Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Hi everyone, been super busy the last week and have not had much time for much time on the computer lately. I candled Holly's eggs 2 days ago and not expecting much from the silkies at day 8 each one had a dancing embryo inside. I think her own egg is developing but it was hard to tell. I'm going to re candle tomorrow as I think the Henrietta egg I let her have as well is a dud. This past Saturday was the first horse show down at the ring in 2 years. Rosie had been super excited when she found out they were starting them back up but by Wednesday anxiety was starting to get to her. Tried calming her down, even told her if she wasn't ready she did not have to show but she was determined to show. When they put up the show bill she picked out 4 classes she wanted to enter Russ in. She chose "go as you please", "Country pleasure", Juvenile country pleasure", and Doubles with her best friend. The show drew a big crowd and each class had between 10 to 14 entries. I'm super proud to say she overcame her anxiety and placed 2nd in "go as you please" and 3rd with her best friend in doubles. Those 2 ribbons and the $75 in price money has her back hooked and she can't wait until the next show. In the meantime since it is not until next weekend poor Russ is being meticulously groomed every day. She is braiding his tail nightly as she wants it to be wavy, and calling Louis a few names as he's chewed some of his mane off. Russ is in heaven with the extra attention, although he would prefer she skipped the soapy baths every week. I didn't take my camera down to the show as now that it is coming on 11 years old its one glitch is it does not do well taking pictures at night anymore. Instead used mom's cell phone. The first picture is after her first class when she was still a bit nervous, the last one was after her last class when all her anxiety was gone and she was finally having fun.
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Chaco says “hi”

 

[Kris5902]

I feel this is a huge propaganda push to stop people from being free, free to raise chickens, cows ect..... next they will say, if you grew that it has to be usda inspected-- I say, Give Me Freedom or Give Me Death

Biting my tongue... trying to shove the soapbox out of sight... I can resist the urge...

Interesting take. Why do you think that is? They know backyard chicken keepers are aware of animal cruelty in the biz and fear it might be threatened? You’ve got me thinking!

Nope... can’t do it! DH and I were actually discussing this issue ourselves as I tried to catch up a bit here. Everyone feel free to tune out, if you’ve heard this rant before.

It’s a complicated situation. Inspection is very important for public safety, especially in food production. If you’re selling a product the consumer needs to know it was handled safely. That said, I also firmly believe you should be allowed to do whatever you want with your own property, so long as it doesn’t pose a threat to others. Live in a yurt, process your own pigs/chickens, government should butt out and let you have tea with your friend without fining you $2000 (Covid rant to follow, sold separately, JK) But, if you’re selling the products then it needs to be traceable, just in case. Not saying raw milk or home processed meats are unsafe, just that if it’s being offered for sale to an outside entity then it should be properly inspected and handled in accordance with current food safety regulations.

When a farmer sells directly to an end user (neighbor etc) the end user has a direct relationship to the producer and makes that choice in the safety of the product for them and their family. But, if she sells to the local store or restaurant and a tourist purchases it or is served it, that end consumer needs to be able to feel secure in the safety of the item being consumed, and doesn’t have the opportunity to see the farmers practices and make an informed decision for themselves. That’s why inspection is needed and good. You can eat in a restaurant without worrying about Mad Cow disease.

As to animal cruelty, and the living conditions in those big factory farms... people just have to pay more for their animal products. That’s the only way it will ever change. They aren’t threatened by the small farmers (who can barely make a living) or backyard homesteaders (a tiny portion of society). Consumers need to stop buying cheap eggs, cheap meats, cheap milk. Until the average consumer is able to afford good products (better wages) and values the animal products and welfare that goes into them, giant corporations with no interest in the lives of the animals they are raising will continue to cut expenses and produce cheap products at the expense of the animals health and living conditions, so long as they are ok to pass that inspection, the producer doesn’t give a

chicken tax:

Tailess and Ziptie staying up late and chatting before bedtime:

 

[featherhead007]

I just gave the chooks a can of tuna today, no kissing the birds now, (I hate bad beak breath)

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Chaco says “hi”View attachment 2689771

Hi Chaco, that grumpy face needs a smooch, CDC and their germ warnings be darned!

 

[Kris5902]

Everyone sends me these when they come out and I get riled up again and say things like they should concentrate on real problems. You know, like COVID.

They should be addressing the meat industry, not backyard chickens. We are not the problem and people don't die from having chickens as pets.

Anyone else remember $0.25 red ear slider turtles in the pet stores? And why we don’t have them anymore? Because of salmonella, people being too dumb to wash their hands after touching their reptiles... and the biggest reason of all, they need to be big enough that people don’t put their turtle in their mouth!!! Ummm really? How is that a thing and if you can’t keep your kid from putting their pet turtle in their mouth, then maybe you just shouldn’t have pets? We need smarter people, not bigger turtles

 

[featherhead007]

Anyone else remember $0.25 red ear slider turtles in the pet stores? And why we don’t have them anymore? Because of salmonella, people being too dumb to wash their hands after touching their reptiles... and the biggest reason of all, they need to be big enough that people don’t put their turtle in their mouth!!! Ummm really? How is that a thing and if you can’t keep your kid from putting their pet turtle in their mouth, then maybe you just shouldn’t have pets? We need smarter people, not bigger turtles

Kris, who ever said "people all have common sense"? I want to go wash my hands, just reading your post!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

All jokes aside, I take salmonella seriously. While handling raw chicken and preparing raw chicken. After I'm done, everything is wiped down and dishes done with chlorox added to the water. Cleaning up coops or pens or even stalls, it's so simple. Come in and wash your hands with soapy water. Of course now that in the last week typical summer weather has hit early with miserable humidity after chores are done its straight to the shower.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm an android girl the cameras are aplenty on this model!

I've got one of them. It took me a week to learn how to answer a phone call.

 

[BY Bob]

Update on my roo. He's trying his best to hang on. He tried to crow this morning, but it sounded like a mouse caught in a sticky trap. He's going down hill, and we both know it. He spent the night with me, on a blanket next to my bed. His breathing, gurgling and sneezing most of the night. I held him several times, and rubbed his waddles (He likes that) then he closes his eyes, and falls asleep.
As far as the CDC goes......
I will keep updating you friends, if you don't mind.

Please my friend. Keep us updated on how he is doing.

 

[BY Bob]

Example A:
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House Goat... her feral relatives are forced to roam the island “foraging” for feed. Not this little spoiled brat, she gets tasty oats, carrots, crackers, mixed nuts and potato chips (treats only!) and overpriced organic lettuce when that’s all the store has in! Worse yet, when it rains her poor cousins are forced to shelter in the trees, where they may still get a little wet. She has also been told that they don’t have their own pillows to lay on when the humans require the use of the chairs.

She is darling.