grapefruit

 

[Ponypoor]

Goodness what a perspective about trees!
In the home I grew up in there are apples and pears that are about 70-80 years old. Sadly we recently lost a beech that was about 120 years old.
Here in NJ I have peaches that are about 60 years old and a couple of apple trees that are older. I am less sure of their ages but that is what I can gather from people who knew the property before my time.
Oak trees (of which there are many in my part of NJ) live several hundred years. One in a field near my place is about 400 years old - it was damaged last year in a storm but is still going strong.

Tree tax: poor half naked Calypso
View attachment 4019352

If you have access to a fruit tree arbourist they can trim up your fruit tree properly. Those are very elderly fruit trees but as long as they don’t get any fungal issues you should get many more yrs out of them. Keeping th trimmed properly to keep them opened to sun and air flow will keep them healthy.

I am worried about the Jack Pines in the rooster run, they don’t live very long and I feel they are coming to the end of their life span - gosh I love those trees though.

The chooks love those trees too, they hide under them when scared, and they provide shade in the summer sun.

In the winter they provide some wind break.

And a place for young pullets to fly up into the chase squirrels, and a young cockerel to check out to stay out of the snow.

 

[featherhead007]

It is time to get to researching red chickens mom.

Since this is to be her chicken I would steer away from the red production breeds. Their temperaments are lovely, my Cinnamon Queen girls were sweet. For a child's pet we want something with a little more longevity.

I suggest a red silkie or cochin.

If she considers the buffs as red chickens you cannot go wrong with a Buff orpington hen.

I would recommend a Cochin (of course I would)

 

[Ponypoor]

Nacho and her 4 little ones. The orange one is out of frame:View attachment 4019243

Oooo she’s a game bird isn’t she. Those chicks are darn tootin cute I’ll take that light coloured one

 

[SimpleJenn]

I would recommend a Cochin (of course I would)

That is true! I just have to have a couple Cochins trotting around

 

[Ponypoor]

It is time to get to researching red chickens mom.

Since this is to be her chicken I would steer away from the red production breeds. Their temperaments are lovely, my Cinnamon Queen girls were sweet. For a child's pet we want something with a little more longevity.

I suggest a red silkie or cochin.

If she considers the buffs as red chickens you cannot go wrong with a Buff orpington hen.

Oh yes my buff Orps are snuggle bugs! They follow me around want me to pet them snuggle them carry them (lazy beasts hahaha). I think I spoiled them when they were babies

 

[Ponypoor]

No. Its the birch tree in the courtyard of the complex. The magnolia tree did suffer greatly during the drought but it survived nicely. It should be fine going into next year.

Lone birch trees of this type do not survive long. This tree is 50 years old and is the only one for quite a distance around me.

Tree Tax

From warmer times, Lilly trying out a nesting location for Sansa.
View attachment 4019285

Hmmm I think birch also like more boggy soil so it did well for 50 yrs.

I might move my rhododendron bushes up to the Rooster Run, has anyone used them around chooks? I don’t think they would try to eat the leaves do you?

 

[featherhead007]

There are always exceptions to the rule like Redwoods, Oaks & Pines in more moderate or colder northern climates where trees can survive 100's or 1000's of years but in our southern climate of brutal heatwaves, water restrictions, & smaller land properties tree life is iffy for us. Cactus, Palm trees (ugh) or succulents are becoming the plants of choice. You're aware we removed all lawn to pave both our front & back yards w/ stonework?
View attachment 4019380

If the hens didn't need shady foliage we wouldn't have planted ANY trees at all. We give our fruit trees a 30-yr or less lifespan. Maybe even after we no longer have chickens we may remove them altogether. We're tired of summer water restrictions.
Dwarf Lemon
View attachment 4019394
Pomegranate
View attachment 4019399
Red Grapefruit
View attachment 4019404

Redwoods, Oaks and Pines! That’s us.

 

[featherhead007]

Oooo she’s a game bird isn’t she. Those chicks are darn tootin cute I’ll take that light coloured one

One of them, is gone now. Looks like it was trampled on by someone. I separated the other birds from Nacho and the other three chicks for now.

 

[Ponypoor]

IMO trees, including fruit trees, they kinda outlive their usefulness at some time. About 30 yrs is ok, after that its iffy. There was a 55-yr-old valencia orange tree & a suffering peach tree on our property that we had to cut down ~ not only am I allergy sensitive to oranges & don't eat them, but whoever the previous owners were they planted these trees right on the fence line!!! The peach tree root actually grew thru the old chainlink fence. What were they thinking?!

Whoever they were, they also planted a rose bush against the fence so it grew into the chainlink too. We couldn't take down any trees until we could also tear down the chainlink fence to build our block wall in 2015!

The rose plant couldn't be pruned inside the chainlink but at least our 1st chickens in 2011 used it for shade & snoozing. In the photo, the rose bush is in the middle of the chainlink w/chickens under it while the peach tree is at the end of the chainlink.
View attachment 4019314
We tried chopping down as much peach tree & rose bush as we could & used tarps for shade. We couldn't afford the block wall yet.
View attachment 4019318

We continued putting up more & more shady places for the hens
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I love the block wall, we don’t have them here, too expensive to build, the footings need to be 4’ down for frost heave protection; so that’s like building the wall twice!

But gosh I would so put up a block fence if I could! One the chooks couldn’t fly over 12’ high hahahahaha!