Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Final Free Range

I let the ladies out for some final minutes of free range before they were locked in by snow. Here they are enjoying their freedom.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Ugh.. didn't see it that way! They are pretty vunerable over in the area where they can free range. I really don't like keeping them in the run all summer. We've had huge hawks fly over in the past. Right over my head ready to snatch one up..came outside just in time. It's hard keeping them safe.

I've tried thinking of ways to make it better. But it would be hard. Strong welded wire, covered with 1/4" hardware cloth perhaps? Also, bigger around. Something no one can reach through, and also no one could crush (picturing a dog pouncing on it).

 

[RoyalChick]

A year this month. Look what you started. I have no idea how I came across this thread, buts it's fun! I should bring my old pals over. Ahem..well, old and young. I do go into the olds folks home. Good ol friends in there that have been on BYC as long as me, if not a bit longer. The things that have happened through the years! Some happy, some very sad. BYC folks come to your relief aid in many different ways. I lost a Golden Retriever in the most odd way years ago. I told the story on one of the threads. A gal says, send me a photo of your favorite with him, I'll draw a picture. Wow. Beautiful. I can't find the real photo..Ive had three Golden's throughout my life. This was Toby.View attachment 2510017 Another sad thing...I had a mentally handicapped sister that I talked about on a thread because she was having a tough time doing Dialysis. She had literally drowned when taken to a Lake by caregivers in the home she was staying in. Thank heavens for a gal that happened to be there that day, she gave Lisa CPR, brought her to. Well, a gal on the Old Folks thread..not old.. ..made her a quilt! Lisa's favorite thing..cats. She made the cutest cat quilt. Lisa took that quilt into a couple of homes with her. She got moved a couple of times once she stated dialysis. First photo at my home, second in the last care home she was in. View attachment 2510028View attachment 2510027 Our Lisa was brought home last March because she didn't want to do dialysis any more. Couldn't blame her, the fishulas kept clotting, long story short, Soo many surgeries. Brought her home, Hospice brought a bed into our living room, she passed 5 weeks later. They had told me it would only be a few days..hard the last couple of weeks, but glad we had her longer than expected. Still missing her. . I will keep that quilt forever. She loved it. I don't want to end on a sad note. I just wanted to share how incredibly loving people can be on this site! I get regular birthday cards, Christmas cards, or just because from another gal. I got a chicken swing from another. Too cute. Private messages when someone wanted to give help in some way..personal..or chicken related. I've also given a bit of advice. . Or condolences to others. Love BYC folks. This is the friendliest .. cleanest blog I've come across ever. A great Community. I heard someone mention Favorell. I'll find a photo of my bantam girl..made a great mom!

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine loved the goat yogurt my friend gave me, they were smothered in the white nectar. I wish I had a photograph

I must take a photo next time I give mine kefir (which is really a kind of yoghurt). But I have started to give it to them frozen so they peck away at it and keep their faces somewhat cleaner.

 

[RoyalChick]

It was -5F in the early morning, got up to about 7F or 8F during the day here. Wicked wind - there was a light coating of thin light snow blown in almost everywhere in the covered big run even though it's pretty sheltered in there. The chickens actually stayed in the coop for a bit after the door opened. I thought it hadn't opened because nobody was out, but they all came out when I went to check it and top up the feed and water. No mash that day or the next couple days, too cold, didn't want it freezing to their beaks! But maybe I'm mistaken about the mash. They still like to eat snow. In big bites too! Don't they get brain freeze??

I know! Mine like snow and ice chips. Crazy ladies!

 

[featherhead007]

My list of cryptids include, but are not limited to:
Bigfoot
the loch ness monster
godzilla, and other Japanese threats
fast Ford cars
honest politicians
And I no longer need to search for the "rare Snowback Polish" Thank you!

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

My two salmon Faverolles will panic if they lose sight of the others and start bokking. You can hear them winding up like an air raid siren!

My local feed store has salmon faverolles coming in in March, I'm thinking a few might find their way to my house...

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

When we visited my Frizzle breeder friend a couple of years ago, she had a 21 year-old cat. This old lady no longer had complete control of her faculties (I believe the technical term is a ‘shart’). She’d do this at intervals and one of the dogs was clean-up crew. He is a big dog (who insists on draping himself over my friend’s shoulders) and I witnessed him dragging his tongue over her rear end. It was pretty gross!

Rex found out the hard way litter box snacking is NOT allowed!!

Not only was his belly hurting pretty bad, I would not allowed him anywhere near me. I've become his person and I'm starting service dog training with him for me, so for him to not be allowed near me, it broke his little doggo heart.

Thankfully he caught on quick and now he'll give it a sniff, he is a lab, but then walk away.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

@BY Bob and @CrazyChookChookLady - how is the storm looking for you? Here they are predicting 2’ starting tonight and going through all day Tuesday. Then a break then snowing again Thursday, Friday and all weekend.
I am topping up food and water for the ladies and making sure the drive is as clear as possible for the plough guy. Thank goodness for the heated waterer you suggested Bob or I would be in a bit of a panic on that front.

It was already snowing when I woke up at 930 this morning. Here's what it looks like an hour and a half later.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Round 1 of hatching is over thankfully. 5 happy little black fluff balls. The final one hatched last night and it gave me grief. After the 4th one hatched Friday night my mother became convinced that the final egg was a dud. A argument ensued over if it was viable or not, she was afraid it would explode and was bad because she couldn't hear anything inside it and it was impossible to candle. I told her to leave it alone for another 48 hours, well, she caught me outside and decided it was bad and wanted to do a eggtopsy. She cracked a small hole near the air sack and nope, not a dud, just a chick that hadn't internally pipped yet. Thankfully she didn't damage any blood vessels and she stuck it back in the incubator and i spent the next 24 hours trying to keep the membranes moist. Yesterday morning the egg was rocking and could hear chirping so i was hoping it would finish hatching on it's own but had to intervene about 9 last night. It ended up becoming horribly shrink wrapped, and after assisting it out it was super weak but alive. I left it in a bowl in the incubator overnight and honestly thought i'd wake up to a dead chick. Nope, active little one who'd managed to climb out of the bowl. I just put it in the brooder with its siblings and it is wobbly but eating so that's a good sign. There are 9 more eggs in the incubator due in 2 weeks. This time after explaining that they can take up to 23 or 24 days to hatch due to possible hot and cold spots mom promises not to call one a dud right away. This has been a learning experience for both of us, and honestly, its soo much easier to let the hen do the job, but also rewarding when you get to watch them hatch out.

The last little one to hatch.

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