Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Precious baby! And you know how gorgeous I find her as an adult!

Everyone should. She's beautiful.

Her and Sydney have adopted the same scraps strategy. When wr are eating outside, one sets up camp on either side of me and they stare. They do not move pht make a side until I give them something. There is no stealing from each other. They know they will each get something as long as the rest of the flock does not find out. They are like staring ninjas now.

 

[BY Bob]

I have to chime in on this one, even though I’m a few days late. I would definitely not wet any hen whose health is in question at all. I did not know any better, and killed a sick hen doing that. We were having a record breaking temperatures over Labor Day weekend. I dipped the hens one by one to cool them off. Some resisted, but some enjoyed it. I did the sick one last. She resisted, and the moment I took her out of the water, she started screaming like she was trying to clear her throat. I don’t know if I caused a heart attack, her lungs to collapse, or what exactly happened. But she continued to scream and then started to stumble, laid down and died in my arms when I picked her up. It was very dramatic, traumatic and a horrible thing I will never forget. I don’t recommend it.

This is the story that caused me to caution her. I'll never forget this and it had nothing to do with me.

 

[BY Bob]

Good evening everyone - at least it is evening in the UK - I'm just popping in to say hi.

After many months away from BYC, I have sooo much catching up to do. I am currently on page 455 of 1048 of Bob's thread, but I am going to read every post! I love all your stories, photos and chat.

Sorry to hear about Tuppence @Ribh - I hope you're holding up

You are quite dedicated. I'm really glad you like it. You have been missed. Please comment even if it's old. It's fun sometimes to look back.

 

[BY Bob]

Silhouettes

I'm trying to do all the silhouettes today. One done.

 

[Ribh]

Silhouettes

I'm trying to do all the silhouettes today. One done.
View attachment 2119384

Love it!

 

[BY Bob]

So I think catching up on the whole thread is unrealistic for me at this point, but catching up on this week is doable! Here’s a Ruby update… I took Ruby into the Avian Vet on Tuesday to see if we should just repeat what we’ve done in the past, or put her down. fortunately, the Avian Vet was able to draw fluid off of her this time. The last few times, she was unable to access the fluid. So I was thinking maybe she had cystic right oviduct that would shrink back down on hormones. Unfortunately, the fluid was turbid, yucky, bloody, and yolky… I thought long and hard about having her put down. However, decided to give her one last hurrah. she got a hormone implant and a prescription for antibiotics. She’s been on antibiotics since Tuesday afternoon and will be on for a total of 14 days. She has had aspirin a few times, which really seems to help. Ruby went off feed completely, so I did syringe feed her a couple days to help her out. Just today she seems to have a little appetite back. Here’s proof of that! She has continued to eat bugs all along… And I helped her find worms by digging holes with a shovel. She’s still sort of dribbling wet poop, but I think her G.I. tract is just starting back up. Also, the antibiotics often cause issues with that, so I don’t really expect great poops for another couple weeks. I really struggled with and beat myself up for a couple days wondering if I had done the wrong thing or the right thing. I don’t want to prolong her suffering. However, I want her to go out on a good note. So if she responds well and has a good couple of months, I may end it when her hormones first come back, instead of before she suffers more. She is definitely in better shape than before I took her in on Tuesday, and really seems to enjoy her free range time foraging around the yard. She moves slower than normal, but her vocalizations are coming back a bit.

It is amazing what can be done to help. We will pray for the best for her. It's good to see her moving and eating. Maybe you bought her some more time. Here's hoping.

 

[BY Bob]

Love it!

Thanks. I'm not quite as happy with Sydney's but it is hard to do barring.

 

[RoyalChick]

Silhouettes

I'm trying to do all the silhouettes today. One done.
View attachment 2119384

Perfectly Phyllis. You are a talented man @BY Bob! I keep wanting to make name signs for the Chicken Palace but somehow it is all I can do to get the weekend chores done.
I just walked the ladies back home from their gardening duty. It is a big bed they are working on - about 20’x10’ - and it will take them a while longer before they are done.
I was a bit anxious walking them across the field today because the coop camera picked up a fox right outside the run and I saw another one running across the field early in the morning. But both to and fro trips were uneventful. I was armed with a big stick.

 

[Shadrach]

You know I can't be certain but I believe they chose company over being alone.
I know Lilly used to spend a lot of time alone when she was hen #3 out of three and Aurora did as well after Mal left us. When we got to four in the flock Lilly was rarely alone; she was always with Patsy. She could have chosen to be alone but did not.

Since we have gone to six, it is clear that they have their favorites, Hattie and Lilly are always together, Sydney and Sansa as well. But there are also interesting mix ups. Phyllis and Aurora were together a lot yesterday for example. What I don't see much of when they are free ranging is lone hens.

Because of what I have observed, I will try to keep even numbers in my flock if at all possible. It seems to me that they prefer to pair up at a minimum and I believe a lone hen is more susceptible to predators as well.

While they are social animals, they have their own personalities. I don't believe that you can rule out that someone isn't happier alone sometimes.

@Shadrach may have more to say on this as well but I doubt the roosters let anyone wander off on their own too much.
View attachment 2118702

I've yet to see anything that would lead me to believe chickens like living alone.
Fat Bird will spend time away from the tribe these days but this it seems to me is to avoid the attention of the males and the bickering of the juniors. However, usually when I've gone to check on her I've found her with Jenny and Solomon who she gets on with well.

 

[BY Bob]

Sansa is Done