Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

I love the idea of accidentally rescuing the cat as well! And p***ing match or no, one day you should definitely adopt a cow or 4.

I’m going to say something very awful but realistic here... one day I will have them all.

Spoiler: Little family rant

.In the next 10-20 years I will be running this farm, with DH. My niece adores me, I am the awesome auntie that helped raise her from 2-10, we will be fine... unless cousin in law gets into a marriage with an actual farmer (highly unlikely) and a butcher (even less likely) and leaves her government tax job loses 70lbs and can physically bring hay in for more than 2-3 hrs in the evening without breaking down in years because its “so hard”. I just need to bide my time and stay healthy long enough to enjoy it. (And adopt some kids to do the heavy lifting as I will be 50-65 by the time I have complete freedom in management

Most of you will know how much typing this will pain me but... “my Father in Law was right...” DH and I are this farms best hope for surviving as a farm. (I have been saying the FIL thing a little too often for my liking) honestly if we leave the farm is probably done.

 

[BY Bob]

So I figure either the line is blocked or the cluch has failed.

It could be air in the line and it just needs bled properly. I have no experience with those cars unfortunately. I will be interested to learn what the problem is though. Please share.

 

[BY Bob]

Ask and ye shall receive... I don’t know if I should put these behind a spoiler, or if I can even pay chicken tax with these pictures. If you could smell them, a spoiler would be needed for sure! If the smell doesn’t go away in the next few days I will be breaking out the chicken bathtub and blow dryer for sure; also for sure, if it comes to that, I will be doing it without any help. It could get interesting as these girls have clearly not been handled at all. In all fairness, my own meat gals need their bums cleaned or trimmed, and their roosting box is overdue for a good cleaning, again, but nothing compared to these poor girls! These pics are before I moved them to the “good grass”, in what I consider to be filthy conditions here. They aren’t really wet in these pictures... that’s all filth. When I picked Roostie up he was in similar shape, but he had cleaned himself up within a few days. (Still no meds in the mail for him, And I’m seriously starting to think about lancing his foot)
View attachment 2451026View attachment 2451031View attachment 2451034View attachment 2451040
So, this is what $200 will get me in rescue chickens. For a “farmer”, I am a bit of a bleeding heart, aren’t I? I just can’t stand to see an animal suffering. I could have gotten 20 Ameraucana chicks for about the same cost! And those would fit in with my breeding program/business plan but... dumb decision or not, I would rather have my morals and these poor girls, I guess, because here they are! As of this evening they are already starting to look a bit better... their legs and feet aren’t fully covered anymore.

Please post a photo of Roostie's foot. I'd like to see how bad it is.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes and @CrazyChookChookLady as well! Brakes, brakes, and more brakes... in both my trucks! And both my jeeps are down with mechanical issues as well (possible transmission in one, brakes and CV joints in the other...) 2020 has been a bad year for vehicles here too. @BY Bob you better get your two girls tucked in before that snow flies! Best not to tempt the fates any more than absolutely necessary!

Giana is snug in her bed. Juliette will head over after we take one last cruise in her to see Christmas lights tonight.

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you so, so much for this excellent advice, especially the do's and don't's! I will practice the moves with my hens tomorrow.

When I lift my hens from the ground, in the beginning I tried lifting them with one hand underneath and one on top like I saw online. They are okay until I lift, then they panic feeling gravity and crawl with their feet and often catch my arm or something, sometimes getting flappy. I have gone now instead to both hands on their shoulders, pressing some to hold them in place, and they crouch - they often lift their tails, like I'm a rooster I think - and I stay that way a bit which calms them, or switch to one hand over their shoulders and stroke them, then I lift them to my lap, hands on the wings with fingers under each side, and I noticed on the trip they often hang their legs down relaxed, so I kind of have to place their feet properly on my leg and make sure they get a footing before I let go. Is that okay for their breathing? Most of the grip is underneath, with thumbs more or less over their wings.

Then if they are into it I let go and they hang out there, if not I bring them closer and have them in that gentle football hug under one arm, but with their feet on my lap. They talk a lot but go along with the things I do with my other hand, like petting and inspections and getting the zip ties on, so I'm not generally holding their legs - unless I'm inspecting their legs and feet, then I gently take one foot at a time.

