Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Dakota Fanning said “sorry for your losses. It’s tough to be a chook sometimes!”

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Dakota Fanning said “sorry for your losses. It’s tough to be a chook sometimes!”View attachment 3536934

Thank you Dakota.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I should point out that yes while I am feeling down and frustrated. In reality the last year and half I have been fortunate. As far as loosing young chicks though before this group I had lost maybe 5. I guess I am due for a few losses. It just sucks that so many in this one group.

 

[bgmathteach]

The little clip on rechargeable fan that @micstrachan posted about way back is really effective at keeping them off you.
I even got one that hangs around my neck to keep them off my face.
Seriously one of the best investments ever. And you can also use them to cool down the chicken coop.
Michelle has some with a misting system included. It is so humid here I skipped that bit and just have the fans. They are the only way I can sit out with the mosquitoes in full force. So far this year it has been such a drought that they haven’t been so bad - but rain is forecast for Monday so by Wednesday or so there will be clouds of the little bloodsuckers.
Here is a link to the kind of fan I am talking about.

10000mAh Portable Fan... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092D8FTFK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I will attest to how effective they are - as I got two after RCs recommendation of them last year/fall. We had a couple really hot days about a week ago, and I put them in the run - and when I came home from work, about half the chooks were in one of the two places they were at. They are small, but the battery lasts a decent time, and for mosquitos, low or medium is fine for keeping them away. I need med. or hig for enough force in the run so multiple chickens can benefit. That said - these are far better than another one that was somewhat similar - as these have a much longer battery life! I also, at the end of the year - bought 2 larger fans that are rechargeable also(12" diameter) that I will deploy this summer when it gets miserable - these supposedly last up to 22 hours, but since I will put them on either med or high, it will be less. I will be happy if they last 12 hours - and I can alternate them - one running, one charging.

 

[bgmathteach]

This update does not surprise me although saddens me. I lost the very tiny silkie mix. I have been worried about this chick since the moment it hatched. I have never had one hatch that tiny, even a pure silkie. It ate and drank and I even treated it since day 1 with save a chick. At 5 days old it never grew. Yes it was sporting wing feathers instead of down but it was clearly failing to thrive. This past week has just sucked. I am very close to being mentally done with chicks this season.

 

[Ponypoor]

He sticks to his own girls, and yes he ignores the babies

Yep just like Mr P

 

[Ponypoor]

What a good boy he is!!!! Given they (chickens) are on nearly everyone's menu, it is good for him to sound the alarm on a rabbit until they spend enough time with rabbits around to learn that they aren't a threat! Lets hope for all involved that they realize that sooner then later - stress is never good for anyone!

Lots of rabbits, they see them every day

Not sure why he was so freaked out this time, maybe the babies were nearby, or the jets flying over upset him.

But it was funny when I ran out there and it was a rabbit! I was expecting a fox again.

 

[LhickenChicken]

WHY THE FAVORITES???!!!

Poor Lhicken. She is at the bottom of the pecking order, and got bullied so much she wasn't able to even EAT or DRINK. She laid an egg on the floor and is very lethargic. She has had some mash, dandelions, and water, and seems a bit better. But WHY. The. Favorites. Alllways. Get. Targeted.
Those darn hens

 

[Ponypoor]

This update does not surprise me although saddens me. I lost the very tiny silkie mix. I have been worried about this chick since the moment it hatched. I have never had one hatch that tiny, even a pure silkie. It ate and drank and I even treated it since day 1 with save a chick. At 5 days old it never grew. Yes it was sporting wing feathers instead of down but it was clearly failing to thrive. This past week has just sucked. I am very close to being mentally done with chicks this season.

Oh that is sad, Hard to deal with failure to thrive, chicks are already so fragile as it is and you did everything you could.

I always say you have to have nerves of steel to have pets, esp baby pets.



I hope next week is a better week for you.

 

[notabitail]

Dakota Fanning said “sorry for your losses. It’s tough to be a chook sometimes!”View attachment 3536934

You have a sour cream container collection?
I have a yeast jar collection. I use one to feed the chooks mealworms.