Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

That’s her happy face!

Then Butter is her soul mate. Happy or angry she always has a sorta ticked off expression when she looks at you head on. It is all due to the slant of her eyes, makes her look like she's always scowling.

 

[BY Bob]

I collect water off the roof of the Chicken Palace into a rain barrel which connects to a hose - I fill their waterers from that barrel.
My plan is to bring the hose round and just wet everything down. They might be scared and run away from the hose but once I am done they will love the cold wet dirt.
I am also going to keep them in the Chicken Palace complex and not let them free range. I worry about Maggie - she really seems to love the sun and goes chasing moths in the heat of the day when any sensible chicken would be napping in the shade. She came back from one chase today definitely panting. She is good at cooling herself off by dunking her wattles in the water bowl - but it still had me worried and I want to keep them in the shade.

This makes good sense. Sometimes we need to protect them from themselves.

 

[BY Bob]

Took the chicks outside this eveningView attachment 2739298
They decided they preferred the trash bags to the wet grass.View attachment 2739299
Brown caught two leaf hoppers. We put a paper towel down and gold started dust bathing without any dust. She convinced all to join her one by one except for owlface.

Those first trips out are so much fun! I'm glad for you.

 

[featherhead007]

Then Butter is her soul mate. Happy or angry she always has a sorta ticked off expression when she looks at you head on. It is all due to the slant of her eyes, makes her look like she's always scowling.

Ya want angry?

 

[BY Bob]

Well, today was heartbreaking and makes owning and raising chickens hard. One of my silkie chicks crashed today. Totally unexpected, it was perfectly fine yesterday and first thing this morning. At noon, it was found on it side seizing. I have no clue what happened, but before I could get it in the house it passed. This is the 2nd one out of 6 successfully hatched to pass and it was the 2nd biggest of the group. I'm going to be honest here, while they are adorable, and Rosie loves them if I can successfully raise just 2 of these for her I don't see myself hatching anymore for myself. After having large fowl raising true bantams is nerve wrecking. They were so tiny for so long that they were over 2 weeks old before I even felt comfortable letting them and momma free range for a few hours. I have a personal favorite of the group, and it is the tiniest but so sweet. I'm praying I do not loose anymore and that my tiny one thrives and turns out to be a pullet.

I'm so sorry. It's never easy to lose one let alone suddenly.

 

[BY Bob]

We (me and Rocks-Ann) got lucky this year’s molt. She usually gets it bad, but I checked her carefully today, and only a very few areas of missing feathers grew back just fine. View attachment 2739337

She is looking good.

 

[fuentemoon]

The worst of the heat broke today. At least here, still hot north of here, but I think it is cooling at least in most of western Oregon tonight. So many people lost birds
I just read this interesting article thought others might be interested:
https://extension.umn.edu/poultry-care-and-management/preventing-heat-stress-poultry

My ladies getting into mischief as soon as they were cool enough, they know they aren't allowed on that side of the fence!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I'm so sorry. It's never easy to lose one let alone suddenly.

Your right, loosing one suddenly that appeared to be thriving is hard. I think the hardest part is that Rosie has fallen for these guys after wanting one for so long. And they adore her, she has them hopping in her lap every time she is out there with them. She is heart broken this evening as that chick was one of her favorites and was the one she'd named branch.

 

[Scrambles83]

Your right, loosing one suddenly that appeared to be thriving is hard. I think the hardest part is that Rosie has fallen for these guys after wanting one for so long. And they adore her, she has them hopping in her lap every time she is out there with them. She is heart broken this evening as that chick was one of her favorites and was the one she'd named branch.

Sorry you lost Branch Poor Rosie

 

[micstrachan]

Hi friends. Quick check-in. Watching a show with my daughter. Spent time in the ER today, but I’m fine. More later. All is well.