Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

That did not go as planned

Hattie got down and Lilly is now alone. Hattie must have been peckish.
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Or did Hattie get down for a late night snack, and then go to the nest box as per her usual...instead of trying to get on the roost in the dark?

 

[BY Bob]

Or did Hattie get down for a late night snack, and then go to the nest box as per her usual...instead of trying to get on the roost in the dark?

You have it right. That's what I was saying. I meant this definition of peckish.

I did not mean anyone was pecking someone. If Hattie gets down to eat, she can't get back up.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Wow what good little guy! I am so sorry tho he had to be subjected to all that stress and the loss of the others, very tragic.

Dogs around here that run loose get sent packing, neighbours are told when they move into the area if their dogs are caught in my paddocks, if Sally the Dog Killing Pony doesn't do them in then what is left is sent to the SPCA and I do not inform the owner.

Needless to say my neighbours call me all sorts of names, but then I tell them the story of my neighbours 2 rotties that attacked my horse one day when I was out riding, caused almost a $1000 in Vet bills and she lost her Foal she was carrying. I was lucky not to be injured and my young cousin who was riding with me also lucky.

Dog owners just don't seem to understand the seriousness of attacking livestock....

Do you still have this amazing little fellow? Would love to see a pic!

That's a dreadful thing to have happen, that must have been terrifying.

I really hate it when people don't take proper responsibility for their animals. Dogs have hunting instincts and need to be contained for their own and others safety.

I'm so sorry this happened but glad you and your cousin are OK.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Not too bad. 6" so far and still snowing but beginning to lighten up. They say very high winds and to expect drifting but haven't seen that yet.
The Chicken Palace runs have a light dusting from blowing wind and the ladies have made their attitude clear. They love snow if I shovel it in so they can keep their feet dry. They have no interest in harvesting snow themselves from the wild.

"Harvesting snow from the wild"

 

[RoyalChick]

That did not go as planned

Hattie got down and Lilly is now alone. Hattie must have been peckish.
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Awww Hattie!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Betty gets Coop Time

She very neatly avoided Phyllis there at the end. Clever girl Betty!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

You are made of sterner stuff than me. After one winter of lugging warm water out every few hours I realized I needed a heated waterer.
I built electric into the Chicken Palace because of wanting to be able to brood babies out in the coop. But turn out that heat for water is as important!
I am stressed about Dotty tonight.
My plan was to keep her out in the Chicken Palace with the oil-filled heater on and her roosted next to Minnie. This evening - right up to 10 minutes before sunset - she was just sitting on the ground not moving. She honestly looked unbelievably miserable like she didn't have the energy to even lift her head.
I imagined her just freezing on the spot. So I thought maybe I would put her in a nest box opposite Maggie (yes Maggie is back in a nest box but as it is so cold I am turning a blind eye) which would be close to the heater.
Then the more I watched her on camera the more convinced I became she was about to die so I decided to bring her in to the garage after all. I prepared her cozy cave (which needed some adjustment as I also had to fit the car in the garage) and went to get all geared up with boots and head lamp etc. only to find that she had got up and flown across the Palace to roost next to Minnie.
I wish she were the other side of Minnie as that is a bit closer to the heat, but it is what I had planned for so I have decided to leave her.
But I am stressed about it.
I can always check on the camera in the middle of the night and get up and bring her in.
Oh these ladies really do create worries!
I hope she is OK.

Sounds like you are both doing all you can.
I hope she's OK too.

 

[RoyalChick]

NO...never. Usually my last/late molters are finishing up around Thanksgiving...and I always considered that late. This has been a crazy year for molting....my first didn't start molting until between Thanksgiving & Christmas this year (except for my two broodies, but that was because of their 'broody molt'. It has been very nerve wracking, this 'wait until it is frigid to molt' thing!!

It really is nuts. I knew Dotty hadn’t molted with the others and I assumed she would just keep her old feathers for another year. Or maybe do some if that molt a bit here and there that Maggie is prone to.
It never crossed my mind she would lose all her feathers at once at the coldest time.

 

[BY Bob]

She very neatly avoided Phyllis there at the end. Clever girl Betty!

I love the use of the roost to jump over Phyllis approach. It was very clever!

 

[Scrambles83]

A Normal Coop Day

Did you all know that I have other chickens from the Polish? It is 18°F and breezy out today. So the big ladies are hanging out and having a coop day. The coop is being warmed by the sun so this is a good decision. Here they are Hanging with Mr Coop (er).

Nice to see them chilling like that.
Loved the reference too, takes me back to childhood, watching that show!