Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Things have completely gone off the plan regarding a cautious introduction with the cats behind the mesh. As I wrote elsewhere, Chipie the mama has always been semi feral and since a few days she and her chicks have found numerous ways to escape from the pen they were kept in.
Basically they are outside almost all day now and all I can do is try to stay near by and check on them as often as possible. Luckily the cats sleep during the day, as we're having a heat wave.

Yesterday the little family had a big scare when one of the chicks couldn't follow the others and find the way back in and everyone got in a panic.
Half an hour after that happened, I caught Chipie in the pen showing them how to climb on a 60 cm trunk, and jump / fly off.
Then when it was time to sleep she tried to take them inside the coop and up the ladder to the smallest roost (which is 1m40 / 4 ft 5 high). Of course this didn't work.
I'm thinking either she's training them for the Olympics, either she wants to get rid of them. They are 8 days old.
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My first broody led her baby (at about the same age) up to bed on top of the nest boxes....4.5 feet (roughly 135cm) up. My second broody had her babies up on the roost (4 feet) at about the same age. instinct is driving them to get off the ground at night as soon as possible: too vulnerable to night predators if outside. I'm constantly amazed at how quickly the chicks pic up on things.

 

[RoyalChick]

I used up my planned 2fer Tuesday picture paying myco biome tax, so I went out to get another one.
Dotty and Minnie hanging out.

 

[rural mouse]

Things have completely gone off the plan regarding a cautious introduction with the cats behind the mesh. As I wrote elsewhere, Chipie the mama has always been semi feral and since a few days she and her chicks have found numerous ways to escape from the pen they were kept in.
Basically they are outside almost all day now and all I can do is try to stay near by and check on them as often as possible. Luckily the cats sleep during the day, as we're having a heat wave.

Yesterday the little family had a big scare when one of the chicks couldn't follow the others and find the way back in and everyone got in a panic.
Half an hour after that happened, I caught Chipie in the pen showing them how to climb on a 60 cm trunk, and jump / fly off.
Then when it was time to sleep she tried to take them inside the coop and up the ladder to the smallest roost (which is 1m40 / 4 ft 5 high). Of course this didn't work.
I'm thinking either she's training them for the Olympics, either she wants to get rid of them. They are 8 days old.
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Fantastic pics!

 

[BY Bob]

It is not a laying issue as she does not lay unless she is laying internally. I did see a suggestion for epsom salt soaks. She has been getting one once a week since the mass was spotted. She is pooping normally but due to it's location I have to give her butt a wash to keep her feathers from getting nasty. She enjoys them and relaxes as soon as I put her down in the tub. The mass is just growing, I can tell it is bigger each time she gets a soak. It is firm, and there is no heat to it at all.

I will say I'm nearing my breaking point with my grandmother whether she realizes it or not. I'm dealing with her getting mad at me but when she told my daughter Saturday she hated her and kids in general I'm done.

So much to deal with. Try to fermenter we are never given more than what we can handle and give yourself grace.

Praying for you.

 

[rural mouse]

I'm going with a 3fer thirsty pic

 

[bgmathteach]

Mycobiome tax.

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Oh, I really liked the info both of you gave @RoyalChick & @BY Bob , but.......
I Looove the tax payment even more

 

[ManueB]

My first broody led her baby (at about the same age) up to bed on top of the nest boxes....4.5 feet (roughly 135cm) up. My second broody had her babies up on the roost (4 feet) at about the same age. instinct is driving them to get off the ground at night as soon as possible: too vulnerable to night predators if outside. I'm constantly amazed at how quickly the chicks pic up on things.

I believe you may be right! When we got Chipie the mama a few months ago she was quarantined in that pen before introduction to the flock. She went completely beserk in the evenings. She escaped twice and spent two nights out, before we understood she wanted to roost higher. We had a perch 50 cm of the ground, we moved it to 1.70 and she went to sleep peacefully.
Thanks, that's a relief!

 

[BY Bob]

I went out around dark and took some pictures this evening. For Mugshot Monday I give you little Karen.
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And Twiggy.
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Those are just amazing. Great work by the camera and you!

 

[bgmathteach]

Things have completely gone off the plan regarding a cautious introduction with the cats behind the mesh. As I wrote elsewhere, Chipie the mama has always been semi feral and since a few days she and her chicks have found numerous ways to escape from the pen they were kept in.
Basically they are outside almost all day now and all I can do is try to stay near by and check on them as often as possible. Luckily the cats sleep during the day, as we're having a heat wave.

Yesterday the little family had a big scare when one of the chicks couldn't follow the others and find the way back in and everyone got in a panic.
Half an hour after that happened, I caught Chipie in the pen showing them how to climb on a 60 cm trunk, and jump / fly off.
Then when it was time to sleep she tried to take them inside the coop and up the ladder to the smallest roost (which is 1m40 / 4 ft 5 high). Of course this didn't work.
I'm thinking either she's training them for the Olympics, either she wants to get rid of them. They are 8 days old.
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She and the chicks are just absolutely gorgeous!! At least with a semi-feral mum, she should be aware of danger, and it sounds like she would fight to the death for them....

Again, beautiful scenery, too. While I know all is not as it seems from a picture, it looks quite idyllic!

 

[BY Bob]

Now for the rest of the pictures.

What are you doing up there Cricket?
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Cricket is a porch chicken no longer, first night she attempted, and succeeded to get up on the big roost.
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Lilly on the other hand, was asleep in the porch box and had to be carried to roost beside her sister. I want them both to learn to roost together so it was either take Cricket back to the porch or move Lilly.
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Now for my little hooligans. They finally all 7 have names. I had been calling the 3 red chicks the "Grannies". We could not settle on a agreeable name for the other 2 red chicks until the other day. This group is nosey, and if they are off by themselves and you try to do something with any of the others you can give it 2 minutes until they come running to see what is happening. My dad started calling them the "bitty committee". That is when their names dawned on both me and mom at the same time. The 3 red chicks are now Granny, Berthie, and Lassie. When those 3 ladie's were alive, they could all 3 be found sitting around my Great-Grannie's kitchen table gossiping. Nothing went on in that holler that they did not know about and they made sure everyone else knew about it as well before they left that table. Their gossip also resulted in a well deserved sore backside a few times growing up. If me or my brother were doing something we knew we were not supposed to be doing, one of them spotted us and mom knew it before we even walked in the door.
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Finally Bunny, Twiggy and George.
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Great names all. Wonderful to see Lilly again.