Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Kris said:
They served me very well, I finally gave up on them in December. And I’ve nearly worn through to the outer sole on the balls of my feet! The outside started to pull away too. I’m toying with the idea of cutting out the sides and turning them into some sort of strange sandal, if I do try to resurrect them for summer use I’ll be sure to post an update

Channel your inner Roman Legionary Kris!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I keep going back to her being her usual feisty self on Sunday. She dropped off so fast. They are very good at hiding if something is wrong.

I meant to weigh her before I took her back out on Monday. I might have caught it a day earlier if I had. I just thought it was her arthritis combined with the cold weather that caused the messy bum. I don't think a day would have changed anything at this point.

It's hard not to think "what if" but it really does no-one any good Bob.

She has had a long and happy, stimulating life with you being well cared for and well fed which is more than a lot of chooks get. You really put your heart and soul into these girls and I think they know and appreciate it.

 

[Scrambles83]

Wanted to say, Very sorry for disappearing on everyone, Say Hi, I miss everyone… and let everyone know what’s been happening here. I still have Chickens, and Arduinna… and am working on the house building! I received a beautiful Christmas card last week and have been meaning to log back in. I am sure I have missed so much.

Sorry I’m super late to the party but so great to hear from you!

 

[Scrambles83]

So, Hi again… it’s been far too long I know! And I am very sorry to have dropped out on everyone here. Life just got a little out of control, overwhelming and I have been having a really rough time. 2022 is getting better, it really is. So long story short, the contractors/goat hunters that were helping build our house didn’t. They totally ghosted us, didn’t return my calls and had asked for $20k, which I got (through primarily saving, and borrowing a bit from my family… I briefly considered a go fund me, but asked my dad for some help instead). I also lost cell phone/internet service for a little bit due to funding issues. I fell into a really, really bad depression, and was barely managing the day to days here.

Then DH (Andrew), who was working his behind off, became very ill. For anyone who doesn’t know, he has a congenital heart defect, pacemaker, and has had multiple heart surgeries since he was a young child. I almost lost him. He spent three weeks in Hospital, his was when the Flooding hit our province, we were fairly lucky on our island, but I was literally trapped for quite a while with no help or ability to get fuel/feed. While trapped by the Washed out roads I had to Put down my cat Charlie. Then I had a Mink attack literally the next day (it found a little hole in the floor of the coop by the door) and lost 31 birds, some I had quite close relationships to.

I got Arduinna a friend and slept out in the Barn with the two goats for several nights in early December. She’s moved outside and wasn’t too happy about it, but being completely distraught over Daddy not coming home… it seemed like a now or never time for bringing home Jimmy (especially as webhad lost a few other “goat friend” prospects to freezer camp with their owners not wanting to wait on my fencing getting done). There was another In-laws family blowout situation which culminated in a “If anyone harms my pets statement” so yeah, you can imagine. Andrew finally made it home the second week of December (with many new meds, and some upcoming surgeries are likely this year). We had to put down my last kittie Bullet, just before Christmas. That’s the really dark place I’ve been trying to climb out of for most of last year. Things are doing better…

I still have Sammy and Dean, we lost Cass to a raccoon attack. Roostie’s boy Chunk survived the mink attack, as did my Bully Girl, Tailless, Ziptie, and my Rogue mama who hatched out 11 babies in late summer, in my house trusses. It mostly took my broody hens and up and coming layers, as well as some of the core laying flock.

We have fully scrapped our second floor, replacing it with a planned attic, I reframed a lot of the first floor to accommodate the loss of the upstairs, and make it the wheelchair accessible space we had requested in the plans. I have been working everyday for the last three weeks for 5-9 hours on the build, often alone, sometimes with Andrew’s help, regardless of the weather. I also hired a local kid for a few days as well ($50/hr got me some general labour, and I knew I was in trouble when one of the first things she said was “so, what do you mean when you say “stud”…”)! But I’m making progress, and feeling a lot better about things.

Oh Kris, you are such a strong person. I’m sure I would have crumbled under such circumstances, my hat goes off to you, mate

 

[BY Bob]

Bob, I’m having trouble finding the post telling us when Lilly’s vet appointment is. Remember that Lily if the Desert Aloe Detox has helped some of my girls with ascites. Aspirin, too, but it can only be used short term. I hope the vet can shed some light and help guide you.

4:00 pm eastern today, 1:00 pm California time

 

[BY Bob]

We do our best. You do so much for your girls, you are so aware of them, most people wouldn’t have noticed these changes until things were much worse. Don’t beat yourself up too much, often there’s so little indications until it is far too late. With any luck the vet will have a solution to help her. You do ten times what most chicken caretakers would. Either way, Lilly has been lucky in having you in her life.

I have been lucky to have her in my life. It has been good for us both.

 

[BY Bob]

Kris said:
They served me very well, I finally gave up on them in December. And I’ve nearly worn through to the outer sole on the balls of my feet! The outside started to pull away too. I’m toying with the idea of cutting out the sides and turning them into some sort of strange sandal, if I do try to resurrect them for summer use I’ll be sure to post an update

Channel your inner Roman Legionary Kris!
View attachment 2995541

Yes! This would be so cool!

 

[BY Bob]

It's hard not to think "what if" but it really does no-one any good Bob.

She has had a long and happy, stimulating life with you being well cared for and well fed which is more than a lot of chooks get. You really put your heart and soul into these girls and I think they know and appreciate it.

Thanks ACM. It's important that I remember that. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Scrambles83]

Free Ranging on a Saturday

Yesterday's free range meeting went very well despite the need for them to work on some pecking order reminders and establishments.

Betty must have been relationship building along the drop door as no one was phased at all when she came around the corner and joined everyone.

Here is the first time they truly met, beak to beak.

Aurora did give her one little peck that weren't nothing but Lilly knows how to welcome new hens. The best part of this video is when Lilly spits out Betty's feather at the end. I don't know why but it made me giggle. Poor Betty but that is so classic Lilly. The old girl still has it.

That’s amazing!
Oh, Lilly I still love you, you old firecracker

 

[Scrambles83]

Lilly is who she is. She has frustrated me at times but I pray she never loses that moxie. I just love her for it. The Iron Beak herself.

You all have such eagle eyes.

The tools were actually partly to remount the chicken sculpture on the roof of the run after the the Christmas chicken was put away. Now today there will be new flooring put down in the dining room. A couple of the tools were for that as well.

Betty stands tall. In my experience polish have this wonderful tall stance. I think it is because of their mop top. Betty seems bigger because of the frizzle but also because she seems to have a neck more like Sydney. It is very long and she seems to use it for everyday walking about.

Moxie, perfect description