Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

....plotting...

Chicken run maybe?

 

[featherhead007]

Chicken run maybe?

But why would any chicken leave here, when every neighborhood bird wants to come here?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Why Would You Eat That!

I caught Lilly and then Sansa eating the little plastic plant stakes that tell you what plants you have planted. Why would they do that. Watch close in the video and you can see Sansa with a piece she has snapped off in her beak!

Check out this shot after I pulled it out of the planter. She was still after it! You can see where she had snapped the top off previously.

View attachment 2700466

What are they missing in their diet?! I find this disturbing. Could they taste good somehow?!

It's like an eggshell? One of the Buckeyes ate a broken mussel shell once. A sharp-looking piece too. She's still alive.

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok. Thanks, Bob. The predators that we have seen in our yard, but not necessarily during the day, are fox, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, hawk, great horned owl, eagle and even mountain lion. Hawks fly over and scout out the yard on a regular basis. There are at least a few that live nearby. Coyote and bobcat have been seen during the day. The only predator attack I’m aware of we never knew what it was, but we felt pretty sure it was a fox, possibly juvenile, since the hen got away pretty much unharmed.
Ruby wouldn’t really stand a chance against a predator if it saw her and wanted her. Ruby’s days are probably numbered, and I’m thinking she might as well enjoy herself. I’m kind of leaning toward Shad’s philosophy with her.

Edited to add: did I tell you guys that she caught a mouse weekend?

Edited again to add: They are never allowed put without both me AND the dog, which might explain ehy we’ve only had one (unsuccessful) predator attack. My neighbor has lost lots of cats, we assume to predation, during the night.

She'd have to be quick to catch a mouse surely? And I'm thinking a mouse might be a very satisfying meal that might put her off normal food for a day or two.

 

[MaryJanet]

I can't believe she is at death's door if she is catching mice.

Exactly. My healthy hens have never caught a mouse. That I know of.

I think it's time to stop worrying about her. She's recuperating from medical interventions (draining and then being tube fed) and simply needs time.

 

[MaryJanet]

I think that is what I would do too - an hour in the morning and a few hours at end of day but put her in while you are out.
Probably a silly question but could you work from home one day?
I know this is hard but I don't think you should write her off yet (I mean the mouse!) and maybe you could even dig up some dirt from the yard and put it in with her so she can pick over it and find worms and stuff - whatever she finds when out and about.
This is exactly the dilemma I faced with Maggie - she just wouldn't eat anything unless it was alive and so I was going around finding worms and bugs for her!

I like the idea of putting some soil in with her to give her something to do.

 

[MaryJanet]

Why Would You Eat That!

I caught Lilly and then Sansa eating the little plastic plant stakes that tell you what plants you have planted. Why would they do that. Watch close in the video and you can see Sansa with a piece she has snapped off in her beak!

Check out this shot after I pulled it out of the planter. She was still after it! You can see where she had snapped the top off previously.

View attachment 2700466

What are they missing in their diet?! I find this disturbing. Could they taste good somehow?!

I think she's playing with it. Your hens are the picture of good health with plenty of proper food to eat

If it helps,I had a chat yesterday with someone who's kept chickens his whole life and he mentioned that plastics pass right through them. I'm not entirely convinced, but if it's true she'll be none the worse for it.

 

[Blazinga]

Everything I touch turns into a rooster.

 

[MaryJanet]

Everything I touch turns into a rooster.

Sorry. That must be exasperating.

 

[featherhead007]

Everything I touch turns into a rooster.

Roos need love too