Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Same here Lozzy. Sometimes I pat them at night time too.

Bessie always looked like she relaxed into a night-time pat, the others not so much. When Nyssa is laying, she’s a little more tolerant of being held. They’re so beautiful though, I just want to cuddle them all the time!

 

[MaryJanet]

Just checking in on you Bob. You saw some very painful things yesterday.

 

[BY Bob]

I hope you're very kind and gentle towards yourself Bob. You've suffered a tragic loss and that earns peaceful reflection time.

Thanks @MaryJanet. It was a rough night and morning.

 

[BY Bob]

I lost a puppy to a swimming pool once.
Had my pup all picked out, but it climbed under the pool cover the next day.
Guess I wasn't supposed to have that dog.
Found another dog the next week that was in much more need of a new home.

Very sad. I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[BY Bob]

Take care Bob, we’re here if and when you need us.

Thanks. I am very grateful.

 

[BY Bob]

Goodnight Bob, and goodnight Sydney. Don’t beat yourself up Bob, I know how it feels and I am sure you will blame yourself. But honestly all you can do is your best, and accidents (and predators) do happen.
Get some rest. We will all still be here when you want to reengage.

Thank you so much. Your kind words really do help.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh my goodness! This chokes me up! (I’m such a sap.)

I'm glad you took the time to catch up. The hatch was very exciting.

 

[BY Bob]

Love all of this! I adore the color of your coop! Beautiful birds.

Thank you so much. My wife chose the colors. She is very good at it.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It is sad Bob but this is normal life for Mum and chicks. If it hadn't been the swimming pool it would have probably been something else in time. The mums here do not seem concerned as long as some survive. The hardest is when a hen only hatches a single chick and it dies. Then you can see the effect it has on the hen.
There is a tendency for humans to believe they can save them all and keep them safe. It's not a healthy view for the keeper or the chickens and often ends up with imprisoning the chickens in the belief that this will keep them safe. It doesn't and the quality of life is pretty appalling in many of the keeping arrangements one can see on BYC. Yes, it is better than most egg production keepinng arrangements but is a bit better good enough, especially when one thiks that the majority of breeds kept by backyard keepers only exist to cater for the backyard keeping craze. The keeping of such breeds has virtually no impact on the large meat and egg production businesses because these breeds are not used in such concerns.
For all the guilt and sadness you may feel, you've done the right thing in both letting Sydney sit and hatch and then allowing her as much freedom as possible in your circumstances. For a short period mum and chicks lived as close to a natural life as is possible in a backyard environment and that is the best gift of all.
Every hen here apart from Blue Spot has lost one or more chicks while still under their care. You will at some point I hope see the point at which mum stops full time care and the chicks pretty much abandoned to take care of themselves. This is hard to observe as well. For me it is harder than a death of a chick. The sudden transition from 24/7 care and mum ready to die for them, to getting pecked and bullied and pushed away by mum as well as the rest of the flock I've found heartbreaking.

Yes.. this! I witnessed this last year when Nilky raised her adopted babies then pushed them away.... saddest thing ever

 

[aart]

Very sad. I'm sorry that happened to you.

It was the owner of the mama dog that had to deal with it, he was horrified.
I was very disappointed, but... believe in Fate.