Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

That makes me very sad. I wish you can stay home and earn what you need.

Tis what it is.

But I do have a good bunch of guys here, no one harasses or nags me, if I need time off they are good with that.

As you know there are worse places to work!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Mug for Monday: View attachment 3871276

Such a sweetie pie, what is her breed supposed to be?

 

[RoyalChick]

UGH! That little Minx!

Sylvie gave every impression of being over her broodiness this morning. So I let her out on day release.
First thing she does is jump out of her cage, give a mighty roar, and run back to the nest.
Here she is flaring up at Piglet just before jumping in.
And in worrying news, Piglet has also started making broody noises.
My poor chicken carer will be kept busy it seems dealing with these crazy ladies when I am away!

 

[featherhead007]

Such a sweetie pie, what is her breed supposed to be?

CeeCee is supposed to be an EE

 

[bgmathteach]

Happy Mugs Monday everyone.

The goslings are growing like weeds!

Yesterday morning's pic (and, yes, that is the same dishbin as the original pic - if I am not quick with their pen cleanout - they now hop out of the dishbin and frolic! )

(just for comparison - 2 weeks ago:

In good news, though, I have today and tomorrow off - so as long as it doesn't rain, I will have their new outdoor coop ready/finished. and with bedding and a cozy box with extra bedding, they should be okay without heat. If it is going to cool off too much at night, I can bring them in in the evening for another week - more than a week and they will just plain old be too big for their brooder.


And, look, their wings are finally starting to grow!

 

[featherhead007]

Morning stripes and wattles:

 

[bgmathteach]

UGH! That little Minx!

Sylvie gave every impression of being over her broodiness this morning. So I let her out on day release.
First thing she does is jump out of her cage, give a mighty roar, and run back to the nest.
Here she is flaring up at Piglet just before jumping in.
And in worrying news, Piglet has also started making broody noises.
My poor chicken carer will be kept busy it seems dealing with these crazy ladies when I am away!
View attachment 3871304

Well - she is still beautiful, even if she is a bat-crazy broody beauty!

 

[ManueB]

One of those controversial pro/con benefits I read years ago re DE, honey, apple cider vinegar, tomato leaves, and the lists go on.

For instance, tomato leaves are listed as toxic to humans/living things -- insects and hummingbirds avoid tomato plants like the plague (except tomato worms and spider mites seem to love the plants) -- but I can't keep my chickens away from our garden tomato plants even when we bird-netted the plants. It hasn't killed or sickened our birds eating the leaves they manage to reach so how iffy are the toxic vs safe lists chickens can eat? All depends on the info one wants to believe? Also, peanuts supposedly aren't a safe chicken food yet our Dominique hen seeks them out specifically if she gets into the wild bird seed mix. And she's 7 yrs old now -- not dead or sick.

I suppose I would depend keeping NutriDrench in supply as a picker-upper for any weak or ailing bird rather than guess at a home-remedy unless advised by my vet. We've been so spoiled having him for all our indoor parrots, budgies, cocktiels, & chicken needs for the last two decades.

Thanks for explaining and for putting this out on honey. I never imagined it it could be a risk for chickens !
Yes, having a vet option is wonderful but it's not always possible. We have a vet we trust at about 80%, but the issue for us is that it is a very long stressful drive. She will give advice by phone or mail and exceptionally send prescriptions by mail if it's urgent.

I treat my chicken's health like my own. If there is a reasonable, well researched homemade remedy, or one that is harmless, I will use it, but I will also definitely see the doctor or vet and use modern medications when it seems appropriate.

I am so happy my horse vet is just 4km up the road, he has beeen my vet for about 40yrs, he is semi retired but still will treat my old gals. I am hoping he will be around when the time comes for them to be put down, he was there for their birth.

And he is really good about trying stuff with my chooks. I do have a small animal vet who will see my chooks but she is very expensive. I do have a ‘$700 chicken’ here who just looks pretty most of the time.

Oh well what can you do, you have the responsibility so you must follow through with whatever is required.

Just to euthanize my wee 1 week old spraddle leg chick was almost $200 - I cried for more than the chick that night. I cried because I need to get back to working in the oil patch we’re I can make better money. While I love my job here and love being home each night, I need more secure pay. Everything is so expensive and that one chick finally made me realize I needed to go back out west.

That makes me very sad. I wish you can stay home and earn what you need.

Yes, me too. Kelly, I hope this doesn't come out blunt, but shouldn't you downsize your flock ? Why have so many chickens if you can't see them for half the year?
I know you have to take care of your senior horses and I realise that is a huge cost. But wouldn't there be some other way ?

I think vet care is comparatively cheaper here, although with the differences in life costs and salaries it's hard to say. I had two hens undergo surgery with full anesthesia for bumblefoot. I paid 80 and 100 euros ; one was more complex to operate as there was no scab and the abscess was in the middle of the foot and had to be opened from above. To give an idea, our monthly medium wage is 2500 euros, and our minimum wage 1300. The most expensive operation I paid for a chicken was Caramel's ovariectomy, which she did not survive. That was 300 euros and included four days of hospitalisation and several imagery. Don't get me wrong, that's about 3/4 of what I need to live here for a month, but it still seems more affordable than in the US and Canada.

Mugs after so much talk about money. My last ex-batt, Nougat, is very unwell. I was certain the other chickens would be very mean to her once she would come near the end as she has been such a bully, but it's quite the opposite- they are all taking turns in the run to keep her company.

Nougat

Tiny broodies locked out of the coop- Chipie and Merle

Merle

Laure

Gaston. I was very upset that he mated Nougat yesterday and almost killed her. But I suppose it's my fault for not separating them. Today he was more careful with my chaperoning him.

Chipie

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Awwwwww - can you put a small bowl for the bunny?

I did - that was a few days ago.

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy Mugs Monday everyone.

The goslings are growing like weeds!

Yesterday morning's pic (and, yes, that is the same dishbin as the original pic - if I am not quick with their pen cleanout - they now hop out of the dishbin and frolic! )
View attachment 3871310
View attachment 3871311(just for comparison - 2 weeks ago:View attachment 3871324

In good news, though, I have today and tomorrow off - so as long as it doesn't rain, I will have their new outdoor coop ready/finished. and with bedding and a cozy box with extra bedding, they should be okay without heat. If it is going to cool off too much at night, I can bring them in in the evening for another week - more than a week and they will just plain old be too big for their brooder.


And, look, their wings are finally starting to grow!
View attachment 3871313

I didn't think anything could be more cute than a little chick - but ducklings may take the prize!
So pretty!