Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Only Alex would find something like this

And a good day greeting to you Marie

 

[rural mouse]

Mine seem to be unlike a lot of other flocks. They strip nothing clear. They even leave snacks behind on the deck for later. Knock on wood but as long as I have had them, they have not overwhelmed my grass and browned my yard for whatever reason. I cannot explain it but they seem to be conservationists. Never attacking any area too hard.

Mine either. The stuff I WANT them to eat, they just trim the leaves. Even the dandelions that I want to spread (dandelion wine...), the occasional deer does more damage than the chickens who live here and have access daily. They also let the grass grow rather than clip it down.....i think they like the seed heads better. Just wish they'd eat the coarse grass seeds and leave the shorter, more tender stuff...unless they're saving that for winter...eat the ones sticking up through the snow then

 

[BY Bob]

Oh Bob! I am heartbroken over this news...I created an earlier post and then removed it once I realized that all might not be good and continued reading! I'm so sorry that I haven't been around to add my support to you with everyone else. You did everything you could to save those babies!

There is nothing to be sorry for. Please do not feel bad. We all have our lives and I have missed events in the lives of others as well. You can't be everywhere all the time and should not expect to be.

Thanks for your thoughts now.

 

[BY Bob]

Honestly all I can think of at the moment is: what now?

What will happen moving forward in the future? Where to go next?

(Here's my synopsis for @Shadrach I suppose)

My first two chickens were the most affectionate. They were eager to hop on my arm and hid under me even as 6 week olds. At that time my viewpoint was optimistic and hopeful. I thought if they were just outside the glass back door we could watch them. But in one minute a fox had entered their temporary play pen. We managed to get the fox to drop them, but Cinnabar was dead and Creamsicle was dying of shock. My god I screamed. I was so stupid, but it felt just unfair.

However, there were four others we had taken in. They were not big fans of me. I tried to connect with them but they were not interested. Eventually all of them grew to be roosters anyway, which meant searching again.

I wanted pullets so I could just be done with the waiting game of hen vs rooster. I went to Facebook and found some EEs a few hours away. The seller said they had come from an excess order. I picked out my two and we went home. They were supposed to be 3 weeks old, but they were smaller than they should be. Inexperienced, I contacted the seller about the reddish tint of their poop who answered that it may have been from berries they ate. We did our best, but they were already so afflicted with coccidiosis that they died a few days after we got them. It was an experience to have a creature go into cardiac arrest in your hand. At that point it was hard to feel sad because I had already lost so much.

I couldn't bare to have sick chicks again. So I gave in and mail ordered 5 to be safe. The first few weeks were fine until one of my chicks had a respiratory issue. Luckily, the vet clinic that takes my cat and took my budgie sees chickens. He gave us medication for her. Breathing got better, eating got worse. There were many times I was prepared to lose her. After fighting for weeks my Platina has finally gotten better. My others Rime, Shirina, Katydid are well. Only cockrel Alba (from a pullet order) is alright too.

I know it's difficult to think "what next" now, but don't give up unless you absolutely want to. Horrible things happen to well meaning people for no reason. Loss can be sudden. Though this experience has been greatly harrowing, I hope you don't give up on chicks in the future.

You have been through so much more than me. I am so impressed that you kept going forward. You are a very strong person.

We here at Fluffy Butt Acres, all of us, will also move forward eventually. There is still some grieving and some closure is still needed.

 

[rural mouse]

I Lost One!

I could not find Phyllis tonight. The first night all week that I did not watch them roost. So of course, I check coop cam and there is no sign of Phyllis anywhere. Now she could be right against the door but Hattie would be awful close and she does not like Phyllis that close to her.

So out i go, I open the door to the coop, no sign of Phyllis. My heart drops. Where is she?

She is not in the run, not in the magnolia tree, not under the coop.

I open the coop again.

I can't tell you why.

Maybe I was thinking she was in a nesting box.

I still can't see her. Then I start counting and I notice 2 black trails on the high roost. This is what i saw.
View attachment 2365557

My terror is Phyllis' triumph. Every night Phyllis is the first in the coop and goes to the high roost. Tonight Lilly did not kick her off like she usually does.

Here is Phyllis enjoying the high roost before Lilly comes in to evict her. View attachment 2365567

Way to go, Phyllis! Persistence triumphs!

 

[featherhead007]

Welcome back Bob. Glad you are safe. I haven’t done anything really stupid during your absence.

 

[featherhead007]

Way to go, Phyllis! Persistence triumphs!

Phyllis missing? Then found. Please stop scaring the h… out of me!

 

[BY Bob]

I would love that!
Wasn't all the calling a sort of combination back and forth of "I want to lay, I'm going to go lay" and "where the heck is everybody?" and "I'm here, where are you?"

It is done.

 

[featherhead007]

YAY! Jaffar has just started with his crowing. It’s going to be a great day!!!

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you CB for putting this into words. Phyllis had an experience of motherhood, however brief.
Bob, although this plan didn’t work out, it came from a place of love. You didn’t set out to hurt anyone.
If the chicks had arrived when scheduled (which was completely out of your control) it may have turned out very differently.

Please be kind to yourself.

Thanks ACM. I'm not there yet but maybe I will get there eventually.