Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

@knoturavggrl, here is @BY Bob’s description of how he dealt with the rats - there were posts at the time when he was doing it, but this is a good summary of the method.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26040927

I learned this method from the city of Detroit. That is how they eliminate rat infestations without using poison so no other animals are harmed. Poison gets spread through the food chain with awful results.

Mrs BY Bob was playing with dry ice in the sink the other day

Tax

 

[Ponypoor]

Good afternoon everyone. I am going to keep everything chicken related today. My camera is charging up because I need to take lots of pictures later. First off Goose and Gryffyns chicks turned 4 weeks old Sunday. They are growing like weeds. Gryffyns 2 the weaning process is beginning. I cannot blame Gryffyn for it either, they are getting more independent and spending time away from their momma. I think but not 100% sure Gryffyn laid a egg this morning. It was laid in the tote where she sleeps with the chicks and it looks like a cochin egg. I will have to catch her in the act in the next day or so to be 100% sure. It could have been flurries, I overslept and was late letting everyone out of the coop this morning. Goose's chicks are still attached to their momma's hip and Goose will not have it any other way. I really see her holding onto them for a few more weeks. Holly and Momma's chicks are now 3 weeks old as of Sunday. Momma is still as hateful as ever so I do not get to spend time with them. Holly lets me snuggle hers after she brings them back up onto the porch at night. For the first time yesterday Momma had her 4 up onto the hillside with her. She had been coaxing them across the creek and at the bottom of the hill for a few days now. Raven is sticking tight, almost halfway through. She did accidently break a egg getting back on the nest 3 days ago but the other 11 are good, I think. I need to candle them now. The Marshmallows are gearing up for the big event. Every single one of them are scoping out the porch nest boxes and the coop nest boxes. They are 18 weeks old this coming Monday. Chiquita, Corona and Blueberry are giving off strong signs they are about to go broody. I've put my foot down, until the Marshmallows start laying no one else is allowed to sit. Well, maybe chiquita, I never include her eggs into the dozen I sell.

You have your hands full there for sure!

If Chiquita sits will her eggs be with Branch do you think?

 

[Ponypoor]

Monday night I noticed that she had prolapse and I helped her with it

Well I sure hope that she is on the mend - has she laid any eggs since?

 

[BY Bob]

Yesterday eveningView attachment 3516706

Sitting out enjoying the air

View attachment 3516707Watching the clouds shift...looks like some thunderheads are starting to build . View attachment 3516708Oh, they've broken off the storm behind them. Opened up the bucket and light show shortly before 10 last night.

Yesterday's unusual sight becoming more common:View attachment 3516710PITA and Pear up by the garage enjoying life

Just beautiful scenery. Glad to see PITA and Pear enjoying life.

 

[BY Bob]

The eye surgeon said that it would be strange for a while to see correctly. But now my bad eye is my good eye, not needing glasses. But the bad eye is the one watering and itchy. Difficult to explain I guess . When all else fails, I resort to chickens::: View attachment 3516777

Good choice. They are great at explaining things.

 

[RoyalChick]

She’s saying squuuuuuawk. I don’t know what that means but Dakota has been saying that for an hour. I fed her. I’m not sure if her prolapse vent has healed yet. But she’s not joining the group until I’m sure she’s okay

How did I miss that?
I hope she is OK.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Well crap, now what do I do? I could not put Madea down after what I figured to be a broken leg. Instead I managed to find a way to give him almost 2 weeks of semi cage rest. After a week he only had a slight limp and now hardly any limp at all. That still leaves me with the problem of 4 roosters, I do NOT NEED 4 roosters. He is currently doing something that until today only Branch does. Goose is on the porch in the nest box ready to lay her first egg back. I had a heart attack when I could NOT find her 4 chicks. I saw Madea sleeping under a overgrown weed on the creek bank. Thought nothing of it and continued searching. Well I found them finally. Madea is babysitting them . I was thinking of giving him to someone who wants to process him, well, obviously now that cannot happen. He is supposed to be in his idiot phase and make this decision and choice easy on me, but nope he spared himself today.
Guarding the weed.

Nope, not the weed, look who I finally found.

 

[RoyalChick]

now I have SHRA Tax!

I did that on purpose! I would like to see Sydney and Glynda.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well crap, now what do I do? I could not put Madea down after what I figured to be a broken leg. Instead I managed to find a way to give him almost 2 weeks of semi cage rest. After a week he only had a slight limp and now hardly any limp at all. That still leaves me with the problem of 4 roosters, I do NOT NEED 4 roosters. He is currently doing something that until today only Branch does. Goose is on the porch in the nest box ready to lay her first egg back. I had a heart attack when I could NOT find her 4 chicks. I saw Madea sleeping under a overgrown weed on the creek bank. Thought nothing of it and continued searching. Well I found them finally. Madea is babysitting them . I was thinking of giving him to someone who wants to process him, well, obviously now that cannot happen. He is supposed to be in his idiot phase and make this decision and choice easy on me, but nope he spared himself today.
Guarding the weed.
View attachment 3516965
Nope, not the weed, look who I finally found.
View attachment 3516966View attachment 3516967

Oh that is adorable.
Babysitting!

 

[BY Bob]

I have had great success with dry ice. You find all of the exits to the full l tunnels and close then all up but one. You pile dry ice over that one and cover the dry ice with dirt. The co2 created as the dry ice warms up is heavy. It goes down into the tunnels and forces the oxygen out. The rats all go to sleep to simply never wake up again.

SHRA TAX

Thanks @RoyalChick