Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Long story.

Came home from work yesterday. Kid said a yellow tail went past the window (on the deck). Visiting dog. Went to close the coop last night. Head count 27. No Twirp. Looked around. Not a trace.

This morning, opened coop. Whiskey has a totally naked tail nub. Something snatched his tail. Otherwise he seems fine (can't catch to treat, he's running around). Called off work: bone chill and tired after coffee. Finally took a soak. Gearing up to take Sherlock for a walk and see a dog in the drive. Head out after it. (Sherlock had an accident inside immediately after that, kid working on cleaning up). Dog owner (co-worker who's mother is a neighbor: place with all the cars) said he saw the dog chasing a white bird. We go walkabout down the outside of the pea tree hedge. Found Quartz, then Granite. Look around more not find anymore, but hear a squawk from down below. (Wondering why the 2 were out where we found them, what was going on around the coop). Owner offered to pay for the birds. Ok. No idea what they're going to do with the dog (I didn't ask). Owner leaves and I go start Head count around the coop. Come up with 22. With Twirp missing, Quartz and Granite dead, should be 25. 3 missing: Pear, Nimbus, and I'm not sure who. I saw Whiskey, Cheetah, Hector, Blanche, PITA, Cuckoo, Lark, Indigo, Primula, Belladonna, Nellie, Pippa, Maizie, Mera, Storm, Cardhu, Cumulo, Shan, Enigma.....pretty sure I saw Jessica, Havoc....leaves Tuff and Chia (possibly off laying another egg in her hiding spot). Anyway, not quite sure who is missing.

Went down to lower neighbors to see if the squawk I heard was from there. His mom (former owner of our place) and his sister and a young man (not sure who) were there. Yellow dog from yesterday is there. Now they know dog was up ON the deck. Also found Whiskey's tail feathers down there, so proof something grabbed at him. Told them about Twirp missing yesterday, the 2 dead today, hearing something down there. They had been out trimming some of the shrubs when one of the dogs flushed a chicken out of the rose patch at the end of the house near where the feathers were. We go out and poke under the juniper bush. (My hair is still wet from my soak and hanging to my waist). I can see tail feathers, looking suspiciously like Twirp's. Used some hand snips to trim out a couple of branches and I can see her. It is Twirp. As soon as I laid hands on her tail feathers, she squirms farther in (I'm belly down under a juniper shrub up to my waist). Finally fish her out and she hunkers down in my arms, obviously scared and shock. She's got similar wounds to Whiskey's, just with a couple more tail feathers. They're going to keep an eye out for any more birds and let me know if they find any. Twirp got brought back up to the house, where we started cleaning up (poopy butt in addition to the feather loss). Drink of water got her standing on her own, drinking and looking around a bit. Still more interested in sitting still. Sprayed area with vetricyn. Then had kid go out and bring in the baby tote. Tucked her in there, then set up feeder. Went out to the coop, trying to figure out who would be a calm companion (She's the independent, go off by herself twirp). Whiskey is roosting.....ooh good idea, need to treat him too. Bit of a fight getting him off the roost so he's mostly fine. Corner him and pack him in (he's pretty unhappy about it, and quite the hefty weight, at least double Twirp, who is about 4 pounds). Get his backside sprayed and add him to the tote. Quarters are TIGHT, he's a big boy......and a good boy. He promptly starts talking to Twirp and tidbitting over the food, eating as he goes. Good.

Take Sherlock for a walk (he's been looked in the laundry out of the way, and needs a bath from his accident). Warm enough to use the hose....which he fights hard enough to slip his collar. He runs off in his "I've got the zoomies" gait and I have visions of him going through the birds.....surprisingly he comes right back when I call him. Collar back on and tightened down a bit. Try more washing....he's wet...good enough. Back inside to introduce him to his new house mates (who are NOT happy: Whiskey sounds alarm and Twirp hides under him. Sherlock is naturally curious about it and wants to poke his nose in. Repeated efforts, finally move the baby gate (for keeping him off the stairs and haven't needed that way in a while) over to help "fence off the corner". Now lots more opportunities to practice "come" with distractions. Drying him off was more difficult as he likes to play with towels.

All this has been over the last 2 and a half hours. Currently sitting in living room, Sherlock napping at feet. Hearing pecking from the kitchen. Have vitamins in the water and mixed scratch and pellets into the feeder. Also have pumpkins to process, so some of those will go to birds. Still need to go back out and see if any of the others have turned up. Definitely NOT what I planned on doing on a sick day (more like nipping the sick before it gets nasty). I still have juniper in my sweater (alpaca wool, and when it came to rescuing Twirp, I didn't care) and need to brush out my hair, getting rid of any more twigs in it.

