Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Very helpful. Thank you.
I can also assess hydration a little bit from the state of her mouth and tongue.

And what are they telling you?

 

[BY Bob]

Now if you are going to continue to chuck rocks at the nest you need someone parked close by with a camera rolling. Eventually you will be chased by the angry things. Might as well get it on film and send it in to america's funniest home video's.

This exact thing! She is nuts throwing rocks at that thing.

 

[BY Bob]

Listen, I've unintentionally tangled with hornets before, it was not fun and thankfully I'm not allergic. There is no way I would willingly throw a rock at a nest. Honestly though in my opinion yellow jackets are far worse. Those stinging biting devils will chase you farther then a hornet will and seem to get angrier far easier and quicker. I know everything is supposed to have a purpose. I have to question what on earth is a yellowjacket and mosquito's purposes besides causing misery.

I am not a fan of yellow jackets at all. They seem perpetually mad.

 

[BY Bob]

I do not need this right now. Been like this for about 10 minutes with no sign of letting up.

Crap!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Hector is officially in you "you randy idiot" faze. Yesterday morning he tried catching Pear. No dice. Last night he chased after her 3 separate times. She took him through the obstacle course of under the olive branches, over another branch, through the babies (or the adults still outside), around a bush, over the cinder blocks (he plowed into them), and lat attempt she slipped into the coop (I tried closing the door in his face, but wasn't fast enough) and hopped onto the nest boxes. He can jump up to the top....after pacing 15 laps around the interior of the coop, back outside 7 times to pace around, then back inside to pace back and forth in front of the boxes several times (jumble all the various pacing places together and mix thoroughly to find his trail). Obviously he got foiled again. He tried chasing Storm outside (she's been merciless with him at roosting time: 6 feet!). She looped a tree, came up behind him and pecked the back of his neck....repeatedly. He tried chasing Nellie. Cheetah was already roosted so just sent up the disgruntled bok bok and stayed put. She eeled through the olive branches and Hector plowed into them again. He caught Twirp on the floor of the coop, managed to get on her, only to have her squirm out from under him, whirl around and jump in his face, talons extended. She looked like Karate Kid with the Flying Crane (?) move. Result: his wattles were bleeding, he's back outside trying to tidbit for me and she's settling into her roosting place with nary a feather out of place.

In the past week I've seen (or heard) all of his girls and at least 2 of the younger girls pitch a fit because he's grabbed and they're not ready. I can see why the waterer is considered a prospective mate in certain other tribes....I swear he's going to try a rock or a tree stump soon...

Young idiot needs to be courting the ladies, not me, and the hormones are....
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Young idiot at full volume (still fuzzy)

This is a great story, and well-told! I could picture everything, and eagerly followed along. Thank you!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yesterday when I was taking pictures of Chiquita and her chicks I noticed Twiggy watching me. I thought I would get a new picture of her since she was standing so pretty. Nope, point the camera in her direction and I got this. Thanks Twig.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Oh good to know! I was going to try that with fluffy and curly. Ok well trimming it is… Iya stressful trimming around their eyes!

Seems to me you COULD use little clips to hold the feathers back away from their eyes in the trimming process, just like a hairdresser does in sectioning hair.

Haircut

Gucci's trim is really only 1/2 done. Mrs BY Bob was not aggressive enough trimming so we changed spots. I got her right side done pretty well but Gucci was fussing during the left side and let out a screech. Well that was that.

"Stop it your hurting her" was Mrs BY Bob's response to the screech and I was no longer allowed near her.

It has been not quite 2 weeks since her last trim. Amazing how fast the feathers grew back. Gucci is 0.678 kg (~1.5 lbs) and has gained 0.1 kg (~0.2 lbs) during that time. She feels much bigger when you hold her than she has in the past. She is about 1/2 the size of Phyllis and Betty.

Mrs BY Bob with her baby.
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Okay I am being a bit facetious but I am struggling to see what trimming was done As @bgmathteach pointed out, if you have to show where her eyes supposedly are it’s not much. It looks more like you’re pointing out her nares, frankly ! Okay, teasing over. I can’t catch up here, so maybe later on you’ll have a photo from the side, revealing eyes?

 

[RoyalChick]

How about creamed corn? That may at least move along.

I can try. My observation is she has issues with swallowing wet stuff (mash, egg) and dry stuff (pellets, chopped nuts, meal worms).
Her throat has some thick mucus and she has to cough up when she eats. My guess is it is sore and the defrosted corn is the perfect consistency for her to get down the hatch without too much pain.
One of my closest friends has Covid right now and she says all she can eat is ice-cream because of her sore and congested throat.
I feel Bella has a similar issue maybe.

 

[RoyalChick]

And what are they telling you?

She has been very dehydrated. Her tongue has shriveled and has scabs on it. But I think it is now a bit better.

 

[RoyalChick]

Seems to me you COULD use little clips to hold the feathers back away from their eyes in the trimming process, just like a hairdresser does in sectioning hair.

Okay I am being a bit facetious but I am struggling to see what trimming was done As @bgmathteach pointed out, if you have to show where her eyes supposedly are it’s not much. It looks more like you’re pointing out her nares, frankly ! Okay, teasing over. I can’t catch up here, so maybe later on you’ll have a photo from the side, revealing eyes?

I am with you on the trim!