Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

How bout a Fluffy Butt to say goodnight to?

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, the 1985 convertible is a 5 speed manual without power steering. A stick. I absolutely love driving a manual transmission.

I love driving a manual, too. Though I have not owned one since the car I got at age 18. The Ladybug (‘84 Porsche 944) was a manual, too. (of course)

 

[micstrachan]

How bout a Fluffy Butt to say goodnight to?View attachment 2408195View attachment 2408193

Nighties, Beethov-hen!

 

[micstrachan]

Well Behaved Ladies

If you have had children, you know that there are those times when you just can't stand them anymore. You've had enough. I reached that point with the flock last night. I was actually debating whether to give them all away and start over or close up the whole chicken operation and permanently shut down Fluffy Butt Acres.

Aurora started on Sydney last night, then she went to Phyllis. I'm not going to go into all the details. First I tried to scoop up Phyllis and put her on the new roost. She did not want to be scooped up, I didn't get her just right and flapping and squawking ensued and I let go. I then tried to get my hands on Aurora to try and put a stop to it and the slippery little thing was just too quick for me. I started to get frustrated, realized that, and gave up. Phyllis roosted in the run, so I figured to wait until dark to move her, then somehow she was on the roost in the run. Then when it was almost picture black out, Mrs BY Bob sees her on the porch. Why was she on the porch! Then she was standing in the coop door. I couldn't have that. I'm sure she would move when the door started down but then I wasn't sure. So I shooed her into the coop and manually closed the door. I didn't care where she slept, she was in the coop.

When I checked later, what did I find? Phyllis on the roost in her usual spot. How did she do that in the dark?!

So I sat and stewed last night. I thought about which hens I still had a relationship with of sorts. It was a short list.

Lilly remains ever Lilly. Mysterious, a hen to be appreciated from afar. Unlike Patsy who was someday going to jump in my lap, if we only had more time, that was a one time deal with Lilly. She doesn't even squat for me anymore.

Hattie is back to avoiding me. I can't get close to her anymore.

Aurora will take food from me but outside of picking her off of a roost, I don't think I will ever touch her again.

Sydney is now treating me like I have the plague. She won't even eat from my hand anymore. I have no idea what I did there.

I just tortured Phyllis trying to scoop her up. I was sure she would avoid me after that.

So that left Sansa. God Bless Sansa. She is the only hen that squats for me. She pecks my leg and talks to me. She has jumped in my lap. Not in a long time but she has. Look, she just came to see me as I was writing this.
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Then I read about Mhari and I thought, why am I doing this? Why all the work. When they are going to ignore me, behave badly, and then drop dead.

I was in a bleak mood.

So I woke up this morning and thought, I am not going to worry about the roosting any more. They can do what they want. Went out at 7:30, released them to free range, fed them and said "Have a good day Ladies" and went back into the house to have coffee and breakfast without them.

What i did not realize is that I left the side gate open last night. The perimeter fence was wide open by the apple trees. That is where they ran when I opened the coop. The apple trees. They love it there right now. But I, forgetting the gate was open, thought nothing of it.

About 9:30, it was beautiful outside. So I went out, but I did not go to the magnolia tree, where I would have seen the open gate, I went to the patio where the sun was shining.

I sat down on the patio and no one came to see me, not even to get food. About 10 minutes later, I heard a chicken on the deck behind me. I did not turn to look. A few minutes later this face popped up on the end table next to me.
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We visited for quite a while and then she left. That was a positive, she wasn't angry with me. About 15 minutes later, Sansa showed up. She was looking for food and I gave some to her. Maybe 5 minutes later, everyone showed up. We had a nice visit and they settled down under the Rose of Sharon bush.

I still had not realized that the gate was open.

Mrs BY Bob it's at work today and I needed to run something to her. So I left them under the Rose of Sharon and headed out to run stuff to her.

I was gone over an hour.

When I returned I finally saw the open gate.
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Well, no chickens in the side yard, maybe they are long gone. I entered by the gate and closed it. No chickens to be seen anywhere.

There was one chance, maybe they had not left the Rose of Sharon bush. I walked over and there they were, all 6, together, no fighting.

My good girls had stayed in the yard and nothing bad had happened. In fact, much like children who know when they have pushed it too far. They have been little angels all day.

I suppose I will keep them a while longer.

Aww, Bob. I’m glad you had a good day with the well behaved ladies today.

 

[micstrachan]

Picture of the Week

I had said I wasn't going to enter anymore. However, I'm going to enter once more. This really feels like my best chance to win. Doesn't this just scream autumn?
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Yes, it does!

 

[micstrachan]

I'm not so sure. I worry about humans and our propensity to not care about from where our food comes.

Same here, Bob. I’ve gone a little over the top. When I walk around a grocery store, I just see dead animals everywhere. Dead animals that probably had horrible lives. And eggs and dairy from animals that also had horrible lives. Then I think about the fact that it’s one store in one small town of one state... and then I feel terrible that my tiny part of not partaking in the cruelty doesn’t make a lick of difference.

 

[micstrachan]

Phyllis on the High Wire

I guess I just can't scare her off. Phyllis was back to visit me as I sat outside in between rain showers for about 10 minutes.

This time she reprised her high wire act in front of the Rose of Sharon bush.

Yesterday I entered Aurora in the fall photo contest. Today I thought I would enter one or two of Phyllis. Which does everyone like best?

1View attachment 2407462

2
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3
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I’m probably too late, but i like the last one.

 

[BY Bob]

Hey Bob.... should I change the name of my thread to.... TRUMP the redneck rooster..!?

Would they let you? I love it!

 

[BY Bob]

How bout a Fluffy Butt to say goodnight to?View attachment 2408195View attachment 2408193

Good night beautiful

 

[BY Bob]

I love driving a manual, too. Though I have not owned one since the car I got at age 18. The Ladybug (‘84 Porsche 944) was a manual, too. (of course)

Nice car! My cousin had one of those.