Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Strange Beasties

I noticed some strange tracks in the snow tonight when I closed the coop and run for the night. I have to say I have never seen tracks quite like these ever before. Hopefully I can figure out what it is.

Spoiler: What could make tracks like these

View attachment 2459126View attachment 2459128

Velociraptors for sure! Ten of my newbies also braved the white doom and retreated directly under the trailer, luring them out for bedtime was not pleasant for any party involved.

 

[Kris5902]

Oh, YUK!!!! There are things I hate more ~ but not many.

That would be a nasty surprise. Yikes!

Oh, and it didn’t get any better... I have no chicken tax pics, and probably won’t have any more until someone is either brave enough, or the weather is better enough for the chickens to venture forth from their sleeping quarters. We got about a foot of very wet nasty snow/slush, and our annual Christmas Power outage arrived! Yay... we are all safe, except for the tiny bird with a broken foot I tried to save, but at least it passed away as comfortably as I could make it for them.

summary: cold, wet, scary, unpleasant day... everyone is safe, and I’m having a glass (or two) of nice red wine to celebrate

Spoiler: My day sucked Rant

I got a Ride down to the farm with my second generator from BIL. This generator is now not working. It was working last night just fine. I think it got flooded from the rough (and nowhere near level) transport. There is no heat in the building my mother is staying in, just the electric. I got the Genny set up and the heaters plugged in, batteries in her overhead lights (3 led spots that run off either a/c or the lithium batteries for my cordless tools, best investment in a long time!), and I dropped off enough power banks to Charge her phone fully at least 10-12 times.

BIL disappeared (to his cabin, as I saw when I walked by it), and I wasn’t risking a night hike in this junk, or the chickens not getting up for the evening. It was now 2pm. The walk that usually takes me 1/2 and hour took just over double that. At the first gate on the road that I had to open, I was almost hit by a very, very large branch 8-10” at the base, and a good 16’ long. I reacted the same way my chickens did to seeing the white stuff this morning. “Expletive expletive expletive, expletive Nope!” but the chickens and cats needed me to make it back, so I set out across the hay fields, to the sound of the widow makers and live branches alike dropping along the road due to the wind or snow load.

Because of the gate placements I walked about 2 1/2 miles through calf deep slush. I Crossed a stream (the same stream) six times, broke one gate (easier than opening it and the fence can’t support my weight for climbing) and I ran through a few sections that I knew were dangerous, but had no choice but to cross there. I was soaked completely through... my North Face winter fleece, hoodie, long sleeve, and undershirt. My yoga pants and undies, “waterproof” (nope) boots and socks. My legs were red and all my extremities were stinging. Whomever said “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” lied. The weather was awful. It was blowing sleet the entire time as well.

We are all safe and I am warming back up, the genny is running up here, I have gas and propane and I am well. The chickens are all up, and ok, if a little thirsty. I keep calling to check in on my mom. Andrew (DH) has safely arrived at his friends and is supporting her (long story), but he was also the victim of a hit and run thanks to BC ferries, and my poor truck is now missing a mirror. An insurance claim and police report are being filed, and it wasn’t the other driver, but the ferry staff that refused to allow the proper exchange of insurance documents between the drivers. Or to even insure there were no injuries! There will be no meds for Roostie, even if they do come in the mail, as there are multiple trees and live wires down between here and the store, and a crew is “assigned” but it could be days before power is restored (last year think it was just over one week before we got power back Christmas Eve).

Call it silly, call it superstitious, but there are just ten more days left in this S*** storm of a year, and I, for one, cannot wait to see the back of it! Oh, and I will be adding horizontal board fencing to the paigewire in 2021... so I have more places to at least climb over the darn fence! Who puts gates in only opposite corners and in bramble and brush? Campbell’s, that’s who!

 

[MaryJanet]

And if you zoom in just a little on the shoulder you will notice the giant freaking claws! But otherwise cute and fang-less, I will admit! (Though I’m still not totally convinced the quokka aren’t plotting world domination or something...)

"Look at my scary fangsies nom nom nom all gone! "

 

[Kris5902]

"Look at my scary fangsies nom nom nom all gone! "

View attachment 2459353

Sheesh... it’s like a cross between a koala and and kangaroo, but miniaturized. They might just be growing on me. Or perhaps that is all just a part of their evil plot for world domination?

 

[goldenfingers]

This year really has been difficult for pretty much everyone. The university where I work traditionally puts on a big production every Christmas. Not possible this year, so they are streaming a "Best of" compilation of previous programs for a limited time on their website.

www.byui.edu/center-stage/christmas

I offer this in the hopes that it may be able to bring a little Christmas spirit and uplift to weary souls.

Tax:

 

[Kris5902]

This year really has been difficult for pretty much everyone. The university where I work traditionally puts on a big production every Christmas. Not possible this year, so they are streaming a "Best of" compilation of previous programs for a limited time on their website.

www.byui.edu/center-stage/christmas

I offer this in the hopes that it may be able to bring a little Christmas spirit and uplift to weary souls.

