Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

I have another question about moulting hens for the chicken think tank:
How soon after it starts will you know if it’s going to be a soft or hard moult? My gut is telling me it will be a soft moult with Bok but gee wizz, she dropping them so quick I thought I’d ask... just want to be prepared.
Going to make her some scrambled eggs just now to assist with protein, thankfully she no longer lays.
Everytime she preens she leaves this behind

and I will admit, I haven’t been too observant in the past (shame on me, I know) but I’m trying to be now and learn more each day
I patted her back softly before and about 10 fluffy ones came away with my hand

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Oh my frick!!! a horse named Dirt!!! I’m sorry, but I cannot stop laughing!!!!

Yup a coming on 5 year old this spring Rocky Mountain Horse named Dirt. When he arrived at the old barn around 18 months old he still was unnamed and for sale. During that time we had around 10 horses boarded down there and we spent pretty much all day every day down there taking care of the horses, property and cleaning and mom couldn't stand that he didn't have a name. At the time, none of them were ours but we ran the place and my mom and dad were looking for the right horse. Ironically, it just so happened that Rocky and Kentucky mountain horses were exactly what they were looking at and for. My dad cannot handle to ride rough horses anymore and wanted a smother gaited horse. Now my mom can't stand common or normal names, and my dad and daughter Rosie were calling him Dusty. Nope she wouldn't have it, everyone has a horse named Dusty as she put it, his name was Dirt. My dad's jaw about hit the floor. He wanted to know what crazy person named their horse Dirt. She just gave him a look and asked, out of all the horse show's he's been to had he ever heard of one named Dirt. Then she asked how many times had he heard them announce the name Dusty. So that is how he got his name, and within a month he was ours. And I have to admit, the name has grown on me, it suits him and one of his nicknames is Dirtman.
Here is a picture of him not long after we got him.

about 2 months later

And my mom and her boy taken on New Years.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Friends, I have a problem and would love advice. Apologies for the lengthy post.

Ethyl has been poorly. She has limped on her right leg on and off really her whole life (she is almost six months). Mostly it’s been okay, and has improved, but this week it got worse and the others attacked her so she has been in the sick bay for two days.

(Many mornings she comes to me to help her off the perch even though there are ladders and easy ways down—that no one uses lol. I always help her. But I think she’s been jumping lately.)

This morning I saw that, overnight, she laid two tiny, soft eggs. These are her first.

Obviously she needs calcium (the other layers are fine, not sure what’s afoot here) although they all have shell out and all that. But also I am wondering if this might affect her leg.

I’m going to give her a warm bath this morning. I was just hoping that you all would have more experience with something like this.

Tax (waiting to go back out)
View attachment 2517009

I added calcium supplement to their water when Deana was having troubles.
I hope Ethyl improves for you.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

For those of you who have never heard a Cajun accent.... listen to his story at the beginning at least ..

I had to focus hard to understand him but now I want to make gumbo.

 

[Scrambles83]

So my daughter watches a lot of a YouTube channel called Gold Shaw Farm and now has a plan to have a farm by the time she’s 20-25 (she’s 5 atm )
I suggested to her tonight that maybe she should study to be a vet first (especially one specialised in farm animals, chickens at the top of that list ) then she can get her farm and won’t have to get a vet to help sick or injured livestock on her farm, she can do it herself.
Reiterated that to do so means she has to concentrate and learn as much as she can so she can go to uni to become a vet motivation for prep learning or putting the pressure on?

Chicken tax- Violet with Bokky tonight eating her protein snack of scrambled eggs cooked with oats and pumpkin seeds in it (I hope I haven’t gone overboard with trying to boost protein for the moult )

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

The man has had a lot of appointments & I have had kiddies the other days. I just get very, very tired.

Being constantly on the go is physically and mentally exhausting. I hope you have a couple of quiet weeks ahead Ribh.

 

[Ribh]

Being constantly on the go is physically and mentally exhausting. I hope you have a couple of quiet weeks ahead Ribh.

Thanks, ACM, but not happening any time soon. I wish it was.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh my gosh!!!! These are magical! However did you get these photos???

I cheated. The coop cam got a video and I went frame by frame to pick the best shots. It was quite an event. I was standing out of shot with the other ladies cheering her on, but I hadn’t switched off the camera so I knew it would have caught it.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It only took one day for results! Got it today. Husband is Negative! Good to know. I went ahead yesterday and bought an oximeter from Amazon. Got it today. The guy that came out first yesterday to the car said it would be a good idea. Thinking he was ..noting...older folks... Boy, husband is more sick today. Coughing. Poor guy, that's miserable. They did say to keep him home until his symptoms subside. Well...yeah. We aren't one to go out when ill. Even if it isn't too bad. We don't work, do don't need to go spread a I bug.

I'm glad it isn't the dreaded Covid. I hope he gets better soon.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Yup a coming on 5 year old this spring Rocky Mountain Horse named Dirt. When he arrived at the old barn around 18 months old he still was unnamed and for sale. During that time we had around 10 horses boarded down there and we spent pretty much all day every day down there taking care of the horses, property and cleaning and mom couldn't stand that he didn't have a name. At the time, none of them were ours but we ran the place and my mom and dad were looking for the right horse. Ironically, it just so happened that Rocky and Kentucky mountain horses were exactly what they were looking at and for. My dad cannot handle to ride rough horses anymore and wanted a smother gaited horse. Now my mom can't stand common or normal names, and my dad and daughter Rosie were calling him Dusty. Nope she wouldn't have it, everyone has a horse named Dusty as she put it, his name was Dirt. My dad's jaw about hit the floor. He wanted to know what crazy person named their horse Dirt. She just gave him a look and asked, out of all the horse show's he's been to had he ever heard of one named Dirt. Then she asked how many times had he heard them announce the name Dusty. So that is how he got his name, and within a month he was ours. And I have to admit, the name has grown on me, it suits him and one of his nicknames is Dirtman.
Here is a picture of him not long after we got him.
View attachment 2518416
about 2 months later
View attachment 2518418
And my mom and her boy taken on New Years.
View attachment 2518419
View attachment 2518420

He's a beautiful boy and they look so happy together.

I agree with your Mum about choosing more interesting names but I don't think I would have chosen Dirt. Mud maybe, but not Dirt..