Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

It's November 1st....
View attachment 2395996
It is snowing...


At least all the chooks are snug and warm in their coops!!

Ugh ugh ugh. I am not ready for this. I had flurries on Friday but it did not stay on the ground.

 

[BY Bob]

I have only just begun chicken keeping (middle of May this year) and I have lost six.
The first two (out of four) died the day after I got them from TSC. Not sure what was wrong with them, but after that, I got more chicks and was careful about choosing healthy ones and I had better luck. So I was sad that they died but it wasn’t my fault.
I lost four at about 9 weeks old to a predator while I was away and a chicken sitter was feeding them for me. She found them dead in their run in the morning.
I was so distraught when that happened I couldn’t talk about it and I didn’t tell anyone about it for weeks. I felt like a terrible chicken mom.
I raised children, and dogs, and cats, and I never had problems with keeping them alive!
I take the best care of my birds, but they seem so much more vulnerable than any animal I ever had.

I will say it was very hard for me to tell Elphie's story. I never talk to people about it. She is the one I feel most at fault for losing. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself.

None of children, dogs, and cats are technically a food source, chickens are. I think that has a little to do with how easy it is to lose them. You must be on your game at all times.

 

[BY Bob]

No no no no no. You cannot look at it that way. Look at the lives they had with you and the lovely lives your current flock have. You are a wonderful caring chicken-tender and we all learn so much from you. Don't get down-hearted.

Thanks. I would love to get through 1 year with some flock stability. Maybe their behaviors would improve.

I know lately I have been thanking God every time Lilly comes out. I love seeing her little face.

 

[BY Bob]

It's November 1st....
View attachment 2395996
It is snowing...


At least all the chooks are snug and warm in their coops!!

CCCL is 31 miles northwest of me. No snow here. That is too close! I am not ready. Definitely not ready.

THE POOL IS STILL OPEN!

 

[micstrachan]

The Tally

The conversation, I'm no longer sure on which thread, regarding the chickens lost by @Ribh and @featherhead007 couple with it being the 5 year anniversary of Elphie's passing had me thinking of all the chickens that have come and gone at Fluffy Butt Acres. Here are the sad totals. We have been in the chicken business since 2013, over 7 years now. We have not been real food at this apparently.

Killed by Predators

• Dolly: Hawk, 2014
• Maleficent: Likely a weasel, 2020

Drowned in the Pool

• Elphie, 2015
• Dusty, 2020

Medical Issues

• Trisha: Cloacal Prolapse, 2015
• Daisy (the greatest hen ever): Salpingitis, 2018
• Patsy: Old Age?, 2019

Removed from the Flock

• Jabberwocky, 2019

Not counting Jabber, that's 1 chicken lost a year. Doesn't make me feel like I'm doing a great job. I don't know that I would trust my chickens with me.

I’m sorry, Bob. You do great with your flock. There are just so msny things that can go wrong.

 

[micstrachan]

Awww... Elphie! I sill go back and read ehen I’m not supervising free range time.

Bob, I read about Elphie’s life, but the link to her passing doesn’t work. I see from your other post she drowned in the pool. So sorry.

 

[BY Bob]

I’m sorry, Bob. You do great with your flock. There are just so msny things that can go wrong.

Thanks. I appreciate you saying that.

 

[micstrachan]

I understand. I lost all my 1st entire flock in a matter of weeks. They were rescues & past their use by date when I got them. They got some extra time with us & a much better quality of life but we went from 8~0 in a couple of weeks.

Gasp! I would have died. So sorry!

 

[Ribh]

No no no no no. You cannot look at it that way. Look at the lives they had with you and the lovely lives your current flock have. You are a wonderful caring chicken-tender and we all learn so much from you. Don't get down-hearted.

This!

 

[BY Bob]

Bob, I read about Elphie’s life, but the link to her passing doesn’t work. I see from your other post she drowned in the pool. So sorry.

Here is the story link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-22424389