Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

You are a wicked temptress Chook Lady!

...and we are all enablers Vicarious chickens are the least work!

It truly is tempting but we are going to wait until spring. Hopefully Mal will give us another opportunity.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

It truly is tempting but we are going to wait until spring. Hopefully Mal will give us another opportunity.

You know we could start a Co-Op...

 

[BY Bob]

I didn’t realise how fragile chickens can be! I will have had chooks for two years in October and already I’ve lost three! I found Emily dead on the ground (and Lucy lost her voice around the same time), Penny got egg peritonitis and Bessie developed a limp. We had her on antibiotics and she was slowly getting better but then stopped walking altogether. Then after a few more days stopped eating and drinking and when we were at the vet’s, we were going to try stronger antibiotics but when the vet went to give her fluids, she couldn’t breathe on her side properly and died in my arms. I love having chooks though, but will probably continue to be devastated when they die.

I am so sorry.

I feel like we have lost 1 per year out of our flock of 2, then 3, now 4, since we started. The first was a hawk attack, second was egg binding (my lord I was unprepared for that), the third drowned, Daisy (the greatest hen of all time) passed from salpingitis and dear Patsy passed of old age this summer. It is not easy to be a chook friend. I will be destroyed when Maleficent's time comes. I know it already. But she is so worth it. They are amazing animals and I cannot imagine a life without them.

 

[BY Bob]

I lost an entire flock in the matter of a few days: heat stroke, heart attack, disease, plain old age. It was devastating. It's taken years for me to try again.

I "liked" this post even though I dislike what happened. I can't imagine having to go through that. You are a strong person to try again.

 

[BY Bob]

I lost my first three hens to a fox raid in 2017 :-( I'm still very sad about it. My favourite (Dora) used to hop up next to me for cuddles.

I took a year to pull my socks up and get a proper fox-proof coop, then Janet, then Mary; and a few months later, Sandy joined us.

The new coop is positioned above Dora's grave. I never found Alice or Nigella - I presume the foxes took them back to the den. Fox raids are awful. Horrid. Nightmarish. Painful. Punishing. Heartbreaking.

In short - I'm very sorry you lost a whole flock @Ribh and I know the feeling.

Again I "liked" this post despite the content. Fox scare me. I know they can jump my 6 foot perimeter fence, if not dig under it. The coop itself should be fox proof. It is armored so to speak. But I worry all the time about the run. They are so cunning. I am constantly making small improvements whenever I see a possible vulnerability.

 

[BY Bob]

Foxes...& dogs. The very worst!
I was a guide & one of my community service projects was visiting an older couple in their 90's. They had a flock of about 30 black leghorns. I arrived one day to find the whole 1/4 acre block strewn with feathers & torn bodies & not a live chook to be found. One dog. Just one. I do not like dogs.

It's funny; cats have the reputation as killers for fun and dogs do not. However I have seen and heard of this happening way too often. When a cat kills for fun it is one animal. A single dog can be devastating. They do not stop at one. Fox are the same as dogs to me. Just smarter ones.

 

[BY Bob]

Bob - Your chickens aren't the only birds to develop an ambition to enter the BIG, BIG COOP where the best treats come from ...

Spoiler: #738 on a mission

View attachment 1916666 View attachment 1916667 View attachment 1916668 Note screen door ajar, leaving a pigeon sized opening.

That is simply awesome! I love it. Smart bird.

Along these lines, the wife was speaking about bringing the birds in over the weekend. It was extremely hot out and she felt they might like an air conditioned break. I am concerned as to where her head is as winter approaches.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes, think of my ‘like’ as more of a hug. That would be so painful, I’m glad you’re giving it another go though.

Wonder what Bob thinks when he wakes up and all these Aussies have been chatting away on his thread!

This is a wonderful present this morning. I am thoroughly enjoying catching up.


Last night would have been the perfect night to have insomnia! I'm sorry I missed it live.

 

[BY Bob]

You know we could start a Co-Op...

Is that a co-op or codependency?

 

[LozzyR]

This is a wonderful present this morning. I am thoroughly enjoying catching up.


Last night would have been the perfect night to have insomnia! I'm sorry I missed it live.

Glad you could join us! I’m hitting the hay now so have a great day with all your lovely ladies (wives and granddaughters included!)