I don't have a red headlamp I'm afraid. I will wear old clothes, it will be cold so I'll be bundled up and wear something bite-able. I have a cat carrier I could use as a first transport to get a couple or three hens in there together before going to the low chicken carrier or dog crate, maybe that will help. I don't think I can lift the low carrier with them all in it, maybe with my friend we could. I can't get my car over to where the coop is I'm afraid. So the cat carrier to the car might be the best option. We'll see!

Best of luck. You are doing a great thing

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The cars are swapped. I need to get gas for the snowblower still. I tried at lunch time but it was beyond a madhouse at the Sheetz. My wife is going to try the grocers after work but she is nuts. People are crazy right now. You can tell it has been years here since a big snow. It's embarrassing.

Yes, we're out of practice for big snows! Not long ago my DH and I were talking about how it might be another year of frozen ground and little snow plus bitter cold, we seem to be getting missed by every storm. Hmmm, we are luckily stocked up already for the generator & snowblower, because of the power outage we had a few weeks ago. Good luck to you!
I was going to do my Beauty Queen Rescue tomorrow. I will likely not be able to.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

There is nothing like an opening to talk about my cars! This is going to cost some chicken tax.

I own two Alfa Romeos. A 1985 Spider Veloce (come say hello to the nice people Juliet )

View attachment 2450738

And a 2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio that took 2nd place at the 2019 AROC National Convention. (Say hi Giana. )

View attachment 2450751

Nice! What's that on the bottom of the passenger door?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

You're doing the right thing, getting them out of there.

Thanks, I hope I can do it. I found another "no kill" keeper, this time west of me about 2 1/2 hours. I could get them there tomorrow but would have trouble getting back with this storm. I'm not set up to keep 9 chickens overnight and into the next day, unless they stay in the crates. Isn't that bad for them? And the storm may last all of Thursday.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you so, so much for this excellent advice, especially the do's and don't's! I will practice the moves with my hens tomorrow.

When I lift my hens from the ground, in the beginning I tried lifting them with one hand underneath and one on top like I saw online. They are okay until I lift, then they panic feeling gravity and crawl with their feet and often catch my arm or something, sometimes getting flappy. I have gone now instead to both hands on their shoulders, pressing some to hold them in place, and they crouch - they often lift their tails, like I'm a rooster I think - and I stay that way a bit which calms them, or switch to one hand over their shoulders and stroke them, then I lift them to my lap, hands on the wings with fingers under each side, and I noticed on the trip they often hang their legs down relaxed, so I kind of have to place their feet properly on my leg and make sure they get a footing before I let go. Is that okay for their breathing? Most of the grip is underneath, with thumbs more or less over their wings.

Then if they are into it I let go and they hang out there, if not I bring them closer and have them in that gentle football hug under one arm, but with their feet on my lap. They talk a lot but go along with the things I do with my other hand, like petting and inspections and getting the zip ties on, so I'm not generally holding their legs - unless I'm inspecting their legs and feet, then I gently take one foot at a time.

I don't have a red headlamp I'm afraid. I will wear old clothes, it will be cold so I'll be bundled up and wear something bite-able. I have a cat carrier I could use as a first transport to get a couple or three hens in there together before going to the low chicken carrier or dog crate, maybe that will help. I don't think I can lift the low carrier with them all in it, maybe with my friend we could. I can't get my car over to where the coop is I'm afraid. So the cat carrier to the car might be the best option. We'll see!

One other thing if your crate has a top slide you want to make sure no one jumps out as you add another chicken, be prepared to push their little heads down a scotch them in further away from the opening.

Thanks, I hope I can do it. I found another "no kill" keeper, this time west of me about 2 1/2 hours. I could get them there tomorrow but would have trouble getting back with this storm. I'm not set up to keep 9 chickens overnight and into the next day, unless they stay in the crates. Isn't that bad for them? And the storm may last all of Thursday.

Hope you can get them somewhere sheltered or convince the property owner to give them a good sheltered roosting area for the storm at least... I wish I could give you a hand with grabbing them. I really don’t think they should overnight in the transport crates, large dog crates with bedding though would be less than ideal, but ok considering the circumstances

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I love the idea of accidentally rescuing the cat as well! And p***ing match or no, one day you should definitely adopt a cow or 4.

Yup, if @Kris5902 could come here like a ninja and nab it that would be perfect. I unfortunately can't - this fellow's neighbor is my friend and bandmate....I don't want to get in the way of them staying on good terms....the guy actually cares about the cat, though he is incompetent / inconsistent about caring for it ().