Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ali James]

@Ali James
You mentioned Major a while back so I thought I would post the picture of him that hangs on my wall. As you can tell from the picture, he isn't well. He died a few days after. A friend of mine took a picture of him and painted this from the picture she took.
View attachment 2145646

What a lovely gift Shad.

 

[Shadrach]

What an amazing gift. I'm sure it's nice to have something to remember him by.

It was a swap for a pair of candle stick holders. I always try to swap or give something in return if money isn't involved. I can do quite a lot of that here with the locals. Lots of them don't have any money either.

 

[Shadrach]

Some Excitement Today

I thought I would share a non chicken related story from today.

With Eve's 1st birthday approaching Mrs BY Bob and I went on the web and ordered a few educational items for her. Unfortunately we had to go pick them up as delivery would not make it in time. So we left the house today.

The Alfa has not responded well to sitting around and was a little cranky when I started it up. So I thought it would make sense to come home via the highway so I could rev her up to something over 35 mph (55kph).

We were nearly to our exit, the car was humming like it should, when up ahead of me I saw a huge cloud of dust in the median to my left. The first thing I recognized in the dust cloud was a wheel flying in the air. I immediately realized a car was rolling and kicking up the dust.

Mrs BY Bob was not paying attention but I slowed the car and pulled onto the shoulder.

There has been a car accident to our left, we need to help. Mrs BY Bob is a nurse.

I'll dial 911, you head over and I'll join you after I finish the call.

As soon as the car stopped she was out and moving and I dialed. She successfully crossed three lanes of highway traffic.

By the time I got off the phone, this was the scene.

View attachment 2146096

I don't know how the driver was able to stand. He did smell of alcohol. He did not take her instruction and sit but overall did not seem seriously hurt. Just amazing.

The police arrived and we departed.

We returned home, went out back and sat with the chickens, and enjoyed an adult beverage.

That was too much excitement for me. It's the second time we have stopped to help people in accidents who turned to have been drinking prior to the accident.

Really not keen on people who drive after drinking alcohol. Easy for me because I don't drink but even so...

 

[Shadrach]

Actually Shad, it was because of you that we have made our girls' run more 'tip' like. Having been reading your stories and insights, as well as seeing how much my girls have been loving free ranging, I see more and more how 'busy' chicken minds are. There is no denying they are clever, curious and actively search out objects of interest.

Like @BY Bob Bob I live in a built up residential area, and I know for absolute certain we have urban foxes in our immediate area. For this reason they are only allowed out under direct supervision, which during CV19 lockdown is fairly often now. During normal work hours, they are confined to their run, which we made as big as we could in the space that we had. As expected, they stripped it bare of all vegetation, so I try to make it more interesting by lobbing in any weeds, swept up leaves and clippings. I got loads of logs from a timber merchant and helpful friends which I periodically rearrange to expose any bugs and shoots for them.

This just doesn't feel enough for them anymore, hence Neil and I building a new frame for them. Charlie likes it as it gives her a safe place to perch near the other girls, but far enough away from them that they can't opportunistically peck at her.

That makes me very pleased. I write so much stuff about chicken behavior, what with the articles and stories hoping to encourage people to make even small changes to their view of the chicken and their keeping arrangements. I've been horrified by what I've seen as coops and runs on this site. I appreciate that some people have to keep their chickens contained but a lot can be done in a run with a bit of imagination and not a lot of expense.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

A Long Soak

Sometimes you just want to get into the tub and soak for while. It's not about getting clean it's about letting the cares of the world soak away. All this group needed was wine and candles yesterday. These are the least energetic dust baths I have ever seen!

I didn't notice Hattie or Aurora in that bath. Were they there and I just can't see pale hens?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Some Excitement Today

I thought I would share a non chicken related story from today.

With Eve's 1st birthday approaching Mrs BY Bob and I went on the web and ordered a few educational items for her. Unfortunately we had to go pick them up as delivery would not make it in time. So we left the house today.

The Alfa has not responded well to sitting around and was a little cranky when I started it up. So I thought it would make sense to come home via the highway so I could rev her up to something over 35 mph (55kph).

We were nearly to our exit, the car was humming like it should, when up ahead of me I saw a huge cloud of dust in the median to my left. The first thing I recognized in the dust cloud was a wheel flying in the air. I immediately realized a car was rolling and kicking up the dust.

Mrs BY Bob was not paying attention but I slowed the car and pulled onto the shoulder.

There has been a car accident to our left, we need to help. Mrs BY Bob is a nurse.

I'll dial 911, you head over and I'll join you after I finish the call.

As soon as the car stopped she was out and moving and I dialed. She successfully crossed three lanes of highway traffic.

By the time I got off the phone, this was the scene.

View attachment 2146096

I don't know how the driver was able to stand. He did smell of alcohol. He did not take her instruction and sit but overall did not seem seriously hurt. Just amazing.

The police arrived and we departed.

We returned home, went out back and sat with the chickens, and enjoyed an adult beverage.

That was too much excitement for me. It's the second time we have stopped to help people in accidents who turned to have been drinking prior to the accident.

Good on you for stopping to assist. ❤

People drink driving really boils my blood So lucky no-one was hurt

 

[BY Bob]

Well done to the two of you for helping out. I don't understand why people feel it's ok to drink and then undertake such a dangerous activity as driving. My husband was hit by a car recently and knocked off his bicycle by someone who was allegedly drunk, but as he left the scene of the accident, it can't be proven.

I thought of your story as well.

The randomness of the tyre also struck me. If that tyre had flown onto the highway the collateral damage could have been massive. There was a lot of traffic.

 

[BY Bob]

Look what DH got me!

View attachment 2146400

What a great present. I love it.

 

[BY Bob]

You be careful Mr Bob! It is a feminist work by Australian based sociologist Susan Maushart who holds nothing back in her analysis of the division of labour and parenting in modern (heterosexual) marriage. Highly provocative and savagely blunt; rightly so too.

If Bea doesn't bring me some coffee soon...........oops, I think she might frown on that!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

If Bea doesn't bring me some coffee soon...........oops, I think she might frown on that!

Don't forget the beating before the coffee!