Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

I love Grumpy cat!

 

[ValarieF]

R.I.P. Kitty you will always be with me!

 

[ManueB]

I have been truly wondering about this lately. Would I recommend getting chickens to someone any more? I'm not sure I can answer that with confidence any more.

The joy, they bring me is immeasurable, and while the heartbreak is horrible, so would a life be without the joy and love they bring.

I guess this sums it up: to love deeply also means to hurt deeply, as you can't have one without the other.

I agree with both of you. I don't regret at all having my chickens, even with the tough stuff. I want more chickens when my ex-batts die. I will even go as far as to say that in a way, the few illness and deaths I've witnessed taught me lessons I needed to be taught, both regarding chicken care and dealing with the fact that death is a part of life and nature.
But, if I had known all that it would imply I don't think I would have made the choice to get them. I think I, and most people getting chickens, really under-evaluate what it will mean, and how implicated you can get.. Maybe it's true with other domestic animals seeing the number of abandoned pets shelter's take in. It's not that I wouldn't recommend chickens to others, but if I could Iwould like for them to read some of the stories on this thread, or the like, to let them make a conscious choice.
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Thanks for all the feedback regarding roosting and waking up! Seems there are several factors at work. Many of you pointed things out I had not thought about, but that also seems to apply to my lot. Daylight of course, weather, social ritualisation (roosting order especially), presence of humans in the evening, and also the degree of light reaching inside the coop..quite a complicated matter.
And like people I guess there are morning chickens and night owls !

A picture of pretty Piou-piou this morning. Can you believe she still runs away every time I try to show a treat in my hand ? She's not afraid of me. She just wants nothing to do with me .

 

[Ponypoor]

What, no llamas?!?!

They can even guard the chicken coop.

View attachment 3299071


And just in case, llama tax
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Awwwww llamas are awesome.

That chick is a hoot! What a great photo, love the expression he is giving you

 

[Ponypoor]

R.I.P. Kitty you will always be with me!
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One has to have nerves of steel when one has pets, not for the faint of heart.

I love that last photo were puppy has his headlights on

 

[Ponypoor]

S

I agree with both of you. I don't regret at all having my chickens, even with the tough stuff. I want more chickens when my ex-batts die. I will even go as far as to say that in a way, the few illness and deaths I've witnessed taught me lessons I needed to be taught, both regarding chicken care and dealing with the fact that death is a part of life and nature.
But, if I had known all that it would imply I don't think I would have made the choice to get them. I think I, and most people getting chickens, really under-evaluate what it will mean, and how implicated you can get.. Maybe it's true with other domestic animals seeing the number of abandoned pets shelter's take in. It's not that I wouldn't recommend chickens to others, but if I could Iwould like for them to read some of the stories on this thread, or the like, to let them make a conscious choice.
---------------
Thanks for all the feedback regarding roosting and waking up! Seems there are several factors at work. Many of you pointed things out I had not thought about, but that also seems to apply to my lot. Daylight of course, weather, social ritualisation (roosting order especially), presence of humans in the evening, and also the degree of light reaching inside the coop..quite a complicated matter.
And like people I guess there are morning chickens and night owls !

A picture of pretty Piou-piou this morning. Can you believe she still runs away every time I try to show a treat in my hand ? She's not afraid of me. She just wants nothing to do with me .
View attachment 3299204

he is a cutie pie, love those black tail feathers.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I agree with both of you. I don't regret at all having my chickens, even with the tough stuff. I want more chickens when my ex-batts die. I will even go as far as to say that in a way, the few illness and deaths I've witnessed taught me lessons I needed to be taught, both regarding chicken care and dealing with the fact that death is a part of life and nature.
But, if I had known all that it would imply I don't think I would have made the choice to get them. I think I, and most people getting chickens, really under-evaluate what it will mean, and how implicated you can get.. Maybe it's true with other domestic animals seeing the number of abandoned pets shelter's take in. It's not that I wouldn't recommend chickens to others, but if I could Iwould like for them to read some of the stories on this thread, or the like, to let them make a conscious choice.
---------------
Thanks for all the feedback regarding roosting and waking up! Seems there are several factors at work. Many of you pointed things out I had not thought about, but that also seems to apply to my lot. Daylight of course, weather, social ritualisation (roosting order especially), presence of humans in the evening, and also the degree of light reaching inside the coop..quite a complicated matter.
And like people I guess there are morning chickens and night owls !

A picture of pretty Piou-piou this morning. Can you believe she still runs away every time I try to show a treat in my hand ? She's not afraid of me. She just wants nothing to do with me .
View attachment 3299204

Great picture she looks like she is deeply contemplating her toes.

