Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Mugs

Storm
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Hector (with Mera as tail bomber)
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I just love that picture of Storm! What a wonderful expression you captured! That would make a wonderful calendar pic!

 

[Kris5902]

Yeah. I need to do some wall scrubbing.

I will add trailer walls are not good for coops, at all… too many little cracks, you can’t torch them for mites, everything sticks, and if there’s any damage at all the hens will try to tear them apart and eat the insulation.

 

[Kris5902]

In the past I put shavings on the floor under their roost location so the pavers don't get stained, and to remind me not to stand Under them hahaha.

I will do something similar and clean the shavings in the morning before letting hens out. The swallows don't spend time in the barn during the day unless they are sitting on eggs.

This is going to sound a little odd… but bear with me. If the swallows can get in is there a fair chance an owl (mid sized?) could as well, like an Eastern Barred? If so lock that baby up Tight and the swallows will have to learn to nest in the eaves. my first and second predator attacks were both owls. I lost seven birds at once and it literally climbed down underneath a bird netting roof to get them. They are an invasive species out here, so maybe they aren’t as Much of a Problem out east, but there are parks where they are literally culling these owls in my general area because of their devastating effect on native birds.

 

[Kris5902]

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.
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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’m so sorry you’re dealing with this, it’s such a hard situation

Maybe try sharing some resources on talking to people with dementia with her brother and her other visitors. Something very small may have set her off. This really isn’t that uncommon from what I’ve learned about living with and caring dementia patients. If you can learn the triggers and surround her with things that keep her in a happy place it makes things easier. You never know though, sometimes the complete change from “normal” of going into a care home can really change things positively as well. Complete strangers are strangely less likely to trigger negative reactions. My grandmother, surrounded by strangers, with no expectations of her to remember them, simple routines, and games, was much happier in her final five years, with very few moments of fear and paranoia.

Remember this is a huge adjustment for everyone in the family. And Grandma’s probably very afraid too.

With my mom I’ve been working on not saying “remember” at all in conversation, and this tiny change has helped with the hostility. And not arguing with false statements like “I’ve never seen this movie before” (it was a favourite from the Nineties, we watched it at least a dozen times!) and I know damn well the last time she rode a horse was when we went for a trail ride on vacation on a whim when I was 15… and focus on the things that being out the good memories of childhood/youth. Music and TV shows can be great tools. The chickens are clearly one of those as well.

 

[micstrachan]

Monday Mugs

Cashew’s comb was not blue. It was just the lighting. And look how the cutie all snuggled in matched my chicken quilt!

 

[micstrachan]

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 goodness. I am so sorry for all of you.

 

[micstrachan]

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.

So glad everything turned out OK!

 

[featherhead007]

I share my eggs with my church friends, but they only get the eggs. I get the snuggles and the conversation with the ladies. (Right now, I’m having a little Coco party) “She’s so sweet “

 

[featherhead007]

I share my eggs with my church friends, but they only get the eggs. I get the snuggles and the conversation with the ladies. (Right now, I’m having a little Coco party) “She’s so sweet “

 

[Kris5902]

Had to pop off for a little while, because life gets in the way… DH and Mom both have Medical appointments in two different cities. DH was also stuck in town dealing with a nasty infection from a burn Wednesday through Saturday morning, then out to travel for his other Medical appointments Saturday afternoon and expected home tomorrow. I’ve been struggling with the chores, the goats, and little fluff, a lack of water and power. (anyone thinking of a homestead or building an off grid house… first thing is get your water system done, forget shelter, don’t start anything until there is some Semblance of a water system)

So, mama didn’t sit on little fluff any I didn’t have any heat available, I was waiting on DH who was running late with my first 5 gallons of water for the goats, and holding little fluff while letting the chickens out, because it wasn’t getting any earlier. I tripped, face planted, and did what I could to protect the tiny little thing I was holding from the fall. I managed to not fall on her, but on impact my thumb tore the skin of her cheek. I was quite distraught and didn’t have a good day Saturday, to say the least. I put her in our black Jeep parked in the sun for heat and that worked, but things were still touch and go basically all day. Then in the evening, my crazy mama decided she did want her second baby. I was very apprehensive about the facial wound and mama pecking the chick but we have settled down and things are looking normal. This is from yesterday

I’ve pulled out the second functional meat tractor and set Trouble and her friends up in there for now. Mama and these chicks are going to have longer in the tractor than usual before I turn them completely loose, to be sure little fluff is keeping up. I’ve resolved to let things take as long as they need. I have an expectation of having everyone out, fed, watered, moved, and set up for the day by a certain time in the morning. I’m scrapping that. I still will be waiting until full light for letting the free range chickens out, but if it takes until noon, I would rather that than deal with a situation like Saturday from trying to juggle too much at once. This is a big personal issue of mine (taking on too much, or trying to do it all myself, and setting time expectations and not being flexible enough with them)