Okay this is harsh but so many people think that their dogs can just run loose, especially out in the countryside. The neighbors all around you should be paying for you to get an electric fence, either just wires if that will work for coyotes and dogs or a poultry netting fence. That would be proper consideration.

 

[BY Bob]

Honestly, I’d be taking a Mauser, to that schnauzer!!

Me too.

 

[Ponypoor]

She's gone

Awwwww soooo sorry to hear, gosh she really lived a long time for a ‘factory’ hen - and I am soooo very glad she had a great life with you.

You are so good with these rescue hens, have you ever thought of getting another rescue? You do so good with them, and know how to care for them you would be a great rescue mama to another one or two older ladies

 

[Ponypoor]

I have a wormer that deals with spulworms, hookworm, Whipworm, tapeworm and roundworm.

Would this be any good to princess?? It's a 500mg? No vets here deal with chickens

What’s it called? What is the active ingredients?

 

[Ponypoor]

I think I remember that Tylenol is the version of our paracetamol.

That's something I wouldn't give to my children or pets because it has had very bad press for causing liver problems

I'll admit I live with continuous pain at varying levels but I've always tried for alternative pain solutions.

My reasons are I took a lot of different pain killers and they just stopped working after a while and caused stomach problems which I had to have surgery for.

In saying all of the above, taken on occasions they can be helpful. But I'm pleased I did stop them because I know really good people that are now have a serious addiction.
One person in particular went from one too another and this beautiful friend of mine has been hooked on opioid medication, for many years, what a waste of a great human being

Yes paracetamol is Tylenol (acetaminophen). Over dosing of it can cause liver issues, it’s generally safe as long as one stays within the recommended daily dose of 4grams.

Tylenol does diddly for me, I prefer Naproxen.

 

[featherhead007]

Okay this is harsh but so many people think that their dogs can just run loose, especially out in the countryside. The neighbors all around you should be paying for you to get an electric fence, either just wires if that will work for coyotes and dogs or a poultry netting fence. That would be proper consideration.

Hey CB, maybe they could bump up the voltage on that wire fencing, let’s say to 10,000 volts? Surely the dogs will get the message with that wire.

 

[Marie2020]

That would be nice if you checked in and poked around!

It occurred to me that instead of a long-term commitment your coop could be a rest stop for two or four rescues, if there is such a thing?

The child of a friend of mine in conjunction with a local shelter takes puppies and older dogs, just a few at a time are at her house. She cares for them while they are waiting to be adopted, she socializes them, and house-breaks the puppies too.

That's a splendid idea. I'll check that out when this winter has passed.

As o have said my body isn't up to harsh weather and heavy jobs anymore.


This morning has been heavy I've had to completely scrub out the coop again, which was done recently but due to Tina passing I had to make sure princess is safe. It was extremely painful but done now.

I've given a quarter of the wormer I mentioned to princess with pumpkin and a little beef with carrot.

We have to keep her away from the back area when we Bury Tina. My friend is coming to help, I can't dig at all.

Princess hasn't had any amoxicillin but I hope this will help her is the wormer doesn't help.

I would really appreciate @BY Bob input on penicillin treatment.

 

[BY Bob]

Tina is dying. She was up and about yesterday but seriously poorly now

I think the fireworks may have rushed this on. I have her inside right now and don't know how to help her

View attachment 3676804

Oh no Marie. I'm so sorry. I hope as I catch up i find out a miracle happens.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes paracetamol is Tylenol (acetaminophen). Over dosing of it can cause liver issues, it’s generally safe as long as one stays within the recommended daily dose of 4grams.

Tylenol does diddly for me, I prefer Naproxen.

My Tylenol must be defective. It doesn’t seem to be helping me today! That’s why I’m awake so early.

 

[Ponypoor]

Hey CB, maybe they could bump up the voltage on that wire fencing, let’s say to 10,000 volts? Surely the dogs will get the message with that wire.

YES! I like that idea for sure and entertaining!

—————-

My fencer sends out 15,000 volts and let me tell you when you hit that fence you know it. It’s really more than I needed for the horses but it was a good price when I bought it so long ago…

Now I will use it to protect the chooks - if I ever get the run finished!