Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I don't know what to do for the best.
Diana is clearly fading. This evening she did eat before roosting, but she didn't have the strength to go up to the roost. She started, but stumbled and then gave up. Now she has settled on the step in front of the servant's quarters. It isn't as sheltered as the roost (unless I shut the doors to the run) but it is a warmish night.
Poor Bernie was left all alone. She flew up to the rafters but was too big to fit and plunged to earth without much grace.
Everyone is settled now. Bernie on her own on the roost; Diana on the step; and the little Math Majors up in the rafters.
I am not sure what to do. Seems to me I have two options:

A) Leave everything as it is. They are all asleep now. I could leave them be but close up the doors to reduce any drafts on Diana.

B) Pick Elizabeth up and put her up on the roost next to Bernie. She did want to roost earlier but felt too feeble. But what if she is too weak to stay on the roost.

I am not sure what would be best.
WDYT?

I am so sorry to hear this, I would say as long as she is warm, and comfortable I would let her roost where it's safest. If you can close up the door I would do that.

 

[featherhead007]

Having a chicken in the house isn’t as bad as it seems. I have one or two, inside almost every night. Has Diana ever been inside?

 

[bgmathteach]

They did it again! Parmesan and Mozzarella have a tendency to sit on the pavement.
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I shooed them away but they did this again when I went inside half and hour later.
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Grandma never sits anywhere else.
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Nothing like a sun bathe on a nice, warm, sunny hunk of radiating concrete on a cool day! Really, Noah, don't you know that??

 

[Ponypoor]

I was trying to explain the dynamics of flight and airfoil lift, air distribution and the mathematics involved etc. but Xzit just didn’t seem to get it. She can’t fly worth beans. What she does, is elegant hopping up and down. I don’t think I have any birds that fly well. My only Leghorn has talent, but can only fly 15 ft maximum.

Maybe Xzit has Silkie in her Mine can flap/hop up onto the roost - but getting down is not so easy! They go ker-splat real well!

 

[bgmathteach]

Twofer Tuesday
My pretty new chickens!
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Hmmm, do you think they could forage any closer??? They look so sweet foraging that close together!

 

[bgmathteach]

I want to scream and feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall this afternoon. Grandma insisted she was fixing dinner tonight. She has a meatloaf ready to go in the oven and potatoes already peeled for mashed potatoes. The downside of this is the size of the meatloaf and amount of potatoes she peeled. I will be eating meatloaf for 3 days or longer and she peeled over 2/3rds of a 10lb bag of potatoes. I have no room in my fridge for leftovers, and she will absolutely not eat leftovers even though she claims she does. Tomorrow around dinner time she will ask what we are making for dinner. I am going to inform her not cooking eating leftovers. She is going to cry for 30 minutes or longer wanting a entire new 3 course meal fixed. This happens literally about every day these days. Oh and we also have to make cornbread and tonight and she is wanting corn as well. With my and her diabetes we do not need potatoes, corn and cornbread in one meal. Those carbs turn into sugar. I have already had one argument and conceded to the cornbread, but she is getting green beans or salad instead of corn. At this point though my dogs and chickens are eating good. Too good as she will get up in the middle of the night and throw leftovers out so she or we do not have to eat them once everyone is asleep. And people wonder why me and mom have insomnia these days. It is not safe for everyone to sleep at the same time.

Rant tax.
Chiquita this morning. She is demanding to know why Momma was allowed chicks and she cannot have any right now.
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Hugs for grandma issues


I think I would be saying the same thing if I was Chiquita!

 

[bgmathteach]

I don't know what to do for the best.
Diana is clearly fading. This evening she did eat before roosting, but she didn't have the strength to go up to the roost. She started, but stumbled and then gave up. Now she has settled on the step in front of the servant's quarters. It isn't as sheltered as the roost (unless I shut the doors to the run) but it is a warmish night.
Poor Bernie was left all alone. She flew up to the rafters but was too big to fit and plunged to earth without much grace.
Everyone is settled now. Bernie on her own on the roost; Diana on the step; and the little Math Majors up in the rafters.
I am not sure what to do. Seems to me I have two options:

A) Leave everything as it is. They are all asleep now. I could leave them be but close up the doors to reduce any drafts on Diana.

B) Pick Elizabeth up and put her up on the roost next to Bernie. She did want to roost earlier but felt too feeble. But what if she is too weak to stay on the roost.

I am not sure what would be best.
WDYT?

Are you able to move both Diana and Bernie to a lower roost - or a flat spot like the top of a log/stump in the run, so she is safe and has company??

 

[RoyalChick]

Having a chicken in the house isn’t as bad as it seems. I have one or two, inside almost every night. Has Diana ever been inside?

No. I brought her and Bernie into the garage when it was very cold and she was molting. But that is about it. I think she is comfy where she is. She explored some different options and chose the step. I think I will respect her decision.

 

[bgmathteach]

Darn it! I threw put some floaters this winter. Nobody is laying.

Floaters just mean they are old and have lost moisture and have more air in the shell than when laid. It could be more air because of gasses building up - or more air because moisture has evaporated and the eggs are older but not bad. Crack them open into a clean dish. If bad, you WILL KNOW (horrid Sulphur smell), if not, they are good to go. If you aren't planning on using them at the moment, freeze them. If you have a spell in spring when you have excess eggs, you can do this to have some for the 'lean' times.

 

[bgmathteach]

Thanks. I am going to leave her be. It isn’t going below 40 degrees so I will leave the door as well.
Poor old girl. I am defrosting some frozen corn kernels for her for the morning.

I do hope she is able to turn the corner and be happy & perky again For both you and Diana.