Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Hi folks. Ruby update. It’s a bit rough. She is very weak. Drinking and eating, but unsteady. Could not get herself up to the shelf, so I put her up there. I’ve been doing private feedings of whatever she’ll eat. This poor girl.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I'm heartbroken this morning, and I think before I change my mind I may need to list the silkies. I had to run down grandma's for a few hours yesterday evening and I left them out free ranging. Their little group had been doing so well and they are being accepted by the rest of the flock. My dad and brother were here so I didn't worry about no one here. We finally got back at the edge of dark and they were by the coop ready to go in. But one of my smaller ones was missing and my tiniest one Poppy has a slight limp. I searched for a hour after dark last night and could not find a trace of it, and prayed overnight she was hidden and would be there this morning. No luck, and after another hours search this morning she's gone. Poppy's limp is not bad and there is no visible wound so I think its a sprain that will heal with a few days of confinement. Every other chicken on the place is acting like nothing happened. I don't want to let them go, but, I just don't think they are going to do well free ranging and if something happens to another one it will be devastating.

Oh no! So sorry.
Do you think their situational awareness will improve with experience and maturity? (I'm grasping at straws here.) It's a hard call to make.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Mugs Monday from the chick who keeps on fighting. She has resumed eating on her own.View attachment 2774321

Good on you Platina! Keep up the good work.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Proof!!! View attachment 2774318View attachment 2774319View attachment 2774320
And I’ll just go ahead and submit these for mugshot Monday

Awww, that's not fair! It's just a bad camera angle!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Family sticks togetherView attachment 2774325

What a great family portrait!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It is Time to go Way-Back Again

Mr Peabody I believe that we need to take a trip back again. Could you please fire up the way-back machine and let's go back to 7/25/17.

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

The Big 3 were getting up from one of their first nights in the new big coop. Daisy, the greatest hen ever, was so anxious to get her day started that she could not wait for the door to open all the way. Lilly was clumsy getting down even then.

This is just a quick stop over. Let's hop back another year to 7/25/16.

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

It was pouring this day.
View attachment 2774326

But is was so warm that The Greatest Hen Ever was having none of that coming in out of the rain. Eventually Patsy and Lilly would join her.
View attachment 2774328View attachment 2774329View attachment 2774327

Shake it out Daisy!
View attachment 2774330

The day sure ended beautifully though.

View attachment 2774331

OK Mr. Peabody. That day has ended. Let's jump back one more year.

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

This is 7/25/15, 6 years from the present. Daisy was just a young pullet and Elphie was having none of her sharing the roost with her. Elphie thought that Daisy could just roost outside for all she cared.

Look closely and you can see Elphie on the roost inside. Just look at how the area has developed from just the prefab coop and run.
View attachment 2774339

That was a fun visit. Let's bounce forward a few years. Please set the way-back machine for 7/25/18.

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

Whew! that was a bit of a leap but here we are. I chose this day for a special reason. Watch as Hattie and Jabberwocky have pasta for the very first time. Just look at that cute baby Hattie. Those little peeps. I am getting so excited to hear them again when Phyllis tiny brood arrives next week.

Well the time is getting late. I think we should return to the present.

chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump, chumma chumma chumma, hufft hufft, falump

Thanks so much for the trip Mr. Peabody. The way-back machine worked flawlessly. We will see you again soon.

Look at Daisy (TGHE) shake. Shake Daisy shake!

I love the sound of chicks peeping.

Your Wayback Machine sound effects are so fun I had to go look up "Mr Peabody's Improbable History" on YouTube.

I was a bit disappointed. Your sound effects are much better.

Only one week to go before

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Thanks! My chickens' names are inspired by the Canadian author, Louise Penny's Three Pines mystery series, but I ran out of female character names that I liked! I chose Bistro's name because a lot of the action takes place in the local bistro.
I think it suits her!

Now that's thinking outside the box.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I done good
This weekend I created a bit of a secluded beach area by placing a row of logs across part of the run. Up hill is under the floor of the storage area.
Seems like the Princesses agree that this is a perfect bathing spot.
This is not a great shot but it makes me smile. The Roadrunners have just finished bathing and are putting themselves back to rights. The three older Princesses are enjoying the afternoon sun. Maggie has dug a hole almost a foot deep and isn’t keen on sharing!
I am so happy that they like it!
I didn’t give them anything special to bathe in - but I might chuck in some sand and maybe some dried herbs.

View attachment 2774537

Great idea RC. It's so nice when the chooks like our great ideas too.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Packages have arrived! A present to myself.

I am busy the next few days but experiments to follow, soon I hope. At least further unpacking and setting up a work area actually learning to use this. It's been awhile, like 40+ years, since I laid hands on one. I remember being careful not to lower the thing so much that it cracks the slide. Also the word "zooplankton" comes to mind.

PS: nobody's ill that I'm aware of, I'm just poo curious! Also pond water curious. Can one say tiny world curious?
View attachment 2774555

I think "Tiny World Curious" is a fantastic description.

That looks like it's going to be fun and interesting. I hope you will share your set up and process with us.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Did James Bond do disguises much? I thought that was more of an Inspector Clouseau thing.