Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Looks like salpingitis and a respiratory infection. We’re not in a position to have exploratory surgery and she just looked miserable today. Barely ate and stood around hunched most of the day. She looked like she was improving the last couple of days but then seemed miserable today and I didn’t want her to suffer any more.

RIP Tegan sweetheart.

I'm so very very sorry.

 

[BY Bob]

It’s awful. I want my friend’s 12+ year-old chickens!

 

[BY Bob]

Winner, winner, Chicken um, Turkey dinner?

OMG - YES!! THIS!!!!

Not sure who instigated it! I have a couple of perpetual 'nope shrub/tree is better than the coop' ones.

Exactly! With the ones in the shrub, tree, and on the coop, 14 out of 27 had to be physically moved to the coop. I'm seriously thinking n 'play time' today.

Just think though, you got to hold 14 chickens. When is the last time you held 5 chickens in a day?

 

[BY Bob]

You know, I lost another hen last week because of this!!!

In my 'route 66' flock, I have 4-5 that like to roost in trees. One (of course, a DC girl) I can never find. In the morning, she comes running over and wants back in the coop so she can eat...but she is ALWAYS already down on the ground hovering around the coop - so no hint of where she sleeps. I've been telling her for months that one of these days she will no longer be there to greet me in the morning. Last Tuesday was the day. And it was confirmed when I later found 2 clumps of her feathers with skin attached.

I love my DC girls, partially just because they are so independent, closer to their wild breathren....but I also sometimes hate that they are so independent - because of times like this. I am very sad at the loss, but I had steeled myself for it all summer - the darn independent cuss

 

[bgmathteach]

Just think though, you got to hold 14 chickens. When is the last time you held 5 chickens in a day?

Well, actually, every day (night really), I have a group of 9 that always have to be put to bed (well sometimes ONE will go on her own..but the rest, never!) Then with my route 66 crew, 4-5 were always out. I only got to hold 3-4, thought as miss DC girl I never found her spot. And with the green coop crew, 2-4 are always out. Plus, of the young'uns ( 9 hatched by co-broodies), there are 5 I have to pluck from my pine and put away. For real, it takes me 1.5 hours to lock everyone up - every.single.night.

 

[rural mouse]

Looks like salpingitis and a respiratory infection. We’re not in a position to have exploratory surgery and she just looked miserable today. Barely ate and stood around hunched most of the day. She looked like she was improving the last couple of days but then seemed miserable today and I didn’t want her to suffer any more.

RIP Tegan sweetheart.

 

[BY Bob]

Gucci Didn't Care

There seems to be a bit of sadness around here today with the loss of Tegan and Lucky's illness to just name 2. Sometimes i find it helpful to look back at a life that was and remember at times like these.

The loss of Gucci was very hard on Mrs. BY Bob and myself. We thought we were turning the corner with her but she just didn't make it. For whatever reason, I was inspired by the event. It feels odd to say that but it is true. Out of that inspiration came a very long poem. I have been refining it for some time with the help of some family and friends. After a while I started thinking that it might make a good children's book.

What is attached is essentially a final draft of that book. I am reaching out to someone to have the photos turned into watercolor illustrations and then I plan to try and get it published. If nothing else I will self publish. I really want Eve and any future grandchildren I might have to have a copy.

So here it is. Please be kind. I hope you like it. It has been a labor of love. I can now read it and not cry so I figure it is time to share. Perhaps everyone can find some joy in remembering.

 

[rural mouse]

You know, I lost another hen last week because of this!!!

In my 'route 66' flock, I have 4-5 that like to roost in trees. One (of course, a DC girl) I can never find. In the morning, she comes running over and wants back in the coop so she can eat...but she is ALWAYS already down on the ground hovering around the coop - so no hint of where she sleeps. I've been telling her for months that one of these days she will no longer be there to greet me in the morning. Last Tuesday was the day. And it was confirmed when I later found 2 clumps of her feathers with skin attached.

I love my DC girls, partially just because they are so independent, closer to their wild breathren....but I also sometimes hate that they are so independent - because of times like this. I am very sad at the loss, but I had steeled myself for it all summer - the darn independent cuss

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Butters' head pins
View attachment 3335296
View attachment 3335298

Correction, this is Butters, not Popcorn, darn it! So edited. I've been getting them mixed up because Popcorn usually has lots of white in her head feathers. But this is Butters in her molt.

 

[bgmathteach]

Gucci Didn't Care

There seems to be a bit of sadness around here today with the loss of Tegan and Lucky's illness to just name 2. Sometimes i find it helpful to look back at a life that was and remember at times like these.

The loss of Gucci was very hard on Mrs. BY Bob and myself. We thought we were turning the corner with her but she just didn't make it. For whatever reason, I was inspired by the event. It feels odd to say that but it is true. Out of that inspiration came a very long poem. I have been refining it for some time with the help of some family and friends. After a while I started thinking that it might make a good children's book.

What is attached is essentially a final draft of that book. I am reaching out to someone to have the photos turned into watercolor illustrations and then I plan to try and get it published. If nothing else I will self publish. I really want Eve and any future grandchildren I might have to have a copy.

So here it is. Please be kind. I hope you like it. It has been a labor of love. I can now read it and not cry so I figure it is time to share. Perhaps everyone can find some joy in remembering.

Oh, Bob, that is a wonderful story...but heartbreaking. It made me cry! I'm sure Gucci would have loved the story, and be honored you remembered her in this way!