Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Dinner
No chickens were harmed in the making of this movie (but I did go back out just to check!)

 

[BY Bob]

Dinner
No chickens were harmed in the making of this movie (but I did go back out just to check!)

Wow. That is not comfortable to see. I would have run out to check as well.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Updating

I broke down and updated the in residence on the coop front today. I need to make one for Betty and redo everyone's but Hattie's.

Before
View attachment 3085353

After
View attachment 3085354

I added a temporary second row in the memorial section. I want to redo this and run it the length of the run so I put them in order of their passing. I need to do them for Legertha and Sylvie as well. They may share one board.

View attachment 3085355

It felt right to raise Aurora's flag today.
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I see Aurora now has a crown on her plague and her flag is flying but I have to wonder if she is now the lead hen. In all honesty I could see Hattie stepping into that top position. I'm sure you have been able to observe their behavior on camera's but it will be curious if that changes now that you are back.

 

[RoyalChick]

I see Aurora now has a crown on her plague and her flag is flying but I have to wonder if she is now the lead hen. In all honesty I could see Hattie stepping into that top position. I'm sure you have been able to observe their behavior on camera's but it will be curious if that changes now that you are back.

I was wondering if Betty might make a play for top spot.

 

[bgmathteach]

.........and with all the sunshine, a little rain must fall so there are flowers

On the morning of April 19, 2022, while I was half a world away and unable to be here for her, Lilly passed from this world.

She was at least 7 years old and the longest lived of any chicken which we have been blessed to care for at Fluffy Butt Acres.

As I sit here in the yard with them today I keep looking to see where she is. Lilly will cast a long shadow. I'm sure in time the tribe will appear normal without her but it is going to take a while for certain.

I'll be burying her in a bit in between Patsy and Sansa. I can think of no better place. I may just plant more phlox over them all as I did with Mal. It's as if Mal knew and sent her flowers to inspire me.

View attachment 3084931

I know that Sansa and Lilly are now together again.

Farewell my friend.

May the sun always be shining and warm
May the dirt always be just right for the perfect dust bath
May the meal worms be plentiful
May there always be young ones to tease and torture
May your favorite nest box always be open when it's your turn to lay
May your coop be dry and warm
May it never snow or be cold
May the Thanksgiving cherry pie be tasty
May the squirrels and ducks be slow
May the grass be young and tender

And most importantly, May your best friend be ever by your side.
View attachment 3085000

For those who would like to relive a tribute to Lilly here is the celebration of her life I did back in November on the anniversary of her coming to live with us. Scott Hamilton's story was much in my mind last week.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-25063917

Wonderful tribute, Bob. She will be missed, little miss Iron Beak. What a wonderful life she had with you. And, given she was under a porch when you rescued her & her mate Patsy, I am absolutely certain she cherished every minute of your love and care!

 

[BY Bob]

I see Aurora now has a crown on her plague and her flag is flying but I have to wonder if she is now the lead hen. In all honesty I could see Hattie stepping into that top position. I'm sure you have been able to observe their behavior on camera's but it will be curious if that changes now that you are back.

I appreciate your thoughts on this and I had held out hope that this might be so but from what I saw today there is no doubt that Aurora is in charge. At one point today Hattie forced Betty to submit and went to get on top of her. Hattie has been doing that a lot, especially with Sydney. In this instance Aurora not only stopped Hattie but she then proceeded to force Hattie to submit and Aurora got on top of her. There is no doubt Aurora is top hen.

When free ranging the past month or so I could see Lilly letting Aurora lead more. One way in which I have seen the tribe change so far includes Aurora's begging at the back door. Aurora used to be able to split off from the tribe and swing by the back door to see if she could get a snack all her own. Sometimes Phyllis would join her. Today when she decided to go to the back door to beg, the whole tribe came with her. Each of 3 times.

 

[bgmathteach]

Glad to know I’m not the only one crying… @BY Bob I am so sorry you lost her while you were away. I am quite heartbroken for you and just had to explain to Andrew (“medicated or non for the chick starter? And WHY are you crying?”) who also sends his condolences. Lilly was a special, beloved hen… and we will all miss her. She had a wonderful life at Fluffy Butt Acres.

Perfectly said, Thank you, @Kris5902
@BY Bob

 

[BY Bob]

I was wondering if Betty might make a play for too spot.

It seems that everyone has forgotten who Aurora is. Of all the remaining hens Aurora is by far the most aggressive. Remember the big fight where Aurora tried to knock Hattie off? Maybe if Sansa was still around there would be a fight. But in order of agressiveness prior to all this change you would have found me ranking the tribe in the following fashion.

1. Lilly
2. Aurora
3. Sansa
4. Sydney
5. Hattie
6. Phyllis

Today I would rank them

1. Aurora
2. Hattie
3. Phyllis
4. Sydney
5. Betty

Based on this there is no chance of Betty taking over. I think it is more likely that Betty becomes friends with Aurora, hangs out with her, and gains extra food in that fashion. Kind of the power behind the throne.

 

[BY Bob]

Wonderful tribute, Bob. She will be missed, little miss Iron Beak. What a wonderful life she had with you. And, given she was under a porch when you rescued her & her mate Patsy, I am absolutely certain she cherished every minute of your love and care!

I will sleep well knowing how much I improved her life for certain. I wish I had taken them all but we had no room at the time for more than three hens.

 

[bgmathteach]

.........and with all the sunshine, a little rain must fall so there are flowers

On the morning of April 19, 2022, while I was half a world away and unable to be here for her, Lilly passed from this world.

She was at least 7 years old and the longest lived of any chicken which we have been blessed to care for at Fluffy Butt Acres.

As I sit here in the yard with them today I keep looking to see where she is. Lilly will cast a long shadow. I'm sure in time the tribe will appear normal without her but it is going to take a while for certain.

I'll be burying her in a bit in between Patsy and Sansa. I can think of no better place. I may just plant more phlox over them all as I did with Mal. It's as if Mal knew and sent her flowers to inspire me.

View attachment 3084931

I know that Sansa and Lilly are now together again.

Farewell my friend.

May the sun always be shining and warm
May the dirt always be just right for the perfect dust bath
May the meal worms be plentiful
May there always be young ones to tease and torture
May your favorite nest box always be open when it's your turn to lay
May your coop be dry and warm
May it never snow or be cold
May the Thanksgiving cherry pie be tasty
May the squirrels and ducks be slow
May the grass be young and tender

And most importantly, May your best friend be ever by your side.
View attachment 3085000

For those who would like to relive a tribute to Lilly here is the celebration of her life I did back in November on the anniversary of her coming to live with us. Scott Hamilton's story was much in my mind last week.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-25063917

I hope you were able to plant those bulbs that were delivered for Mal...I think from the pictures, they will be a gorgeous reminder of her, and add to your beautiful flower rememberances, and Lilly deserves to be among gorgeous flowers, too. She would make sure there wasn't a weed in the place if she had her way!