 

[bgmathteach]

I agree with both of you. I don't regret at all having my chickens, even with the tough stuff. I want more chickens when my ex-batts die. I will even go as far as to say that in a way, the few illness and deaths I've witnessed taught me lessons I needed to be taught, both regarding chicken care and dealing with the fact that death is a part of life and nature.
But, if I had known all that it would imply I don't think I would have made the choice to get them. I think I, and most people getting chickens, really under-evaluate what it will mean, and how implicated you can get.. Maybe it's true with other domestic animals seeing the number of abandoned pets shelter's take in. It's not that I wouldn't recommend chickens to others, but if I could Iwould like for them to read some of the stories on this thread, or the like, to let them make a conscious choice.
---------------
Thanks for all the feedback regarding roosting and waking up! Seems there are several factors at work. Many of you pointed things out I had not thought about, but that also seems to apply to my lot. Daylight of course, weather, social ritualisation (roosting order especially), presence of humans in the evening, and also the degree of light reaching inside the coop..quite a complicated matter.
And like people I guess there are morning chickens and night owls !

A picture of pretty Piou-piou this morning. Can you believe she still runs away every time I try to show a treat in my hand ? She's not afraid of me. She just wants nothing to do with me .
View attachment 3299204

She IS so pretty, her coloring is similar (though darker) to Chipie. Very pretty girls!
Yes, all of those things come into play. With my lot, the presence of the human doesn't so much (unless I have my scoop in hand...which means treats!)

Another thing that I forgot to mention which affects roosting time/order for a period of time, is molting. My heavy molters go to bed earlier, and usually in a nest box or the far end of the roost to be as isolated as possible. But, once they have gotten beyond the heavy molting stage, they return to their usual 'order' and time in the roosting scheme

 

[bgmathteach]

I agree with both of you. I don't regret at all having my chickens, even with the tough stuff. I want more chickens when my ex-batts die. I will even go as far as to say that in a way, the few illness and deaths I've witnessed taught me lessons I needed to be taught, both regarding chicken care and dealing with the fact that death is a part of life and nature.
But, if I had known all that it would imply I don't think I would have made the choice to get them. I think I, and most people getting chickens, really under-evaluate what it will mean, and how implicated you can get.. Maybe it's true with other domestic animals seeing the number of abandoned pets shelter's take in. It's not that I wouldn't recommend chickens to others, but if I could Iwould like for them to read some of the stories on this thread, or the like, to let them make a conscious choice.

I agree. Probably one or two of the big differences with chickens, though, versus other pets are:
There are no health standards, such as there are with pure-bred dogs, to insure a reasonably healthy life. Just the opposite, in fact, for breeds - the more they can 'produce' the better, regardless of it's health implications for the chicken/breed. (i.e. chickens are more 'disposable' in the agricultural world - which dominates the breeding.)

Also, for many of us, there is no veterinary care available, so we muddle the best we can. My vet (for my cat/dog) won't see chickens, and I have no access to anyone who will. That makes caring for them when they have ANY issue much more of a challenge.

And, finally (partially due to the breeding issue above), they have a relatively short life span. Many of us have chickens that only live 1-3 years before dieing. Most dogs will live 10-18 years. I think @Shadrach 's experience of 10 years or so (unless preyed upon by hawks, etc.) is unusual, especially in the U.S., where it seems the breeding programs are even worse than places like Europe. The ones I've tried to keep....the oldest/longest they lived were 5 1/2 years old (Rosie, Randy, Knight). (My sweet Rosie! , whom I will forever miss, and who taught me just how wonderful chickens are! And a couple of others that I really wanted to keep...passed anywhere from 3 -5.5 years. )

And, they can be just as engaging, loving, quirky, good at stealing your heart, as a dog or cat can be!

Tax for the rambling:

It's hard to see in this picture, but this boy is starting to get quite leggy! He is one of the 9 that my co-broodies hatched. I can't keep all of the boys (wasn't planning on keeping any of them, as I have plenty!), but the barred Rock boy is turning out to be quite a stunner....and he has me a bit wrapped around his wing feather...so he will be staying (*sigh*) Since they have grown up with the other, older, Roos, I think it will be okay. We will see when he gets to the idiot stage, though..... I"ll have to get a picture of him to post.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hawk

Just came out to do chores and let the gang out for a bit, not even 2 minutes outside and I hear this frantic squawking, I run outside and half the gang is hightailed it over to the pear tree, Dorothy is looking up - I look up just as a sharp shinned hawk glides overhead.

The other half were in the run under the spruce tree dust bathing with Mr P.

Darn those Bluejays, they are not doing their job!

I gathered everyone up and made them come back inside were it’s safe. Later I will sit out in the middle of the yard so the hawk can see me, and dissuade it from any actions.