Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I could handle it now I think. I remember the times as needing to not add more stress if I could help it and stopping was the best solution there. Not your fault in any way. Just life, and how it happens. You are a wonderful story-teller, and I love stories!

I might have the timeline all off, but I was planning to start a little flock as a newbie and getting all OCD about it, then caring for the Buckeyes while learning and still all OCD, the pandemic had begun and become full-on raging and life brought big changes. My uncle died from Covid in 2020, all isolated in a nursing home, my aunt there too in the assisted living side but they kept them apart until he was at death's door. Suited her up like a spaceman and he had dementia so I doubt he recognized her like that. It was horrible for her and for my cousins who couldn't figure out a way to even comfort their mother beyond phone calls because they weren't allowed to see or touch her either, and this made her fail even more. She died this last year. Back in 2020 one of his son's, my cousin died also (complications of cancer/chemo but could have been Covid-related, a heart attack), then another cousin (different family) died of Covid, then the uncle, father of that cousin, died of Covid too. I had loss of both music and day gig work, and I was still dealing with my mother's estate and belongings from her death in 2018. Two other people I knew more tangentially died from Covid. Not that different from so many people's experience, but a lot of loss.

I have better internet now than I did then, here's some pullet pics!
I think this first pic is Butters, I remember she liked to perch there. August 2020.
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Very sad to hear your story. But really glad your pets are giving you some joy. And it sure looks like this one has been a lot of pleasure, I love that gawky awkward stage, when they look like velociraptots

 

[Ponypoor]

You're up late Bob
I am catching up on stuff, checking weather (milder only -5C woohoo!), Checking barn cams, horses and chickies all snuggled for the night.

Now if my back would just stop aching maybe I can sleep too

 

[BY Bob]

You're up late Bob
I am catching up on stuff, checking weather (milder only -5C woohoo!), Checking barn cams, horses and chickies all snuggled for the night.

Now if my back would just stop aching maybe I can sleep too

Getting ready to pack it in. It's been a long day. A new tribe member always keeps me up, even when they are sleeping. It's never easy.

I hope your back eases up and you get some good rest tonight.

 

[Ponypoor]

Coulda, shoulda, shoulda, won’t bring the beautiful Beetov-Hen back to me.
I really miss my friend tax:
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She sure is lovely, love those features on her neck they look like flames, she was a lovely hen.

 

[Ponypoor]

Getting ready to pack it in. It's been a long day. A new tribe member always keeps me up, even when they are sleeping. It's never easy.

I hope your back eases up and you get some good rest tonight.

Good night

 

[BY Bob]

Good night

Good night, I'm out.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Can It Possibly be True? Am I Really Seeing This?!

After everything the tribe here at FBA has been through over the past several months I have been so afraid that this integration of Betty and Phyllis would go sideways on us. So much so I almost turned her down when Betty was offered to me. Well guess what I just saw on the camera........

@Ribh @micstrachan @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @ChicoryBlue @LozzyR @Chicken poppy

Preening together seems to me to be a good sign.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Roosting Time

Well it is one thing to roost together and preen. It is another thing completely to sleep together. The following video is 7 minutes long and it shows Betty roosting tonight. The end result is good but the process to get there is definitely the Fluffy Butt Acres way.

I'm sure you noted after watching the video that Phyllis acted the first time Betty roosted when Betty started edging down the roost towards her. Well Betty is certainly determined to roost close to Phyllis. Here is the final position after another 20 minutes went by. Betty just kept slowly edging down the roost towards Phyllis until she was about half way down. This is very encouraging.

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@Ribh @micstrachan @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @ChicoryBlue @LozzyR @Chicken poppy

Good on ya Betty! Perseverance, persistence and patience will get you there in the end!

 

[micstrachan]

That would also work and you are right. People talk about using it all the time for sour crop.

Yep. I had great success with clotrimazole. I don’t think it’s the first choice for many, as it’s a little harder to find, but it worked for sour crop in my flock.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes ACM, she was the best friend anyone could ever have. Smart and usually happy. Very friendly to me!