Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

What a wonderful tax.

Just beautifully put, Bob.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to get as upset as I did with Penny (I should have known better, I’m a very emotional beast as I’ve said) but it all broke on me so fast, and that feeling of helplessness when she was sick and it was obvious she wasn’t going to get better was so just overwhelming. I think I didn’t realise how connected to them I was.
I sat with her for days and sobbed and apologised to her for not being able to help.

You’re correct, it is hard for our loved ones to see us so upset.
I did defend my right to him to be sad at her loss, that to me she was a pet that I loved and hence why I got the new girls without objection once I saw how lonely Bokky was (and once I was ready to add more feathered babies).
He knows I have a big heart and I would heal once I had grieved. He may not share my levels of compassion but he does understand that it is who I am and I can’t be anything else.

With Bok I feel more prepared if/when the time comes, but I will still be very upset and grieve. I’m trying to be strong in front of Vi at the moment; she feels things deeply like I do which is a good thing but exhausting at her age so until the time comes I won’t force the heartbreak on her.
But like you with Mal, maybe it is also subconsciously shielding my feelings of worry and potential grief from him too

Sorry about the novel, but I like that I can talk to you guys on here.

I know when Scrambles, our dog, passes I will have to take bereavement leave from work. It will destroy me, he’s been my best buddy for 11&1/2 years, but I can’t think about it because then I upset myself

 

[LozzyR]

How’s your lady @LozzyR, was it Nyssa?

She seems ok but chickens are the masters of hiding illness. I will keep up the meds and amprolium but will also keep an eye on the eating.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I’m glad I read this just now; Nyssa’s sick. She’s very underweight, the vet’s not sure if she has an infection or a virus. She’s given me antibiotics and pain meds and I’m going to do a full coccidiosis treatment for everyone. I also need to check everyone’s keel bone to see if I can feel it.

I’m not really sure I can keep doing this!

Sounds like you are doing all you can for her at the moment Lozzy. Good on you.

I hope she gets better soon. It is such a worry when they are not well.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Hi! I am so not caught up, so I won’t even pretend at it I’ve missed everyone’s updates and chat... it’s been kind of crazy around the farm lately, and in the community in general here. Let’s just say the FBook community forum for our island got so crazy/heated that there’s a new “no slander/personal attacks/name calling” one now that’s moderated and you have to actually live here/visit often to join it. And yes, both myself and my little baby goat were subjects of a few of those “attack” posts, from complete strangers!

Weather has been on and off, and I have lost two meat chicks (@ 5weeks old!) to cold snaps. They are now stuck in the barn here for another week, minimum. I’ve started to get my garden in, with seedlings in the greenhouse and cleaning up the overgrown beds at my friend’s farm. I walk Arduinna 3-10 miles a day, so we are getting some serious cardio in during daily chores/commuting. I lost one Red Rock girl to a predator (I’m thinking hawk) but otherwise everyone is doing well and we are looking at doing Roosties foot in the next couple weeks.

@BY Bob I also received the wonderful cards, and love them! Project Camper is also on, I scored free flooring and DH and I finally have some agreement on the short term/long term renovations. More importantly, I will be buckling down and concentrating on what I can do on the house. I’ve made two new island friends (taxidermy and Sauerkraut!) and they had some great suggestions on getting the panels up to the second story without the tractor, which BIL won’t share and recently broke (again). I’m going to blast up some photos in a separate post, but wanted to pop in with an update as well.

@Shadrach i am so sorry to hear of Fat Bird’s troubles, and I know you will do your best by her. If I’ve missed anyone else’s troubles, I’m sorry and don’t feel slighted, I just haven’t had a chance (is it even possible?) to catch up yet. Much love, and I’ve missed you all!

Lovely to hear from you Kris, I've been wondering how you are.

"And yes, both myself and my little baby goat were subjects of a few of those “attack” posts, from complete strangers!"
You have to wonder about some people. Do they have nothing better to do than beat down on strangers? They must have very sad, empty lives. We think you are doing a wonderful job Kris!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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What a lovely treasure house of photos Kris.

Is that a chicken driving the tractor with Arduinna in the fourth picture?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

So I'm wondering if they're not eating enough?? I felt keel bones tonight; the three Faverolle girls are all boney but Charlie isn't so much. I'm wondering if I need to set up a second feed station and just monitor how much they eat? I'm wondering if Charlie doesn't let them eat! I'll mix up some people food for them as well with some baby bird mix for extra vitamins. Cross fingers everyone that they will be ok!

for the girls and for you Lozzy.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

She will lay every day. Hopefully you get lucky and she makes it through the laying stage of her life safely. It does happen and I know of leghorns that have lived over 5 years, well past their effective laying time.

It is not hopeless.

Tsuki lived to 5 and a half and hadn't laid an egg for the better part of a year.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I agree. They aren’t livestock to me, they are my pets.
Hubby and I just buried Dorothy today. I found her dead in the coop under the roost. I have no idea what happened. I examined her and she is perfectly normal except she is dead.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked in the coop and saw her lying there.
As you can imagine I am really depressed.
She was going to be a year old in May.
Dorothy
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Oh, so sorry Kat. What a shock for you

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Some illustrations of the new birdsView attachment 2594114

I love your illustrations Blazinga! Your birds have such character, they always make me smile.

 

[featherhead007]

That was @micstrachan’s girls but thanks anyway

My mistake