Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Genius! And I am willing to bet they will have their own ideas on who will roost where, and that Aurora will go nuts running back and forth trying to guard two coops. Great idea!

I think it would give Aurora fits. I am particularly interested in your thoughts on something like this @Shadrach . Could I have two coops with shared run space? I have never considered this as a permanent solution before and I am certain that I have not yet considered all of the ramifications. What do you think? Would they fully split into two tribes?

 

[micstrachan]

Ooos. I meant to put these in Bob’s thread, which is my first BYC home (though, like most of us, I’m spread across all three... I still need to catch up on MJ’s, too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage.1295189/post-23759806

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage.1295189/post-23759900

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you BY BOB. I love all my chickens, and each one is beautiful in their own way, but, it is mesmerizing looking at the black girls and the colors sunlight brings out in them. And to think i used to be under the impression that a all black chicken was that...black, boring. Boy was i wrong, best thing to compare them to is my favorite gemstone the Black Sapphire, at first glance its just that, black. Put it under sunlight and the color pops. I've also came to realize that as far as pretty egg basket color goes my favorite shade is brown. The darker the better. As of right now of my laying hens my only white egg layer is my game hen momma, when she's not broody that is. I have momma's daughter snickers who has not started laying yet but is only half game so hoping she lays at least a tannish color. Henrietta lays a light brown almost pinkish egg and Butters is tan with sorta purplish spots. Henrietta's daughter Bread should start laying around the end of feb and i'm hoping for a tan egg from her as well. Mix the tan eggs in with the dark or speckled eggs of the marans and it makes such a warm looking egg basket. Now as for my mom and spoiling the chickens, I had kept them off the front porch. If you went out the back door yes, expect to be mobbed looking for treats but front porch was off limits. She taught Butter and Drumstick, who in turn taught the rest of the flock that if you come on the front porch you will be handfed the most prized treat, dried fruit. Drummie will now give you until about 10am to come out with the treats. If your late he comes up on the porch with everyone in tow and will crow right at the front door once. He will wait for just a few more minutes and then it starts.....he pecks *knocks* on the screen door until you come out to give everyone their prize. Never fails...every morning now. And to my flock raisins, dried cranberries or cherries is to them the equivalent to grubworms to other chickens. I actually bought a small bag of grubworms to try. My guys turned their beaks up at them, ended up giving them to a neighbor who has silkies.

In the wintertime are especially interested in begging at the backdoor. Aurora will peck at the door as well if you don't acknowledge their presence with a treat.

 

[BY Bob]

He's three years and seven months old I think. I can't find his baby pictures atm.

My gosh, much like Stanley. I was afraid you would say that. So 3-4 years for roosters with heart issues, then maybe?

 

[BY Bob]

That's a rather handsome set of crockery Bob.

Thanks Shad. It is even more beautiful in person. They are hand painted so there are differences in every piece. They are real pieces of art and somehow I got them on a clearance sale. I feel very lucky.

 

[Shadrach]

I think it would give Aurora fits. I am particularly interested in your thoughts on something like this @Shadrach . Could I have two coops with shared run space? I have never considered this as a permanent solution before and I am certain that I have not yet considered all of the ramifications. What do you think? Would they fully split into two tribes?

My view is choice can't be a bad thing, althoug it may cause some confusion at first.
I doubt they would split into tribes as such. You really need roosters to do that.
As you know, I'm in favour of multiple coops and just having a spare or two, no matter how basic has been a life saver and convenience boon for me here.
I've had single hens take up permenant residence on their own when they haven't had any relatives in a tribe. Hens will build a tribe ime but it's a very slow process.
I don't know how long a hen only tribe stays stable for because when new cockerels grow up they have tried and often succeded in gettinng the hen only groups to accept them as their rooster.
It's just about my favourite thing to observe here.
So, I would say yes, build a seperate coop and on legs as you mention would be how I would do it. I'll never build another ground based coop. If nobody moves in straight away I wouldn't be concerend or force the issue.

 

[Shadrach]

I've taken a risk with Mag.
I've bought some asprin 100mg tablets and crushed one then divided it into eight.
I'm goinng to give Mag one of the eight doses once a day for eight days.
The idea is the same as it is for human heart attack sufferers. The asprin thins the blood. I would use garlic but I can't find out how much I need to give to get the equivelant asprin dose.
If he's popped a valve or done some other permenant heart damage the asprin probably wont make any difference. If however, he has a blockage or anorrowing of an artery then it may help.
I haven't been able to get any pictures today because we've got 50mph to 60mph winds here atm and the chickens, if they aren't hanging onto a nearby branch, don't stay visible for long.

 

[Shadrach]

Christmas day. A bit chilly but lovely.

 

[Ribh]

New Dishes

For Christmas this year I decided to surprise Mrs BY Bob by replacing the fish plates we have been using since the children were little. Of course I went looking for something chicken themed. I found these on Wayfair.com, otherwise they would have been way out of my price range. Luckily, she loved them.
View attachment 2466035

My new Son in Law has arrived to celebrate the holidays. He wants to learn how to make pasta by hand and so Mrs BY Bob started his education last night. My daughter and myself are very lucky as we got to enjoy the fruits of that education. Homemade pasta, Mrs BY Bob's sauce (gravy), and her meatballs which the two of them made together on her new Italian plates. Add a little Chianti and it was almost like we were back in Italy last night!
View attachment 2466036

Wonderful all round!

 

[RoyalChick]

I've taken a risk with Mag.
I've bought some asprin 100mg tablets and crushed one then divided it into eight.
I'm goinng to give Mag one of the eight doses once a day for eight days.
The idea is the same as it is for human heart attack sufferers. The asprin thins the blood. I would use garlic but I can't find out how much I need to give to get the equivelant asprin dose.
If he's popped a valve or done some other permenant heart damage the asprin probably wont make any difference. If however, he has a blockage or anorrowing of an artery then it may help.
I haven't been able to get any pictures today because we've got 50mph to 60mph winds here atm and the chickens, if they aren't hanging onto a nearby branch, don't stay visible for long.

You are absolutely right that aspiring won't do anything for a heart valve problem.
A purple comb suggests not enough oxygen to the periphery which implies more of the heart valve type problem rather than narrowing arteries to the heart (which is what causes a heart attack and could be improved with aspirin if chickens have the same physiology as people in that department).
Does he have any other signs of low oxygenation? Shortness of breath? Does he have any discernable fluid build-up in his abdomen, chest or feet?
Of course low oxygen to the periphery could also happen because of respiratory issues, but my guess is you have ruled that out from observation.
Good luck with him. You can only do what you can do.