Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

More yuck… trust me I finally broke down and herded some of them into different fields, all the random lambs separated from mom and screaming their heads off about it was getting on my nerves and Jimmy’s too. So much poop, slippery, smelly, gross poop. Everywhere.

So I guess no 'Aunt Martha's Sheep' solution for you???! Hahaha

Yum!

 

[BY Bob]

OMG, Bob. I think I missed that Lilly died while you were in Italy. I’m so sorry to read that.

Don't worry. It can be hard to keep up. I am hopeful that you are starting to feel better.

 

[Ribh]

Hormones, Alex… raging crazy female chicken hormones, and they are contagious too. I went several years without a single broody hen, then one decided to sit on the eggs, since then it’s been spreading. I’ve got four right now (please let at least some of the eggs be good!) and three more seriously threatening

It is contagious. My bantams rotated all summer. First all the white girls, then the Wyandottes, then the black girls. And they would all pile into one nest & squabble about who actually got the egg.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thank you for the words of encouragement.
I am actually not too afraid Bernadette will hurt herself and I do believe she will only learn to adapt if she goes out in the world and tries to do things. I am impressed by how much she is able to do and has already learned to do.
I am a little afraid that she won't be able to get away fast enough if one of the big chickens attacks her and that she needs to be able to find her way back to the safe places where the big ones can't reach her. Both Bella and Lulu can fly up to their penthouse. Bernadette just cannot leap up and however much she flaps she can't get above 18" (a half a meter).
I believe that Bella and Lulu are not going out and exploring the coop because Bernadette cannot physically do so and so they stay with her. Now they have access at ground level so I am hoping that Bernadette will be able to explore and the others will go with her.
But the signs are not encouraging. They have settled into their ground floor apartment and are spending their time cuddled together in a cardboard box just a few steps from a doorway to the wider coop world. They are alert but they prefer to watch everything from the comfort of the cardboard box!
They behave a bit like a cult - they have everything they need from each other and no need to enter into the outside world.
I have blocked off access to the penthouse because all of a sudden this morning the lovely Minnie has become very ill. I thought I felt a stuck egg but then it wasn't there so I am not certain. So Minnie has moved into the penthouse (hospital ward) and the Hooligans are confined to their ground floor apartment with access to the whole of the Chicken Palace if they would just get off their butts and explore!

Here they are cuddled in their ground floor apartment all tangled together in the cardboard box they love. They go out and eat and drink and then come back and spend the day together in the box.
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And here is Minnie who is really the picture of misery and who I fear I may lose. She is not moving and as you can see is very miserable. She looks just like Elizabeth before she died. Same thing - yesterday she was fine. This morning definitely not fine.


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Oh no! Poor Minnie.

I haven't yet found a post about a vet appointment- has she had one? What did they say?

 

[Ponypoor]

That was my summer. Eight bantams & someone always broody.

Haha oh glad someone else has that issue! 4 silkies... One loving a couple of golfballs at the moment

 

[MaryJanet]

I just made a vet appointment for tomorrow morning for Minnie (assuming she lasts that long). I doubt the vet will be able to help - I am a big fan of hers and she has chickens herself, but she is not specifically an avian vet and I don't think many people bring in chickens (at least not judging by the celebrity status that Bernadette has with the clinic staff!), so her experience base is limited.
I can't believe how fast these creatures go off. She was absolutely fine all day yesterday - I spent a fair bit of time inside the Chicken Palace because I was constructing the ground floor apartment for the Hooligans and I took lots of breaks sitting out with the big Princesses as they foraged around outside.
Late - when it was almost dark - I thought she looked a bit fluffed up on the roost - but not enough to cause alarm and frankly everyone was heads well tucked in I think because of all the rukus the Hooligans were making when it was well past bedtime.

Found the vet post. Hoping for some robust advice I recall the vet is willing to reach out to other vets, which is good.

 

[Ponypoor]

It is contagious. My bantams rotated all summer. First all the white girls, then the Wyandottes, then the black girls. And they would all pile into one nest & squabble about who actually got the egg.

For 5 weeks in Feb/Mar, 2 of my silkie both shared a nest and 2 golf balls , they are hatch mates.

 

[RoyalChick]

Found the vet post. Hoping for some robust advice I recall the vet is willing to reach out to other vets, which is good.

Thank you MJ. I am honestly not expecting Minnie to survive the night.
I managed to get a half a ml of fluid into her (electrolytes and sugar). That is all she tolerated. I hope it at least made her tongue feel less dry.
I can't get my mind around how fast she went down hill - she isn't a high production breed and she is young. It is just so, so sad.

 

[BY Bob]

Bob your ladies were, and are just lovely .

I sometimes wonder why I open myself to the sadness that can and will happen when you have pets, but then I remembered the joy I get from them. And I hope they also have enjoyable lives. I think they do, just like I know your gals do.

That is very kind of you to say. It was devastating at the time. Legertha and Sylvie would roost on my arm and groom and talk to me. They would snuggle at my neck. Just like Maleficent would.

Any affectionate chickens I have had like that have died way too young.

The hen that replaced them, Betty, will not even eat from my hand. I love her for who she is but if any chicken is ever that affectionate to me again I'm sure I will be very fearful for their lives.

Sansa and I had our own special bond as well. She was mean to the others but liked to hang with me so I miss her greatly. And Lilly, well she was Lilly. The grand old Dame herself. So many great Lilly stories.

 

[Ponypoor]

She licks my head (that’s close enough)

Hahaha ewwwww horse goobers!