Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I have not had raccoons here. Real raccoons are quite dexterous and can work simple latches. It's why I use carabiners to lock the coop and run. Here raccoons will reach through chicken wire and kill chickens even if they can't eat them.

This article is not about raccoons though, it is about Raccoon DOGS. This is a kind of canine that is not native to England. I would not be too concerned as there is not a lot of them in England yet, it is just a concern. Your neighborhood dog is a more likely villain than this raccoon dog.

Oh yes. I just read the article. They are not raccoons but a type of fox.

 

[micstrachan]

Good morning Fluffy Butt family. I'm back to being on animal nurse duties again. This time it's not one of my chickens though its my almost 10 year old golden retriever Gracie. She got copperhead bit, on the face, AGAIN!! This is the 5th time in over 9 years she's tangled with those dang things and she never learns. Discovered the bites last night, so we went immediately on snake bite protocol. After the first time our previous golden retriever got bit we learned no need to rush to the vet for a copperhead bite. Got her first dose of benedryl down her along with pain medication then cleaned the bite area. The dummy (saying this lovingly) didn't back away after the first bite, she has 3. One close to her eye, one under her chin, and one close to her ear. Going by fang marks she tangled with a smaller one this time. This morning picked up her antibiotics which she will be on 10 days from the vet and after 48 hours can stop the benedryl. My wonderful vet has purchased property above us that he is currently logging and will eventually turn cattle loose on so after work he's up almost daily and said he would stop by this evening just to look her over. That and to go love on Dirt. He's a horse guy and has made it very clear that if Dirt is ever sold he wants first opportunity but Dirt is going nowhere. Thankfully it is just a copperhead bite, while they cause a nasty secondary infection after the initial swelling, they are not deadly. If the hard head ever tangles with a rattlesnake, I doubt we'd make it to the vet in time to save her. Saying this, I'm so over snakes this year. I've already killed 5 in the yard and creek, had a couple get away, and witnessed 3 of my hens eat multiple baby snakes and it is only the beginning of June. As much as I hate the cold, winter has 1 plus, no snakes.

Poor Gracie! It sounds like you’re doing a great job with her.

 

[micstrachan]

Remind me, is this the 3rd day of Lucky's antibiotics?

I think it’s the fourth day. But you were right about three days; she started showing improvement yesterday.

 

[micstrachan]

She’s doing so good!

Thanks, Alex. She was back down on the shelf two nights ago and stood still with her eyes closed a few times tonight, but she’s hanging in.

 

[micstrachan]

Taz’s funeral is going to be a small one here.... but update later

I’m sorry, Alex.

 

[micstrachan]

My friends... I don’t know what to say. I almost can’t believe it. She went missing 4pm Saturday, I have been balling my eyes out and looking very dangerously high and low for her. Not logging in here, not knowing how to let you all know she was missing. Praying for her to come back. Scanning the sky for vultures and yelling myself hoarse calling for her. I have been walking out to the beach two or three times daily. Last night was my first night sleeping alone since January, with DH in town and the cats all huffy. I was considering emulating Alex and bringing in Sammy for snuggles.

After my post here (thinking it may be days or weeks, if she ever comes back, and hadn’t fallen off the cliff or gotten lost on the other side of the mountains) I made some spaghetti, cried some more and was talking to myself, swearing if she would just come home I would cook her spaghetti just for her, and I headed out again to look for her with just a few hours until dark. She is home! Stuffed, belching, limping slightly, and now snoring on her pillow. Thank you all for the love and thoughts. I am believing that you all brought her back to me! (And she better not be knocked up! Of course we will love her just as much if she is... but I don’t want to have to build too big a barn!)

Oh my gosh, Kris! Whet a relief! I’m
So sorry I missed the post about her going missing.

 

[micstrachan]

Poop is watery with green color, (Possibly ate too much grass yesterday?)

Apparently I missed a bunch of posts. Alex, I’m
Glad Emily is feeling better. Scant, bright green poop typically means the chicken isn’t eating much.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Tragedy Strikes the Gardens at Fluffy Butt Acres

For years I have been cultivating Black Eyed Susans in one of our flower boxes around the backyard. You can see them here in this photo of Sansa.
View attachment 2712812

I have them so they come back every year in significant numbers spread around the box on their own. This year they are just now starting to show the bugs of flowers. I love them and get excited when they start to bloom.

This morning before work, Mrs BY Bob and Phyllis decided to weed that box. I say the two of them because I know Mrs BY Bob got caught up in supplying bugs for Phyllis to eat.

Now there are weeds in ithe box, no doubt about it, as I have not yet gotten to that box this year. However, Mrs BY Bob targeted my Black Eyed Susan's as weeds. She pulled them all out.

Every last one.

All of them.

None were left.

Now there may be some hope. Mrs BY Bob is not a great weeder. She does not knock the dirt off the roots and she does not clean up after herself. So my Susans were in the pile on the patio with the other weeds.

Desperate to try and save something, I sorted them out, dug a hole, planted what I had, watered them, and even put a cage around them to give them support and hopefully give Mrs BY Bob pause before she pulls them out again.
Here they were at 9:00 am after I replanted them. The Susans are in the circle. That is lavender in the picture below them. The rest of the green is weeds.
View attachment 2712813

Oh dear. I'm guessing Mrs B is not a gardener.
It is so sweet that she and Phyllis tried to help but hleped instead.

Hopefully you got to your flowers in time. If the roots were still covered by soil their chances are better.

Did you water them with a dilute mix of seaweed fertilizer? I have friends who swear by it when they transplant to reduce stress on the plant.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I have not had raccoons here. Real raccoons are quite dexterous and can work simple latches. It's why I use carabiners to lock the coop and run. Here raccoons will reach through chicken wire and kill chickens even if they can't eat them.

This article is not about raccoons though, it is about Raccoon DOGS. This is a kind of canine that is not native to England. I would not be too concerned as there is not a lot of them in England yet, it is just a concern. Your neighborhood dog is a more likely villain than this raccoon dog.

Here's my bit of trivia.
The Red Racoon Dog is called "tanuki" in Japanese. You can learn a lot from anime (Japanese animation)

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It's Friday!

Here is the smallest fluffy butt in my tribe, Pepper