Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

What vit/minerals are in grass and plantain? Wriggle little worms: protein, live...

Grass must have protein - think of cows living off it!

 

[RoyalChick]

It’s weeks and weeks for a real molt to finish I think. I set up a Cozy Coop in a draft free corner of the big run but it’s not on yet. It’ll be a while before Popcorn has her full fluff and I want to offer it once it gets colder. I tested it a few times and wonder if they can see the radiant heat maybe as infrared? They had seen it before but looked more closely at it when they got near it when it was on.

Popcorn has a lot of long pins under her outer feathers, discovered when I’ve given them their mites permethrin treatments. I apologized for how uncomfortable it was for her with me ruffling them up getting the spray onto the skin on her back. Poor girl!

So I’ve been battening down this afternoon, closing up the big and little runs drafty spots with tarps getting ready for the cold. The drafts have been fine until today, which is cooler but very windy. At one point this morning I couldn’t find the ladies (with my eyes) anywhere in the yard or runs, then I checked the coop cam. There they were taking their late morning break back inside.

Peanut is still eating the bread antibiotic balls. Kind of funny today. Had to hold her to get her alone after treating everyone with meal worms. So I sat with her after locking everyone else up. She didn’t want the balls, so I offered her meal worms again, shaking the container, which she ate, then offered the balls, which she didn’t want, then the meal worms again (yes), then the balls (no). So then I put the meal worms away temporarily, and kept the balls in front of her. I waited, and waited, then said, “Well it looks like we might have to do the pill popping thing?” And waited. Then suddenly she began eating them! Lack of choice was the key here? Or the gentle threat?

Made the teepee poles for the electric and up a few days ago and the tarps roughly in place. Picture of the Buckeyes, when Peanut was acting pretty unwell. She's been appearing to feel way better, and her diarrhea is ended I think, haven't seen her poop but observed that in this second permethrin treatment her butt and feathers were very clean, all the mites sores and poop mess is gone and skin is a nice pale yellow-pink. Fingers crossed for the future, but for now she's enjoying herself again.

View attachment 3321101View attachment 3321102

So glad she is doing better. Tomorrow is my day to set up the heater and close up the windows.

 

[BY Bob]

Grass must have protein - think of cows living off it!

I have posted this before somewhere but grass is loaded with protein and calcium. It is almost the perfect chicken food.

 

[featherhead007]

Grass must have protein - think of cows living off it!

Cows with guns!

 

[LozzyR]

I can’t figure if she is really afraid. She comes up and pecks my legs and arms. But if I reach out to her she moves away.
And she doesn’t really eat out of my hand - but I may not have found the right treat.

Nyssa has never squatted for me, Penny never did either. Nyssa stays at arm’s length (probably remembering all the times I shoved liquid down her throat) but will happily get up on the wall next to me when I have the scraps bucket and eat from my hand.

 

[LozzyR]

This picture made me think of a silly 'ditty' my father used to say. I've amended it here to be more appropriate to the situation:

"Back to back we faced each other,
drew our feathers and quilled one another'



Original silly ditty was:

Back to back we faced each other
drew our swords and and shot one another"

I’m waaaaay behind and may be up for some SHRA tax, but the ditty I know is:

“One fine day in the middle of the night,
Two dead men got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other.”

Ditty tax:

 

[featherhead007]

Hi Lozzy.

 

[featherhead007]

I want to say something. After I retired from the US Marshall service I did a biography of my life but never shared it with you my friends. Back in 1977 I actually worked for Knotts Berry Farm food service. Steve Martin (comedian) met me. Then his career took off sky high. He was working at Disneyland magic shop. I always wanted to work for Disney too eventually. So I did. 10 years of being cast member of Resort engineering. (All us pilots are engineers) my memories of this time of life will never be forgotten. I raised 3 beautiful children during the time. Now retired, I have 8 feathered children to care for.

 

[LozzyR]

Hi Lozzy.

Hey Alex.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m up late but here’s my opinion