Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I would like to see a pic of that, the new silkie I have is very wee but very skittish, I could use something to contain her sometimes.

No chance of a picture. I need all 4 of my hands to handle her and the boot and the vet wrap!

 

[rural mouse]

Okay....FYI...I can be opinionated, but I can also respect others' opinions.. If you don't want to read the whole post, this sums it up!

Yes, I know others that raise them. I just won't, I don't think that they have a real chicken life/are content (do I know for sure? No!), and it isn't natural, so I refuse to raise them for myself. If someone else wants to, it is fine..but we bred them to be so fast growing that many start dying at 10-12 weeks. Right now, I eat my 'extra' roosters and some older hens...and am trying to create my own meat bird where the roos are more than 'just drumsticks' as my husband says, yet are still active, healthy chickens, can breed naturally, forage, etc. Something I am okay with raising and eating.(per my personal ethics) Plus, the cornishX - the one time I raised them, the meat was less flavorful and a mushier texture than our chickens. Note that I haven't bought chicken in the stores for years...so I am used to ours...but I do think foraging & free ranging makes the meat more flavorful.
Again, I don't condemn anyone for raising them...just like I don't for anyone raising the high production breeds. I'm just ashamed that someone somewhere felt that pushing the animal's genetic limits so as to make them unhealthy and suffer is just not right. But it is done, and won't be undone unless everyone thinks the same....which is virtually impossible since we all have different needs and opinions and values. Since I don't want to live in a dictator ship where other's values and decrees are shoved down my throat....I can feel strongly...but I can't and won't force my opinion on someone else. (Note, I sometimes won't shut upso you DO know where I stand...but I generally can live with other's opinions okay. )

Well stated. The idea of discussing something, concluding the discussion on a differing point and continue to differ in opinion needs to be practiced much more widely. that blanket statement, needs a chicken tax as it applies to all of life (In My Opinion).

 

[rural mouse]

When you get internet can you look at the videos I posted over on the thread I made in the emergencies forum - it is where you posted asking for video - and I have put up a couple of videos that focus on her walking. This one on FBA is just cute because she is trying so hard to be like the others.

Here are the most recent ones of her walking with and without the boot.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/post-25607902

I have learned a lot about handling chicks through this - the T-shirt burrito didn't work, she wriggled out of it. BUT, I had a pocket from some jogger knit pants (like T-shirt material but a bit heavier) that I had ripped up for rags. The pocket was perfect - I put it over her head and wrapped it around her body. She looked a bit like a victim of kidnapping but it allowed me to strap on her boot.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Poverty and Desperation are the fathers.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Such a lovely boy, your girl is a good little rider

Before Louis and more importantly Russ I was not a fan of Tennessee Walking Horses. I also in general am not a fan of chestnuts. Give me a buckskin or dapple grey any day. Enter Louis, who is bred and built to be a padded show horse which he was with previous owners. Louis was the horse Rosie first started riding by herself, he taught her a lot. Louis has 1 downfall, he will not ride with a loose rein and pulls. He was taught that, and after 30 minutes Rosie complained it felt like her arms were falling off. Then Russ came to the barn, Rosie thought as a boarder, but was actually on a 6 month lease for her. His owner also moved her other horse to the barn and asked Rosie to ride Russ with her while she rode her other horse. 3 days into that lease, we knew he was the one. Russ was previously used for years as a 4-H drill team horse, and the one his owner would let anyone who came to her farm ride. He neck reins, and Rosie has taught him many voice commands. He can also be ridden bareback with no halter. The over protective mother in me forbid this after seeing it once. What ever Rosie is up for, Russ will do. They have spent all day riding, she's went swimming with him, played around on barrel patterns. She can also take him in the local show rings in Trail pleasure and trail racking and be competitive. If all chestnut Tennessee Walkers were like Louis and Russ, I would have them all.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

No chance of a picture. I need all 4 of my hands to handle her and the boot and the vet wrap!

Need a sad emoji for that. Set your phone up next to you, we'd like to see your little hostage! (Kidding, not kidding...)

 

[LozzyR]

I just posted an update on Bernadette here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/post-25604835

Not much new news really but certainly no real progress so I am beginning to lose hope for her.

Im a bit behind but I’m sorry to see this.

 

[LozzyR]

So toads are ok??

Not cane toads. Don’t know if you have them there.

 

[Ponypoor]

No chance of a picture. I need all 4 of my hands to handle her and the boot and the vet wrap!

I bet
Slippery little devils are chickies

 

[Ponypoor]

Not cane toads. Don’t know if you have them there.

No, we don't have them here. It's way too cold here thankfully. I have heard lots of the importation of those toads to Australia from the Carribean and how devastating they have been to your ecology. I find it very disturbing someone would intentionally bring such an animal to an environment were it has no natural predators.

Our toads and frogs are native to Canada and I guess if I though my question through would have realized if Great Blue Herons can eat them so can chickens - Likely!

 

[Ponypoor]

Before Louis and more importantly Russ I was not a fan of Tennessee Walking Horses. I also in general am not a fan of chestnuts. Give me a buckskin or dapple grey any day. Enter Louis, who is bred and built to be a padded show horse which he was with previous owners. Louis was the horse Rosie first started riding by herself, he taught her a lot. Louis has 1 downfall, he will not ride with a loose rein and pulls. He was taught that, and after 30 minutes Rosie complained it felt like her arms were falling off. Then Russ came to the barn, Rosie thought as a boarder, but was actually on a 6 month lease for her. His owner also moved her other horse to the barn and asked Rosie to ride Russ with her while she rode her other horse. 3 days into that lease, we knew he was the one. Russ was previously used for years as a 4-H drill team horse, and the one his owner would let anyone who came to her farm ride. He neck reins, and Rosie has taught him many voice commands. He can also be ridden bareback with no halter. The over protective mother in me forbid this after seeing it once. What ever Rosie is up for, Russ will do. They have spent all day riding, she's went swimming with him, played around on barrel patterns. She can also take him in the local show rings in Trail pleasure and trail racking and be competitive. If all chestnut Tennessee Walkers were like Louis and Russ, I would have them all.

My Indy was like that, he and I logged 100s of miles and shows. It's so important for kids to have fun and enjoy doing things. And its wonderful when I see parents encourage this. We are most fortunate that we can do these things - I am sure Rosie knows this

My guy, he was so much fun, and extremely well mannered for a stallion, before him I had mares, now I wish I had all geldings and stallions. Of course I would have 4 mares now....

I showed him English and Western pleasure, dressage, show jumping, cross country, gaming... He was keen to try everything.

I still have one of his daughters (Sally) and a granddaughter (Lulu). Sally is a lot like he was she is 22 now (just turned on the 5th Apr). Lulu will be 20 on 5th June. Omg where did the time go! 20 years just like that... They are little old ladies, I am a little old lady... It's a good mix hahaha.

Age tax

Penelope tells me to suck it up old lady