Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I am sorry you had to witness that. But you need to look at this as an opportunity to make changes, one person's voice can be heard and you can be that person.

The key is to not annoy people that may be on the fence and potentially persuaded to your point of view, rather than annoyed and dissuaded by rhetoric.

I only takes one person to make a positive change in this world, if you don't like how something is, if it is cruel, write about your experience and send you story to someone. They might not listen - but then again maybe they will, but you won't know until your try!

This world is full of sad and cruel things, it's all in what you wish to have happen to make change.

Tax
Some fluffy kids fluffing about (and I think that might be horse doodoo!)
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@Pastel The Rooster is there any opportunity to use the experience to cause a discussion with the group about the conditions the animals are kept in.
Maybe there were more people who were concerned but didn’t feel they could say anything. If you convert even a few people towards humane farming practices that would be a huge victory.

 

[featherhead007]

As awful as it sounds, I hope all those b

We were not abusing chickens! Or at least I wasn’t. It was Poultry Eval for my FFA chapter at my school. I knew that it was going to be bad. They are meat birds and laying hens straight from a bird factory, so they have never gotten the proper care. It is a competition, to see how well you can judge meat and laying birds, cooked chickens products, raw products, and whole chickens carcasses. As awful as it sounds, I hope that all those live chickens pass away soon, that way they stop suffering. I wanted so badly to make an offer to buy the four laying hens, but I knew that I couldn’t. It broke my heart. I almost broke the silence that was in the room by screaming at people for dropping the birds and throwing them the the cages. It was awful. I was the only one who felt bad for the hens. I was the only one who pet them and gave them quick chin rubs. I was the only one who didn’t throw them in the cages or drop them, nor yank them out of the cages without getting their wing or feet stuck. I promise, I was not abusing them. I just want them to be put out of their misery and suffering. I hate hen factories. I’m sorry. It just really upset me, needing to be quiet and not being able to help people grab the chickens. It hurt me just as bad as it hurt the chickens. My dad wouldn’t give a crap, because in his mind, they are livestock that should die when they slow down egg production. It was pure animal abuse.

That situation would have put me in a furious mood and I would have caused a real problem with those people.

 

[featherhead007]

@Pastel The Rooster is there any opportunity to use the experience to cause a discussion with the group about the conditions the animals are kept in.
Maybe there were more people who were concerned but didn’t feel they could say anything. If you convert even a few people towards humane farming practices that would be a huge victory.

 

[Ponypoor]

I can’t believe kids were being taught that was OK.
So sorry for you and for the abused chickens.
Just heartbreaking.

Farming community - the adults think its normal and ok. The kids are taught that it's normal and ok - and so it gets perpetuated.

It 's like at horse shows - people think how the horse is treated is normal and 'how it should be'. Actually it's like all things in this world - just look at how women were treated 100 yrs ago - even 50 yrs ago! Now a-day that sort of thing would be unheard of and people (women) wouldn't stand for being treated as anything but equals.

And all it took was one person to start!

Righteous Tax
Princess Dorothy, with her electric blue iridescent feathers

 

[ValarieF]

That situation would have put me in a furious mood and I would have caused a real problem with those people.

I would have went off cause I have a bad mouth.

 

[Ponypoor]

Ack, I don’t like the scilence! Someone please say something!

Us old Gr'ups don't type as fast as you youngsters! Nor do our brains work as well

....and then there is the whole working for a living thing which really does suck hahaha

We are listening and we are paying attention!

Here is one naughty chickie digging up my potted plant, Old Penelope - she knows that she pretty much can get away with anything and I won't scold her

 

[BY Bob]

The Marshmallows are either now 5 weeks old or 6 weeks old, will have to go back and check on the date I gave them to Chiquita. They are starting to look and maybe to a extent act like leghorns. They are going through what I can only describe as a fear phase at the moment where they get startled easily. Something startles them, and that fight or flight reflex kicks in and they can move fast. I like this, they are becoming more alert and aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately sudden movements from me can trigger this response as well. We all know that term that we are not allowed to refer to them, they are leaning towards that and I am perfectly ok with it. I can see it serving them very well since they are allowed to free range. Their alertness is already almost on a Momma Hen level. When they are out of the coop, it gets triggered and they are gone in a split second and they can also go "UP" if needed not just hide for cover under something. I just went out and took some pictures and videos. I'll put the pictures on this post and then upload the video's for the next one.
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They are also finally starting to grow in their combs. I am crossing my fingers that at least one gets a floppy comb, just one.

They are perfect little snow balls. Just look at the darlings.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow they are getting so big! What a bunch of cuties.

It is hard to beat a leghorn for cuteness!

 

[BY Bob]

The poop before was more normal with some of that white/yellow stuff on the top.
And the poops since have been just clear liquid.
The others are pooping just fine. And apart from drinking more than usual Eli is behaving normally. The reason I managed to grab her is because she though I had sunflower seeds in my pocket.

Spoiler: Previous poop

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That looks pretty good. Any way you could gather her up right BEFORE bedtime? Maybe with some actual sunflower seeds?

 

[Ponypoor]

And the eggs have doubled today. There were 8 in that spot when I took water out.

Wonder how many my kiddos gave us today. I can see two in the one nest box.... likely to be a few more