Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Well I worked on a 'man door' for the barns back door sliders. Need to run to Home Depot tomorrow for a new masonry drill bit, and a couple latches.

Struggled all day with a stye on my eye, very tender and made trying to see things difficult.

I had to take a break at one point and just sit in the sun with the gals - oh what a glorious day it turned out be weather wise

The ladies spent the whole day sunning themselves

Are you putting hot salty water on your eye with a cotton ball? That seems to help. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

First things first, mushroom hunting was successful, look at these beauties.

Plan on going back Wednesday morning to hopefully find some more. If nothing else, these right here will be enough to deep fry for Rosie and Maddy. I love them, and would like to find some more to sautee in butter and have homemade spaghetti sauce. If we cannot find anymore the girls will get them all fixed their favorite way. More importantly I got almost 5 hours with my best friend who has been through a similar situation and she just let me vent. No judgement at all. It was needed for what happened late this evening which I will get into in the next post.

 

[featherhead007]

First things first, mushroom hunting was successful, look at these beauties.
View attachment 3077896
Plan on going back Wednesday morning to hopefully find some more. If nothing else, these right here will be enough to deep fry for Rosie and Maddy. I love them, and would like to find some more to sautee in butter and have homemade spaghetti sauce. If we cannot find anymore the girls will get them all fixed their favorite way. More importantly I got almost 5 hours with my best friend who has been through a similar situation and she just let me vent. No judgement at all. It was needed for what happened late this evening which I will get into in the next post.

I have never seen anything like those before.

 

[rural mouse]

We had an adventure...

Went to in-laws for dinner (April birthdays party), a bit over an hour away. Warm ish day, heat turned off, babies bouncing, checking out the door. I'm inside getting stuff done before leaving. Cheetah and company all up by the house except broody Jess. Cheetah lights up (3rd time today, 1 & 2 false alarms). Head out: neighbor's cat is in the yard. chase her off, check coop, all good. Leave mid afternoon, have great visit, dinner, cake, ice cream...head home, arriving 830ish. Go to close coop: 11 adults, baby pile in corner. Turn on light, start moving babies: Mera, Primula, Hector, Asphodel, Nox....wait a minute ... Head count ....5...flashlight app, check corners, nooks, crannies of coop...5...outside, still light, but sun is down. Check around coop, around olives, nothing...listen carefully, nothing....back to coop (have been certain someone was missing and found just fine inside next morning)...check again...still 5...back outside, start check again, more calling....hear cheeping....where from? Finally spot Belladonna on the side of the fenced garden closest to the house, up the hillside. Head over, talking to her the whole way. Crouch down in front of her but outside of arms reach. Hold out hands, still talking to her. She takes a few steps towards me, pauses, I close the distance and pick her up without any fuss (usually a bit of fuss). Snuggle her in. The bottoms of her feet are cool. Pack her back to HER door. Set her in the doorway, she finally heads over to rejoin her cuddle buddies. This is the first (that I'm aware of) exploration outside the coop. They've had access for a couple of weeks, but the cooler temps have been keeping them back from the door.

I expected the first to be either Asphodel or Box. It's possible they were and just got home safely, but the big adventure starts now.

 

[featherhead007]

We had an adventure...

Went to in-laws for dinner (April birthdays party), a bit over an hour away. Warm ish day, heat turned off, babies bouncing, checking out the door. I'm inside getting stuff done before leaving. Cheetah and company all up by the house except broody Jess. Cheetah lights up (3rd time today, 1 & 2 false alarms). Head out: neighbor's cat is in the yard. chase her off, check coop, all good. Leave mid afternoon, have great visit, dinner, cake, ice cream...head home, arriving 830ish. Go to close coop: 11 adults, baby pile in corner. Turn on light, start moving babies: Mera, Primula, Hector, Asphodel, Nox....wait a minute ... Head count ....5...flashlight app, check corners, nooks, crannies of coop...5...outside, still light, but sun is down. Check around coop, around olives, nothing...listen carefully, nothing....back to coop (have been certain someone was missing and found just fine inside next morning)...check again...still 5...back outside, start check again, more calling....hear cheeping....where from? Finally spot Belladonna on the side of the fenced garden closest to the house, up the hillside. Head over, talking to her the whole way. Crouch down in front of her but outside of arms reach. Hold out hands, still talking to her. She takes a few steps towards me, pauses, I close the distance and pick her up without any fuss (usually a bit of fuss). Snuggle her in. The bottoms of her feet are cool. Pack her back to HER door. Set her in the doorway, she finally heads over to rejoin her cuddle buddies. This is the first (that I'm aware of) exploration outside the coop. They've had access for a couple of weeks, but the cooler temps have been keeping them back from the door.

