Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

My son went off to school this morning and came back in a panic straight away.

“The gate was open and River’s out the front!” He shrieked.

I grabbed some feed and dashed out the front. Sure enough, she’s pottering around on the grass next to the road. I tempted her into the back yard and went to check who was still there. Faithful Lucy was by the back door and Charlie was on the nest. Tegan and Nyssa were nowhere to be found. My in-laws live next door so I frantically called my MIL and asked her to help me find them. Then while I’m on the phone to hubby, telling him off for leaving the gate open, a lovely man approached me and asked if I was looking for chickens? I said I was and he showed me that they were in the front garden of the neighbours on the other side of my in-laws. I was so relieved! I thanked him profusely and put the bowl of feed down. Tegan came up and squatted when I went to grab her. I put her in the back yard and by this time my MIL had got dressed and come out (I’m still running around in my dressing-gown!) She’s herding and I’m tempting and Nyssa ducks into my in-laws’ garden. My FIL had also some out so the three of us were trying to catch/herd her.

Well, she wasn’t having any of that, so she runs down the back! She escaped into a bushy garden and my FIL grabbed her by the tail-feathers! He hauled her out and I took her back around, thanking them both profusely.

View attachment 2395775

Here’s the little Lara Croft of the chicken world! I bet it was her idea to go exploring! It doesn’t surprise me that it was the three Faverolles that went off; before we got them they had access to a large property.

Excuse me whilst I go and collapse for the rest of the day.

Oh my! Naughty girls!

 

[micstrachan]

Well this is a time of year for remembrance of our passed love ones. Since I have joined BYC I have lost 10 chicks, Tippie, Puffy, Bitchy, new Girl, moltie, lil peeps, Mr Eyebrows, Hoppy, old Lady, the old barred rock, her friend, Missy, Zeta, and 5 more To the owl...

Oh, I’m sorry! We have a great horned owl pair that lives here. And DH *just* today informed me a Red Tail Hawk lives here, too! I see lots of hawks here, but never a red tail right in my yard.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Maggie's hearts desire
A big part of the Maggie health plan is to spoil her rotten. Observing her I think she is not a fan of the feeder. Something about the space for her head maybe? She is perfectly happy to eat commercial food if I put it on a log or scatter it on the floor.

So now I serve her commercial food on a log, leaving the feeder for The Little Princesses who seem quite happy with it.

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But of course her favorite thing is the Sunday leaf pile.

I love the contented little sounds they all make while looking for all the wriggly things they seem to find in there.

It sounds like they are muttering to themselves when they are searching for goodies doesn't it?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

In one year, (a heartbreaking time) my chicken numbers, went from fifteen down to five.
In one year the social dynamics of group functions, ie church and civic groups, dwindled to practically nothing. Masks are a normal accessory now. (Even if some people, still won't believe or accept the necessity for them). "That was run on sentence, wasn't it"? Oh well, We all must make due, and persevere !

That must have been devastating Alex. I'm so sorry

You did well to save what you did I think.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

My son went off to school this morning and came back in a panic straight away.

“The gate was open and River’s out the front!” He shrieked.

I grabbed some feed and dashed out the front. Sure enough, she’s pottering around on the grass next to the road. I tempted her into the back yard and went to check who was still there. Faithful Lucy was by the back door and Charlie was on the nest. Tegan and Nyssa were nowhere to be found. My in-laws live next door so I frantically called my MIL and asked her to help me find them. Then while I’m on the phone to hubby, telling him off for leaving the gate open, a lovely man approached me and asked if I was looking for chickens? I said I was and he showed me that they were in the front garden of the neighbours on the other side of my in-laws. I was so relieved! I thanked him profusely and put the bowl of feed down. Tegan came up and squatted when I went to grab her. I put her in the back yard and by this time my MIL had got dressed and come out (I’m still running around in my dressing-gown!) She’s herding and I’m tempting and Nyssa ducks into my in-laws’ garden. My FIL had also some out so the three of us were trying to catch/herd her.

Well, she wasn’t having any of that, so she runs down the back! She escaped into a bushy garden and my FIL grabbed her by the tail-feathers! He hauled her out and I took her back around, thanking them both profusely.

View attachment 2395775

Here’s the little Lara Croft of the chicken world! I bet it was her idea to go exploring! It doesn’t surprise me that it was the three Faverolles that went off; before we got them they had access to a large property.

Excuse me whilst I go and collapse for the rest of the day.

I get it. I have far less traffic than you do but it always amazes me how brave chickens are. Always ready to explore new places!

Chickens are nuts! Give them a zucchini and they act like you've put a live snake in their run, but leave a gate open and, woosh!, they're off to explore the traffic.

I'm so glad you got them all back OK Lozzy.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It's been a long time until I tried again. I've only had chickens for a few years but I went in much better prepared this time & NO rescues, much as I should like too. I don't have the emotional strength to do that over & over again.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Something is very wrong with me. When Flash takes a moment to poo, I immediately looked to see what it looked like. I think I need an Intervention.

You're not the only one ByBob.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Only 16:24 California time, and the birds are already in the barn/coop. Now what am I going to do all evening ?

Obviously join them in the barn / coop until dinner time.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Me too. My current feline family tolerate each other - some are even friendly - but none of them snuggle with each other like that.
They prefer to have me separating them from each other.

Same here. We got our second cat as "company" for our first.

They hate each other.

You'd think we would have learned but no. We got our third cat as company for our second.

They tolerate each other.

Oh well.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

No no no no no. You cannot look at it that way. Look at the lives they had with you and the lovely lives your current flock have. You are a wonderful caring chicken-tender and we all learn so much from you. Don't get down-hearted.

I’m sorry, Bob. You do great with your flock. There are just so msny things that can go wrong.

At the risk of repeating myself....


Ditto.