Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

So I was supposed to be sent home with a abdominal wrap but when it came time to leave they could not find one. Me and mom rigged one up this evening using the wrap that keeps her ice packs on her lower back. That and the ice are a huge relief. Mom is also a lpn, so she has insisted I do deep breathing exercises, controlled coughing and walking to the living room and back. What she could not prepare me for was that first sneeze. It hurt, and I cried.

Yes, and a nice firm small pillow works well too when you're alternating with ice. Teddy Bears with flat noses are perfect. Yay to your mom! Sorry about the sneeze, been there too and it's not fun. But yes, you must move every so often. Your innards and basically your whole body needs it to get normalized again. Hang in there!

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Update: it is 27 F. One of the reasons why I love snow is because since snow is white, it makes the night brighter.

 

[featherhead007]

Update: it is 27 F. One of the reasons why I love snow is because since snow is white, it makes the night brighter.

That’s one way of looking at it!

 

[lightm]

Ask Aurora
Today's question comes from @micstrachan Buttercup.

View attachment 3349762

Dear Aurora,

I really think I should be top hen. I mean, I’m the biggest and I’m the only one here with feathered feet! But that Bridge is just not having it. I swear sometimes she scares me with her dirty looks so much I shudder! Even though I’m bigger, I cannot challenge her. All the other hens look up to her. Why can’t they see my potential? Is there anything I can do to take her seat? Here’s a picture of me on the top roost in the upper level of the coop. Of course Bridge kicked me off. Please help.

Frustrated,

Buttercup



Dear Buttercup,

You are not alone. Around the world there are billions of chickens that feel like you do. They all think they should be in charge. Of all those billions, only a handful actually take action and determine their own destiny.

Buttercup, are you prepared to make your own destiny?

This is serious question because what you are about to do is difficult. It requires a commitment to purpose that very few hens have.

It is hard and it will take time. Ask yourself, is this how you want to spend your time?

It will cost you friends. Be certain that you are prepared to jettison those friends that would hold you back from reaching your own destiny.

Only if you are truly committed should you start down the path I am about to place you upon. Many hens start down the path and give up. The cost is too high they say. Many in your position chose to just wait out the death of the hen in front of them and then assume the mantle of authority through attrition. That is a strategy.

It’s a mamby pamby strategy but it can work.

Are you Hen enough to chart your own destiny?

If your answer is yes, them it is time to start fomenting a little revolution. And I am just the guide for whom you are looking.

A famous human named Thomas Jefferson once wrote that “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing”. The same holds true in the chicken world as in the human world. You have to believe that fresh leadership is needed at the top in your tribe and that leader is you. They will all be better off if you are in charge. A Coup d'état is what you will need.

Now that is a French phrase. It is not talking about a chicken coop where you sleep. It literally means “stroke of state”. Oh bother, perhaps I should have used a business term like “Hostile Takeover”. You need to seize the reigns of power without permission.

Another very smart human named Che Guevara once said “The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” He was of course correct and this advice too carries into the chicken world. You are not going to wait for Bridge to get ripe and fall. You are going to make her fall.

So how do you make her fall?

Whatever you do, don’t announce your intentions. Subtlety is the key here. You need to start eroding everyone’s confidence in her but you don’t want it to seem like it is always coming from you. You need to get others to start the conversation. Have side discussions with some of the “less aware” members of your tribe. Give them juicy bits that they can then share in group settings. Remember, this is a long game. Be patient and seed your fellow hens with discontent.

You need to get everyone good and disgruntled. Once you have everyone there it is time to act.

Another smart human, Winston Churchill, once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. What you are looking for is a good crisis. It really doesn’t have to be anything big but bigger is better. Of course, you can always invent one if you need to. It doesn’t matter what the crisis is the important thing is that Bridge seems to be incompetent and you seem to have all of the answers.

Once the crisis is underway, then it becomes a matter of how Bridge reacts. Will she bow to the desires of the tribe for you, the perfect leader with the right answers, to lead them or will she fight.

Yes, it could still come down to a fight. That is “The way of the Chicken” after all.

