Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Very true. We as a species are very quick to differentiate ourselves and set ourselves above all other animals. That is not justification for mistreatment. I will not try to deny that there are differences, and we have evolved well beyond many other animals is some areas, especially our own hubris.

I also have always lumped humans in with animals. We are just differently evolved. If anything that gives us more responsibility to other animals. Granted, Bob, though it doesn’t surprise me... you’re the first person I’ve ever heard give Protozoa their own category.

Linnaeus originally recognized only two kingdoms - animals and plants.
But we have learned a lot more about life forms since then and have added to the different types.
From Wikepedia:
Traditionally, some textbooks from the United States and Canada used a system of six kingdoms (Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria/Eubacteria) while textbooks in countries like Great Britain, India, Greece, Brazil and other countries use five kingdoms only (Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista and Monera).

 

[RoyalChick]

Alright, I finally got a semi decent nights sleep, now I’m looking for some suggestions (unconventional person that I am) on my goat keeping. This is totally not “Backyard Herds” or “Farmer” appropriate.... I’d get laughed off that forum for sure! Arduinna peed the bed the night before last, significantly. She was curled up next to me, and wow, did she ever let go. I was suddenly sleeping in a giant puddle After most of yesterday’s adventures in the truck and cat carrier for driving in town she’s finally settled enough in her crate to sleep on her own. The first few nights she just wouldn’t sleep unless she was snuggled up to me, and with the “mama” Bleeting, no one was sleeping.

So, she is in the cat carrier for the night next to our bed and blissfully quiet; pee problem solved? Certainly not! She peed in the crate, which was full of Hay, but this meant she was laying in it... the pee and pee soaked hay... she doesn’t smell like the forest anymore. I need to shampoo her. We are looking to get a bigger crate for her, but what to do in the meantime? The whole lower half of her was soaked as are my pants from trying to towel her dry and give her her morning bottle.

Any solutions? I can’t just toss her outside at night, and I can’t let her free range in the trailer, there’s just too much for her to get into that she shouldn’t, and boy can she jump. Not to mention Charlie is not a huge fan of her and isn’t afraid to show it with his claws. I am thinking maybe some drainage holes in the crate? Slope it a bit and raise it above a litter box or something? If I can potty train her like a puppy it won’t be as much of an issue, but so far I’ve had very limited success in training her to pee on the one shirt. Open to ideas/suggestions. I really need a bigger crate as well, she can’t stand up in the cat carrier.

Now, I need to get cracking on the chickens! I’ll pop in a little later for my laundromat goat adventure, and now everyone knows why we were at the laundromat! Our mattress is pretty old and crummy, so I’m not too worried about it, some spot cleaning and we can always flip it over. I’ve spilled worse on it (shrimp gumbo leaks)

I was thinking something absorbent like those pee pads you train puppies with. Dog crates would drain as they are really just carriers and you could stand it up on bricks in the bath (if you had a bath which I am guessing you don't yet!). But maybe in something else - I use big concrete mixing trays to stand the cat litter trays in and those would be perfect.

 

[featherhead007]

There are animals, there are plants, minerals gasses and liquids, and then there’s my BLU

 

[featherhead007]

Alright, I finally got a semi decent nights sleep, now I’m looking for some suggestions (unconventional person that I am) on my goat keeping. This is totally not “Backyard Herds” or “Farmer” appropriate.... I’d get laughed off that forum for sure! Arduinna peed the bed the night before last, significantly. She was curled up next to me, and wow, did she ever let go. I was suddenly sleeping in a giant puddle After most of yesterday’s adventures in the truck and cat carrier for driving in town she’s finally settled enough in her crate to sleep on her own. The first few nights she just wouldn’t sleep unless she was snuggled up to me, and with the “mama” Bleeting, no one was sleeping.

So, she is in the cat carrier for the night next to our bed and blissfully quiet; pee problem solved? Certainly not! She peed in the crate, which was full of Hay, but this meant she was laying in it... the pee and pee soaked hay... she doesn’t smell like the forest anymore. I need to shampoo her. We are looking to get a bigger crate for her, but what to do in the meantime? The whole lower half of her was soaked as are my pants from trying to towel her dry and give her her morning bottle.

Any solutions? I can’t just toss her outside at night, and I can’t let her free range in the trailer, there’s just too much for her to get into that she shouldn’t, and boy can she jump. Not to mention Charlie is not a huge fan of her and isn’t afraid to show it with his claws. I am thinking maybe some drainage holes in the crate? Slope it a bit and raise it above a litter box or something? If I can potty train her like a puppy it won’t be as much of an issue, but so far I’ve had very limited success in training her to pee on the one shirt. Open to ideas/suggestions. I really need a bigger crate as well, she can’t stand up in the cat carrier.

