Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I'm not a tattoo fan but those are rather lovely. A sweet way to remember all your girls.

I am with you - not for me personally but they are lovely and a wonderful memorial. I am going more for a name wall inside the Chicken Palace. Maybe the wall above the roosts.

 

[BY Bob]

I’ve been a bit hesitant in sharing this, given that we are from all walks of life and at least a couple of generations, but in light of poor Malificent’s demise, I thought I would. I’m not suggesting anyone else go out and do the same, only that it was right for me.

I mentioned a while ago I got a book for Christmas on chickens and there was a lady in there who lost her previous girls to a fox. To commemorate them, she got a tattoo of five feathers on the inside of her upper arm. It was a beautiful tattoo and I thought it was a lovely way to remember them. I have never had tattoos, although all my younger siblings do. I have been going through some stuff recently (mentally) and felt the need to do something radically different (for me, anyway). I have kept some of Bessie’s feathers and went and found two Isa Brown ones. I went and got my own tattoo done, to commemorate Emily, Penny and Bessie. Now my dilemma is; do I get a feather for each of my girls when they pass (in which case I may end up with so many feathers I’ll be able to fly ), or do I just get a feather for each breed? Or are the three feathers enough for everyone? I suspect they might be.

This is my commemoration for my girls who flocked their way into my heart.

View attachment 2010898

Along with @Ribh I am not a tattoo person but I appreciate why other people like them. These are a nice tribute to your girls and very well executed I would add. I think you are right that you could wind up with feathers all over your body if you get one for every girl. I don't have a better suggestion. I'm sorry.

 

[mixedUPturk]

im of the younger generation and a diff walk of life for sure but still i dont have a single tattoo i love them jus dont wanna spend hundreds of dollars on myself.

@LozzyR that said those are Amazing and i Love it!

 

[RoyalChick]

Along with @Ribh I am not a tattoo person but I appreciate why other people like them. These are a nice tribute to your girls and very well executed I would add. I think you are right that you could wind up with feathers all over your body if you get one for every girl. I don't have a better suggestion. I'm sorry.

How are you doing @BY Bob ? I thought of you throughout the day today because it was such an awful day and I couldn't imagine you could be out there working on your coop, but I know you would be wanting to. I can't even get to my coop because everything is so flooded - I will wade through it shortly to lock them up for the night.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

I’ve been a bit hesitant in sharing this, given that we are from all walks of life and at least a couple of generations, but in light of poor Malificent’s demise, I thought I would. I’m not suggesting anyone else go out and do the same, only that it was right for me.

I mentioned a while ago I got a book for Christmas on chickens and there was a lady in there who lost her previous girls to a fox. To commemorate them, she got a tattoo of five feathers on the inside of her upper arm. It was a beautiful tattoo and I thought it was a lovely way to remember them. I have never had tattoos, although all my younger siblings do. I have been going through some stuff recently (mentally) and felt the need to do something radically different (for me, anyway). I have kept some of Bessie’s feathers and went and found two Isa Brown ones. I went and got my own tattoo done, to commemorate Emily, Penny and Bessie. Now my dilemma is; do I get a feather for each of my girls when they pass (in which case I may end up with so many feathers I’ll be able to fly ), or do I just get a feather for each breed? Or are the three feathers enough for everyone? I suspect they might be.

This is my commemoration for my girls who flocked their way into my heart.

View attachment 2010898

Those are very special...I’d probably just do one per breed, because I hazard a guess you will be having many chickens for years to come and may run out of “real estate” so to speak.

 

[Shadrach]

I’ve been a bit hesitant in sharing this, given that we are from all walks of life and at least a couple of generations, but in light of poor Malificent’s demise, I thought I would. I’m not suggesting anyone else go out and do the same, only that it was right for me.

I mentioned a while ago I got a book for Christmas on chickens and there was a lady in there who lost her previous girls to a fox. To commemorate them, she got a tattoo of five feathers on the inside of her upper arm. It was a beautiful tattoo and I thought it was a lovely way to remember them. I have never had tattoos, although all my younger siblings do. I have been going through some stuff recently (mentally) and felt the need to do something radically different (for me, anyway). I have kept some of Bessie’s feathers and went and found two Isa Brown ones. I went and got my own tattoo done, to commemorate Emily, Penny and Bessie. Now my dilemma is; do I get a feather for each of my girls when they pass (in which case I may end up with so many feathers I’ll be able to fly ), or do I just get a feather for each breed? Or are the three feathers enough for everyone? I suspect they might be.

This is my commemoration for my girls who flocked their way into my heart.

