Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

It's Time to Fire Up the Way-Back Machine

Let's head back 2 years, Mr. Peabody set the way-back machine for September 12-17, 2018.

September 12, 2018 was a bad day. I was feeling especially low that evening. I was out sitting at the end of the coop. I had the coop door open as I was watching them roost. I was very late getting out. Lilly got down off the roost and came to the door to check on what i was doing.

The next thing that happened is one of those things that just endear these animals to me. She hopped down and then jumped up into my lap. She had never done that before and has never done it since.

I instantly felt better.

During this time frame Patsy and Lilly were a flock of their own with Daisy, the greatest hen ever having passed earlier in the year.

This was coming to an end as we were starting full integration of Jabberwocky, I was still deluding myself thinking he was a pullet, and Hattie.

Final time roosting in the prefab coop.

Where did our coop go?

How do we get in this big one? There is no door here!

Finally figured it out

Let's go back to the beginning now, Mr. Peabody, set the way-back machine for September 12, 2013.

Here are Dolly and Trisha enjoying a Cheeto

Checking out the magnolia tree.

Squirrel encounters are nothing new around here. Dolly and Mr. Squirrel had an encounter that day.

How about a gratuitous kittie photo. Here is my Dr Zoidberg cleaning himself.

That was an eventful day for them. Time to move on. Let's check in on Elphie. Mr. Peabody set the way-back machine for September 16, 2015.

Elphie was the first hen to enter the house on her own. She was being chased by a dog and ran right between my legs when I opened the door to see what the ruckus was. She ran all the way to the living room and then stopped when she realized where she was.

Earlier that day she was just enjoying herself in the fall sun.

What a memorable day for her.

Let's drop in on the The Greatest Hen Ever before we wrap up our trip back in time. Set the way-back machine for September 15, 2016.

Not a lot happening this day but the flock did enjoy some leftover spaghetti sauce.

Let's wrap with another gratuitous kittie photo. Why do large cats want to cram into small boxes?

That is it for today's journey back. Mr. Peabody please set the way-back machine to take us back home.

 

[BY Bob]

Ok, you asked for it. Don't blame me if your ears bleed.

And whilst we're having a laugh at my expense, here is a video of me playing a home-made set of bagpipes that I made for a uni assignment. I absolutely could not get the thing to tune properly, but I was super-impressed with the drones! As @Ribh said, it's how long the tube is that determines the pitch.

These are outstanding! Thank you so much. A great giggle for a Saturday morning. I can't imagine any of us, other than maybe Shadrach, could do any better.

The homemade ones really demonstrate the power of duct tape. You are a regular Red Green with that build!

 

[Shadrach]

She laid the egg so I assume I'm OK or do I still need to check?

I check anytime I see that. What I'm looking for is an abnormally dry vent, a poop build up above the vent. Below isn't so important, but above is often on the flesh rather than the feathers and the uric acid in the poop can cause dryness and cracks just above the vent.
I'm a great believer in poop checks. If I see a hen poop, I look. It has given indications that there are problems before a chicken starts to look under the weather. I discovered Nolia had worms by poop checking. I worked out that Dink had an broken egg insider her vent from poop checking. I discovered Tan had cancer through poop checking and much more beside.

 

[Shadrach]

Ok, you asked for it. Don't blame me if your ears bleed.

And whilst we're having a laugh at my expense, here is a video of me playing a home-made set of bagpipes that I made for a uni assignment. I absolutely could not get the thing to tune properly, but I was super-impressed with the drones! As @Ribh said, it's how long the tube is that determines the pitch.

What made you interested in bagpipes?

 

[biophiliac]

may be time for me to start closing some windows in the Chicken Palace.

I think it might be too early. You want them to acclimate with thicker down for real cold weather to come.
BTW I never tire of seeing pics of the Chicken Palace! Makes me want to walk in and sit down its so beautiful.

 

[BY Bob]

I think it might be too early. You want them to acclimate with thicker down for real cold weather to come.
BTW I never tire of seeing pics of the Chicken Palace! Makes me want to walk in and sit down its so beautiful.

It is beautiful isn't it. I would be tempted to put a desk and chair in there so I could hang out with them. Maybe a bookshelf and a reading lamp!

 

[micstrachan]

Need help from you my experienced chicken-ey friends. I posted this in the emergencies, medical thread but I trust you guys.
I am mildly freaked out - only mildly as everyone is running around as normal except Maggie who is in the nest box but this wasn't warm when I picked it up so I don't think she just laid it.
What is it? Should I worry? Let me know if this link doesn't take you to my post on the emergencies forum.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nest-box-should-i-worry-icky-picture.1416460/

Sorry, I just got on this morning. That is a lash egg. It’s basically a pus ball. Are you certain it’s from Maggie? You do need to determine who is laying those, as she needs help. If she were mine, I would treat her aggressively with a heavy duty broad range antibiotic. I’d start with doxycycline or even go straight to enrofloxacin.

 

[micstrachan]

So everyone knows that for every good picture you get of you chickens you have 100s of crappy ones. Going through the one's i've taken the past week i found one that i want to strangle drumstick over. If he hadn't moved at the last second this one would have been one of my best yet of him.
View attachment 2338654
Why Drummie, why did you have to shake your head.

He is beautiful regardless!

 

[micstrachan]

Fluffy butts are mostly eluding me today.
View attachment 2338756
But not FBITs who like to photobomb.

So cute!

 

[micstrachan]

I know deep down I have done my best and it is just one of those things. But it still hurts.
I haven’t given up yet and it helps to have a task which is figure out which one it is.
I am always better with a mission!

Oh dear. I need to go read the full emergency thread. Salpingitis is typically not a husbandry issue.