I expected the first to be either Asphodel or Box. It's possible they were and just got home safely, but the big adventure starts now.

I thought it would be Asphodel too.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

After I got back grandma was sleeping. So I sat outback with the chickens for a hour until she got up. At first all was well. Branch made his way in the back door and came to visit. I was holding him and he was sleeping in my arms when she asked to hold him. I handed him over and he melted. 20 minutes later Branch is still asleep and she asked me to take a picture of them. Here it is.

Not long after these were taken her brother showed up. She was having a good visit with him, when out of the blue she blew up. I do not know what started it, but she started shouting she was going home. She was tired of being held here against her will and if we did not let her leave she was calling 911. Her brother was trying to calm her down, saying she was not being held here against her will, and then said if we let her leave he was calling the health department to have her place condemned due to the mice and her hoarding. She threatened to shoot him. Mom had to intervene and she jumped down her throat and said me and her were treating her like dirt, starving her and keeping her here when she was able to go home. Then just like that she was calm and forgot entirely about that incident. After her brother left a hour later she calls him and asks why did he not visit today. Rages like today, are becoming more frequent, and me and mom are coming to the end of our ropes.

 

[featherhead007]

After I got back grandma was sleeping. So I sat outback with the chickens for a hour until she got up. At first all was well. Branch made his way in the back door and came to visit. I was holding him and he was sleeping in my arms when she asked to hold him. I handed him over and he melted. 20 minutes later Branch is still asleep and she asked me to take a picture of them. Here it is.
View attachment 3077998View attachment 3078002
Not long after these were taken her brother showed up. She was having a good visit with him, when out of the blue she blew up. I do not know what started it, but she started shouting she was going home. She was tired of being held here against her will and if we did not let her leave she was calling 911. Her brother was trying to calm her down, saying she was not being held here against her will, and then said if we let her leave he was calling the health department to have her place condemned due to the mice and her hoarding. She threatened to shoot him. Mom had to intervene and she jumped down her throat and said me and her were treating her like dirt, starving her and keeping her here when she was able to go home. Then just like that she was calm and forgot entirely about that incident. After her brother left a hour later she calls him and asks why did he not visit today. Rages like today, are becoming more frequent, and me and mom are coming to the end of our ropes.

I don’t know what else to say Situation is really tough, and I’m sorry for that.

 

[LozzyR]

After I got back grandma was sleeping. So I sat outback with the chickens for a hour until she got up. At first all was well. Branch made his way in the back door and came to visit. I was holding him and he was sleeping in my arms when she asked to hold him. I handed him over and he melted. 20 minutes later Branch is still asleep and she asked me to take a picture of them. Here it is.
View attachment 3077998View attachment 3078002
Not long after these were taken her brother showed up. She was having a good visit with him, when out of the blue she blew up. I do not know what started it, but she started shouting she was going home. She was tired of being held here against her will and if we did not let her leave she was calling 911. Her brother was trying to calm her down, saying she was not being held here against her will, and then said if we let her leave he was calling the health department to have her place condemned due to the mice and her hoarding. She threatened to shoot him. Mom had to intervene and she jumped down her throat and said me and her were treating her like dirt, starving her and keeping her here when she was able to go home. Then just like that she was calm and forgot entirely about that incident. After her brother left a hour later she calls him and asks why did he not visit today. Rages like today, are becoming more frequent, and me and mom are coming to the end of our ropes.

Oh Rebecca, this is so hard on you all! Do you have a support network outside your family; are you able to speak to a counsellor regarding coping strategies?

