Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Anyway, from one thread to another, look who came round today.
They haven't been round as a tribe for, I don't know, maybe over a month.
They all piled in this evening and I was so pleased to see them i didn't get a picture until some had left with Treacle to go to roost.
Needless to say I spoilt them rotten. Fresh made mash with the commercial feed, tuna, walnuts, a small piece of cheese each. I had a long chat with Cillin as I gave his leg a check over. Did Fat Birds bum. Easy to check poor fudge for mites given they've got hardly any feathers to hide under. Hurry has worms I think so she's on the meds as from tomorrow. Looked like eggs in her poop under magnification.
They left late due to the storm outside. Just checked on Fudge; not much waterproofing on her atm, but she's dry and wedged next to Fat Bird again.
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Spoiling them rotten or is that bribery sho they come around again?

 

[Shadrach]

Spoiling them rotten or is that bribery sho they come around again?

Could be Bob. I miss them.

 

[BY Bob]

Could be Bob. I miss them.

I truly understand that. The day I get back from a trip they eat like royalty. Not like Spanish royalty though.

 

[ValerieJ]

Anyway, from one thread to another, look who came round today.
They haven't been round as a tribe for, I don't know, maybe over a month.
They all piled in this evening and I was so pleased to see them i didn't get a picture until some had left with Treacle to go to roost.
Needless to say I spoilt them rotten. Fresh made mash with the commercial feed, tuna, walnuts, a small piece of cheese each. I had a long chat with Cillin as I gave his leg a check over. Did Fat Birds bum. Easy to check poor fudge for mites given they've got hardly any feathers to hide under. Hurry has worms I think so she's on the meds as from tomorrow. Looked like eggs in her poop under magnification.
They left late due to the storm outside. Just checked on Fudge; not much waterproofing on her atm, but she's dry and wedged next to Fat Bird again.
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Did I say this already? I think Fat Bird is keeping Fudge warm at night.

These are great photos! They are all very sweet indeed, and quite happy to be spoiled.

 

[ValerieJ]

When I started this thread I had a rooster. I no longer do.

Oh yes...I think I remember that. He sure was beautiful.

 

[Kris5902]

Really? they would take well cared for animals, even though they had a different owner, just because they are on the same farm land? That surprises me.

They have a lot of authority here, and it has been known to happen. They have also done things like seize perfectly healthy heritage pigs because they were being free ranged and “didn’t have adequate shelter” by market hog (pink skinned) standards. Then because they didn’t have adequate facilities and knowledge to house them properly, the boars began fighting, it resulted in the culling of the farmers entire flock (what do you call a group of pigs?)

Most large animals that are “rescued” by them are euthanized. Yet they can’t seem to actually do anything about dog fighting, puppy mills, and abusive owners. Sorry, it’s another of my little soapboxes... I know a lot of volunteers and people within the organization may not be aware of a lot of it, and have good intentions. So it’s not meant unkindly, but when it comes to exotic pets, or large animals, or animals that require specific care or environments they can fail quite miserably.

 

[Kris5902]

It is what the vet told me when I took Maggie after she had two lash eggs. He said they were bred for production and not expected to live for more than 2-3 years. I have researched it since and got really angry at the breeding practices of the hatcheries. Apparently there are 'production' lines of Rhode Island Reds and 'show' lines and the show lines live a real life.
I have no idea what Maggie is because I adopted her from a school project - but I am sure they just got TSC chicks which are likely production line.

Sadly she is probably bred for production, I was going to say that there are some heritage type RIR’s that are a little longer lived, but I think that would be the “show lines” you mention. I am running into the same things here with my Rescues. 3-4 years seems to be the average. The meat breeds are even worse.

 

[ValerieJ]

They have a lot of authority here, and it has been known to happen. They have also done things like seize perfectly healthy heritage pigs because they were being free ranged and “didn’t have adequate shelter” by market hog (pink skinned) standards. Then because they didn’t have adequate facilities and knowledge to house them properly, the boars began fighting, it resulted in the culling of the farmers entire flock (what do you call a group of pigs?)

Most large animals that are “rescued” by them are euthanized. Yet they can’t seem to actually do anything about dog fighting, puppy mills, and abusive owners. Sorry, it’s another of my little soapboxes... I know a lot of volunteers and people within the organization may not be aware of a lot of it, and have good intentions. So it’s not meant unkindly, but when it comes to exotic pets, or large animals, or animals that require specific care or environments they can fail quite miserably.

That's very disturbing. I'm all for organizations that rescue animals and look out for their welfare, but I'm with you on the fact that their good intentions can go terribly wrong. And they just go too far. If they can't properly care for the animals they need to get out of the business.

It's all upsetting to me too. I worked at the Humane Society in Jacksonville, FL for a couple years. They taught me so much about the reality of animal welfare and supposedly "no kill" shelters. I became a vegetarian when I worked there. I eat meat again now, but if I think about it too hard, I will stop again. Lucky for me, I can buy local free range chicken and beef here, so that helps a lot.

But, I digress. What a terrible thing to do, taking a farmers pigs and then giving them a worse environment, and then just killing them. Truly heartbreaking. I can see why you wouldn't call them for help.

And for pete's sake, why don't they go after the puppy mills? Frustrating.

Well, I have so much more to say about this, but I need to get off my soapbox too.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sadly she is probably bred for production, I was going to say that there are some heritage type RIR’s that are a little longer lived, but I think that would be the “show lines” you mention. I am running into the same things here with my Rescues. 3-4 years seems to be the average. The meat breeds are even worse.

Yes - I think the correct term is 'heritage' not 'show'. It is all just sad.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh yes...I think I remember that. He sure was beautiful.

He certainly was.