Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ManueB]

Hi everyone. I will try and follow along but I won’t be on much.
Babs died unexpectedly yesterday and I am a bit of a mess.
I will post a tribute to beautiful Babs when I can look at pictures without crying.

Oh no...I can't believe this beautiful soul is gone.
I'm terribly sorry, RC. I know how much you love her. I hope she flies high enough to join Elie.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Hello everyone.

The hatch is done and I ended up with 9 chicks. All 6 of Poppets eggs hatched. I also have a Betty chick, a Curly chick and the Fluffy chick. The fluffy chick, I have been worried about it since the moment it hatched. It was born with splayed legs, and had a difficult hatch with some what I will call excess bleeding. The odds have not been in this chicks favor. It is a fighter and has not gave up so therefore I cannot give up on it. After it recovered from the hatch I made a tiny set of hobbles and left them on for 18 hours. I Know I should have left them on longer probably but it was fighting the hobbles and fighting being in the cup. I took them off and the splay was better but not 100%. I then realized that it was not just splayed legs, the bad leg also has what appears to be a slipped tendon. I fear putting the hobbles on and her fighting it I caused it. I did not see this at first. I was ready to give up. My brother is aware of her struggles and if I make that call he is willing to do it for me. It was at this point that the curly chick crashed out of nowhere. I do not know why or what happened but she went from perfectly fine to appearing to be dying in under a hour. I have electrolyte water made up for the fluffy chick so I gave the curly chick some as well. I then put a strawberry basket in the brooder and put both chicks in it and simply prayed. Thankfully the curly chick rebounded after a few hours. She also was a comfort to the fluffy chick and having a companion boosted her already good apatite. Yesterday morning I removed the paper towels from the brooder and introduced my go to of sawdust for litter. I also put some in the basket with the 2 chicks. Right away I saw the fluffy chick was able to move better with the sawdust bedding. It was around 6 yesterday when I let them both out of the strawberry bucket into the main part of the brooder with the rest of the chicks and I hovered to observe. The fluffy chick, she surprised me. She is all over the brooder and can get there fast. It is not pretty but she is mobile. She has dust bathed multiple times, first to do it actually. Betty's chick Adele has been the bully and the toe and feather grabber. Fluffy's chick pecks Adele who learned real fast to leave her alone. She has no problem getting to the water bowl and drinking and is eating like a champ. When I finally fell asleep this morning she was snuggled in the middle of the pile of chicks. I still do not know what to do. I think she can survive. I also think that if she does she will have a disability, one she will adapt to but a disability all the same. I do know if she does survive she will never be allowed to free range unless I am out there. She will have to live in the coop and have friends rotated in and out with her. I struggle with that thought. For now though I am holding off making any decisions and will monitor the situation. I am already attached to her and I know I am not thinking clearly on what to do. Dang it she is a fighter, if she keeps fighting and growing I will give her the best life I possibly can.

 

[notabitail]

Hi everyone. I will try and follow along but I won’t be on much.
Babs died unexpectedly yesterday and I am a bit of a mess.
I will post a tribute to beautiful Babs when I can look at pictures without crying.

 

[Sylvester017]

I had to go to town today. I met with my church friend, who bought me this device. He likes to make steaks, but my old rusty bbq wasn’t good enough. He is a very nice guy. He buys me things on a regular basis. Matter of fact, they all buy me things. I’m just blessed I guess:

View attachment 3865548

What a nice gift! We have one like that with a mesh wire shelf at the bottom for almost 10 years. Walmart had an end summer sale & we got the bigger one for $20. These cost way more today. Perfect for summer cookout just for two of us -- pork chops, wrapped potatoes or garden veggies, bacon, poultry pieces, marinated lamb chunks, use your imagination! We don't BBQ in the backyard where the chickens are. We use the bigger front yard where it's open and no fire hazards and a hose nearby just in case. Never can be too careful. Enjoy!

 

[Ponypoor]

Hello everyone.

The hatch is done and I ended up with 9 chicks. All 6 of Poppets eggs hatched. I also have a Betty chick, a Curly chick and the Fluffy chick. The fluffy chick, I have been worried about it since the moment it hatched. It was born with splayed legs, and had a difficult hatch with some what I will call excess bleeding. The odds have not been in this chicks favor. It is a fighter and has not gave up so therefore I cannot give up on it. After it recovered from the hatch I made a tiny set of hobbles and left them on for 18 hours. I Know I should have left them on longer probably but it was fighting the hobbles and fighting being in the cup. I took them off and the splay was better but not 100%. I then realized that it was not just splayed legs, the bad leg also has what appears to be a slipped tendon. I fear putting the hobbles on and her fighting it I caused it. I did not see this at first. I was ready to give up. My brother is aware of her struggles and if I make that call he is willing to do it for me. It was at this point that the curly chick crashed out of nowhere. I do not know why or what happened but she went from perfectly fine to appearing to be dying in under a hour. I have electrolyte water made up for the fluffy chick so I gave the curly chick some as well. I then put a strawberry basket in the brooder and put both chicks in it and simply prayed. Thankfully the curly chick rebounded after a few hours. She also was a comfort to the fluffy chick and having a companion boosted her already good apatite. Yesterday morning I removed the paper towels from the brooder and introduced my go to of sawdust for litter. I also put some in the basket with the 2 chicks. Right away I saw the fluffy chick was able to move better with the sawdust bedding. It was around 6 yesterday when I let them both out of the strawberry bucket into the main part of the brooder with the rest of the chicks and I hovered to observe. The fluffy chick, she surprised me. She is all over the brooder and can get there fast. It is not pretty but she is mobile. She has dust bathed multiple times, first to do it actually. Betty's chick Adele has been the bully and the toe and feather grabber. Fluffy's chick pecks Adele who learned real fast to leave her alone. She has no problem getting to the water bowl and drinking and is eating like a champ. When I finally fell asleep this morning she was snuggled in the middle of the pile of chicks. I still do not know what to do. I think she can survive. I also think that if she does she will have a disability, one she will adapt to but a disability all the same. I do know if she does survive she will never be allowed to free range unless I am out there. She will have to live in the coop and have friends rotated in and out with her. I struggle with that thought. For now though I am holding off making any decisions and will monitor the situation. I am already attached to her and I know I am not thinking clearly on what to do. Dang it she is a fighter, if she keeps fighting and growing I will give her the best life I possibly can.

She is such a lucky chickie to have you caring for her

 

[Sylvester017]

Rain clouds finally started clearing...View attachment 3865662Yes, that's FRESH [oh, do I need to put it in a spoiler for 4-letter words @Ponypoor ?]

So far, 6 months of the year...oh, wait...we're only in the 6th month...

And so i don't get called out for taxes
View attachment 3865664

How idyllic and beautiful!!! Makes me miss my childhood farm days.

 

[BY Bob]

Hi everyone. I will try and follow along but I won’t be on much.
Babs died unexpectedly yesterday and I am a bit of a mess.
I will post a tribute to beautiful Babs when I can look at pictures without crying.

 

[BY Bob]

Glynda will be an awesome mama, Phyllis might be bossing her around but she is still part of Glynda’s flock.

Poor Éowyn though….

Don't feel bad for that cat. She was not hurt. Embarrassed, but not injured in any way.

 

[rural mouse]

Hi everyone. I will try and follow along but I won’t be on much.
Babs died unexpectedly yesterday and I am a bit of a mess.
I will post a tribute to beautiful Babs when I can look at pictures without crying.

 

[featherhead007]

I can’t seem to break broody Xzit. She will only eat and drink if inside the house.