 

[RoyalChick]

After I got back grandma was sleeping. So I sat outback with the chickens for a hour until she got up. At first all was well. Branch made his way in the back door and came to visit. I was holding him and he was sleeping in my arms when she asked to hold him. I handed him over and he melted. 20 minutes later Branch is still asleep and she asked me to take a picture of them. Here it is.
View attachment 3077998View attachment 3078002
Not long after these were taken her brother showed up. She was having a good visit with him, when out of the blue she blew up. I do not know what started it, but she started shouting she was going home. She was tired of being held here against her will and if we did not let her leave she was calling 911. Her brother was trying to calm her down, saying she was not being held here against her will, and then said if we let her leave he was calling the health department to have her place condemned due to the mice and her hoarding. She threatened to shoot him. Mom had to intervene and she jumped down her throat and said me and her were treating her like dirt, starving her and keeping her here when she was able to go home. Then just like that she was calm and forgot entirely about that incident. After her brother left a hour later she calls him and asks why did he not visit today. Rages like today, are becoming more frequent, and me and mom are coming to the end of our ropes.

After I got back grandma was sleeping. So I sat outback with the chickens for a hour until she got up. At first all was well. Branch made his way in the back door and came to visit. I was holding him and he was sleeping in my arms when she asked to hold him. I handed him over and he melted. 20 minutes later Branch is still asleep and she asked me to take a picture of them. Here it is.
View attachment 3077998View attachment 3078002
Not long after these were taken her brother showed up. She was having a good visit with him, when out of the blue she blew up. I do not know what started it, but she started shouting she was going home. She was tired of being held here against her will and if we did not let her leave she was calling 911. Her brother was trying to calm her down, saying she was not being held here against her will, and then said if we let her leave he was calling the health department to have her place condemned due to the mice and her hoarding. She threatened to shoot him. Mom had to intervene and she jumped down her throat and said me and her were treating her like dirt, starving her and keeping her here when she was able to go home. Then just like that she was calm and forgot entirely about that incident. After her brother left a hour later she calls him and asks why did he not visit today. Rages like today, are becoming more frequent, and me and mom are coming to the end of our ropes.

Oh I am so, so, sorry. I remember from my own mother how upsetting that is.

Have you told the doctor that she is this volatile? Sometimes they can adjust medication to help.

 

[RoyalChick]

We had an adventure...

Went to in-laws for dinner (April birthdays party), a bit over an hour away. Warm ish day, heat turned off, babies bouncing, checking out the door. I'm inside getting stuff done before leaving. Cheetah and company all up by the house except broody Jess. Cheetah lights up (3rd time today, 1 & 2 false alarms). Head out: neighbor's cat is in the yard. chase her off, check coop, all good. Leave mid afternoon, have great visit, dinner, cake, ice cream...head home, arriving 830ish. Go to close coop: 11 adults, baby pile in corner. Turn on light, start moving babies: Mera, Primula, Hector, Asphodel, Nox....wait a minute ... Head count ....5...flashlight app, check corners, nooks, crannies of coop...5...outside, still light, but sun is down. Check around coop, around olives, nothing...listen carefully, nothing....back to coop (have been certain someone was missing and found just fine inside next morning)...check again...still 5...back outside, start check again, more calling....hear cheeping....where from? Finally spot Belladonna on the side of the fenced garden closest to the house, up the hillside. Head over, talking to her the whole way. Crouch down in front of her but outside of arms reach. Hold out hands, still talking to her. She takes a few steps towards me, pauses, I close the distance and pick her up without any fuss (usually a bit of fuss). Snuggle her in. The bottoms of her feet are cool. Pack her back to HER door. Set her in the doorway, she finally heads over to rejoin her cuddle buddies. This is the first (that I'm aware of) exploration outside the coop. They've had access for a couple of weeks, but the cooler temps have been keeping them back from the door.

I expected the first to be either Asphodel or Box. It's possible they were and just got home safely, but the big adventure starts now.

I am dreading that moment. It is coming fast. All my strategies to have a slow integration are failing because the Hooligans are an adventurous bunch.
So far they are getting away with it but I don’t think they would come to me if they got lost.