Now, I need to get cracking on the chickens! I’ll pop in a little later for my laundromat goat adventure, and now everyone knows why we were at the laundromat! Our mattress is pretty old and crummy, so I’m not too worried about it, some spot cleaning and we can always flip it over. I’ve spilled worse on it (shrimp gumbo leaks)

Your goat is gonna need a sudsy bath.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Alright, I finally got a semi decent nights sleep, now I’m looking for some suggestions (unconventional person that I am) on my goat keeping. This is totally not “Backyard Herds” or “Farmer” appropriate.... I’d get laughed off that forum for sure! Arduinna peed the bed the night before last, significantly. She was curled up next to me, and wow, did she ever let go. I was suddenly sleeping in a giant puddle After most of yesterday’s adventures in the truck and cat carrier for driving in town she’s finally settled enough in her crate to sleep on her own. The first few nights she just wouldn’t sleep unless she was snuggled up to me, and with the “mama” Bleeting, no one was sleeping.

So, she is in the cat carrier for the night next to our bed and blissfully quiet; pee problem solved? Certainly not! She peed in the crate, which was full of Hay, but this meant she was laying in it... the pee and pee soaked hay... she doesn’t smell like the forest anymore. I need to shampoo her. We are looking to get a bigger crate for her, but what to do in the meantime? The whole lower half of her was soaked as are my pants from trying to towel her dry and give her her morning bottle.

Any solutions? I can’t just toss her outside at night, and I can’t let her free range in the trailer, there’s just too much for her to get into that she shouldn’t, and boy can she jump. Not to mention Charlie is not a huge fan of her and isn’t afraid to show it with his claws. I am thinking maybe some drainage holes in the crate? Slope it a bit and raise it above a litter box or something? If I can potty train her like a puppy it won’t be as much of an issue, but so far I’ve had very limited success in training her to pee on the one shirt. Open to ideas/suggestions. I really need a bigger crate as well, she can’t stand up in the cat carrier.

Now, I need to get cracking on the chickens! I’ll pop in a little later for my laundromat goat adventure, and now everyone knows why we were at the laundromat! Our mattress is pretty old and crummy, so I’m not too worried about it, some spot cleaning and we can always flip it over. I’ve spilled worse on it (shrimp gumbo leaks)

My friend had to bottle raise the smallest of a set of triplets. She put new born diapers on her and just cut a tail hole. She used them while the baby was inside. She's take it off when outside. She never did "housebreak" her, but she's getting along just fine now with the rest of the herd.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Blessed Sunshine

Phyllis: Hattie, Why does Lilly insist on taking us all to that cold shady corner under the apple trees? It's cold out this morning.

Hattie: It's her favorite place. You have a better idea little one?

Phyllis: Well being a black colored hen, aren't my feathers spectacular?

Hattie: My gosh, yes you have pretty feathers, get over yourself. You also have a ridiculous clump of silly looking feathers on your head. You are lucky Aurora doesn't just pluck them out to make you look normal. You better hope she never gets hungry for feathers.

Phyllis: You are all jealous of my beautiful locks.

Hattie: Ugh, quit wasting my time talking about yourself. I'm outta here.

Phyllis: to herself, "Why can't they appreciate my beauty? It's not easy being this pretty. I wanted something from Hattie, what was it? Ah who cares. I'm going to oil up my pretty feathers."

Hattie walks away and Sydney approaches her.

Sydney: "Hey Hattie"

Hattie: "And what can I do for you Mother of Chicks"

Sydney: "Why do we have to spend all day in the corner by the apple trees? It's cold and shady down there."

Hattie: "Were you talking to Phyllis?"

Sydney: "Why would you accuse me of that? You know you can't have a conversation with that featherhead without her talking about how beautiful she is. We all get it, the human thinks you are beautiful and takes hundreds of picture of you."

Hattie: "So true! Sorry, about that. It is cold down by the apple trees."

Sydney: "There are warmer spots in the yard. Say the deck for example"

Hattie: "The deck? We have never hung out there."

Sydney: "Hear me out. I have thought about this for a couple of days now. 1: It is in the sunshine all morning. The sun is warm even at this time of the year. 2: There is food and water on the deck. There isn't anything to even do down by the apple trees. 3: The more time we spend by the backdoor, the more likely it is that the human lady will give us treats.

Hattie: "This might be a good idea. Sadly Lilly doesn't really listen to me anymore. You should speak with your sister Sansa. Lilly listens to her."

Sydney: "I can't talk to her. She is still mad that I hatched chicks and pecks me whenever i get close"

Hattie: "All right, I'll try talking to her. I have to do everything around here."

