Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

Willow got some Spinach today. It's her
favorite treat. She was very happy. She didn't get off the eggs, but leaned as far off as she was willing to go to get the spinach. She was very happy. All eggs are intact, as far as I could tell.
I'm getting impatient! I want little babies around!
I am worried about what Pastel will do to them when they get let out though. I don't want him to hurt them, even if its accidentally. Do you think that he will be okay with chicks and a VERY angry momma hen?
If any hatch, that is.
When I moved her, one of the eggs cracked, and so I broke it open to see what was inside, and there was nothing. I made sure that it was one of the marked ones. It for sure was fertile, and if it wasn't, then I need to go get my eyes checked.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I despise telemarketers, so when they call me, I answer with “hello this is sea world, and this call may be recorded for training porpoises !”
Usually I hear the click soon after!

Oh dear, may I use this? I get telemarketer calls about five times every day.

 

[Lexicon]

Mine are now roosting but showing no interest in using one of the main roosts. They are happy with the little roost in their brooder house.
Until one day Tassels gets stuck in the doorway!

Yes, I have a similar situation. The chicks have their own small coop, a little over 20 square feet and a smaller run, 250 square feet that is split. The chicks use the whole thing, but the hens only access one side.

There's a larger coop, 120 square feet, but the chicks are nervous about entering it. Today I set up some hard boiled egg just out of their reach to try to get them to step foot in the big coop. They tried stretching to reach it without actually stepping in the coop. They did their "I am scared" trills. Finally the little one who was sickly early on jumped down and started eating the egg. In the end four of the six entered the scary big coop. I think that I will try that every late afternoon after the hens are done laying eggs and see if they can get used to being in there without the stress of dealing with the big ladies.

I know that yours are using the Chicken Palace freely, so are further along than these chicks, but it is similar in that neither is quite ready to go out of their comfort zone.

 

[featherhead007]

Oh dear, may I use this? I get telemarketer calls about five times every day.

Of course you can! If they are going to waste your time, then waste a few minutes of their time !

 

[BY Bob]

A cool haircut makes for a happy chicken!

That was not a "cool" haircut. That was a butcher job. However it worked. Whatever works is good.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes, I have a similar situation. The chicks have their own small coop, a little over 20 square feet and a smaller run, 250 square feet that is split. The chicks use the whole thing, but the hens only access one side.

There's a larger coop, 120 square feet, but the chicks are nervous about entering it. Today I set up some hard boiled egg just out of their reach to try to get them to step foot in the big coop. They tried stretching to reach it without actually stepping in the coop. They did their "I am scared" trills. Finally the little one who was sickly early on jumped down and started eating the egg. In the end four of the six entered the scary big coop. I think that I will try that every late afternoon after the hens are done laying eggs and see if they can get used to being in there without the stress of dealing with the big ladies.

I know that yours are using the Chicken Palace freely, so are further along than these chicks, but it is similar in that neither is quite ready to go out of their comfort zone.

I’m in agreement that nobody wants to “go out of their comfort zones” that includes people sometimes.

 

[featherhead007]

Everyone is now in the coop. I have greeted each of them with a chest rub.
They think I’m just being friendly with them, but I am actually checking crops and feet for any signs of trouble.
Jaffar is a little on the ( empty stomach ) side tonight but everyone else has done well.

 

[bgmathteach]

Tech issues like that drive most people up the wall. Personally, I tend to want to take the computer out and vent with a large hammer. It doesn't affect the individual(s) instigating the issues in the first place, but it would be sooooo satisfying in the heat of the moment.

Take a leaf out of the Chicken Primer for Life: and wander about in the "jungle"View attachment 3551096Or take a nap in the sunView attachment 3551095I don't think you'll go for their 3rd stress reliever: snacking on mealworms dipped in dirt.

Thank you for this! I just spent 20 min. feeding my cross-beaked chick (her crop wasn't full tonight) Despite her fighting me a bit - it was definitely a stress reliever to cuddle her between 'beak-fill' sessions. And you are absolutely correct - I am not particularly fond of their 3rd stress reliever!

 

[BY Bob]

Unfortunately, it will be a couple of weeks before I can order anything online. Some one at the college opened and clicked on a phishing email....and when she then sent emails - other people's computers got infected - including mine (she was in HR, so there were LOTS). My computer is now virus free (nope I wouldn't have passes it on to you all) Anyways, there was suspicious 'pinging' of my credit cards on amazon. ( a 'charge' of $0.00 - evidently they do this to see if a credit card is active/usable - the phishers, that is). So, I just cancelled my 2 credit cards and have to wait until I get replacements (10days - 2 weeks). I've also just changed my passwords to all but HCC proper stuff. I can't do that until I am on campus tomorrow. The sad thing is, this is what alerted me to a problem. And, the phishers were clever. The person in HR emailed IT saying they think they opened a suspicious email - IT responded BUT she never got the response - the phishers had a built in program to filter out any incoming email with target words - so the IT guy's email never reached her in box for her to be alerted as to what to do. And, since she didn't get a response from IT, she thought she was good.

Darn those Nigerians (yes, that is where the phishing email originated from, according to IT.)

And, I now have 2 students very irate with me who went to the Dean, stating that I refuse to answer their emails. Evidently, something in their email triggered the phishing software to filter them out - and they kept using the same thread as opposed to creating a new email- so I never got them.

Between this and our new LMS, and the fact that the new LMS doesn't play nice with the app for the online math platform I'm using, and IT is about as useful as a wet paper bag with a hole in it when it comes to the software app/interface with the new LMS - I am DONE. I actually just turned down a fall class because I have been in tears over all this crap, my blood sugar has been spiked from the stress and lack of sleep. And I LOVE teaching Stats. It is soooo useful, and can be made quite accessible in the entry level course.

But, something had to give. I just hope I don't lose my seniority over this - I will need to keep teaching in retirement to be able to live - as I will get diddly squat since most of my 24 years here were non-benefited. (presently, if I retire @ 60, the projection is that my retirement monthly income will be short 200/month JUST for covering Heath costs (insurance premiums plus current meds). Never mind anything else - food, mortgage, RE taxed, electricity, yada, yada, yada.

@BY Bob thank you for not jumping all over me for venting. I am beside myself right now

Lots of tax pic: (yes, still 'classics' for now)
View attachment 3551083
Pullet pic of my current broody WR girl.

View attachment 3551089
Pullet picture of my very friendly Welsummer girl.


View attachment 3551091

Fluffy bottom pics of Marilyn
Marilyn is my very robust BO girl (weighing close to 9 lbs.)

I am not angry with you. I'm angry with the situation. How many stupid people.
I did not hear from IT so it must be ok

I'll send an email and assume that someone who was foolish enough to click a virus can deal with it on their own.

I don't need to call anyone on the phone. There is no way the computer and email might be compromised.

There is no risk to the organization so I will throw it over the wall and forget about it.

Those are two people who should be terminated for being too lazy to pick up the phone and thereby compromising the entire organization. No excuses for their lazy behavior and they should be made an example. Apathy will kill any organization and this is an amazing example of such apathy.

Apathy Rant Tax

 

[BY Bob]

Tina is 3 years and three months old now, not bad for a battery hen. And Princess is 5 and two months old.
View attachment 3551161

You have done so well with them Marie. Great work!