Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I don't know if you have transport or access to someone who has, but I've heard of the "market place" on Facebook, some people are even giving away coops and an old dog kennel would serve as shelter.

I shouldn't preach too the converted but only sharing my thoughts.

In the UK it is worth signing up with these folk - it is free and dedicated to keeping stuff out of landfill
https://www.ilovefreegle.org/
Typically you have to collect so agree transport is important.

 

[BY Bob]

I am behind and haven't kept up well with the current posts! I think Hazel has rounded the corner on the molt, but not 100% sure. She isn't acting "off" and standoffish like she was, she seems much better. She has not stood and napped that I've observed, and has not acted weird or visibly trembled that I've seen since that post. So I agree, she needs to gain weight back. I don't have more fresh corn but maybe some in the freezer. I have to get more sardines in water, no salt. Maybe tuna in water? We have that. DH is shopping tomorrow. She has not consistently liked a protein I can stick with. Except earthworms.

She did show interest in dried black soldier fly grubs today, which surprised me and I think is a good sign, that's something she showed zero interest in earlier, so her food likings are beginning to come back to normal maybe? She got in the group seeking out and gobbling up when I scattered a couple handfuls. So I scattered more in her direction.

Today she ate earthworms that I saw, and this morning cooked brown rice, and a bit of crumbled hamburger (less interest than yesterday) then later grass and some of these little tubers I've described-- I managed to get a few small ones before they did today and photograph them before giving them back out. These ones are a little bigger than garlic seed head cloves. My fingers were showing about a centimeter. They love these things! They see just a speck of the tuber from above and they grab it. They even can spot the just the roots sticking out from a clump of dirt from the shovel, and pull them out that way.
View attachment 2864108

I haven't seen her eat any pellets or any yogurt calcium mash balls. Tomorrow I'm going to try rolled oats soaked in egg and then cooked like a frittata which they all used to like, and the baby bird crumbles pudding which she did eat a few days ago.

She also dustbathed today, and yesterday, whereas she was avoiding that before, so she must feel more comfortable?

I think her poops are still loose. I have a sample of a more firm poop I saw her make and am going to follow your fecal float instructions, hope to do that tomorrow, along with a fresher sample from the roost tomorrow, if there's another really wet one I'll get it. She's the only one pooping like that.

It does sound like she has rounded the corner. Tuna in water is good if she will eat it. I keep cracked corn around. it is well received at all times. Tastes like candy. If she is getting back into the group, eating with the others, and dustbathing, then she is improving in my book.

Hattie even dustbathed yesterday. I'm not sure I've seen that since she started her molt.

Thanks for pictures of the tubers. I wonder what they are. Mine are not eating those at this time but they may not grow here.

 

[BY Bob]

That's not really a proper cork hat.
A proper cork hat should have a lot more corks hanging down to create a screen to prevent flies getting into your mouth.

That has to be a lot of flies. Yikes!

 

[BY Bob]

Mine go quiet!

Mine as well. They are very quiet.

 

[BY Bob]

Ideal for a Phyllis cosplay.

Now this is certainly true! I never though if that!

 

[BY Bob]

You didn't even have your roosting hat on!

You are very correct to point that out. Hence the sliding off my head by Legertha. No hat to clamp onto. I will wear it out tonight just in case.

 

[BY Bob]

I’ve only had a chance to watch the first one but you look so content Bob
And Legatha’s hairdo wobbling when she was grooming your shirt was so cute!!

How could I not be content? They are so sweet.

Is that what she was doing to my shirt? I was trying to figure out Legertha was doing when she was pulling at my shirt. I never thought of grooming. What does everyone else think?

 

[BY Bob]

Maybe but I would have to come up with 22 names now.
Also, I like to have some idea of their personality and I'm a long way from that atm.
Henry The Second (Roman numerals would be handy here) is pretty easy. The Light Sussex hen is apparently his daughter so she's Matilda.
I've got a couple more names brewing.

A capital I will work for me. "Henry II" gets the point across, for me anyway. .

 

[BY Bob]

Staying In

The big run is sectioned off. The automated door opened. Still the Phyllistines remain in their coop. I think maybe they want a break after yesterday's day of adventure. They have been out on their porch.

 

[rural mouse]

I am behind and haven't kept up well with the current posts! I think Hazel has rounded the corner on the molt, but not 100% sure. She isn't acting "off" and standoffish like she was, she seems much better. She has not stood and napped that I've observed, and has not acted weird or visibly trembled that I've seen since that post. So I agree, she needs to gain weight back. I don't have more fresh corn but maybe some in the freezer. I have to get more sardines in water, no salt. Maybe tuna in water? We have that. DH is shopping tomorrow. She has not consistently liked a protein I can stick with. Except earthworms.

She did show interest in dried black soldier fly grubs today, which surprised me and I think is a good sign, that's something she showed zero interest in earlier, so her food likings are beginning to come back to normal maybe? She got in the group seeking out and gobbling up when I scattered a couple handfuls. So I scattered more in her direction.

Today she ate earthworms that I saw, and this morning cooked brown rice, and a bit of crumbled hamburger (less interest than yesterday) then later grass and some of these little tubers I've described-- I managed to get a few small ones before they did today and photograph them before giving them back out. These ones are a little bigger than garlic seed head cloves. My fingers were showing about a centimeter. They love these things! They see just a speck of the tuber from above and they grab it. They even can spot the just the roots sticking out from a clump of dirt from the shovel, and pull them out that way.
View attachment 2864108

I haven't seen her eat any pellets or any yogurt calcium mash balls. Tomorrow I'm going to try rolled oats soaked in egg and then cooked like a frittata which they all used to like, and the baby bird crumbles pudding which she did eat a few days ago.

She also dustbathed today, and yesterday, whereas she was avoiding that before, so she must feel more comfortable?

I think her poops are still loose. I have a sample of a more firm poop I saw her make and am going to follow your fecal float instructions, hope to do that tomorrow, along with a fresher sample from the roost tomorrow, if there's another really wet one I'll get it. She's the only one pooping like that.

Have you found out what those tiny bulbs are? Maybe try growing them in the house so you can find out what the above ground plant looks like.