Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

This is my first time long ago having an EE Americana.
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Gorgeous!

 

[ValerieJ]

Hubby was just saying that! If it is dry tomorrow I will bring the oldest ones out to meet him and see if he takes to them.
He said maybe he is missing his friends. Even being the lowest rooster he must have had somebody...

 

[BY Bob]

I have a rooster, Cooper, (my avatar pic), who has flown over the fence a couple times and there is no catching him, so he spent the night in the forest twice!!! That was definitely scary, and sleepless nights for me, and probably him. Next morning he was anxious to get back in, and all we could do is steer him to the gate. Ever tried to steer a chicken? Like herding cats!

So we extended the height of our fence by two feet to keep him in, and quite frankly to keep the deer out too. The chickens "free range" in the orchard and berry runs and there was one enterprising deer who would jump the fence and eat all the berries...and leaves and everything! She destroyed several boysenberry and raspberry bushes.

That would be very frightening!

 

[ValerieJ]

I have a rooster, Cooper, (my avatar pic), who has flown over the fence a couple times and there is no catching him, so he spent the night in the forest twice!!! That was definitely scary, and sleepless nights for me, and probably him. Next morning he was anxious to get back in, and all we could do is steer him to the gate. Ever tried to steer a chicken? Like herding cats!

Not sure this would ever have happened again, but better safe than sorry. First time was his first day here, and I can only imagine he left to look for his home. Not finding it, he decided to come back.

The other time it happened is when we moved him to the bachelor pad because the two roosters were fighting. Cooper was not fertilizing the eggs, so we decided to go with Ralphie in the main run. Instead of jumping back into that run with the hens, he hopped the wrong fence and was in the forest again.

He seems settled now and hangs out at the fence with the girls. Ralphie and he do not fence fight anymore, so when spring comes we may try to integrate him again. Would love to have them both in the main run, but I also don't want any injured roosters. I have had two roosters in the run together, so I know it can work if the boys can get along.

 

[featherhead007]

So is this

Common Crane from the Audubon Bird Guide https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-crane

Yeah, but are they union, or non- union? Most crane operators are union!

 

[featherhead007]

Secret? ~ Nipple waterers or Brite Taps...both keep the water clean. Follow mfr instructions & they work brilliant ~ no birds sitting or pooping in water or feed.

Our chicks used the Rent-a-Coop nipple waterer & Port Feeder
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Rent-a-Coop nipple waterers come in 1 or 2 quart sizes, mountable, come w/alternate nipple styles included
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OR use a Brite Tap waterer screwed into 2-gal Rubbermaid or Igloo spigot
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Well of course you can use those newfangled waterers on your silkies, because they are not real chickens. My birds will bite the plastic off the nipple waterers. I almost lose my fingers some days!

 

[featherhead007]

Secret? ~ Nipple waterers or Brite Taps...both keep the water clean. Follow mfr instructions & they work brilliant ~ no birds sitting or pooping in water or feed.

Our chicks used the Rent-a-Coop nipple waterer & Port Feeder
View attachment 4071802
View attachment 4071804

Rent-a-Coop nipple waterers come in 1 or 2 quart sizes, mountable, come w/alternate nipple styles included
View attachment 4071787View attachment 4071788
View attachment 4071798

OR use a Brite Tap waterer screwed into 2-gal Rubbermaid or Igloo spigot
View attachment 4071780

Thanks for the thought!

 

[featherhead007]

Hubby was just saying that! If it is dry tomorrow I will bring the oldest ones out to meet him and see if he takes to them.
He said maybe he is missing his friends. Even being the lowest rooster he must have had somebody...

“If it’s dry tomorrow” it’s been raining here non stop all night long and today we have thunder and lightning followed closely by bb sized hail.
Looked pretty, but cold okay Lord, thank you for the rain, but can you stop it for a while.
The ark isn’t built yet.

 

[ValerieJ]

“If it’s dry tomorrow” it’s been raining here non stop all night long and today we have thunder and lightning followed closely by bb sized hail.
Looked pretty, but cold okay Lord, thank you for the rain, but can you stop it for a while.
The ark isn’t built yet.

We've had that kind of day too. Rain, then hail even though it was 45 degrees out, then sunshine, then rain again, and now the sun is trying to peak through again. The chickens have been running in and out of the coop all day wondering what is going on. And the dear children think that we can stop the weather for them. Heading out to visit the chicks and give the bigs some treats, clean the coop, etc.

 

[fuentemoon]

Oops

Mmm...icecream