Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

It's a difficult decision. I try not to isolate such cases and let them spend their last days with their families. I've never had a sick hen driven out of their tribe but so far I've not had to deal with a contagious disease. I get laughed at for saying this, but I think the chickens here know when another flock member is putting the rest of the flock in danger.
I've had a few hens and roosters with various injuries and a couple with terminal reproductive problems. So far their tribes have been extremely supportive.
Here are three examples.
Blue Spot is the blond hen in the foreground. She was 9 years old. She had a reproductive disorder and was dying. Her whole tribe gathered around her for her last few days.
View attachment 1975000
This Fudge. She had a fairly serious eye injury. The wound you can see between her eye and ear was deep enough to cause blood to drip out of her eye socket. Nobody bothered her while she recovered.View attachment 1975001
This is Bracket. Apart from being barking mad in general hse developed a neurological problem which has since sorted itself out. It was obvious to all her tribe that she wasn't well. She would fall off her perch if she tried to sleep while roosting and scrabble around in the coop floor. A more obvious not well hen would be hard to imagine. Throughout the whole business she remained top hen and the rest of her tribe just seemed to accept her as she was.View attachment 1975002

I have seen the exact same behavior. The flock was especially supportive of them. With both Patsy and Daisy the flock actually gathered around them as they passed. Daisy actually asked me to put her down so she could lay next next to Patsy as she passed. They have such feelings for each other.

 

[BY Bob]

I believe I have posted this before but here are Daisy, the greatest hen ever, and Patsy spending their last moments together.

 

[Shadrach]

I believe I have posted this before but here are Daisy, the greatest hen ever, and Patsy spending their last moments together.

View attachment 1975017

I'm very interested in your observations of your flock Bob. I've never kept a hen only flock so given some of your wonderful videos and stories I learn a bit about what is and what isn't possible.
I've had single sex flocks where their rooster has died but that's rather different and eventuallly a cockerel has grown up enough to be accepted by the hens. It's very entertaining to watch just how nice a cockerel can be when courting senior hens.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

@BY Bob This is what I woke up to the other morning. It is very beautiful! I was short lived however.




I'm looking forward to a few large snow falls. Rich works for our local township and he gets lots of hours plowing snow.

 

[LozzyR]

I have seen the exact same behavior. The flock was especially supportive of them. With both Patsy and Daisy the flock actually gathered around them as they passed. Daisy actually asked me to put her down so she could lay next next to Patsy as she passed. They have such feelings for each other.

Just before I took Penny to the vet, she sat down in the middle of the lawn. When I came back with the pet carrier, Lucy was sitting with her.

When Bessie was injured, she liked the spot under the Rosemary bush. The other girls free-ranged but would periodically come and keep her company.

I’m really worried that Chickie has egg peritonitis. I’m not ready to lose her yet, she’s such a happy little thing.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Just before I took Penny to the vet, she sat down in the middle of the lawn. When I came back with the pet carrier, Lucy was sitting with her.

When Bessie was injured, she liked the spot under the Rosemary bush. The other girls free-ranged but would periodically come and keep her company.

View attachment 1975207

I’m really worried that Chickie has egg peritonitis. I’m not ready to lose her yet, she’s such a happy little thing.

im sorry thats what its sounded like to me too but i didnt wanna take the hope away. Sometimes it can be treated. Did you post in the diseases section? Maybe someone will have something we have lots and lots of super smart people in our community.

 

[Shadrach]

Just before I took Penny to the vet, she sat down in the middle of the lawn. When I came back with the pet carrier, Lucy was sitting with her.

When Bessie was injured, she liked the spot under the Rosemary bush. The other girls free-ranged but would periodically come and keep her company.

View attachment 1975207

I’m really worried that Chickie has egg peritonitis. I’m not ready to lose her yet, she’s such a happy little thing.

If you're anything like me you're never ready to let one go. I've buried some real heart breakers. Hardest was probably a hen called Dink. She has survived so much in her life and was less then half a meter from safety when the Goshawk got her. I was so angry.
For me at least one of the benefits of my keeping system is their children carry the memories forward. I look at Donk who is Dink's daughter and all the great memories of Dink are recalled.

 

[LozzyR]

im sorry thats what its sounded like to me too but i didnt wanna take the hope away. Sometimes it can be treated. Did you post in the diseases section? Maybe someone will have something we have lots and lots of super smart people in our community.

Thanks, I'll have a look and see if people have any suggestions.

 

[LozzyR]

If you're anything like me you're never ready to let one go. I've buried some real heart breakers. Hardest was probably a hen called Dink. She has survived so much in her life and was less then half a meter from safety when the Goshawk got her. I was so angry.
For me at least one of the benefits of my keeping system is their children carry the memories forward. I look at Donk who is Dink's daughter and all the great memories of Dink are recalled.

Thanks Shad, I love my girls. I don't think I was really prepared for how much I would feel for them.

 

[BY Bob]

Just before I took Penny to the vet, she sat down in the middle of the lawn. When I came back with the pet carrier, Lucy was sitting with her.

When Bessie was injured, she liked the spot under the Rosemary bush. The other girls free-ranged but would periodically come and keep her company.

View attachment 1975207

I’m really worried that Chickie has egg peritonitis. I’m not ready to lose her yet, she’s such a happy little thing.

I will be praying for her. I hate when you lose them too soon.