Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Buckeye Amy]

It always bothered me too. Sometimes I think mine love the rain!

Mine certainly don't run for cover. On the other hand, the ducks I had seemed to really not like the rain. I think it irritated them when drops of water fell into their nares.

 

[LozzyR]

Three dinosaurs hanging out around the Cycad.

 

[Kris5902]

Three out of four of them were ISA Browns, but the fourth was my Barred Rock pullet. I was devastated when she died.

I have to say I’m with Shad and Bob on this, losing them doesn’t reflect on your husbandry, care, or love. Especially with certain breeds. What matters is the care and attention you give them while they are with you. I have lost 6 (soon to be 7) girls to disease/reproductive issues. One to truly “old age” (IMO) and 7 to the owl. Another 7 to coccidiosis and other husbandry/breeding issues. All in two years. Bearing in mind a lot of those are my rescues, and I’m not counting the losses that happened in the farm coop to parasites and raccoons (3, before I read up on predator proofing and hardwareclothed their chain link) they lost another one to “oh another dead chicken” disease recently.

You are a good chicken mom

Don’t beat yourself up, the hardest part is losing them, but it is inevitable. It’s a lifespan thing and a breeding thing. You’re doing your best

 

[Kris5902]

I count, too! My routine: If I don’t count ten, go through the list, “Two lights, two reds, two Wyandottes, Boss Bird and the babies.” Boss Bird used to be “the original 3,” but I lost two last year.

this makes me think of rounding up Sammy’s crew: two black, two grey, two white, two brown (RIP Mrs B it was three) three a**h***s. Although they really aren’t that bad for a rooster and two cockerels just pushing at almost 1 year old.

I also count everyone at bedtime, just to be safe.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m trying to get some pictures of my newest “semi-additions” I have a pair of very protective Canadian geese and four super cute goslings. I can’t get within 50’ of them. They can tell when I’m looking out the window, they Herd the babies away as soon as I open my door... it’s making the photo ops hard so here is Minnie instead. I’m pretty sure Mickey (my stove mouse) is the father... my mothers chair is squeaking up a storm. I’m now worried that maybe my cats have learned to hunt...

 

[LozzyR]

I have to say I’m with Shad and Bob on this, losing them doesn’t reflect on your husbandry, care, or love. Especially with certain breeds. What matters is the care and attention you give them while they are with you. I have lost 6 (soon to be 7) girls to disease/reproductive issues. One to truly “old age” (IMO) and 7 to the owl. Another 7 to coccidiosis and other husbandry/breeding issues. All in two years. Bearing in mind a lot of those are my rescues, and I’m not counting the losses that happened in the farm coop to parasites and raccoons (3, before I read up on predator proofing and hardwareclothed their chain link) they lost another one to “oh another dead chicken” disease recently.

You are a good chicken mom

Don’t beat yourself up, the hardest part is losing them, but it is inevitable. It’s a lifespan thing and a breeding thing. You’re doing your best

Thanks Kris.

 

[Ali James]

An Intruder Returns
It has been at least a year since Amy squirrels dated to enter my yard. Not since Lilly tried to kill the one she had cornered by the run. This morning I spotted this guy on the deck, no hens to be seen anywhere.
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Not 30 seconds later
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I do not know where she came from but somehow she knew.

Tree rats .

Can you tell I'm not a fan?

 

[Ali James]

The Many Faces of Hattie

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I adore this girl, she is just beautiful

 

[Ali James]

Lilly Takes a Bath

The other fun tonight was Lilly's bath. The first ever for her.

A towel dry and a little TV with Mrs BY Bob and Isabel.

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And then a magical blow dry

And then back out on the roost to peck at Hattie! By Lilly's standards a great night altogether.


Her butt was so loaded with poo a long soak was needed. We waited too long.

Oh wow! Can't believe how calm she was! Or was she a little scared and shell shocked?

 

[BY Bob]

So it was quite warm here today (86°F on record, but it’s usually a few degrees warmer in my yard in the sun). I am so glad I bought two Arctic Cove bucket mister fans a couple years ago. I aim them low in the run and it’s like air conditioning for the chickens! They run on rechargeable power tool batteries. It will get at least 20° hotter on some days this summer, but the girls handle heat better when it comes on gradually vs. overnight.

BTW, that’s little Rusty, my New Hampshire Red who got EYP at the tender age of just under one year! This was a few months later, when she had a good run after very intensive care, but I lost her just 3 months after this photo.View attachment 2128203

That is some cool fan and a pretty good solution to excessive heat. I'm sorry about Rusty. It us always the 20° F swings in temp that worry me. We keep rolling up and down here. I worry for them.