Sydney: "Thanks Hattie. You know we all wish you were in charge. That is all of us except Aurora."

Hattie: "Well Aurora now knows that will happen over my dead body"

Sydney: " We are all grateful for that Hattie. Besides I won big betting on you with Aurora. If I could only get her to pay up."

Hattie: "Let me go see if I can get Sansa away from Lilly and talk to her"

Hattie walks over to Sansa

Hattie: [in a whisper] "Psst! Sansa. Come over here away from Lilly, I want to speak with you quick"

Sansa: [in a whisper] "Nope, you are going to beat me up like you did Aurora. I've been nice Hattie. I haven't picked on anyone bad in a long time. I peck Phyllis but come on. She's always talking about how pretty she is. It's annoying."

Hattie: [in a whisper] "I am not going to beat you up. I promise."

Sansa: [in a whisper] "Ok but I am not taking any of your Sentinel shifts today. Lilly says I don't have to"

Sansa and Hattie walk off

Hattie: "Sansa, do you like hanging out at the apple trees?"

Sansa: "It is kind of cold and shady down there. It is nice in the summer but kind of chilly in the winter with not much to do."

Hattie: "Wouldn't it be nicer if we hung out up on the deck when the sun is out? There is food water and great snacks if the lady human sees us"

Sansa: :Say, you are right. But the Apple trees are Lilly's favorite and I want her to be happy."

Hattie: "All she does is sit down there. She could sit in the warm sun on the deck. She has black feathers you know and black feathers absorb the sun. I think she would actually like it better on the deck if she tried it"

Sansa: "Maybe you are right. Why don't you ask her if we can move today"

Hattie: "I could but you know that you are her favorite. She is much more likely to listen to you."

Sansa: "That is true, I am her favorite. All right, I'll try."

Hattie; "Great thanks!"

Sansa: "Everyone else wants to do this right? No one is going to complain? Lilly does not like it when people complain. She gets grouchy. I am not going to deal with grouchy Lilly over this."

Hattie: "Sydney, you and I are on board. Phyllis is lost in her own beauty and Aurora will do what she is told with no complaining............................or else."

Sansa: "OK, wish me luck."

Sansa walks off.

Sansa: "Hey Lilly"

Lilly: "Where did you get off to?"

Sansa: "I just wandered over to see if Hattie had found anything to eat that I could steal from her."

Lilly: "You should careful with Hattie. If she got angry with you there is not a lot I could do to stop her stomping on you. I could make her life miserable afterwards but I'm not going to fight her over you."

Sansa: "Don't worry I'm careful. It's cold this morning isn't it."

Lilly: "It's that way every winter. This is nothing. I remember back when we lived in the little coop, gosh it was so drafty in there. It would get so cold that the ground would be frozen deep for months and the snow! It would get 3 feet deep. One time the Human had to bring us in the house because of all the snow. Boy I liked that. You new hens are spoiled. It's nothing like back when I was young"

Sansa: [rolls her eyes without Lilly seeing her] "Still, would it be nice to hang out in the sun. There is a lot of sun up on the deck."

Lilly: "The warmth is nice on my arthritis and my gorgeous black feathers sure do absorb the sun well. Aren't my feathers gorgeous." [Lilly stretches her wing and leg in order to show off her gorgeous feathers]

Sansa: "My yes, all black hens are so much pretty than those of us with ugly gold mixed in"

Sansa: [to herself] "Yes all black is prettier than my magnificent sparkling gold and black feathers. These silly hens have no idea what real beauty is. If only there was a rooster here to shown them all what I know. I am the prettiest of all of them"

Lilly: " Let's head up to the deck and see if it really is that sunny"

Sansa: "OK!"

Lilly: "Everyone! Listen up! Phyllis, stop all that running around!"

Phyllis: "Sorry Lilly"

Phyllis: [to Syndey] "Hattie, where is Lilly standing? I can't see her"

Sydney: "For the one millionth time, get a feather cut. I'm not Hattie. I am not huge like her, I am svelte"

Lilly: "Everyone, we are going to the deck!"

Hattie & Sydney: "Yes!"

Aurora: "Why, are there treats?" [Aurora takes off running for the deck] "Me first!"

10 minutes passes with the flock on the deck, eating and drinking.

Sydney to Hattie: "Do you think we will be able to stay or is she going to drag us off to the apple trees to freeze and digest. It is so warm and sunny up here that i would hate to leave."

Hattie to Sydney while eating: " Nom Nom Nom, I don't know but it looks like she is going to say something, Nom Nom Nom."

Lilly: "Everyone! I have decided that we will be spending the morning up here, underneath this table next to the human coop in the sun.

The Tribe: "Hooray!"

