Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

Just to clarify for you and @ValerieJ we all have some fairly strong opinions ( very negative) on beak “trimming” here, and this is why. It’s a horrific practice, and those of us with girls who have beaks like this are usually caring for rescues of some sort. None of us support, agree with, or participate in this barbaric disfigurement for human convenience.

I have 8 girls I’m working with and have been helping them reshape their lower mandible (very gently and slowly with a fine file) to a more normal beak shape. Beaks do grow a bit... like nails. And given access to rocks and hard surfaces the girls will rub them down on their own as well. I always try to make sure my rescue girls have at least one good rock in their run area for this. I’ll see if I can get some current shots now that I’ve had them for a year, to show their improvement on the lowers, most of them are wholly self improved. Their Rooster is a bit of a over protective nut case though, making photos challenging.

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Oh my goodness!!!! I hope you do not take my sympathy for the chickens as a judgment on you!!! I never thought for a moment that you did this!!!

 

[BY Bob]

They are on a roll now.. View attachment 1994831I hate it when the eggs are dirty but we are very muddy right now

Those are simply gorgeous. What a wonderful assortment you have. I'm glad they are all producing for you right now.

Still only Hattie here but Aurora's comb is starting to redden. I think she will be next.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Just to clarify for you and @ValerieJ we all have some fairly strong opinions ( very negative) on beak “trimming” here, and this is why. It’s a horrific practice, and those of us with girls who have beaks like this are usually caring for rescues of some sort. None of us support, agree with, or participate in this barbaric disfigurement for human convenience.

I have 8 girls I’m working with and have been helping them reshape their lower mandible (very gently and slowly with a fine file) to a more normal beak shape. Beaks do grow a bit... like nails. And given access to rocks and hard surfaces the girls will rub them down on their own as well. I always try to make sure my rescue girls have at least one good rock in their run area for this. I’ll see if I can get some current shots now that I’ve had them for a year, to show their improvement on the lowers, most of them are wholly self improved. Their Rooster is a bit of a over protective nut case though, making photos challenging.

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Oh noooooo... the stinky goats! Run.. hide

 

[Kris5902]

Oh my goodness!!!! I hope you do not take my sympathy for the chickens as a judgment on you!!! I never thought for a moment that you did this!!!

No, not at all! I just want to make sure it’s clear that even though we have these girls, we didn’t do this to them, or agree with the practices. It’s so easy to forget we are on a public forum when we all get chatting, and not everyone who sees the posts reads all the way back, or knows our flocks like the regulars here do! And welcome to the thread! I’m a little sporadic in dropping in right now, as life is getting a little busy, and didn’t get a chance to say “hi” when you and @RoyalChick dropped in

 

[WhoDatChick]

Those are simply gorgeous. What a wonderful assortment you have. I'm glad they are all producing for you right now.

Still only Hattie here but Aurora's comb is starting to redden. I think she will be next.

Thanks.. but that’s not ALL of them.. I still have about 7 holdouts

 

[BY Bob]

OMG - is that from beak trimming? I am so naive, I had no idea. That is awful! I know that declawing cats is really mutilation but I had no idea what beak trimming really was. Oh so, so bad.

The other thing that makes this such a nasty thing is that the number of nerves in the end of a beak are very similar to that in the end of a human finger. They use their beaks to feel as well as groom, eat, etc. It's like they have cut off the end of their finger.

@Shadrach has an excellent article on pecks and what they mean that I highly recommend. It helps to understand all the things they do with their beaks.

 

[Shadrach]

Just to clarify for you and @ValerieJ we all have some fairly strong opinions ( very negative) on beak “trimming” here, and this is why. It’s a horrific practice, and those of us with girls who have beaks like this are usually caring for rescues of some sort. None of us support, agree with, or participate in this barbaric disfigurement for human convenience.

I have 8 girls I’m working with and have been helping them reshape their lower mandible (very gently and slowly with a fine file) to a more normal beak shape. Beaks do grow a bit... like nails. And given access to rocks and hard surfaces the girls will rub them down on their own as well. I always try to make sure my rescue girls have at least one good rock in their run area for this. I’ll see if I can get some current shots now that I’ve had them for a year, to show their improvement on the lowers, most of them are wholly self improved. Their Rooster is a bit of a over protective nut case though, making photos challenging.

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It's an incredibly difficult and time consuming thing to try and put right, particularly if you have inherited an ongoing problem. The lower beak contains the most receptors closest to the edges from what I have read. Some believe that where it is opaque that there are no receptors there but that isn't what spectrometry shows.
It must be heartbreaking for you given what I've read about what you've taken on.
A bit at a time Kris, that's the best you can do and I applaud you for your efforts.

 

[Kris5902]

Oh noooooo... the stinky goats! Run.. hide

Lol! How did you know the goats have been back around? A bachelor herd of Stinky Billies, no less . In all honesty I have to repair Chickie Hawk’s tractor, and they have been stationary for almost a week now. The mud still isn’t as bad as where I rescued them from though! But between the weather and the Boyo. DH Andrew said “and what are you going to do with HIM while we fix it? You don’t plan on trying to work in there with him, do you?!?”

 

[ValerieJ]

No, not at all! I just want to make sure it’s clear that even though we have these girls, we didn’t do this to them, or agree with the practices. It’s so easy to forget we are on a public forum when we all get chatting, and not everyone who sees the posts reads all the way back, or knows our flocks like the regulars here do! And welcome to the thread! I’m a little sporadic in dropping in right now, as life is getting a little busy, and didn’t get a chance to say “hi” when you and @RoyalChick dropped in

I understand. I'd be wanting to clarify that as well, and yes, I guess I am new to the thread. How would you know I figured it out? It's heartbreaking to me to see these mutilated chickens, and would never be strong enough to take them in myself. I'm so grateful you did!

Anyway, thanks for welcoming me to the thread. I'm not sure what brought me here, I go to a lot of places. Prolly should have introduced myself and asked to join.

 

[BY Bob]

I understand. I'd be wanting to clarify that as well, and yes, I guess I am new to the thread. How would you know I figured it out? It's heartbreaking to me to see these mutilated chickens, and would never be strong enough to take them in myself. I'm so grateful you did!

Anyway, thanks for welcoming me to the thread. I'm not sure what brought me here, I go to a lot of places. Prolly should have introduced myself and asked to join.

No need to ask. All are welcome here. I already love your posts. You have fit right in immediately.

Would we like a formal intro and pictures of your flock though. I love to learn about everyone else's flocks.