Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Be careful of the pips

Gladys Knight and the Pips? (Midnight Train to Georgia)

 

[Emma-Daisy]

I missed fluffy Butt Friday. This isn't a new pic but still some cute round fluffy butts. I'll have to get used to the different photo days so I know what pics to take .

 

[LozzyR]

No chicken pictures, it was a Rough day today… nipping Jimmy’s an-and didn’t go well. His stuff wouldn’t fit through the elastic bander. We Had to use burdizzos and DH missed, so he just got a really bad pinch. It turns out holding a 80lb goat down while his boy bits are rendered inoperable isn’t easy. Cows twice his size are easier. We have lost a lot of trust and will need to rebuild this with lots of treats and snuggles. I have ordered the California style bander, hopefully by the time it arrives we will be able to get near that area again.

Speaking of cows, we have our first calves and BIL “missed” finding one. The bigger or the two twins, (yeah such an awful bull… he was siring twin calves pretty unusual for cattle) was trapped in the wrong side of a fence so I had to pick her up and carry her to mom. The female will be barren as her twin was male, making her a “free Martin”. Good job Rowena! I’m a little worried the smaller boy calf might not make it, because BIL really, really sucks at caring for cattle, and mamas will often pick the stronger twin and just let the other die in the wild. I saw Rowena shoving the boy away while the girl was nursing, and he’s trying to bum off of other cows. I did voice my concerns to him. Fingers crossed he doesn’t do as well as last year in providing extra care and attention to special calves.View attachment 3021011View attachment 3021032

Why was I down there? because last night our truck was loaded with giant alfalfa bales at the barn on the other side of the island at midnight… because getting hay here is fun. So I finally get back to the trailer with skittish goats in the Jeep, and the chickens are acting a little odd, and I’m trying to unload the goats when all of a sudden the alarm goes up and a mink runs out from the chicken trailer (same furry little bugger as last time) I’m chasing it with a shovel and it takes probably about the same route as last time. I didn’t get it. I took the goats for their walk DH got home, everything seemed settled as best as could be, we were getting ready to put the chickens up, putting on boots, when there came another alarm. I rush out but was too late, one of my nicer young cockerels was lying in the middle of the entryway with his neck snapped. I’ve checked them twice since and believe the trailer is secure and it got in the open door. I have put the fresh kill in the trap. I pray I can catch this little monster and end it. I will make several more checks throughout the night and early morning. I literally can’t deal with another massacre. I am very worried about running meat birds with this new mustelid problem

That’s so much to deal with! Here’s a hug or three.

 

[LozzyR]

Apparently we now have ponySundays to go with Caturday, FBF, twofer Tuesdays, and mugshot Mondays… did I miss anything? Do we have a Wednesday and Thursday theme in mind?

Wednesdays are “Wednesdays Wherever” and usually involve a mug of tea or coffee and some chickens. That just leaves Thursday free!

 

[LozzyR]

Also, I’m so sorry about the bull. Didn’t you adore that guy?

Oh no, not Gus?!

 

[Ribh]

No chicken pictures, it was a Rough day today… nipping Jimmy’s an-and didn’t go well. His stuff wouldn’t fit through the elastic bander. We Had to use burdizzos and DH missed, so he just got a really bad pinch. It turns out holding a 80lb goat down while his boy bits are rendered inoperable isn’t easy. Cows twice his size are easier. We have lost a lot of trust and will need to rebuild this with lots of treats and snuggles. I have ordered the California style bander, hopefully by the time it arrives we will be able to get near that area again.

Speaking of cows, we have our first calves and BIL “missed” finding one. The bigger or the two twins, (yeah such an awful bull… he was siring twin calves pretty unusual for cattle) was trapped in the wrong side of a fence so I had to pick her up and carry her to mom. The female will be barren as her twin was male, making her a “free Martin”. Good job Rowena! I’m a little worried the smaller boy calf might not make it, because BIL really, really sucks at caring for cattle, and mamas will often pick the stronger twin and just let the other die in the wild. I saw Rowena shoving the boy away while the girl was nursing, and he’s trying to bum off of other cows. I did voice my concerns to him. Fingers crossed he doesn’t do as well as last year in providing extra care and attention to special calves.View attachment 3021011View attachment 3021032

Why was I down there? because last night our truck was loaded with giant alfalfa bales at the barn on the other side of the island at midnight… because getting hay here is fun. So I finally get back to the trailer with skittish goats in the Jeep, and the chickens are acting a little odd, and I’m trying to unload the goats when all of a sudden the alarm goes up and a mink runs out from the chicken trailer (same furry little bugger as last time) I’m chasing it with a shovel and it takes probably about the same route as last time. I didn’t get it. I took the goats for their walk DH got home, everything seemed settled as best as could be, we were getting ready to put the chickens up, putting on boots, when there came another alarm. I rush out but was too late, one of my nicer young cockerels was lying in the middle of the entryway with his neck snapped. I’ve checked them twice since and believe the trailer is secure and it got in the open door. I have put the fresh kill in the trap. I pray I can catch this little monster and end it. I will make several more checks throughout the night and early morning. I literally can’t deal with another massacre. I am very worried about running meat birds with this new mustelid problem

Yikes Kris. Thems nasty little buggers. I hope you catch it.

 

[Ribh]

Another fine opening… recently finished reading he Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. Highly recommend! There’s some Gender Identity and acceptance stories beautifully woven into a modern take on some Fairy tales in a Harry Potter/ peculiar children setting. The Jack and Jill ones were really good, set in a horror/dystopian world… really worth a read! All her work is great and there’s some modern Faerie stuff as well. It took me a little longer to get into the young adult series, the first book is a little meh… but from there it really gets much better.

Seanan McGuire does some really good filk stuff. This is just downright freaky.

 

[LozzyR]

The old expression 'herding cats' should be changed to 'herding chickens'!!

Switching topics slightly; there is an online portal for board members called ‘Our Cat Herder’. It’s brilliant!

Tax:

 

[Ribh]

Is it just me, or all nursery rhymes violent, rude or abusive?
(Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after) or the other one that says (there was an old woman who lived in a shoe, had so many children she didn’t know what to do. She gave them some broth without any bread, she spanked them all soundly and sent them to bed) (Peter pumpkin eater locks up his wife in a pumpkin) and so many more violent ones! Gezz no wonder Our generations are so confused
Tax for my truthful rant:
View attachment 3020378

Nursery rhymes are violent because a lot of them were actually political statements disguised. That includes classics like Jack & Jill, Goosey, goosey gander. Mary, Mary is about Bloody Mary...the list is extensive.

 

[Ribh]

Tax...