Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Inspired by @Shadrach burial photos, I am moving on. I made this to remember Scary as I couldn't really bury her, and now I am fully focused on my other 3 chickens (Maggie, Elizabeth and Diana), on building the Chicken Palace, and maybe, maybe, on getting some more chickens in the spring.

 

[Kris5902]

Oh dear Kris, that's dreadful!

Are these the girls you rescued from the in-laws "coop from hell"? I didn't realize they'd de-beaked them too. They must feel that they are in paradise now with the new life you've given them. You are a chicken saint, "Saint Kris-of-the-chooks"!

They just purchased the de-beaked birds... I can’t see them putting in the time and energy to do it themselves. They are “just chickens” after all. Most production layers for sale here come de-beaked from the hatcheries, which is why I stick to small, family run breeders and hatcheries that actually care about their animals. Now that there are only six birds in the “real coop” (no more outside time for them again ever) there is a little more room for them. My chicken hating mother even takes pity on them and checks their water and feed.

Oh dear Shad. At first glance I read that as "you can drop a large brick on him"

I thought to myself
' Jeez, I know Shad is brutally pragmatic but I didn't think he was quite as hardened as that!"

That would be way harder than just picking him up! He’s a fast guy and likes the dart in and flog then dodge and run tactics. I’m having second thoughts about the temporary confinement arrangements though... it is pouring rain again. I really wish I could send this weather your way... it’s a soaker of a New Year so far!

 

[Kris5902]

View attachment 1995716 Inspired by @Shadrach burial photos, I am moving on. I made this to remember Scary as I couldn't really bury her, and now I am fully focused on my other 3 chickens (Maggie, Elizabeth and Diana), on building the Chicken Palace, and maybe, maybe, on getting some more chickens in the spring.

That’s a sweet way to memorialize her. I have Little Rocks painted with my girls and guys names. I have been able to bury most of my losses, but also have stones for the ones I can’t bury. The stones started as a don’t dig here again reminder, and evolved into a memorial of sorts.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes - the temporary coop has a manual sliding door and a latch that is very secure requiring two hands and three separate steps to unlatch it. Just as well - I looked this morning in the snow/mud and there are lots of paw prints including one that looks like a wolf though I know that cannot possibly be the case. I am getting cameras!

Fox prints are very dog like.

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 1995716 Inspired by @Shadrach burial photos, I am moving on. I made this to remember Scary as I couldn't really bury her, and now I am fully focused on my other 3 chickens (Maggie, Elizabeth and Diana), on building the Chicken Palace, and maybe, maybe, on getting some more chickens in the spring.

That is very sweet.

 

[BY Bob]

I Thought These Days Were Over

 

[Kris5902]

Ready the paintball gun... set up a little hunting blind, and make that fox multi colored! Paintballs sting more than a little... it will soon learn that, chickens or no, your yard is a “bad place”! Predators suck... my friend just lost a bird to a mink again. She was outside when their automatic door closed, and their run isn’t completely secure.

 

[RoyalChick]

Fox prints are very dog like.
View attachment 1995737

I think it is probably a big fox or it is a neighbor's dog. An army of raccoons too (or possibly one raccoon that dances around everywhere). Cameras on order!

 

[RoyalChick]

Ready the paintball gun... set up a little hunting blind, and make that fox multi colored! Paintballs sting more than a little... it will soon learn that, chickens or no, your yard is a “bad place”! Predators suck... my friend just lost a bird to a mink again. She was outside when their automatic door closed, and their run isn’t completely secure.

Yup. Think you are right. Will try at dusk to set myself up unobtrusively looking over the coop with my fully automatic paintball gun.

 

[BY Bob]

Yup. Think you are right. Will try at dusk to set myself up unobtrusively looking over the coop with my fully automatic paintball gun.

That should be an effective deterrent. It seems like the predators in your area may be coordinating. Don't fall for any ruses or distractions.