Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Drying out after all the rain.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi folks. Sorry for being so absent today, but I really had to prioritize Ester. Her longest wing feathers are just starting to stick out in weird directions, so I think they're coming out, too. There is a tiny bit of feathering on her back, but it is hiding a full set of pin feathers, just like everywhere else. Only her neck and head are feathered at this point. And one little cuff of feathers where her "drumstick" meets her foot.

The good news is, we've gotten really good at tubing. She is an excellent little patient, and I'm so proud of her! I just open her crate, gently put my hands behind her to coax her toward me, and then she steps out of the crate and stands in front of me. She allows me to drape the towel over her and gently wrap it around her. I put her onto my criss-cross-apple-sauce lap as quickly as possible, speak to her soothingly, and then do the tubing as efficiently as possible. Then she gets a live meal worm reward. Today she has been tubed fluids four times and feed twice. She pooped after her last bit of fluid, and while it was still watery, it was less kelly green and had a little more substance to it. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't gotten past my fear of tubing today.

Here is the cutest part. Ester likes to sit on my legs for a few minutes right after the tubing. She sort of stands there in a trance and I allow her to stay as long as she likes. Keep in mind, this is my most nervous hen who does NOT like to be handled and does NOT normally lap sit. Clearly she understands I am helping her. I hope we will be friends after all of this!

I'll try to catch up now.

 

[BY Bob]

Drying out after all the rain.

View attachment 2473350

Nothing beats sun after the rain!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

We love you for this.

Thank for the reassurance ByBob.

I've been like this my whole life and have about given up hope of growing out of it.

I think it's genetic.

Chicken Tax!

Edwina. (But wait! Who is that photo bombing in the background?)

 

[BY Bob]

Hi folks. Sorry for being so absent today, but I really had to prioritize Ester. Her longest wing feathers are just starting to stick out in weird directions, so I think they're coming out, too. There is a tiny bit of feathering on her back, but it is hiding a full set of pin feathers, just like everywhere else. Only her neck and head are feathered at this point. And one little cuff of feathers where her "drumstick" meets her foot.

The good news is, we've gotten really good at tubing. She is an excellent little patient, and I'm so proud of her! I just open her crate, gently put my hands behind her to coax her toward me, and then she steps out of the crate and stands in front of me. She allows me to drape the towel over her and gently wrap it around her. I put her onto my criss-cross-apple-sauce lap as quickly as possible, speak to her soothingly, and then do the tubing as efficiently as possible. Then she gets a live meal worm reward. Today she has been tubed fluids four times and feed twice. She pooped after her last bit of fluid, and while it was still watery, it was less kelly green and had a little more substance to it. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't gotten past my fear of tubing today.

Here is the cutest part. Ester likes to sit on my legs for a few minutes right after the tubing. She sort of stands there in a trance and I allow her to stay as long as she likes. Keep in mind, this is my most nervous hen who does NOT like to be handled and does NOT normally lap sit. Clearly she understands I am helping her. I hope we will be friends after all of this!

I'll try to catch up now.

This is awesome. What a nice reward too. I am very proud of you! None of this stuff is easy but you are very brave. I'm lucky, I have Mrs BY Bob, a nurse, for stuff like that. Way to get through it for her.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

That is amazing. I will have to try again with my next batch of youngsters.

No reason you can't have a go at training your current birds Bob.

You will probably have to train them individually to prevent pandemonium though. ☺

Given the right motivation, you can teach old birds new tricks.

 

[micstrachan]

This is awesome. What a nice reward too. I am very proud of you! None of this stuff is easy but you are very brave. I'm lucky, I have Mrs BY Bob, a nurse, for stuff like that. Way to get through it for her.

Thanks, Bob.

 

[BY Bob]

Thank for the reassurance ByBob.

I've been like this my whole life and have about given up hope of growing out of it.

I think it's genetic.

Chicken Tax!

Edwina. (But wait! Who is that photo bombing in the background?)
View attachment 2473360

You sure know how to pull my strings.

Hello Edwina

Hello my lovely leghorn. It is always great to see you.

 

[BY Bob]

No reason you can't have a go at training your current birds Bob.

You will probably have to train them individually to prevent pandemonium though. ☺

Given the right motivation, you can teach old birds new tricks.

I don't even know how I could separate one out. Maybe I could try when the yard is covered in snow and they are bored. Hmmmmm.

 

[micstrachan]

This should be the link to my channel, let me know if it doesn’t work.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCQsJR6m1AKyjqVSI2AvuT1A

Great job, Lozzy!