Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Minnie update
Sorry for long post - really just therapy for me.
Even though she is a damaged breed (no, @Shadrach I am not going to let that go any time soon ), I am not giving up on Minnie.
At @BY Bob's suggestion I am trying starter grower feed - she seemed only so-so interested but at least she ate some yesterday.
She is way more interested in finely diced cabbage. Everything smells of cabbage - her poo (now more-or-less reliably solid) smells of cabbage, the Chicken Palace smells of cabbage (do chickens fart at night? I think she is gassing up the place!), my kitchen smells of cabbage, I assume I smell of cabbage.
I rather like cabbage but I may not be able to face eating it myself for some time after this.
Anyway, this morning at 6am when I went in to take Minnie off the roost for her private breakfast of starter/grower food with cabbage and meal worms, she was already up and about in the dark. And, shockingly, was nibbling on regular commercial feed.
She was joined by the rest of the tribe and they do run her off the food a bit but she was getting in there. I have observed that they are communal eaters and prefer to eat together so I decided not to put her in the hospital ward but let them all chow down on her breakfast. She of course didn't get the lion share, but I can do another plate at lunch for them.
Minnie is still very keen on Gatorade which probably isn't healthy, but on the other hand provides fast calories (dextrose) so I think I will keep letting her have it until she puts on some weight.
Her comb is still pale and shriveled - seems to go up and down a bit during the day, but hasn't been wonderful since I first got worried about her.
Her behavior is normal and energetic.
And her feather growth is interesting - she is developing a grey striped patch in the middle of her red chest and a thick wad of black feathers at the base of her rump. I don't know if those are future tail feathers or something else.
You can see all of that in the pics and short video below.

View attachment 2893851View attachment 2893852View attachment 2893853View attachment 2893854

She's lovely and so lucky you are being great and not up too par yourself.

 

[RoyalChick]

I was envisioning sone sort of solar powered crow that could “fly” back and forth hanging from a wire with pully wheels ir something, but haven’t found it yet. Might be fun to try to make if yhat’s your cup of tea.

in the mean time, i found this.

I was thinking of a drone like thing with a pre-programmed flight pattern!
Even better if it had hawk-recognition software on board.

 

[Marie2020]

Awww - thanks for asking.
I did the dreaded maneuver again yesterday morning and I think it helped some more. I can get in and out of bed OK now and haven't yet dared tried putting a sock on my left foot!
I am immeasurably better than when it first started but still not 100% and it really knocks your confidence a bit - I keep worrying it will hit me and I will fall over.
Hey ho!
Here is chicken tax of Maggie’s muddy toenails after digging up the long grass. She hopped up on my table to show me. View attachment 2893863

Just don't push too hard.

I so wish I could help. I know pointless words but I honestly mean it

 

[micstrachan]

Minnie update
Sorry for long post - really just therapy for me.
Even though she is a damaged breed (no, @Shadrach I am not going to let that go any time soon ), I am not giving up on Minnie.
At @BY Bob's suggestion I am trying starter grower feed - she seemed only so-so interested but at least she ate some yesterday.
She is way more interested in finely diced cabbage. Everything smells of cabbage - her poo (now more-or-less reliably solid) smells of cabbage, the Chicken Palace smells of cabbage (do chickens fart at night? I think she is gassing up the place!), my kitchen smells of cabbage, I assume I smell of cabbage.
I rather like cabbage but I may not be able to face eating it myself for some time after this.
Anyway, this morning at 6am when I went in to take Minnie off the roost for her private breakfast of starter/grower food with cabbage and meal worms, she was already up and about in the dark. And, shockingly, was nibbling on regular commercial feed.
She was joined by the rest of the tribe and they do run her off the food a bit but she was getting in there. I have observed that they are communal eaters and prefer to eat together so I decided not to put her in the hospital ward but let them all chow down on her breakfast. She of course didn't get the lion share, but I can do another plate at lunch for them.
Minnie is still very keen on Gatorade which probably isn't healthy, but on the other hand provides fast calories (dextrose) so I think I will keep letting her have it until she puts on some weight.
Her comb is still pale and shriveled - seems to go up and down a bit during the day, but hasn't been wonderful since I first got worried about her.
Her behavior is normal and energetic.
And her feather growth is interesting - she is developing a grey striped patch in the middle of her red chest and a thick wad of black feathers at the base of her rump. I don't know if those are future tail feathers or something else.
You can see all of that in the pics and short video below.

View attachment 2893851View attachment 2893852View attachment 2893853View attachment 2893854

Wonderful update! RC, the fact that she’s eating commercial feed is outstanding. Do you have more than one feeder out? I use a bunch of coop cups instead of a large feeder. (Though now I’m not sure tgey remember how to use a large feeder, which will be necessary when I go out of town in December).Too funny about the cabbage!

 

[micstrachan]

I was thinking of a drone like thing with a pre-programmed flight pattern!
Even better if it had hawk-recognition software on board.

Oh my gosh, even better!

 

[micstrachan]

I was thinking of a drone like thing with a pre-programmed flight pattern!
Even better if it had hawk-recognition software on board.

Here’s a start to that thought!

 

[micstrachan]

7 ladies playing in round 1 of leaf collection! They are having a great time, but get a little short with one another quicker than normal based on my morning observations today View attachment 2893850

Amazing leaf haul for them!!!

 

[micstrachan]

Awww - thanks for asking.
I did the dreaded maneuver again yesterday morning and I think it helped some more. I can get in and out of bed OK now and haven't yet dared tried putting a sock on my left foot!
I am immeasurably better than when it first started but still not 100% and it really knocks your confidence a bit - I keep worrying it will hit me and I will fall over.
Hey ho!
Here is chicken tax of Maggie’s muddy toenails after digging up the long grass. She hopped up on my table to show me. View attachment 2893863

Can you lie on your back to put on socks?

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I was thinking of a drone like thing with a pre-programmed flight pattern!
Even better if it had hawk-recognition software on board.

OH! that is a great idea!

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Hello

Would it be okay if I had a cup to

YES! absolutely, would you like Oat milk, 1/2 & 1/2 or eggnog with it