Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I skipped a few pages because I needed to post this right away.

Seeing people treat chickens like that leaves me speechless. Since March/April is the time to start buying baby chickens, people go on ahead and buy them. Three stores near me, Agway, Knisely's Pet and Farm Center, as well as Tractor Supply sell chickens around March/April. At these 3 locations, the baby chicks cost around $3 each. In my area, we're only allowed a maximum of 4 and no roosters. If you accidentally got a rooster (which we did), give it to someone who lives in a different area where roosters are allowed. I'm sure everyone here can own a rooster but since my area is technically a borough, it's a little small, so that may be the reason since most people in the area live in no more than 0.50 acres unless they own farmland or houses over $400,000. I own only 0.13 acres and that's 6,098 sq ft. Here's the sad truth, though. When the time to buying chickens draw to a close, the companies that sell the baby chicks do the most cursed thing anyone would ever do. My dad told me that after "baby chicken season", the companies with the remaining baby chicks grind them up. The reason why, I don't know. Into what, I don't know. Possibly food. Heck, they might be the next ingredient in a dog or cat's wet/dry food. I checked and it was confirmed that Tractor Supply does in fact grind them up. It's not just the chicks but the ducks and other poultry/birds that are being sold. Change.org decided to start a petition to stop this. I don't know about Agway and Knisely's but I'm willing to bet they do the same thing too. This is a literal tragedy. The whole problem is this is literal animal abuse. Call ASPCA. I'd like to leave a report. I'm also confused. What's making this issue even worse is that the companies don't want to sell the poultry for free. I understand it's all part of business but why? Would you rather get arrested for grinding up animals or sell them for free and not get in trouble for it? I don't know if this is some sketchy law or rule the companies have to follow but is it the same for everywhere else or is it just Pennsylvania that does this? I sure hope Pennsylvania isn't the only state doing this or else we'd be the "most hated" state. To be quite honest, I've never had a passion or obsession over this state, anyways but that's besides the point.
You all know Tony is fidgety so if he hears this, it'll traumatize him more. Sorry for the blurry photo.
View attachment 3419255
Let's talk about something happy, now. Funny captions.
I don't know what Parmesan was thinking when she said she wanted to be a model.
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Mom? Why is that chicken acting like she is about to get swatted? (photo 1)
No, honey. She's aware of her surroundings.

Sadly what you speak of goes on everywhere. Most animals used for food are not treated well by humans. It is important to find companies that do treat them well and give those companies our business.

Sadness tax

 

[BY Bob]

Our EEs are the worst for going broody and they do it in pairs, lol. Still yet to have a broody Silky but maybe one of the young Silky crosses will be a broody girl.

That is so odd. I love that chickens can mix us up like that.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I came across this article just now and thought you might find it interesting. It is on differing perceptions on what chickens are.

https://bitchinchickens.com/2023/02/23/culture-clash-questioning-the-consensus-on-chicken-care/

Thank you so much! I just read this whole article! I know a ton of people who think of chickens as recourses, while I think of them as pets. Thank you so much!

 

[featherhead007]

I found a spot on Coco’s foot. Beginning of bumble foot. She’s sleeping on a soft blanket tonight.

 

[GregnLety]

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.

I am so sorry that you had to experience that

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I skipped a few pages because I needed to post this right away.

Seeing people treat chickens like that leaves me speechless. Since March/April is the time to start buying baby chickens, people go on ahead and buy them. Three stores near me, Agway, Knisely's Pet and Farm Center, as well as Tractor Supply sell chickens around March/April. At these 3 locations, the baby chicks cost around $3 each. In my area, we're only allowed a maximum of 4 and no roosters. If you accidentally got a rooster (which we did), give it to someone who lives in a different area where roosters are allowed. I'm sure everyone here can own a rooster but since my area is technically a borough, it's a little small, so that may be the reason since most people in the area live in no more than 0.50 acres unless they own farmland or houses over $400,000. I own only 0.13 acres and that's 6,098 sq ft. Here's the sad truth, though. When the time to buying chickens draw to a close, the companies that sell the baby chicks do the most cursed thing anyone would ever do. My dad told me that after "baby chicken season", the companies with the remaining baby chicks grind them up. The reason why, I don't know. Into what, I don't know. Possibly food. Heck, they might be the next ingredient in a dog or cat's wet/dry food. I checked and it was confirmed that Tractor Supply does in fact grind them up. It's not just the chicks but the ducks and other poultry/birds that are being sold. Change.org decided to start a petition to stop this. I don't know about Agway and Knisely's but I'm willing to bet they do the same thing too. This is a literal tragedy. The whole problem is this is literal animal abuse. Call ASPCA. I'd like to leave a report. I'm also confused. What's making this issue even worse is that the companies don't want to sell the poultry for free. I understand it's all part of business but why? Would you rather get arrested for grinding up animals or sell them for free and not get in trouble for it? I don't know if this is some sketchy law or rule the companies have to follow but is it the same for everywhere else or is it just Pennsylvania that does this? I sure hope Pennsylvania isn't the only state doing this or else we'd be the "most hated" state. To be quite honest, I've never had a passion or obsession over this state, anyways but that's besides the point.
You all know Tony is fidgety so if he hears this, it'll traumatize him more. Sorry for the blurry photo.
View attachment 3419255
Let's talk about something happy, now. Funny captions.
I don't know what Parmesan was thinking when she said she wanted to be a model.
View attachment 3419256
View attachment 3419257
Mom? Why is that chicken acting like she is about to get swatted? (photo 1)
No, honey. She's aware of her surroundings.

I have seen posts about chick grinding when I was younger. I freaked out and ran screaming to my parents, and they didn't believe me. Egg factories ( when they hatch out chicks) grind all if the cockerel as day old clocks. They leave the pullets and pretty much burn their beak off, and give them vaccinations ( probably shots to make them lay more ) I can't stand any animal abuse, but chickens are so underrated, so it is almost worst.

 

[RoyalChick]

We don't know she is sick yet. I wanted a bedtime craw check to make certain it was full tonight and she wasn't fake eating all day.

Ah. Got it. I am pretty confident she wasn’t fake eating. But now I understand.
I will spend some more time tomorrow watching her.
She really is amazing - she hops up from the roost to the rafters without even calculating. Babs at least has to think about it. Not Eli she just levitates.
Here she is about to take her full crop up to the rafters.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I found a spot on Coco’s foot. Beginning of bumble foot. She’s sleeping on a soft blanket tonight.

Ah no. I can help with that! I've felt with bumblefoot two times before, and while the article Ponypoor showed me tells people joy to go off of personal advice, this works for everyone dealing with bumble. Get warm water and put PURE Epsom Salt in it. Soak her foot for 15 minutes. Take her out and try to squeeze the scab out of her foot. Once you get the scab out (may take a few days) squeeze the pus out. Put Vetercyin (incorrect spelling!) On the scab and put Neosporin on it. No pain medicated Neosporin. If you want you can use Blu-Kote, but it makes it harder to see. Wrap her foot up in adhering vet wrap, and she is all good Hope this helps!

 

[BY Bob]

Ah. Got it. I am pretty confident she wasn’t fake eating. But now I understand.
I will spend some more time tomorrow watching her.
She really is amazing - she hops up from the roost to the rafters without even calculating. Babs at least has to think about it. Not Eli she just levitates.
Here she is about to take her full crop up to the rafters.

View attachment 3419292

That crop does look full of something.

 

[rural mouse]

That's a nice haul.

4 were yesterday's!