Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

And how do you know that they are Japanese beetles?
They could be from Hawaii . Or Philippians ?
Even San Francisco has a Little Tokyo
(Just saying)

Detroit even!

 

[Ponypoor]

It’s a darn free for all here today, they all made a break for it. I am trying to watch mama and babies and Tuff.

Next thing I know buttercup is out free ranging against my wishes, and Tuff has made her way in the run.

Mr P came prancing over making the moves on her, I freaked out grabbed his tail and chased him away! Meanwhile Tuff picked up the worm he brought over to her and ate it hahahahaha.

Then she and Penelope got into a brawl - so Tuff is now sitting on my lap in a time out, too much stress for her and me! And Penelope is hanging out by my chair waiting to continue the brawl.

Mama and babies are enjoying the dirt.

 

[Lilion]

I made the decision today that the Meloxicam is not enough to help Peanut live a good chickeny life. She really can't move, or doesn't want to move much, it must be too uncomfortable, and there is no promise of recovery from cancer, things will be getting worse, and quickly I think. So I'm taking her to the vets tomorrow (turns out they don't do weekend house calls). She hasn't wanted to leave the nestbox today, at least through 4 o'clock when I had to leave to work, and I don't want to leave it until she is suffering even more.

For those of you who have done this, and those who haven't, I'd appreciate your thoughts on travel companion(s) for Peanut - I brought Butters (a calm hen) with her as a companion on her treatment visit previously. Do I do that again, with Butters, or maybe everyone, so there's less loss of company on the return trip, or take her there by herself, with no one (which doesn't seem right as far as how I did it last time)? And then later, if she is in a box, maybe, put her somewhere in the run back home, where they can see her, say goodbye, or know she has died? Or is it better for them if she just disappears and doesn't leave the box?
@RebeccaBoyd @Ponypoor @rural mouse
@RoyalChick @featherhead007 @bgmathteach @BY Bob @micstrachan

I have no advice, having only experienced this with dogs. But you and your girls are in my thoughts.

Anything under 72F for me hahahaha, need a bit of humidity also

Today it is 55F and here in my office it is 68F (20C), I seriously thought of putting on the heater in here, my feet are cold! It's too much of a change from the hot, hazy, humid weather from last week. (which BTW I really do like )

You're having my favorite weather. I only get it in the fall...I love the cool, crisp autumn days. I am not a warm weather girl, but it seems warmer and warmer here every year. Stupid climate change.

 

[featherhead007]

It’s a darn free for all here today, they all made a break for it. I am trying to watch mama and babies and Tuff.

Next thing I know buttercup is out free ranging against my wishes, and Tuff has made her way in the run.

Mr P came prancing over making the moves on her, I freaked out grabbed his tail and chased him away! Meanwhile Tuff picked up the worm he brought over to her and ate it hahahahaha.

Then she and Penelope got into a brawl - so Tuff is now sitting on my lap in a time out, too much stress for her and me! And Penelope is hanging out by my chair waiting to continue the brawl.
View attachment 3570492

Mama and babies are enjoying the dirt.
View attachment 3570494

Same day I’m having, complete chaos!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Flour's butt is as pristine as Alaska glacier!

Ha! Thank you for noticing, I took advantage of the super warm weather and took out a tote filled with lukewarm water and a few drops of dawn dishsoap and a washcloth about a week back. I proceeded to dunk butts and wipe off toes as it appeared necessary. They didn’t appreciate it one bit in the moment but I think it was worth doing added advantage is I really got a close look and inspection of their overall condition.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I think it is time I blocked the Pentagonists out of their brooder house by closing the door.
Fun as it would be to see Tassels get stuck in the doorway in the way in or out, I am worried about heat, ventilation, and air flow. The brooder is open on all sides with hardware cloth but has a solid roof. With five big chickens in there I am worried that heat and ammonia will build up.
I am sure there will be a big ruckus about this and a lot of distress but I think it is time they left their baby home.
Anyone think I am about to do the wrong thing?

I think they are ready. You have a beautiful coop with plenty of spots for then to take advantage of away from the big girls. They will be just fine imo.

Ok everyone, they are almost 5 weeks now. Owly is a Americauna or fancy word for Easter Egger. There was some suspicion a week and a half ago about her being a boy. She does not act it and I cannot see any boy traits on her yet. She is my favorite, willingly seeks me out to sit on me so that probably does mean she is a male but there is hope. What do you all think.
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Girl, so far pea combs can be tricky though. I wasn’t 100% on Peanut Butter till she started laying

Good morning!
80 degrees and humidity 27%
Curious Cluckie...

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Fabulous photo of your I think this would make a excellent entry in the caption photo contest!

It’s a darn free for all here today, they all made a break for it. I am trying to watch mama and babies and Tuff.

Next thing I know buttercup is out free ranging against my wishes, and Tuff has made her way in the run.

Mr P came prancing over making the moves on her, I freaked out grabbed his tail and chased him away! Meanwhile Tuff picked up the worm he brought over to her and ate it hahahahaha.

Then she and Penelope got into a brawl - so Tuff is now sitting on my lap in a time out, too much stress for her and me! And Penelope is hanging out by my chair waiting to continue the brawl.
View attachment 3570492

Mama and babies are enjoying the dirt.
View attachment 3570494

Awll, what an amazing mama, she is doing so good with them They are so stinking adorable too!

 

[BY Bob]

So sorry. And I know how difficult this is.
I don’t know that I can help. Of all mine who died, they died at home and on their own timetable.
Typically they retreated somewhere quiet like a nestbox for their final 24 hours and I spent a lot of time sitting with them.
Mostly other chickens stopped by like theybwere saying farewell. That was most noticeable with Eli as I posted here (may have done the link wrong).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26930660

I am not sure that staying still is only about pain. I think it is what happens as we die. Maggie spent her last 24 hours without moving and every hour I thought of ending it. But she responded to my voice with a tiny chirp and I decided to let her go on her own terms.

I did once take Bernadette to be euthanized because her leg wasn’t improving and she was holding back her brooder mates. She couldn’t walk and it was no life. I took her on her own but at the vet she staged a recovery so she came back.

Honestly all this is a long winded way of saying that we can all only do our best by them and to think carefully that we are acting genuinely in their interests not our own.

 

[BY Bob]

Anything under 72F for me hahahaha, need a bit of humidity also

Today it is 55F and here in my office it is 68F (20C), I seriously thought of putting on the heater in here, my feet are cold! It's too much of a change from the hot, hazy, humid weather from last week. (which BTW I really do like )

How do you stand the winter? And last winter you were working in the tundra!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I woke up and decided to just clarify on this last part...I know that genders and whatever can be offending to people or something, you know. (Sorry I'd this is not well written, I'm writing this at 1AM and I woke up a few minutes ago.
But basically I was just saying that Owly can (hopefully) stay even if it's a roo, because not all roosters are jerks.
I honestly don't know what I meant. Just ignore this message and the other message if you want

Believe me I know not all roosters are jerks. I love my boys. If I am being honest I prefer my boys to my girls, just do not let them hear that. That being said, I tried to keep 3 boys. We had some moments and I thought things were finally calmed down and it would work when out of the blue it did not. My favorite and most special boy Branch ended up hurt by his son. Twig would have killed him if I had not been there. My flock is simply a 2 rooster flock. As long as I have Bubba and Branch no matter how much I like them I will not keep another boy.

 

[featherhead007]

I told Dakota that I was going into town and she could come along. But she didn’t wait for me as I ask, and I wasn’t going to wait for her either.
Sometimes I just can’t figure children out!