Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Isn’t that sad?! I haven’t read it as I thought it was sad!

There are sad parts Lozzy but it has a happy, satisfying ending.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It has very complex themes on society. I don't know that it is sad as much as it is shocking that the bunnies are not nice to each other. Even cruel. It's actually quite a grown up book.

I first read it when I was about 13 or14 and didn't really follow the deeper societal messages. I just really enjoyed the characterizations. I really love Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig and Blackberry.
I think I have a thing for smart rabbits

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It always is a relief when their molt is over. Then they are so beautiful with their new feathers. I was always so shocked at how yellow Daisy's, the greatest hen ever, feathers had become. She was brilliant white after her molt, almost blinding.

I'm not saying anything you don't know. I'm sure you see that with Tsuki.

Oh yes, and the new feathers are made of teflon I swear! The dirt just sliiiides off them.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Grey squirrels are an accepted part of our landscape now and have all but wiped out our native red squirrels due to competition for food.
A few years back we went on a day trip to Brownsea Island, in Poole Harbour just off the south coast of the UK. As it is an island, the squirrel population can be controlled and invasive species kept out. It is home to approximately 300 red squirrels; they were so, so beautiful, bursting with vigour and vitality.

That is simultaneously very sad and very heartening.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Lilly is a complex lady and as such is interested in how to best run her flock. Any enjoyable treatises on how to best organize a society and most importantly, maintain order, are of interest to her.

Knowing that, Mr. Bunny suggested the book.

As long as she takes tips from Hazel and not Woundwort!

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks RC, I checked out the Crop article on BYC which seems pretty comprehensive, but I don’t know what I’m meant to be feeling for. I just picked up Lucy (much to her disgust) and felt her crop, but it just felt like her. I’ll try feeling them at night and again in the morning before they’ve eaten and drunk anything, but I just can’t work out what I’m meant to be feeling.

If you are unsure about what a crop should feel like at a particular time of day, the easiest answer for you is to feel your other hens crops and compare.
The statement that a hens crop should be empty in the morning can be misleading if one is not familiar with how an empty crop feels. Often one still feel some content in a crop in the morning and this is normal.
So, check all your hens at night as they roost and again in the morning before you let them out.
Sour crop can be deceiving. Often the crop still functions to a degree but is often slower than normal.
I see you have read Two Crows article which is very good. The problem an inexperienced keeper has is often determining which crop problem their hen has. A partially impacted crop can easily be mistaken for sour, or slow crop.
I'm sure you will get advice on the ER thread.
My advice is always take the hen to a vet if you have a vet that is competent and you can afford the cost.
My other piece of advice is to get used to handling your hens. It will give you and them more confidence. The easiest way is to do this at night while they are roosting. A good headtorch helps. Take each hen off the roost and stand them in front of you preferable on a table. Do this in the dark bar the head torch and feel the hen. Check under their tail feathers around their vents, lift their wings and look underneath and feel their crops and down their keel bones. If you do this every night for a week you will learn more than hours spent on the Internet. What is normal for one hen may be odd for another.
I do hope she turns out okay.

 

[Shadrach]

There is something hilarious about the idea of circus chickens! Do you know what their performance entails?
Maybe Bob's Lilly has a second calling and she could have an act where she rides ducks with Rossini's William Tell Overture as her backing track?!

I don't Ali and under the current circumstances (virus) the chances of publicity and fame are pretty remote no matter what a chicken appearance involved.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have been meaning to ask about her excursions. I'm glad to hear that she has settled in.

I am wondering if Phyllis utilized the woodpile to get out. Sansa has been up there before. This is why I want to watch her break out.

View attachment 2134983

The brush pile looks like a good option for a fence hopper!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

We've had a Breach!

I've been sitting outside with the ladies for over an hour now. I was reading a book and all was peaceful, until my neighborneighbor starts knocking on the gate and waiving his hand over the fence. I head over and he says, "I think one of your chickens is in the front yard". I'm like that's crazy. That's never happened before.

I was just hand feeding Hattie, Sydney, and Sansa. Who could it be? I heard nothing, saw nothing, some rooster I am.

My heart immediately sank.

If that's Aurora, this could get ugly. I'm not allowed to touch her! I'll never catch her.

Lilly will squat for me. That could be ok.

My gosh I wonder who it is?

It was Phyllis!
View attachment 2132823

She was all the way out in the street by my daughters old car. Only her little head poking up over the curb.

Wait, she was in the street!

I was so glad it was Phyllis for one good reason. Phyllis reliably comes when I call her name.

It turned out to be an impressive exhibition. I stopped about 1/2 way down the side yard and called her. She popped up in the yard and came running. My neighbor could not believe it. He was stunned. He had no idea they were so smart!

She ran over to me and we walked together back through the gate.

Heart attack averted.

Now I need to figure out how she breached the outer wall. That is a problem for another day.

Everyone is safe now. At least as safe as they can be with an inattentive rooster like me.
Of course I never thought to grab my phone to get photos or video.

Scary!

I'm glad she comes to you even without mealy worms.

Could she have jumped over the fence using the brush pile? In your photos that seems pretty close to the top of the fence.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

She's quite dashing.

Except when it's raining. Water does dreadful things to your "do".