Hopefully you are working out and getting stronger this whole time. Hone those fighting skills when no one is looking so you are ready. Practice jumping and kicking. You must be at your best when the moment arrives.

What you have done with all this subtle work is assure that no one will help her; she is on her own now. Of course, she could, as Hattie did here, just step away and concede to your rule. Should she step aside, do not be magnanimous. You must consistently remind her that you are her better. Do not forget this part. Otherwise, you may find her plotting your downfall with everyone else. In fact, be certain to remind everyone that there would be a very high cost for betraying you. Peck them at every opportunity. Yank them off the roost for no reason. They never were your friends and surely are not once you become leader.

As a leader FEAR is everything.

If everyone was afraid of Bridge then your plan would have no chance.

Remember that.

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Oh my, the fear mongering insurrectionist Aurora

 

[Ponypoor]

I aah

Today is 38 F and dropped down to 37 F. I think it might snow this evening. Tomorrow, it'll continue to snow and conditions may get worse around morning so they might as well close schools and make it an asynchronous day.
Grandma asks, "What do you hate about the cold weather?"
I don't like how cold it gets. Also, I don't like the condensation build-up on my window. In PA, there's a window company called Renewal by Andersen and they make fibrex windows that they say is better than wood and vinyl windows and don't bring in the cold and especially no condensation

I agree with your statement ‘Idon’t like the cold either!’.

How are your chickies ? Hopefully they are ok with the cold!

 

[Ponypoor]

Update: it is 27 F. One of the reasons why I love snow is because since snow is white, it makes the night brighter.

Yes!!! I love when it’s a full moon and it shines on the snow making it so bright!

I hope for some lovely full moon and snow photos in the New Years out here. And hope for some northern lights also

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

I agree with your statement ‘Idon’t like the cold either!’.

How are your chickies ? Hopefully they are ok with the cold!

They are doing okay. We use dried leaves we raked up and place it in the coop. We don't take them down to the front yard anymore but we have a narrow area we close them up in (that's why Parmesan kept getting stepped on the other day) and they have hay, food, water and they are good to go. They think it's a jail and keep pacing back and forth, looking for an exit Poor Tony is still camera shy and thinks the phone is a weapon but luckily, I was able to get a photo of him.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Yes!!! I love when it’s a full moon and it shines on the snow making it so bright!

I hope for some lovely full moon and snow photos in the New Years out here. And hope for some northern lights also

I've been wanting snow for a while now because I want to enter the Winter on the Farm contest and I can't do that without snow! I mean, imagine taking a picture of your chickens on depressed looking grass and trees with no leaves... represents winter but snow increases chances of winning. I'd do the Chilly Coop contest but the coop is not a coop... it's a shed that used to hold the lawnmower...

 

[Ponypoor]

What’s a matter U ?

Flu

Not as bad as when I had Covid but I feel like

And I just had a sip of apple juice and you would think it was battery acid on my sore throat !!! I am bound and determined to drink that juice tho! Might mix with water

I just got up to take some cough medicine. The good stuff your Dr prescribes.

Wanted to check my chickies but the network here sucks - everyone is online at this time of night. We r trying to get them to increase the bandwidth but it’s a battle. I might just get a new internet plan with a turbo hub with Bell and bring it out here.

Or maybe try to get hooked up with one of the guys here who has StarLink. I asked him if I could use a wireless bridge from his wellsite to mine. He said yes. I just need to see where his trailer is - then I will order a bridge if I have a line of sight.

Ok I am tired again have good night Alex give Jaffar a mealie worm from me

 

[Ponypoor]

T

They are doing okay. We use dried leaves we raked up and place it in the coop. We don't take them down to the front yard anymore but we have a narrow area we close them up in (that's why Parmesan kept getting stepped on the other day) and they have hay, food, water and they are good to go. They think it's a jail and keep pacing back and forth, looking for an exit Poor Tony is still camera shy and thinks the phone is a weapon but luckily, I was able to get a photo of him.

Theynlook beautiful

Just tell them summer is just around the corner