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump

5 hens hit the deck and spread their wings as the sun warms their bodies. Only Phyllis continues to wander around.

Phyllis: [to herself] "I need to find some water or some ice so I can see myself. I just know i have a feather out of place on my head." [She shakes her head] "The silly thing will not go back into place. I must be ready in case I wind up with another photo shoot today !"

View attachment 2486119

Oh ma ga!! So great!!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Throw it out or save it for leftovers for yourself. You could give it to the dog.

It was for us! That is from last week ... do you even know how much a pound of red beans creates!

And the dog!?! Could you imagine what would come outta that!?! And probably from both ends!

 

[Shadrach]

Having soap boxed this morning I guess that means lots of chicken tax then doesn't it (?)
GoodyI've got lots of pictures.
So, I head off to do my mid afternoon rounds with the intention of taking a few pics. I get to the front of the house and check the big bush by the bread oven, no chickens. I go over to the bamboo clump, no chickens.
I head up the sheep field track and this is where I found Tribe 3. Yes tribe, not flock!
That's Notch, I don't like fish Ribh aka Donk, I don't like chicks Myth and Knock almost under the bush. Knock doesn't like anybody.

A bit further up the track on the same West bank I found this lot. You can tell they're a tribe because if they were a flock they would be with Notch and his hens shown in the picture above.

Treacle is at the top of the bank and he's doing his utmost to get some hens to join him. His mum Mel does and Cillin isn't all that impressed and makes his way up the bank crowing and ground scratching; all fighting talk.

A fight breaks out, but by this time, Tap has also come to the top of the bank and that is enough to satisfy Treacle.There was just one brief flurry of feet which I didn't get a picture of. Treacle now has two hens close by. Cillin isn't bothered about Tap joining Treacle and Mel does pretty much as she pleases anyway so the fighting talk stopped.

Tap and Mel make their way to the hay rack and Treacle follows after herding me along with him (I was going there anyway but don't tell him).

I cleaned the duck houses out and this means straw on the floor with seeds and bugs. Treacle is delighted and goes into one with the I've found food calls and gestures. Tap investigates. Mel won't be enticed by a few bits of straw and is just out of the picture on the left.

Here's Mel.

All the I've found food calls attracts Jenny and Solomon.

No way Tap is going to hang around if Jenny is after the bugs and Treacle knows better than to hang around as well, He's had a few pecks from Solomon in the past.

I finish the ducks houses and head off back down the track. Treacle went into the sheep shed with Tap and Mel.
Tribe 1, Cillin and hes, move down the bank towards Notch and his hens.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Alright, I finally got a semi decent nights sleep, now I’m looking for some suggestions (unconventional person that I am) on my goat keeping. This is totally not “Backyard Herds” or “Farmer” appropriate.... I’d get laughed off that forum for sure! Arduinna peed the bed the night before last, significantly. She was curled up next to me, and wow, did she ever let go. I was suddenly sleeping in a giant puddle After most of yesterday’s adventures in the truck and cat carrier for driving in town she’s finally settled enough in her crate to sleep on her own. The first few nights she just wouldn’t sleep unless she was snuggled up to me, and with the “mama” Bleeting, no one was sleeping.

So, she is in the cat carrier for the night next to our bed and blissfully quiet; pee problem solved? Certainly not! She peed in the crate, which was full of Hay, but this meant she was laying in it... the pee and pee soaked hay... she doesn’t smell like the forest anymore. I need to shampoo her. We are looking to get a bigger crate for her, but what to do in the meantime? The whole lower half of her was soaked as are my pants from trying to towel her dry and give her her morning bottle.

Any solutions? I can’t just toss her outside at night, and I can’t let her free range in the trailer, there’s just too much for her to get into that she shouldn’t, and boy can she jump. Not to mention Charlie is not a huge fan of her and isn’t afraid to show it with his claws. I am thinking maybe some drainage holes in the crate? Slope it a bit and raise it above a litter box or something? If I can potty train her like a puppy it won’t be as much of an issue, but so far I’ve had very limited success in training her to pee on the one shirt. Open to ideas/suggestions. I really need a bigger crate as well, she can’t stand up in the cat carrier.

Now, I need to get cracking on the chickens! I’ll pop in a little later for my laundromat goat adventure, and now everyone knows why we were at the laundromat! Our mattress is pretty old and crummy, so I’m not too worried about it, some spot cleaning and we can always flip it over. I’ve spilled worse on it (shrimp gumbo leaks)

Can you get baby diapers or pee pee pads and wrap/tape them around her...

 

[featherhead007]

It was for us! That is from last week ... do you even know how much a pound of red beans creates!

And the dog!?! Could you imagine what would come outta that!?! And probably from both ends!

Good point!