View attachment 2010898

Well I think it's a wonderful idea.
I don't have any tattoos. If I did ever decide the time had come to get one it would probably be chicken related.

 

[MaryJanet]

Lovelg

I’ve been a bit hesitant in sharing this, given that we are from all walks of life and at least a couple of generations, but in light of poor Malificent’s demise, I thought I would. I’m not suggesting anyone else go out and do the same, only that it was right for me.

I mentioned a while ago I got a book for Christmas on chickens and there was a lady in there who lost her previous girls to a fox. To commemorate them, she got a tattoo of five feathers on the inside of her upper arm. It was a beautiful tattoo and I thought it was a lovely way to remember them. I have never had tattoos, although all my younger siblings do. I have been going through some stuff recently (mentally) and felt the need to do something radically different (for me, anyway). I have kept some of Bessie’s feathers and went and found two Isa Brown ones. I went and got my own tattoo done, to commemorate Emily, Penny and Bessie. Now my dilemma is; do I get a feather for each of my girls when they pass (in which case I may end up with so many feathers I’ll be able to fly ), or do I just get a feather for each breed? Or are the three feathers enough for everyone? I suspect they might be.

This is my commemoration for my girls who flocked their way into my heart.

View attachment 2010898

That's lovely. They'll be with you always.

The lines are so delicate - whoever did it for you is very skilled.

 

[LozzyR]

Along with @Ribh I am not a tattoo person but I appreciate why other people like them. These are a nice tribute to your girls and very well executed I would add. I think you are right that you could wind up with feathers all over your body if you get one for every girl. I don't have a better suggestion. I'm sorry.

Those are very special...I’d probably just do one per breed, because I hazard a guess you will be having many chickens for years to come and may run out of “real estate” so to speak.

I’m thinking that if I add to it, or even get another one, it will lessen the impact. I like how it is; a single tat on otherwise ‘clean skin’. Of course, when I lose another of my girls I may feel differently. But as there are no rules, I don’t have to do anything that meets other people’s expectations.

 

[LozzyR]

Lovelg

That's lovely. They'll be with you always.

The lines are so delicate - whoever did it for you is very skilled.

Thanks MJ. He did such a beautiful job and I got it on my arm so I can look at it. It’s special and unique, not some generic picture out of a book. I may not have spent a lot of time making the decision but I did put a lot of thought into it. It’s not something you should do on a whim and even if you are being rebellious, it should still be special and meaningful to you.

 

[Kris5902]

Maleficent is Gone

Today was supposed to be a great day. It will go down as one of the worst in my life.

I have been traveling all week and have spent no time with the girls. It was going to warm up a little tosay and I had blocked my calendar for some late afternoon quality free range with them. I was excited.

I woke up this morning violently sick. There would be no quality time with the girls. I went from the bathroom to the bed all day.

My wife had to work today so I was home alone. She came home after dark and woke me up to check on me. I quickly checked the coop cam and Maleficent was not roosted.
View attachment 2010234

So asked my wife to find her and put her in the coop. She found her on the ground dead.

I just checked her body. Her neck was torn apart. Weasel or raccoon I am thinking. I have seen raccoons around here and have never seen a weasel.

Either way there will be coop upgrades tomorrow even if I crap myself while I'm doing it.

Quite frankly I am devastated. I could not be there for her. If I had not been sick she would have been fine. I would have checked everything at dusk in person just to spend time with them.

We were so close. I can't stop crying. I just can't right now. What a crappy day. I have to try and bury her in frozen ground tomorrow. How am I going to do that?

I'm just heartbroken.

Rest in Peace my besty
View attachment 2010241

Oh Bob,

I am so sorry for your loss, i’m Sorry I wasn’t online yesterday to support you, I have no words to express how sad this makes me feel for you. You were such a good chicken dad to her, I’m sure she felt loved and she knew how much she meant to you, and all of us here through you and her stories and antics. Don’t beat yourself up too much over her loss (I know how it feels when we feel we should have been able to stop it, prevent it, or fix it all too well), she wouldn’t want you to. Get a trap and deal with the nasty monster that took her from you, it deserves it, and it will be back.

If your ground is too frozen and you have access to a deep freezer, you could wrap her in a towel, place her in a box, then freeze her until you can bury her properly. I know it seems kind of morbid, but it will keep her from decomposing until you can do it right for her. I’m replying right away so I’m not sure if you’ve already solved this.

Predators are awful. So much love Bob, and if you need to take a step back we will all understand.
I’m also bawling my eyes out right now.