Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Wow. That is such a good outcome. I hope it keeps up and they all continue to settle peacefully.

I must try poking Tsuki..

Be careful. She might take your finger off, that one.

I figure they poke each other so why not try using my finger like a beak and poke them. Maybe they will understand that and relate to it.

 

[Kris5902]

I remember that nasty old owl. I did not realize that it was actually that small.

I was shocked as well, they look much bigger all puffed up and refusing to leave their prey despite being poked with a garden fork.

Be careful. She might take your finger off, that one.

I figure they poke each other so why not try using my finger like a beak and poke them. Maybe they will understand that and relate to it.

I do the same thing... except with the roosters they are usually fine at roosting time unless I’m adjusting someone in Chickie Hawk’s tractor, then I just take the pecks from him on my arms. The only way I deal with a misbehaving or potentially injured Rooster in the pen/yard is by picking them up with a football hold (tucked under my arm and against my side) Hawk also needs gloves preferably, or I just pull my right hoodie sleeve over my hand and hood his head with that. Without the “hood” (Hawk... go figure) he will take bites at my body and has a surprisingly long neck, strong beak, and excellent aim in the daytime.

 

[Kris5902]

Oh yes indeed! What they are standing on is the top of one of the pasture runs to the side of one of the covered runs. When the fence is on, the top is connected to the ground rod so they would have got shocked. But when the fence is on they don’t seem to visit.

What you really need then is a remote control for the fence! You’ve already got the video surveillance to lay in wait and give those little danger bears a nasty surprise. Scary smart that they have figured out the fence but still test it and will come up that close if it’s not on... is there any spilled feed or something that is attracting them?

That’s my biggest issue with Racoons. I don’t think they are actively looking for a chicken dinner out my way yet, but they are happy to get fat on left behind feed. I’ve got one VERY large male with one eye that occasionally visits. If I spot him I take an offering of feed out in the woods well away from my chickens. I mean, I was absolutely shocked at how tiny rural raccoons are compared to the ones I was used to in the city. Way less food available for them here, but this one is getting pretty chunky.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Reassurance needed.
You all know I am sensitive to molting pictures. And that is partly because this is my first molting season.
Maggie is hit badly (nowhere near as badly as Alice was) and I worry.
I am 90% sure this is normal and it is her pin feathers growing but I took a picture of poor Maggie’s not-very-fluffy-butt (sorry Maggie) just to get reassurance from you all - my chicken@-ey friends.
This is normal right?
View attachment 2379580

Looks completely normal!! Very clean and healthy looking.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

any way you can electrify what they are standing on? They are smart little devils and you could train them to “no touching the chicken home” pretty quickly if you wait for them to get up then zap the little monsters.

My thoughts exactly!!!

 

[RoyalChick]

What you really need then is a remote control for the fence! You’ve already got the video surveillance to lay in wait and give those little danger bears a nasty surprise. Scary smart that they have figured out the fence but still test it and will come up that close if it’s not on... is there any spilled feed or something that is attracting them?

That’s my biggest issue with Racoons. I don’t think they are actively looking for a chicken dinner out my way yet, but they are happy to get fat on left behind feed. I’ve got one VERY large male with one eye that occasionally visits. If I spot him I take an offering of feed out in the woods well away from my chickens. I mean, I was absolutely shocked at how tiny rural raccoons are compared to the ones I was used to in the city. Way less food available for them here, but this one is getting pretty chunky.

There is no feed out, but they know there is feed inside and they systematically check the Palace defenses. But whenever the fence is on they do not come near. I think they can tell the fence is on - maybe because they know the meaning of the click sound it makes or they sense the field?
I have never actually shocked one but they 100% know to stay away when it is on.
Mine are definitely rural - they come in from the woods - I thought they looked extremely well fed. Positively chunky! Even allowing for a thick coat ready for winter I would not say that family are starving!
Love the remote idea but because I was intimidated by setting up the fence (no need I mastered it fine) I got a really basic charger - it has a nice chunky mechanical switch which is very reassuring, but does require me to go out and turn it on. I think in winter I might just leave it on all the time.

 

[Kris5902]

Rabbits are quite delicious. That's unfortunate.

Oh, I agree completely! But all it takes is for one pregnant doe to get lucky, escape, and next thing you know they are everywhere... it’s not that the locals won’t eat them... it the NIMBY effect, and when it comes to such a devastating pest animal I understand completely.

I'm glad we could provide some distration for you. I won't ask what happened to your toilet.

Moral of my story is “RV‘s are meant for vacations, not living in”. I figure we’ve put at least 20 years of “normal” use on the poor thing these past few years, and it was 20 years old when we bought it! This is purely Murphy kicking me for bragging to my friend (who’s DH is an actual plumber) about finally replacing my water pump and having running and hot water again. The “fill” pedal broke last year, no big deal, I keep a few little jugs of water in the bathroom for flushes. Last night the flush pedal did the same thing. Fatigue on the plastic (arm?) Mechanism that connects the pedal to the (spring?) self closing valve thingie. It’s been showing signs of stress for the last 6 months, and I’ve been just praying that it would hold up one last winter.

Basically no flushes until I get it replaced somehow. Luckily Andrew is going to be gone until Thursday night, so it will just be me not using the system. But thankfully there was so much catching up on here to do I managed to avoid addressing it! Plus cute chicken pictures!!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Looks completely normal!! Very clean and healthy looking.

Thank you - just the reassurance I needed.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

If you are trying to make Phyllis upset you can't. She knows she has it all.

View attachment 2379707

What a wonderful silhouette: Phyllis The Seductress

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh, I agree completely! But all it takes is for one pregnant doe to get lucky, escape, and next thing you know they are everywhere... it’s not that the locals won’t eat them... it the NIMBY effect, and when it comes to such a devastating pest animal I understand completely.



Moral of my story is “RV‘s are meant for vacations, not living in”. I figure we’ve put at least 20 years of “normal” use on the poor thing these past few years, and it was 20 years old when we bought it! This is purely Murphy kicking me for bragging to my friend (who’s DH is an actual plumber) about finally replacing my water pump and having running and hot water again. The “fill” pedal broke last year, no big deal, I keep a few little jugs of water in the bathroom for flushes. Last night the flush pedal did the same thing. Fatigue on the plastic (arm?) Mechanism that connects the pedal to the (spring?) self closing valve thingie. It’s been showing signs of stress for the last 6 months, and I’ve been just praying that it would hold up one last winter.

Basically no flushes until I get it replaced somehow. Luckily Andrew is going to be gone until Thursday night, so it will just be me not using the system. But thankfully there was so much catching up on here to do I managed to avoid addressing it! Plus cute chicken pictures!!!

As I have thought many times, and maybe posted at least once, I really admire your tenacity and cheerfulness in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration. Seriously!