Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

I have taken them out on the grass a few times.
They all got excited about one clover leaf and then huddled in the cat carrier watching the world.
I tell you, it is a cult! They are operating under some vow not to engage outside their own community.

That is so wild! I think you might be right

 

[BY Bob]

Mugs:
Getting mugshots is a real challenge for me.
Here are my offerings.

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(The donkey is my neighbor’s).

That's a great assortment!

 

[BY Bob]

Way Behind

I am way behind, 20 pages, and i will likely not catch up this week. Sorry everyone.

 

[BY Bob]

That’s a particularly beautiful and very flattering picture of Aurora. I don’t recall seeing one from that angle before.

I love the way the sun has lit her. She's very pretty.

 

[BY Bob]

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Pretty pictures and chickens.

 

[BY Bob]

CHEEEESE!!!View attachment 3110303

That is an incredible photo!

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you for the words of encouragement.
I am actually not too afraid Bernadette will hurt herself and I do believe she will only learn to adapt if she goes out in the world and tries to do things. I am impressed by how much she is able to do and has already learned to do.
I am a little afraid that she won't be able to get away fast enough if one of the big chickens attacks her and that she needs to be able to find her way back to the safe places where the big ones can't reach her. Both Bella and Lulu can fly up to their penthouse. Bernadette just cannot leap up and however much she flaps she can't get above 18" (a half a meter).
I believe that Bella and Lulu are not going out and exploring the coop because Bernadette cannot physically do so and so they stay with her. Now they have access at ground level so I am hoping that Bernadette will be able to explore and the others will go with her.
But the signs are not encouraging. They have settled into their ground floor apartment and are spending their time cuddled together in a cardboard box just a few steps from a doorway to the wider coop world. They are alert but they prefer to watch everything from the comfort of the cardboard box!
They behave a bit like a cult - they have everything they need from each other and no need to enter into the outside world.
I have blocked off access to the penthouse because all of a sudden this morning the lovely Minnie has become very ill. I thought I felt a stuck egg but then it wasn't there so I am not certain. So Minnie has moved into the penthouse (hospital ward) and the Hooligans are confined to their ground floor apartment with access to the whole of the Chicken Palace if they would just get off their butts and explore!

Here they are cuddled in their ground floor apartment all tangled together in the cardboard box they love. They go out and eat and drink and then come back and spend the day together in the box.
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And here is Minnie who is really the picture of misery and who I fear I may lose. She is not moving and as you can see is very miserable. She looks just like Elizabeth before she died. Same thing - yesterday she was fine. This morning definitely not fine.


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[bgmathteach]

Anyone know what kind of snake this is? It was quite long. Maybe 30”.
There is the additional question of what it was doing inside the house.
This evening has just been too eventful for me!

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I think it is an Eastern Milk Snake

 

[featherhead007]

I’m losing touch with my chooks . Lately, they haven’t wanted to eat the meally worms. Only Dakota and Rocks-Anne wanted to be picked up and held. Jaffar seems to be predisposed with the ladies and no time for me. Tomorrow morning, they won’t be happy with me (I’m out of steak ) nothing I can do about it either.

 

[bgmathteach]

Oh dear. I already sent it out into the yard.

I am a bit surprised as I have found identical ones in the barn in the past which suggests they are native. I wonder if I should tell animal control in case she is correct.

This is what I found regarding Rat snake. related to milk snakes...but I think they look different...????? I'm not a snake expert, though! Maybe a call to animal control is a good idea...they should help with the ID, and can make suggestions moving forward. (Or, they might refer you to someone from your state's Environmental/Wildlife control/services.