Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[knoturavggrl]

Little Eli has problems
Eli has been having issues this week and I keep delaying sharing here as I have spent most days unsure if she would pull through.
It has now been almost a week and it is unclear how this will resolve and I am sharing now so you know what she is dealing with and can send good thoughts her way.

About a week ago Eli became egg bound. I spent a day and a half giving calcium, inserting lubricant, and frantically calling vets. Finally she laid an egg and was much better for a whole day.
Then it happened again. This time she spent two days straining and crying out. I have put the video in a spoiler as it is a bit distressing.

Spoiler: Eli having trouble

Then on Tuesday, after a morning of straining, she laid two eggs. TWO eggs!
One of them was regular sized, the other weighed 3 ounces.
The 3 ounce one was a monster of an egg and had two yolks. These photos give a sense of the comparison of the two eggs - the smaller one is a regular size egg.

View attachment 3433778View attachment 3433779View attachment 3433780

Poor little girl. No wonder she was in distress!
As well as the straining I also noticed that her legs got weak. She couldn't jump up and spent 2 nights roosting down on the roost. Babs agreed to stay with her and Bernie was very well behaved.

I really hoped that the issue was resolved once that monster egg was out, but sadly she is egg bound again now. She had a good day today running around outside, but yesterday she was in the nest box straining for 2 hours, and at 4:30 this morning she flew down from the rafters in the dark and spent another 2 hours straining in the nest box.

Having talked to multiple vets there is not really anything I can do for her except hope for the best.

Poor little Eli.

hugs for you and Eli
Sending good thoughts her way that its a new layer issue that will sort itself out.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Ask Aurora

This week’s question comes from @RoyalChick Eli

View attachment 3432344

Dear Aurora,
I know your scribe is busy on other duties, but maybe you could give this your attention when you get a chance. My hooman explained that the scribe was unavailable because of a thing called ‘werk’. I wasn’t really listening, but she explained it was something to do with being able to keep you all supplied with meal worms, so it sounded important.

Anyway, the topic I want to raise with you is very important to me and I believe also to the chicken world in general.

Before I explain more, let me remind you about myself. I am a small chicken and definitely not the leader of the pack. I am fine with that and I spend most of my time on my two main passions which are cultivating my beard and whiskers, and EATING. I should say I also enjoy flying but that is not really a hobby, it is just who I am (and no, I don’t expect I will grow out of it as RC hopes).
It is about my second passion that I am writing and a dilemma I have concerning BROCCOLI.

My hooman says it is good for me ‘that’ll put hair on your chest feathers on your beard’. In general I trust her menu recommendations - I particularly like the dried up cat food (made from venison she says), and the sunflower seeds she hides under her jacket are simply the best things on earth - but in this case I am not so sure. Bernadette, who is the boss hen here, says not to touch it.

I mean I quite like how it looks and smells. I even think I remember it from childhood. But if Bernie says no, does that mean I can’t even try it?

This is really messing with my head. I mean food is my thing. What am I to do here?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Yours, perpetually in search of a snack,
Eli



Dear Eli,

So you are one of Bernadette’s minions. Good for her. I see she took my advice and ascended to the lofty status she rightly deserved. If only the rest of the world would listen to me and honor “The Way of the Chicken” there would be fewer problems.

I also see you recognize that she is your better. That is good. Follow “The Way” and your life will be happy and fulfilled.

Broccoli. I have to say I can’t stand the stuff. No one here likes it. Give us some brussels sprouts or a cabbage any day. Hattie loves the lettuce. We really do like vegetables here.

But Broccoli………….Blech.

Put us all in the same category as that former president George Herbert Walker Bush. No thank you.

Hmmmmmm………..President Aurora………………

View attachment 3432341

The entire world would be a better place if I was in charge. I could solve that Ukraine situation quickly………………………


Sorry, drifted off there.

President Bush said, "I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid. And my mother made me eat it. Now I'm president of the United States. And I'm not gonna eat any more broccoli!" Remember when you are President or Queen of your tribe, you do not have to eat broccoli if you do not want.

Now I understand your dilemma. You want to follow “The Way” and be a good minion for Bernadette. Bernadette is your better and you should follow her lead. But then there is another potion of “The Way” which covers food.