Tax:
View attachment 2459346

Thanks for sharing! I just made it to “o holy night” a personal favorite... and I have to say it’s a wonderful performance (though I skipped the frozen bit... sorry just can’t too many kids here are hooked on it) it’s quite different to see dancers performing barefoot, is this a regular thing at your uni? I think it’s good, so long as no one breaks a toe, but am so used to seeing dancers in shoes it was striking. Bob, of course, has the last call, but I don’t think this needs a tax! Though the cute feather baby is also appreciated...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Really, half the animals are either terrifying, venomous, or (like the quokka) terrifyingly unassuming and cute enough to be quite suspicious considering all the other dangerous creatures there... Why wouldn’t there be a carnivorous cousin to the koala? And have you seen the claws on those things? Herbivore or no, they are a little scary in their own right! Let’s just all take a moment to be thankful that there is no Australian Ursine, at all. I would rather take the mythical drop bear than whatever a grizzly would have evolved into there!

The image of a marsupial grizzly hopping around the outback is rather alarming....

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

All I can say is....."Why?"

I'm guessing ignorance and neglect through disinterest...

I often have nightmares where I suddenly remember I have birds or small mammals in pens or hutches and I have forgotten to feed, water and clean them out for weeks. I go rushing to check on them and most of them are dead with maybe one or two staggering about peeping piteously. Horrible (shudder). I usually wake up in a panic.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Here ‘tis. This was taken in 2009.

View attachment 2459222

Lovely Lozzy. You both look quite relaxed. ☺

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Oh, and it didn’t get any better... I have no chicken tax pics, and probably won’t have any more until someone is either brave enough, or the weather is better enough for the chickens to venture forth from their sleeping quarters. We got about a foot of very wet nasty snow/slush, and our annual Christmas Power outage arrived! Yay... we are all safe, except for the tiny bird with a broken foot I tried to save, but at least it passed away as comfortably as I could make it for them.

summary: cold, wet, scary, unpleasant day... everyone is safe, and I’m having a glass (or two) of nice red wine to celebrate

Spoiler: My day sucked Rant

I got a Ride down to the farm with my second generator from BIL. This generator is now not working. It was working last night just fine. I think it got flooded from the rough (and nowhere near level) transport. There is no heat in the building my mother is staying in, just the electric. I got the Genny set up and the heaters plugged in, batteries in her overhead lights (3 led spots that run off either a/c or the lithium batteries for my cordless tools, best investment in a long time!), and I dropped off enough power banks to Charge her phone fully at least 10-12 times.

BIL disappeared (to his cabin, as I saw when I walked by it), and I wasn’t risking a night hike in this junk, or the chickens not getting up for the evening. It was now 2pm. The walk that usually takes me 1/2 and hour took just over double that. At the first gate on the road that I had to open, I was almost hit by a very, very large branch 8-10” at the base, and a good 16’ long. I reacted the same way my chickens did to seeing the white stuff this morning. “Expletive expletive expletive, expletive Nope!” but the chickens and cats needed me to make it back, so I set out across the hay fields, to the sound of the widow makers and live branches alike dropping along the road due to the wind or snow load.

Because of the gate placements I walked about 2 1/2 miles through calf deep slush. I Crossed a stream (the same stream) six times, broke one gate (easier than opening it and the fence can’t support my weight for climbing) and I ran through a few sections that I knew were dangerous, but had no choice but to cross there. I was soaked completely through... my North Face winter fleece, hoodie, long sleeve, and undershirt. My yoga pants and undies, “waterproof” (nope) boots and socks. My legs were red and all my extremities were stinging. Whomever said “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” lied. The weather was awful. It was blowing sleet the entire time as well.

We are all safe and I am warming back up, the genny is running up here, I have gas and propane and I am well. The chickens are all up, and ok, if a little thirsty. I keep calling to check in on my mom. Andrew (DH) has safely arrived at his friends and is supporting her (long story), but he was also the victim of a hit and run thanks to BC ferries, and my poor truck is now missing a mirror. An insurance claim and police report are being filed, and it wasn’t the other driver, but the ferry staff that refused to allow the proper exchange of insurance documents between the drivers. Or to even insure there were no injuries! There will be no meds for Roostie, even if they do come in the mail, as there are multiple trees and live wires down between here and the store, and a crew is “assigned” but it could be days before power is restored (last year think it was just over one week before we got power back Christmas Eve).

Call it silly, call it superstitious, but there are just ten more days left in this S*** storm of a year, and I, for one, cannot wait to see the back of it! Oh, and I will be adding horizontal board fencing to the paigewire in 2021... so I have more places to at least climb over the darn fence! Who puts gates in only opposite corners and in bramble and brush? Campbell’s, that’s who!

You are one dedicated chickeneer Kris. My hat is off to you.
It seems to me that you are evolving into a "can do", self reliant, indomitable farmer. And that's not even your final form!