Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Sad news:
Today being Fathers day, I was cooking baking bread and the kids were up at our pond with their dad catching and releasing fish. Usually we go out to check on the chickens several times a day but today I only got a chance to go out once to collect eggs, change the wee ones water and we brought them a cool treat. All looked fine till I went to count, all the bigs accounted for. One of the littles was missing. I found a trail of feathers into the corner we had reinforced against the gd rats . Brownie has a minor eye injury I will address in the morning, I assume she got it trying save Fable.

Idk when this happened which is driving me crazy. All the babies still sleep in the tote. I went out tonight well after dark and stuck them all up on the roosts. They were quite unhappy with me but I feel like they may be safer up there then on the ground. I really hope they stay up there and don’t jump down.

I am really at a loss, and I am heartbroken and angry all at the same time. I think I am going have use poison. I made it much much much harder for them to eat the chicken feed so now they are going after my chickens instead.

 

[rural mouse]

That is a cat bird. The cat birds have built a nest in the rose of Sharon bush behind the furniture on the patio. Because of that, the male cat bird follows Éowyn around the yard squawking. I imagine he is saying, Cat!, Cat!, Cat!
Catbird even checks the patio door to see if she is in the house. He wants to know where she is at all times.

Here is catbird
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Here is a male cardinal who was chirping around this morning.
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Here is the both of them in the Birch tree.
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That's why it's familiar but I couldn't figure out why! Uncommon here, but is common around the area where one of my sisters got married! We went for several walks while we were there, through a park with lots of huge trees. It's a distinct and unusual call.

Yesterday afternoon I heard a duck (again) and saw it, but at enough distance that details don't exist. My dad knows what it is cause I had to ask last year, too. It flies in circles at high altitudes with a cry that sounds much like kids playing cowboys and Indians. Maybe the "cry" is the way it beats its wings. It circles even above heights loved by birds of prey using the air currents to float.

"Other" birds

 

[Ponypoor]

Sad news:
Today being Fathers day, I was cooking baking bread and the kids were up at our pond with their dad catching and releasing fish. Usually we go out to check on the chickens several times a day but today I only got a chance to go out once to collect eggs, change the wee ones water and we brought them a cool treat. All looked fine till I went to count, all the bigs accounted for. One of the littles was missing. I found a trail of feathers into the corner we had reinforced against the gd rats . Brownie has a minor eye injury I will address in the morning, I assume she got it trying save Fable.

Idk when this happened which is driving me crazy. All the babies still sleep in the tote. I went out tonight well after dark and stuck them all up on the roosts. They were quite unhappy with me but I feel like they may be safer up there then on the ground. I really hope they stay up there and don’t jump down.

I am really at a loss, and I am heartbroken and angry all at the same time. I think I am going have use poison. I made it much much much harder for them to eat the chicken feed so now they are going after my chickens instead.

Oh those dratted rats I am so sorry to hear this, I really hate rats and mice now, chewing on everything, peeing and pooping everywhere. So infuriating. I sure hope Brownie’s eye is ok, I am reading to catch up it’s morning here





I am also waging war wth them, I noted they borrowed under my pavers in the stalls and the brick caves in.

I am worried to use poison with the chooks around - maybe I will lock them all away in the new summer house for a couple weeks

 

[rural mouse]

Hello! Back again after a bit of vacation. The neighbor took care of the chickens and I came home to healthy happy chooks. Except Eenie seems to be going broody! Not sure what to do about it since this is my first time. The neighbor was diligent in picking up eggs so she has nothing to hatch. I wouldn't mind her hatching a few, but all 3 girls share one box. They won't touch the other 2 boxes. I have one girl laying brown eggs and thought maybe I can gather just the others and leave the brown for her to hatch. Could that work? It's that or try to break the broodiness I guess. But how can I get the other girls to use those other boxes?

Put a couple of eggs in the other boxes.

 

[BY Bob]

Have they ever fallen in the pool?

If that question is for me, yes sadly they have. We lost Betty to hypothermia recently when she fell into the pool and Mrs BY Bob could not get her out fast enough.

Here is Phyllis trying to reach her way out of the pool.

 

[BY Bob]

I have sent you a PM to help you find the stories of those tragedies.

Thank you.

 

[BY Bob]

Some photos today, for SHRA purposes I tried to get a few with at least two chickens!
They were helping DH move an old non-working lawn tractor for somebody to haul away. Boy is that thing heavy. Great steel. Lots of mud and leaves to look through, this is the north side. The wall is not green, it must be reflected light.
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After all that hard work Peanut needed to sunbathe, Hazel almost joined her but decided against it.
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They are beautiful. It feels like a while since we have seen great photos of them like this.

 

[rural mouse]

It is not his fault, all roosters are very sweet at heart! When cockerels hit sexual maturity and their hormones start coming in + girls = MEAN ROOSTER. He could have great chance if he belonged to someone without hens. But I understand if that is not an option.

Not entirely accurate.

Roosters can be sweethearts even in the midst of their hormones without being separated from the girls. It comes down to how the owner handles the rooster and the girls IN FRONT OF the rooster. Petting the girls on their back frequently makes them crouch. From the chicken perspective, you, the human, are MATING with the hens. From the rooster perspective, you're trying to STEAL his girls. Of course he's going to try to stop you.

Best article on rooster behavior!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[BY Bob]

Is there a special formulation for chickens for cbd? Is it oral or topical?

It is oral. I use endo blend. My vet prescribed it for Lilly. Hattie is on deck for it starting this fall.

https://vrshealth.com/canine-products/endoblenddog/

 

[BY Bob]

Now, I have to say I prefer him after trimming I can see his funky comb, who knew that was hiding under all that stuff?!

You did a much better job trimming him. I would love to see a video of that some day.