Have you ever noticed that when treats are provided or something cool is located there are no rules as to who gets the food. It is a scrum, a free-for-all. I’m sure you have seen a hen at the bottom of the pecking order running off with something cool to eat and other hens chasing after her. We lead hens try our best to remind you of your place but there are times when even Phyllis or Betty steal food from me. Heck Lady Featherington stole the best part of a piece of sushi the other day. Did I beat her up over it? No, I did not. No grudges are held. Winner Takes All is “The Way of the Chicken.” If you can grab it and eat it before someone else can take it from you, you win.

So now we have a conundrum. It seems that two pieces of "The Way" are in contradiction. Actually, they are not. Finders’ Keepers supersedes obeying your betters. When there is food to be eaten, there are no rules other than Darwin’s, Survival of the Fittest

Your problem is that your lead hen is new to the business. Therefore, she wants to control everything you do. To her if she allows you any leeway her rule is threatened. This is common in new rulers who have not had the ability to learn from another Queen how to lead others prior to ascending the throne.

You have two choices.

1. You can wait for Bernadette to feel more comfortable in her rule and she lets up. The downside to this is that it could be years and you love food. This could be awfully hard.
2. You can invoke Winner Takes All and eat what you want. You may get a peck over this but it does have 2 benefits, you can eat broccoli if you want and it will speed up the process of Bernadette learning that you eating some disgusting broccoli is actually not a threat to her rule.

To me it is your duty to Bernadette and all other chickens who will be a part of your tribe to choose option 2. A good minion can help a leader by reminding her of “the Way” from time to time. It is your responsibility to help her to be a better leader. If that means you get pecked for your trouble that a price you must pay for the good of all.

Therefore, I am challenging you to fulfill your purpose within “The Way of the Chicken” and eat some gross disgusting broccoli. You be your best self and go eat whatever you want and don’t let Bernadette tell you any different.

As for will broccoli put feathers in your beard? I have covered that before. Human servants will say that anything their children won’t eat that is “good for them” will put hair on their chest, give you curly hair, etc. Your human servant is just treating you like a child. She thinks that broccoli is good for you. If you want more beard feathers eat spicy food. If you want to eat broccoli, eat broccoli. If you are like those of us here at FBA and don’t like broccoli, then don’t eat it.

Aurora

View attachment 3432340



P.S. I have been thinking some more on Broccoli.

You know the only thing that Broccoli was good for is James Bond.


Hmmmmm………….James Bond………………..


Aurora…………Queen Aurora

View attachment 3432342View attachment 3432343

Loved this!
But the end...can someone explain to me how broccoli is connected to James Bond?
Or is this an Aurora mind-bending genius stream of consciousness?

 

[featherhead007]

Loved this!
But the end...can someone explain to me how broccoli is connected to James Bond?
Or is this an Aurora mind-bending genius stream of consciousness?

CB , your ignorance is so cute! James Bond 007 was created and produced by Broccoli
Albert Romolo Broccoli, producer of Bond 007 franchise

 

[featherhead007]

CB , your ignorance is so cute! James Bond 007 was created and produced by Broccoli
Albert Romono Broccoli, producer of Bond 007 franchise

Fleming was the writer and creator.
007 is basically based on his experiences in ww2

 

[Lilion]

CB , your ignorance is so cute! James Bond 007 was created and produced by Broccoli
Albert Romolo Broccoli, producer of Bond 007 franchise

I didn't know that either, but was afraid to ask. You learn something new every day.

Trivia tax:

 

[TX Chick Noob]

I’m sorry I have been absent from the posts. It’s been so crazy here with flooding and power outages/ internet issues and many streets flooded and dams are dangerously overflowing. I will definitely try to catch up with the thread (but it won’t be easy)

I wondered how you were doing. I hope the weather and your health improve soon.

Hair cut and nail trim

Poor Mr P such an indignity hahaha
And grabbed him up, he scream murder! Marty was ready to do battle with me haha. But I got him trimmed, and I think he can see better.

View attachment 3433286
View attachment 3433287
View attachment 3433288

Mr. MULLET!

That’s what I thought too! Business in the front, party in the back.

The Marshmallows are now 7 weeks old.
View attachment 3433535View attachment 3433537View attachment 3433539View attachment 3433540View attachment 3433542View attachment 3433544View attachment 3433545View attachment 3433546View attachment 3433550View attachment 3433552View attachment 3433553

Has it been that long already? Time sure flies. They look so happy and healthy.

