Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

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You know how you sometimes get a milk mustache when drinking milk? These guys get wet feed beards.

Oh my frick this is cute. I think the one on the left is a roo, but you do, too, right?

 

[LozzyR]

Spoiler: WARNING - gruesome story - not for the faint-hearted

I remember the police who came to the house said that they worry that people who do that kind of thing might do it to other animals including people.
I don’t know if they just said that to make my mother feel better because she was distraught.
It was me and my best friend from high school who came in and found them and we prevented my Dad from coming in and told him to go for a walk around the block. He was a sensitive soul my Dad and he could not have coped with the sight of it all. We then rang my mother and she said to call the local police station and she came home and arrived just before the police.
The mother cat had tried to save the kittens and had dragged a number of them in through the cat door in the kitchen window so the kitchen was covered in blood and dead or nearly dead kittens. I suspect my memory makes that scene worse than it was, but I do remember the blood and the terrified cat and dead kittens mainly outside.
Turns out she had managed to save a few of them - I don’t remember how many - but they had hidden themselves under the stove and only emerged once the police left and we had buried the dead ones and it was all quiet.
Sorry to go on. It was a traumatic teen experience and I was just reminiscing.
Poor Dad burst into tears when we told him what happened - we never let him see anything gruesome and he always maintained he didn’t like cats - but he wept anyway.

 

[micstrachan]

I was watching Diana from across the yard this afternoon.
She is rather a streamlined little hen and has a skinny butt. Not fluffy at all.
I think she is healthy - it is just the way she is.

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Yes, I am learning to believe skinny is good and healthy in chickens as long as they are vibrant and active!

 

[micstrachan]

I am myself. Here’s me with the littles in the coop, just taken 5 minutes ago. I don’t need to give treats. They just love me and that’s it. (No meally worms in my pocket either)View attachment 2625871View attachment 2625875

Alex, I think I loved this post, but didn’t comment. Isn’t it just the absolute BEST when they love and trust you?

 

[micstrachan]

Spoiler: WARNING - gruesome story - not for the faint-hearted

I remember the police who came to the house said that they worry that people who do that kind of thing might do it to other animals including people.
I don’t know if they just said that to make my mother feel better because she was distraught.
It was me and my best friend from high school who came in and found them and we prevented my Dad from coming in and told him to go for a walk around the block. He was a sensitive soul my Dad and he could not have coped with the sight of it all. We then rang my mother and she said to call the local police station and she came home and arrived just before the police.
The mother cat had tried to save the kittens and had dragged a number of them in through the cat door in the kitchen window so the kitchen was covered in blood and dead or nearly dead kittens. I suspect my memory makes that scene worse than it was, but I do remember the blood and the terrified cat and dead kittens mainly outside.
Turns out she had managed to save a few of them - I don’t remember how many - but they had hidden themselves under the stove and only emerged once the police left and we had buried the dead ones and it was all quiet.
Sorry to go on. It was a traumatic teen experience and I was just reminiscing.
Poor Dad burst into tears when we told him what happened - we never let him see anything gruesome and he always maintained he didn’t like cats - but he wept anyway.

What a horrible thing for you to witness. Poor, poor Mama Kitty. How traumatizing!

Something was SERIOUSLY wrong with those who did it. I believe that is true that they might do it to other animals, including humans. Sick, sick people. Disgusting.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm so very afraid of these chemicals, I have to be honest with you. It really worries me.

I can relate. I held off on worming until I felt it was a necessary risk. Do I dare say I *might* be seeing improvement???

 

[micstrachan]

I have always associated comb color with laying. I see why you are concerned. Let me research this a little and see if I can dig something up.

Thank you, Bob. I do love that you might find a scientific article on this. I am hopeful treating for intestinal parasites will turn this around.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

What a lovely mug

Thank you. I love it.
Nite nite.

 

[micstrachan]

You did not upset me. Those that performed this deed have. Please do not feel bad for telling your story.

Agree!!!

 

[micstrachan]

There is evidence that both these can help to reduce worm load. My belief is there are many more plants, roots and bugs that can do the same. The problems is for many chickens, they don't get out and about in the right environment to find these things.
I have palpitations at moult time for example when the hens lose interest in the commercial feed. But, having watched them forage and felt their crops at dusk it is apparent that they are eating. They seem to know what it is they need and it isn't commercial feed!

Yep. As you know, mine don’t free range all day, so I do resort to other interventions at times. Someday I’d love to let them free range all day, but I’d want a rooster AND a livestock guardian dog like a Great Pyranees. Too many predators here on the ground and in the air. This weekend two hawks were circling. Once I threw a ball through the center of the yard and my dog ran after it, the hawks left.