Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Actually, if we're all open and honest about losses we can save new chickeneers from blaming themselves when things go wrong.

Here's my loss list.

Alice, Dora & Nigella: fox raid in 2017
Sandy: put to sleep after uterine infection in 2020

4 lives in 3 years.

I'm proud of doing my best for the hens who live in my backyard.

I'm was sad for these little ones, but not any more. I recall them with joy and fondness.

I appreciate the intent but some losses are still too raw for me to fully participate. My 1st 18 months or so I lost a BR to broodiness, & 3 Australorps to unknown causes; 1 faded away & 2 I still have no idea. One went to bed in a nesting box & was dead in the morning. The other laid her egg, went downstairs & I found her dead under the coop 10 minutes later. I still have no idea...

Yep, I've lost 3 through ignorance. Since finding BYC and these threads I've done much better.

Losses
Rowena (ISA Brown) 2015, 2 years old: shock by being caught by my Greyhound (No injuries I could find, Shadow learned pretty quickly not to bother the chickens again.)

Henrietta (ISA Brown) 2016, about 3 years old: slow decline over a couple of weeks. My ignorance. I had no idea what to do.

Zen (Australorpe) 2019, 3.5 years old: Egg binding / fly strike. I didn't see the signs until it was too late. She was a really calm and laid back girl. I still miss her.

Tsuki and Deana are from the same hatch as Zen.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

A story for you ByBob.

We have a double glass sliding door leading from the kitchen/dining area to the side yard.

A couple of weeks ago I heard a tremendous squawking and flapping just outside this door .
Outside, there is Deana leading the charge with beak, claws and wings against a young red bellied black snake about 2.5 feet long.

The poor thing was thrashing up against the window trying to get away from these deadly velociraptors . It looked so panicked that my first impulse was to open the door and let it in! Luckily I thought better of it and the snake found a gap under the front gate and escaped to the front yard.

Chickens : 1
Deadly Australian Snake: 0

(Actually Google says Red Bellies can make you sick but don't usually kill you)
Here's a pic of one from the net. I wasn't quick enough to take a photo of our visitor.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

You are correct! Bridge does have the same nick in her nare as Lilly.

It could just be a leghorn thing. Check out Daisy first and Elphie second. They are both cruddy.
View attachment 2396417
View attachment 2396418

I've learned a new word today! Chicken nostril = nare.

I tried to get a close up or two of Tsuki but she wasn't very happy about it.

the nare on this side looks pretty good.

Her left one looks pretty cruddy.

 

[LozzyR]

I've learned a new word today! Chicken nostril = nare.

Me too!

 

[RoyalChick]

I appreciate the intent but some losses are still too raw for me to fully participate.

 

[BY Bob]

Yep, I've lost 3 through ignorance. Since finding BYC and these threads I've done much better.

Losses
Rowena (ISA Brown) 2015, 2 years old: shock by being caught by my Greyhound (No injuries I could find, Shadow learned pretty quickly not to bother the chickens again.)

Henrietta (ISA Brown) 2016, about 3 years old: slow decline over a couple of weeks. My ignorance. I had no idea what to do.

Zen (Australorpe) 2019, 3.5 years old: Egg binding / fly strike. I didn't see the signs until it was too late. She was a really calm and laid back girl. I still miss her.

Tsuki and Deana are from the same hatch as Zen.

I’m sorry these happened to you.

 

[BY Bob]

I appreciate the intent but some losses are still too raw for me to fully participate. My 1st 18 months or so I lost a BR to broodiness, & 3 Australorps to unknown causes; 1 faded away & 2 I still have no idea. One went to bed in a nesting box & was dead in the morning. The other laid her egg, went downstairs & I found her dead under the coop 10 minutes later. I still have no idea...

This sounds incredibly hard. I can only imagine how raw they are. I’m so sorry.

 

[RoyalChick]

I've learned a new word today! Chicken nostril = nare

Not just chicken nostril. Yours too!

 

[BY Bob]

A story for you ByBob.

We have a double glass sliding door leading from the kitchen/dining area to the side yard.

A couple of weeks ago I heard a tremendous squawking and flapping just outside this door .
Outside, there is Deana leading the charge with beak, claws and wings against a young red bellied black snake about 2.5 feet long.

The poor thing was thrashing up against the window trying to get away from these deadly velociraptors . It looked so panicked that my first impulse was to open the door and let it in! Luckily I thought better of it and the snake found a gap under the front gate and escaped to the front yard.

Chickens : 1
Deadly Australian Snake: 0

(Actually Google says Red Bellies can make you sick but don't usually kill you)
Here's a pic of one from the net. I wasn't quick enough to take a photo of our visitor.
View attachment 2397249

Wow! That’s incredible and really cool! Way to go ladies! Especially Deana! Teach that snake to wander into your yard. Cool!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I’m sorry these happened to you.

Thanks ByBob ❤

It's a sad fact of life for us chickeny people. Hugs for your losses too.