Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

You are kind. It was staggering to total what we have been through on the this journey. I feel we are doing better each year. I think Lilly would agree.View attachment 2396115

What a beautiful portrait of Lilly. She is glowing with health.

This may sound weird, but I can't help admiring her nostrils. They are so clean and clear.

Tsuki's are all dark and cruddy and I don't know if or how I should do something about them.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Crazy Encounter!

We were outside on the patio watching a movie, with a separate speaker going. My dog’s ears perked up and she was looking at the fire pit, where I had a jack-o-lantern sitting. (A rat had chewed on it the night before, so we all figured the dog heard a rat.) I ran inside and grabbed a bright flashlight. I could not see the rat, but figured I’d throw out the jack-o-lantern right then before I forgot (the movie was still going). I headed for the waste bins with flashlight in one hand and pumpkin in the other and just as I was about to step off the patio, my flashlight illuminated a mountain lion 50 feet away, just sitting there behind my neighbor’s vehicle. I quickly told my family, “There’s a mountain lion. Get inside.” We shined a light on it again and it turned its head and just looked at us, not at all bothered by our presence. We went back inside. Several minutes later, my husband went out with a flashlight again. Our neighbor came out with a flashlight, as well. It just laid there in the field with two bright lights on it and humans calling out to each other across the yard. It finally retreated, but I find it worrisome that it would come into the yard while people were outside watching a movie, and then not run off once we obviously saw it. The waste bins in between us and the cat? That’s where I was headed with my jack-o-lantern. The cougar was literally 20 feet from the bins before it retreated to the field in the video. With daylight savings, the chickens won’t have free range time after work this week. I’m ok with that!

The video is poor quality, but still!

Wow, that is a close encounter that you could do without.

And people say that Australia has dangerous wildlife!

P.S. Why were you throwing the pumpkin in the bin? Wouldn't your chooks like it?

 

[BY Bob]

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...

O Kris, I did not mean to start this.

 

[BY Bob]

Crazy Encounter!

We were outside on the patio watching a movie, with a separate speaker going. My dog’s ears perked up and she was looking at the fire pit, where I had a jack-o-lantern sitting. (A rat had chewed on it the night before, so we all figured the dog heard a rat.) I ran inside and grabbed a bright flashlight. I could not see the rat, but figured I’d throw out the jack-o-lantern right then before I forgot (the movie was still going). I headed for the waste bins with flashlight in one hand and pumpkin in the other and just as I was about to step off the patio, my flashlight illuminated a mountain lion 50 feet away, just sitting there behind my neighbor’s vehicle. I quickly told my family, “There’s a mountain lion. Get inside.” We shined a light on it again and it turned its head and just looked at us, not at all bothered by our presence. We went back inside. Several minutes later, my husband went out with a flashlight again. Our neighbor came out with a flashlight, as well. It just laid there in the field with two bright lights on it and humans calling out to each other across the yard. It finally retreated, but I find it worrisome that it would come into the yard while people were outside watching a movie, and then not run off once we obviously saw it. The waste bins in between us and the cat? That’s where I was headed with my jack-o-lantern. The cougar was literally 20 feet from the bins before it retreated to the field in the video. With daylight savings, the chickens won’t have free range time after work this week. I’m ok with that!

The video is poor quality, but still!

Well that is frightening. There is no other way to view it. I really don't like any wild animal that is not afraid of me. What are you going to do? They are very strong. I would think an electric wire might be in order. Yikes!

 

[BY Bob]

Oh, I’m so, so, so sorry, Bob. That is heartbreaking. I wish I could say something that would make you feel better about it, but as a fellow chicken lover, I know there probably isn’t anything that can be said. Please know that we feel your pain and think you are a wonderful chicken human.

Thank you. You are very sweet.

A large portion of why I am trying to be so open and share my failures is so everyone can learn from them. It is not easy to tell the world how you have screwed up. I am anything but perfect.

 

[BY Bob]

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

You did well to save what you did I think.

He sure did. A respiratory illness could have wiped out his entire flock easily. It is very impressive that he was able to save any of them. He did a great job.

 

[BY Bob]

Give them a zucchini and they act like you've put a live snake in their run,

This made me laugh this morning. So true.

 

[BY Bob]

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.

We got Davis because Dr. Zoidberg and Isabel did not get along and Dr. Zoidberg needed a friend. He wanted to play and Isabel does not play. She is above that. It worked like a charm. Then Dr. Z passed way too soon from colon cancer. But they were best friends.

You can see how much Isabel, on the left, liked both of them.

Davis actually had a paw on Dr. Z as they slept.

They loved to wrestle together.

It was just what we had hoped and then Dr. Z passed.

 

[Grammy60]

We got Davis because Dr. Zoidberg and Isabel did not get along and Dr. Zoidberg needed a friend. He wanted to play and Isabel does not play. She is above that. It worked like a charm. Then Dr. Z passed way too soon from colon cancer. But they were best friends.

You can see how much Isabel, on the left, liked both of them.
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Davis actually had a paw on Dr. Z as they slept.
View attachment 2396287

View attachment 2396286View attachment 2396288

They loved to wrestle together.
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It was just what we had hoped and then Dr. Z passed.

They are all so pretty , it's so sad when we lose one too soon and when they have finally found a friend

 

[BY Bob]

A Window Opens

They say that when a door closes, a window opens.

Elphie's passing led to us rescuing the two hens that along with Daisy, the greatest hen ever, would form our flock for the next 3 years. Mrs BY Bob did not want another leghorn as she associated the white hens with tragedy. When I learned of these poor hens living their lives under a porch I decided they were for us. I also decided that we needed a "spare" chicken in case something happened so I wasn't scrambling to find a friend for a lone hen ever again.

Lilly was that "spare" chicken. What a great decision that was. When Daisy passed I was able to take my time and plan the flock expansion. And just look at her. She is still going strong strong today.

Patsy and Lilly came to join us 5 years ago today. Here they are that first day. Their feet touching grass for the first time.