Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Mystery solved, now…what to do about it?

Well it looks like the cause of my “naked butt” girls is from one of them “feather plucking/pecking”, and pretty sure the culprit is Scarlett.


I observed it happen several times this morning. It shouldn’t be dirt related, since they are on a food that is 18% protein. And it doesn’t appear overtly aggressive (although there is definitely some mild aggression to it). It is more like she sees a fluffy butt on a girl with her head down and can’t resist going over and grabbing a few of those fluffy little feathers. So now, what I do to stop it? Especially with my limited mobility right now?!

You might update the other thread you made for this problem. You could link this post if you'd like more input on possible solutions.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Wow these temperatures are crazy. Its going to be as high as 80 degrees thursday. My blood sugar is down so I ate a danish. Im diabetic so I dont eat sugar unless my blood sugar drops. Its very cold outside I hope the chooks are warm enough. I put te heat in there last night. Gonna talk to my hubby about a new coop finish and Im getting silkie eggs to hatch thursday.

Ooh, a creme cheese danish is one of my weaknesses. Technically I could eat them more frequently, just have to give a proper dose of my quick acting insulin. Instead I treat myself to one every 2 months or so. I will get one, and then like you wait until my sugar is in the 80 to 90 range that way I do not have to take as much insulin to enjoy my treat. Temps have been crazy here as well. The beginning of the week it was in the 70s and sunny. Thursday heavy rains and flooding in the area. Friday morning in the low 30s and snowing. I think by Wednesday it is supposed to be back in the 60s and almost 70s again by the weekend. Who am I kidding, this is Kentucky. This time of the year you can experience all 4 seasons in 4 days.

 

[bgmathteach]

Do your chickens realize that those chairs are for humanity? Not poultry

Hmmm, this from Mr. 'I treat my chooks like human friends"

 

[ValarieF]

Ooh, a creme cheese danish is one of my weaknesses. Technically I could eat them more frequently, just have to give a proper dose of my quick acting insulin. Instead I treat myself to one every 2 months or so. I will get one, and then like you wait until my sugar is in the 80 to 90 range that way I do not have to take as much insulin to enjoy my treat. Temps have been crazy here as well. The beginning of the week it was in the 70s and sunny. Thursday heavy rains and flooding in the area. Friday morning in the low 30s and snowing. I think by Wednesday it is supposed to be back in the 60s and almost 70s again by the weekend. Who am I kidding, this is Kentucky. This time of the year you can experience all 4 seasons in 4 days.

Same here I only eat sugar when my sugar is low that way I dont really have to take the medicine. Its NC all 4 seasons here to in a day. As long as my chooks are warm thats all I care about.

 

[Ponypoor]

CATURDAY!

Frogger sleeping in DH coat
View attachment 3408856

And keeping me company
View attachment 3408857

Awww she is such a good moggy!

How is the leg? are you a bit better getting around?

Can't wait till it's summer, the grass will be green, the temperatures nice and hot!

Hmm looks like Blanche was molting in this photo.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

The new insulin pump system is here. I just have to wait to be contacted to set up training. Once I got it registered online Friday morning I was told I would be contacted in 1 to 2 business days. I'm guessing by Wednesday seeing as how Monday is a holiday. I know I have griped about my insurance making me jump through hoops in the past to cover my surgery but this time I have zero complaints. Actually I am downright thankful for it. The contents in that little box was right at $10,000 that my insurance covered completely with no extra hoops to jump through.

 

[bgmathteach]

I have a tree with a crook in it that I am surprised some haven't flown up onto! It would be a simple matter of hopping way up into the branches then haha!

Maybe @RoyalChick could loan you Eli & Babs??? They would teach your chooks how to properly utilize those tree branches!

Love that chunnel idea! I will definitely do that with the outdoor run,

My girls LOVE it.
@TX Chick Noob
Here are a few pictures of it: (Please excuse it's current condition - I've had for about 5 years now, and probably should be replacing the 'bag' and cleaning it up a bit!

And all it cost me was the screws to add the rails, roosts, and bottom board (not visible) to give the leggs a bit more support.

I also repurposed a free curio cabinet that someone was giving away because the curved glass in th e door broke. I removed all other glass (kept mirrors), replaced glass shelf with scrap plywood cut to size & added a roost, drilled holes and added some eye bolts to hang treats and such - again, except for hardware (eye bolts, screws) all was free/scraps. My dustbath (a mortar tub that had been built into a raised water table for kids) I got at Habitat for Humanity for $5, and attached some roosts off of it. My chickens love and utilize all 3 things regularly!

Curio cabinet: (dust bath in background)

Dust bath with added branch roosts:

Edited to add: @TX Chick Noob : If you look closely at the right lower side of the curio cabinet - you will see one of the plant extended hooks I suggested earlier - that is one of the many I use to hang apples, cabbage, etc. Some grocery stores have 'getting close to need to be used' area for veggies & fruit. i am able to snag a bag of apples once every few weeks - usually at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost - to hang for them. (I go through pretty much 1 full plastic bag per 'hanging' given the # of chooks I have. However, the apples are usually still in good enough shape you could use some to make bakes apples for you and hubby as a desert. (when I make mine, I core the apples, fill the core-hole with raisins or dried cranberries, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake until tender. YUMMMMMY ( and, while does have a lot of carbs, is definitely a healthier desert than most.) That way you could use a bag of apples - between you & the chooks - before they go bad.

 

[bgmathteach]

I was planning on serving them all a tuna casserole for lunch

?mouse casserole instead?

 

[featherhead007]

Ramen noodles, onions, jalapeños, mushrooms, tomatoes, and strips of steak. Soy sauce, sesame oil and butter How come it tastes so sweet (sugar taste)?

 

[featherhead007]

?mouse casserole instead?

They are not getting the mouse