Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

My nerves are shot
This morning Bella still had a fullish crop but not completely so and therefore I gave her a tube feed. After that she had some corn and I picked her up and put her in her favorite spot in the shade under the butterfly bush.
Naturally Bernadette and Lulu hung out nearby and kept her company.
Everything was lovely and peaceful.
Maggie came by and although Bella was on alert, Maggie just pruned a few leaves from around her and continued to hang out with the Hooligans.
So peaceful.
I went inside to do some stuff and heard Lulu making a terrible noise (I mean even more so than usual).
I rushed out to find Minnie trying to kill Bella. This was no 'let me remind you about the pecking order' kind of thing. Minnie was going for total anihilation.
As I was rushing over I saw Bernadette (who remember is as brave as a bear) rush in and take on Minnie. Again, this was serious, she was hackles raised and feet going for Minnie's head.
When I reached Bella I really thought she might be dead. She was on her back with her legs curled up - like you sometimes find dead songbirds in the woods. One wing was stretched out and in a very un-natural position.
I scooped her up. I don't see any blood and I don't believe either legs or wing is broken.
I have put her back in the peace and calm of the hospital ward and frankly I feel like climbing in there with her!

Why do you think Minnie was trying to hurt Bella? I haven’t heard of such a thing as that. I haven’t seen it before anyways.

 

[BY Bob]

My nerves are shot
This morning Bella still had a fullish crop but not completely so and therefore I gave her a tube feed. After that she had some corn and I picked her up and put her in her favorite spot in the shade under the butterfly bush.
Naturally Bernadette and Lulu hung out nearby and kept her company.
Everything was lovely and peaceful.
Maggie came by and although Bella was on alert, Maggie just pruned a few leaves from around her and continued to hang out with the Hooligans.
So peaceful.
I went inside to do some stuff and heard Lulu making a terrible noise (I mean even more so than usual).
I rushed out to find Minnie trying to kill Bella. This was no 'let me remind you about the pecking order' kind of thing. Minnie was going for total anihilation.
As I was rushing over I saw Bernadette (who remember is as brave as a bear) rush in and take on Minnie. Again, this was serious, she was hackles raised and feet going for Minnie's head.
When I reached Bella I really thought she might be dead. She was on her back with her legs curled up - like you sometimes find dead songbirds in the woods. One wing was stretched out and in a very un-natural position.
I scooped her up. I don't see any blood and I don't believe either legs or wing is broken.
I have put her back in the peace and calm of the hospital ward and frankly I feel like climbing in there with her!

Oh my gosh! How horrible. How long do you think it went on before you could get there?

 

[BY Bob]

It also says they lay large eggs but are only 4 lb hens. That's hard on their little bodies.

Like a leghorn. Same deal. Tiny body, lots of large eggs

 

[BY Bob]

Why do you think Minnie was trying to hurt Bella? I haven’t heard of such a thing as that. I haven’t seen it before anyways.

Sadly I have heard of such things before. That is why you get the "isolate them" recommendation from so many people as soon as one gets sick. They worry about others in the tribe attacking them a much as getting sick from them.

Very sad.

 

[RoyalChick]

Why do you think Minnie was trying to hurt Bella? I haven’t heard of such a thing as that. I haven’t seen it before anyways.

Well one explanation is that any prey animal that depends on a flock or herd is put at risk by a sick or injured member of the herd.
The problem with that explanation is that both the Senior hens (Diana and Maggie) had been around Bella with no issue. So they clearly didn’t feel the flock is endangered by Bella.
So I dunno.
Clearly I can’t leave Bella unsupervised with the Roadrunners until she is strong enough to run away.
I guess I had better check both Minnie and Bernadette for injuries too. I am pretty sure Bernie is OK but she really used those long legs of hers against Minnnie.

 

[GregnLety]

This is what I found about the Azure Blue chickens. Not scientific at all, but this gives a bit about their genetic contributers (unlike Frey's site). Lots of '-bars' in their history...and not the drinking ones

That's because they weren't developed in Kentucky or Newfoundland

 

[BY Bob]

Well one explanation is that any prey animal that depends on a flock or herd is put at risk by a sick or injured member of the herd.
The problem with that explanation is that both the Senior hens (Diana and Maggie) had been around Bella with no issue. So they clearly didn’t feel the flock is endangered by Bella.
So I dunno.
Clearly I can’t leave Bella unsupervised with the Roadrunners until she is strong enough to run away.
I guess I had better check both Minnie and Bernadette for injuries too. I am pretty sure Bernie is OK but she really used those long legs of hers against Minnnie.

It is very sweet that Bernadette took up for her friend. I hope everyone is OK.

Including you.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh my gosh! How horrible. How long do you think it went on before you could get there?

The camera recorded it. Not well because it is at an odd angle but enough for me to figure it out. From start to my intervention is about 2+1/2 minutes. I ran fast and shouted a lot!
In that time Bella dragged herself towards the wall of the Chicken Palace but then she was trapped. That is when Bernadette threw herself at Minnie - at around the one minute mark.
Here is a blurry screenshot - Minnie isn’t visible because Bernadette has her pinned against the wall - you can see Bernie’s outstretched wing. I was already in sight coming from the right.

 

[BY Bob]

To the Grass

I am way past when I would have normally started letting the Rascals interact with the big girls for a little bit every night. I don't see how I can let that happen until Gucci can run.

But it is not nice to make them stay in the run when they could feel grass under their feet and sun on their feathers. Also, I hoping that more space might encourage more walking from Gucci. So I wired off a section of the side yard and opened the door.

Glynda and Lady Featherington made it out pretty quickly last night but Gucci wanted nothing to do with outside. So I opened it again for a bit this morning. Here's what eventually happened.

I did also witness Gucci jump up on something for the first time this morning as she jumped up on one of the buckets in the run. That was encouraging.

Of course no sooner did I let them out this morning and a red tailed hawk started circling my yard. I was fully armed and ready, rest assured.

 

[RoyalChick]

It is very sweet that Bernadette took up for her friend. I hope everyone is OK.

Including you.

I have retreated to the sofa to cuddle a cat. There is nothing like a soft purr in your ear to get your blood pressure down.
Bella is in the hospital ward and looks as poorly as before but not more so.
In a few minutes I will go and check on Bernadette and Minnie.