Little Eli has problems
Eli has been having issues this week and I keep delaying sharing here as I have spent most days unsure if she would pull through.
It has now been almost a week and it is unclear how this will resolve and I am sharing now so you know what she is dealing with and can send good thoughts her way.

About a week ago Eli became egg bound. I spent a day and a half giving calcium, inserting lubricant, and frantically calling vets. Finally she laid an egg and was much better for a whole day.
Then it happened again. This time she spent two days straining and crying out. I have put the video in a spoiler as it is a bit distressing.

Spoiler: Eli having trouble

Then on Tuesday, after a morning of straining, she laid two eggs. TWO eggs!
One of them was regular sized, the other weighed 3 ounces.
The 3 ounce one was a monster of an egg and had two yolks. These photos give a sense of the comparison of the two eggs - the smaller one is a regular size egg.

View attachment 3433778View attachment 3433779View attachment 3433780

Poor little girl. No wonder she was in distress!
As well as the straining I also noticed that her legs got weak. She couldn't jump up and spent 2 nights roosting down on the roost. Babs agreed to stay with her and Bernie was very well behaved.

I really hoped that the issue was resolved once that monster egg was out, but sadly she is egg bound again now. She had a good day today running around outside, but yesterday she was in the nest box straining for 2 hours, and at 4:30 this morning she flew down from the rafters in the dark and spent another 2 hours straining in the nest box.

Having talked to multiple vets there is not really anything I can do for her except hope for the best.

Poor little Eli.

Oh no! Poor Eli. Are you continuing to give her a Calcium Citrate +D3 every day? I believe I have read that can help regulate their laying cycle. Hopefully it is just a new layer glitch and she will stop having issues soon.

 

[micstrachan]

Ask Aurora

This week’s question comes from @RoyalChick Eli

View attachment 3432344

Dear Aurora,
I know your scribe is busy on other duties, but maybe you could give this your attention when you get a chance. My hooman explained that the scribe was unavailable because of a thing called ‘werk’. I wasn’t really listening, but she explained it was something to do with being able to keep you all supplied with meal worms, so it sounded important.

Anyway, the topic I want to raise with you is very important to me and I believe also to the chicken world in general.

Before I explain more, let me remind you about myself. I am a small chicken and definitely not the leader of the pack. I am fine with that and I spend most of my time on my two main passions which are cultivating my beard and whiskers, and EATING. I should say I also enjoy flying but that is not really a hobby, it is just who I am (and no, I don’t expect I will grow out of it as RC hopes).
It is about my second passion that I am writing and a dilemma I have concerning BROCCOLI.

My hooman says it is good for me ‘that’ll put hair on your chest feathers on your beard’. In general I trust her menu recommendations - I particularly like the dried up cat food (made from venison she says), and the sunflower seeds she hides under her jacket are simply the best things on earth - but in this case I am not so sure. Bernadette, who is the boss hen here, says not to touch it.

I mean I quite like how it looks and smells. I even think I remember it from childhood. But if Bernie says no, does that mean I can’t even try it?

This is really messing with my head. I mean food is my thing. What am I to do here?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Yours, perpetually in search of a snack,
Eli



Dear Eli,

So you are one of Bernadette’s minions. Good for her. I see she took my advice and ascended to the lofty status she rightly deserved. If only the rest of the world would listen to me and honor “The Way of the Chicken” there would be fewer problems.

I also see you recognize that she is your better. That is good. Follow “The Way” and your life will be happy and fulfilled.

Broccoli. I have to say I can’t stand the stuff. No one here likes it. Give us some brussels sprouts or a cabbage any day. Hattie loves the lettuce. We really do like vegetables here.

But Broccoli………….Blech.

Put us all in the same category as that former president George Herbert Walker Bush. No thank you.

Hmmmmmm………..President Aurora………………

View attachment 3432341

The entire world would be a better place if I was in charge. I could solve that Ukraine situation quickly………………………


Sorry, drifted off there.

President Bush said, "I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid. And my mother made me eat it. Now I'm president of the United States. And I'm not gonna eat any more broccoli!" Remember when you are President or Queen of your tribe, you do not have to eat broccoli if you do not want.

