Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

They’re back:

 

[BY Bob]

Today fifi and her new friend went outside and they loved it,they were baithing,sleeping and cuddling
View attachment 3517710
They are still not quite used to me and are still a little scared, but look at how cute they are laying like this together

Such darlings.

 

[BY Bob]

Fifi had a terrifying experience with the attack and likely has been in shock.

And was alone. They need the comfort of the flock as well. Many times lone chickens have failed to thrive and passed away through simple loneliness.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I am so sorry for my long absence! I am indeed alive, in case you all were wondering.
Life has made me very busy. School is out, and I was just super busy with all the school work.
Most of my animals are fine. Bilt got a beak trim after she stopped laying eggs, I got worried and thought her beak was causing problems. She is back to laying fine green eggs.
Pastel is doing a fine job protecting his ladies. In fact, I'm out with them right now, and as I am writing this about him, he has started crowing.
Splotch is doing just fine as the oldest hen. She and Pastel are inseparable. She is having problems... whenever she eats she starts sneezing and shaking like she is choking l. By whenever, I mean sometimes.
Willow is a sweet little girl. She comes and asked for treats and cuddles. She will come and jump on my hand and perch there.
BBQ though... Her bumblefoot is bad. Really bad. I am convinced that she is not living the best quality of life that she should. I'm going to see if I can't take her to the vet soon... I am debating whether or not I should put her down. I feel like she is suffering.
All of the guineas are fine.
I am giving 5 of my babies away, and one of my adults. They are going to a close friends farm tomorrow.
I found out on Saturday that in November, my horse that I ride, Lenny, will be moving...
My dogs are fine aswell!
I am leaving for my Alaska trip on Monday! I am so eggcited!!
Tonight the person who is going to be taking care of the birds is coming to see how we take care of them.
Two days ago there was a Cottonmouth snake near the coop... So do you know what I did? I grabbed a gun and started shooting at it... I have no idea whether I hit it or not. Then the next day, I saw two yellow rat snakes heading towards the coop, and a few minutes after that I saw a baby garter snake... what is it with all those snakes!?
Well, I will come back later I'd I remember. I'm gonna need someone to tell me what all happened the past few weeks!! Like how Eli is!! I hope she made it through all her egg problems.

 

[GregnLety]

Saw a hawk kill one of our pullets this morning as I was greeting the hvac guy. I yelled, the hawk dropped her but she was dead. A short-time later the tech read the last rites to our evaporator coil that is pouring out freon. Guess I won't be buying any lottery tickets today.

 

[BY Bob]

Rat update:
In addition to the ideas everyone here had, I also found this thread helpful, as it helped me to identify the type of rats I have:
Thread 'Rat Control 101'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-101.1283827/

Almost all of the wood chips are currently out of my coop. All of the holes could find are filled. I moved the the food out into the run. I replaced the waterer with a nipple waterer instead of cups. My husband removed all wood and vegetation from around the coop. I cleaned up the storage area side to reduce the nice hidey places we had been providing them with. So hopefully we have made it a less hospitable place for them to live.

I will wait a few days and see if this is enough for them to move on. If not we will do the dry ice and electric zapper to kill them off or at least reduce the population.

They are not going to just move on. They will now spend their time trying to defeat your measures. You will need to kill them somehow. In general, rats do not move on once they have moved in.

 

[BY Bob]

Holly and her 6 are hiding under the building and not coming out right now so will have to get pictures of them later.

Momma Hen + 4
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Gryffyn's 2
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Goose +4
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Great photos!

 

[RoyalChick]

I am so sorry for my long absence! I am indeed alive, in case you all were wondering.
Life has made me very busy. School is out, and I was just super busy with all the school work.
Most of my animals are fine. Bilt got a beak trim after she stopped laying eggs, I got worried and thought her beak was causing problems. She is back to laying fine green eggs.
Pastel is doing a fine job protecting his ladies. In fact, I'm out with them right now, and as I am writing this about him, he has started crowing.
Splotch is doing just fine as the oldest hen. She and Pastel are inseparable. She is having problems... whenever she eats she starts sneezing and shaking like she is choking l. By whenever, I mean sometimes.
Willow is a sweet little girl. She comes and asked for treats and cuddles. She will come and jump on my hand and perch there.
BBQ though... Her bumblefoot is bad. Really bad. I am convinced that she is not living the best quality of life that she should. I'm going to see if I can't take her to the vet soon... I am debating whether or not I should put her down. I feel like she is suffering.
All of the guineas are fine.
I am giving 5 of my babies away, and one of my adults. They are going to a close friends farm tomorrow.
I found out on Saturday that in November, my horse that I ride, Lenny, will be moving...
My dogs are fine aswell!
I am leaving for my Alaska trip on Monday! I am so eggcited!!
Tonight the person who is going to be taking care of the birds is coming to see how we take care of them.
Two days ago there was a Cottonmouth snake near the coop... So do you know what I did? I grabbed a gun and started shooting at it... I have no idea whether I hit it or not. Then the next day, I saw two yellow rat snakes heading towards the coop, and a few minutes after that I saw a baby garter snake... what is it with all those snakes!?
Well, I will come back later I'd I remember. I'm gonna need someone to tell me what all happened the past few weeks!! Like how Eli is!! I hope she made it through all her egg problems.

Good to see you back and sorry about BBQ. Why would Bilt’s beak have anything to do with her laying? I think beak trimming can cause a lot of pain.


Every week on Saturday there is a summary of all the happenings at FBA.
I have trouble doing links on my phone or I would post the link here. I can try that later. It helps with catching up.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I think Bolts beak problems would affect her egg laying because her beak was making it so that she could not eat very well. She didn't lay for about a week after we trimmed it, and then she decided that it was feeling better.
Just a theory though. She was also molting I think.

 

[featherhead007]

They are not going to just move on. They will now spend their time trying to defeat your measures. You will need to kill them somehow. In general, rats do not move on once they have moved in.

So true! That bad neighbor here, is still here. Hasn’t moved on, and doesn’t plan on moving on.