Now I understand your dilemma. You want to follow “The Way” and be a good minion for Bernadette. Bernadette is your better and you should follow her lead. But then there is another potion of “The Way” which covers food.

Have you ever noticed that when treats are provided or something cool is located there are no rules as to who gets the food. It is a scrum, a free-for-all. I’m sure you have seen a hen at the bottom of the pecking order running off with something cool to eat and other hens chasing after her. We lead hens try our best to remind you of your place but there are times when even Phyllis or Betty steal food from me. Heck Lady Featherington stole the best part of a piece of sushi the other day. Did I beat her up over it? No, I did not. No grudges are held. Winner Takes All is “The Way of the Chicken.” If you can grab it and eat it before someone else can take it from you, you win.

So now we have a conundrum. It seems that two pieces of "The Way" are in contradiction. Actually, they are not. Finders’ Keepers supersedes obeying your betters. When there is food to be eaten, there are no rules other than Darwin’s, Survival of the Fittest

Your problem is that your lead hen is new to the business. Therefore, she wants to control everything you do. To her if she allows you any leeway her rule is threatened. This is common in new rulers who have not had the ability to learn from another Queen how to lead others prior to ascending the throne.

You have two choices.

1. You can wait for Bernadette to feel more comfortable in her rule and she lets up. The downside to this is that it could be years and you love food. This could be awfully hard.
2. You can invoke Winner Takes All and eat what you want. You may get a peck over this but it does have 2 benefits, you can eat broccoli if you want and it will speed up the process of Bernadette learning that you eating some disgusting broccoli is actually not a threat to her rule.

To me it is your duty to Bernadette and all other chickens who will be a part of your tribe to choose option 2. A good minion can help a leader by reminding her of “the Way” from time to time. It is your responsibility to help her to be a better leader. If that means you get pecked for your trouble that a price you must pay for the good of all.

Therefore, I am challenging you to fulfill your purpose within “The Way of the Chicken” and eat some gross disgusting broccoli. You be your best self and go eat whatever you want and don’t let Bernadette tell you any different.

As for will broccoli put feathers in your beard? I have covered that before. Human servants will say that anything their children won’t eat that is “good for them” will put hair on their chest, give you curly hair, etc. Your human servant is just treating you like a child. She thinks that broccoli is good for you. If you want more beard feathers eat spicy food. If you want to eat broccoli, eat broccoli. If you are like those of us here at FBA and don’t like broccoli, then don’t eat it.

Aurora

View attachment 3432340



P.S. I have been thinking some more on Broccoli.

You know the only thing that Broccoli was good for is James Bond.


Hmmmmm………….James Bond………………..


Aurora…………Queen Aurora

View attachment 3432342View attachment 3432343

An excellent read as always!!

 

[micstrachan]

In my limited experience spurs do not necessarily mean cockerel - Popcorn has a great set of spurs, not huge but a good inch, maybe inch and a half long, curled and pointed, and she's def not a roo. How do the feathers look on this one? Hackels, tail, etc.? Any crowing?

Ruby had great spurs. Ester, too, I think.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m sorry I have been absent from the posts. It’s been so crazy here with flooding and power outages/ internet issues and many streets flooded and dams are dangerously overflowing. I will definitely try to catch up with the thread (but it won’t be easy)

Hang in there, Alex. We have had no Internet at home for several days. Halfway decent cellular just came back tonight. We also had a recent 10 hour power outage, and we lost power at work. It was a bit crazy. We had to close a school, and we were working at the office in cold conditions. I brought in Single use handwarmers for everyone and some back up power from home to charge computers at work. Our Fabulous maintenance and technology teams Got the Wi-Fi at work back up and running by powering up some generators. It’s been a bit crazy here. I hope things are getting better for you.

 

[featherhead007]

Hang in there, Alex. We have had no Internet at home for several days. Halfway decent cellular just came back tonight. We also had a recent 10 hour power outage, and we lost power at work. It was a bit crazy. We had to close a school, and we were working at the office in cold conditions. I brought in Single use handwarmers for everyone and some back up power from home to charge computers at work. Our Fabulous maintenance and technology teams Got the Wi-Fi at work back up and running by powering up some generators. It’s been a bit crazy here. I hope things are getting better for you.

Well, my computer did crash, but: