Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

Test - bare with me I have never used a spoiler before.

WARNING
DO NOT LOOK IF YOU DON'T DO WELL WITH BLOOD. THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD.

Spoiler: Ruger's bloody leg. (Educational?)

This is the leg after the vet cut all of the dead tissue out. View attachment 3572120View attachment 3572122

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Test - bare with me I have never used a spoiler before.

WARNING
DO NOT LOOK IF YOU DON'T DO WELL WITH BLOOD. THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD.

Spoiler: Ruger's bloody leg. (Educational?)

This is the leg after the vet cut all of the dead tissue out. View attachment 3572120View attachment 3572122

I clicked on the picture links and it won't work for me... how do I make it so that it works?

 

[bgmathteach]

Peanut passed very peacefully this afternoon. Late yesterday I became pretty sure the great time she had really was likely her last and best hurrah and I called and made the appointment for today. She had all of her mates with her. She ate a blueberry, a bit of scrambled eggs and some peanut bits. Then when it was time, Peanut fell gently asleep.

Dear Peanut, this morning
View attachment 3571850

I am glad she had a good last day, and that she got to eat a beloved blueberry, and have her friends with her, when she passed.

As hard as it is to let her go, it is good that she went peacefully and with little suffering - and had the comfort of her friends as she passed.

for you, @ChicoryBlue , and her feathered friends.

 

[rural mouse]

It is early for roosting but the storm has brought darkness.
It looks like my intervention with taping up paper has helped reassure them about that roost and stopped them obsessing with the brooder house.
It is sad that they aren’t roosting with Bernie and Babs but they were informed in no uncertain terms that they weren’t welcome there.

View attachment 3571865

One step at a time. They're on a roost in the big area. It's entirelypossible they won't be allowed with Bernie and Babs until they start laying. Then again, they all make their own decisions.

 

[bgmathteach]

It is early for roosting but the storm has brought darkness.
It looks like my intervention with taping up paper has helped reassure them about that roost and stopped them obsessing with the brooder house.
It is sad that they aren’t roosting with Bernie and Babs but they were informed in no uncertain terms that they weren’t welcome there.

View attachment 3571865

That is a very nice little roost there for them, though. And, remember, Minnie and Dottie weren't initially welcome on the 'big roost' when they no longer fit on the window sill. When they mature, they will find their place with the adults. They are far too young to be roosting with them now. Give it time! Besides, while they may be a little disconcerted because you have 'changed things up' on them (chickens really like routine - at least in respects to 'home') they have each other to figure things out with. They look pretty content where they are!

 

[RoyalChick]

That is a very nice little roost there for them, though. And, remember, Minnie and Dottie weren't initially welcome on the 'big roost' when they no longer fit on the window sill. When they mature, they will find their place with the adults. They are far too young to be roosting with them now. Give it time! Besides, while they may be a little disconcerted because you have 'changed things up' on them (chickens really like routine - at least in respects to 'home') they have each other to figure things out with. They look pretty content where they are!

I know. And I know I worry too much.
My main issue at the moment is that they won't use the full roost (they are using more of it tonight than last night), and the result of that is that at least one of them (last night two) don't actually roost on the roost but on the metal bracket supporting it. The bracket is a thin flat piece of steel. It cannot be comfortable or good for their legs/keel bones long term, and in winter it will be cold.
But hopefully they will soon get over their fear of the other end of the roost and use the full length of it and not push each other off the end.

 

[rural mouse]

Ok the answer to who is broody in the "wilds of the tall grass

The location

The eggs

The guesses (If I missed someone (again) yell at me)

@RebeccaBoyd : Primula because of broody reputation of Brahmas
@RoyalChick : Pear, Maizie at a stretch
@Ponypoor : "one of my lovely girls", more specific: hope it's not Thing, going with Silver due to older ladies going broody
@bgmathteach : Not Jessica (too obvious), so Maizie or Primula
@BY Bob : Thing for fun
@lightm : initial guess Twirp (not broody, but expected to be creative if she ever does), round 2: Maizie or Pippa.

Spoiler: The Answer

Blue lady

My Storm cloud. Orphaned at 3 weeks, raised by Silver and Pear (and a slew of pullets, and Cheetah, only 9 weeks older than she is). A quiet lady, slips into the coop, lays her egg, slips out. No fuss, no drama, just goes about her business. An independent lady not willing to take much from young idiots. Whiskey was doing some serious courtship to which she responded well. Most (if not all) of her eggs in the clutch will be his. There are a few odd ones in there.

 

[rural mouse]

I know. And I know I worry too much.
My main issue at the moment is that they won't use the full roost (they are using more of it tonight than last night), and the result of that is that at least one of them (last night two) don't actually roost on the roost but on the metal bracket supporting it. The bracket is a thin flat piece of steel. It cannot be comfortable or good for their legs/keel bones long term, and in winter it will be cold.
But hopefully they will soon get over their fear of the other end of the roost and use the full length of it and not push each other off the end.

They startled in the video over the Thunder, but stayed on the roost. It's an excellent sign.

 

[featherhead007]

I clicked on the picture links and it won't work for me... how do I make it so that it works?

Damn here

 

[bgmathteach]

I know. And I know I worry too much.
My main issue at the moment is that they won't use the full roost (they are using more of it tonight than last night), and the result of that is that at least one of them (last night two) don't actually roost on the roost but on the metal bracket supporting it. The bracket is a thin flat piece of steel. It cannot be comfortable or good for their legs/keel bones long term, and in winter it will be cold.
But hopefully they will soon get over their fear of the other end of the roost and use the full length of it and not push each other off the end.

We are FAR from winter - they will be fine WELL BEFORE then! I give them less than a week to be using enough for all 5 to be on the roost proper. Besides, they are young - I don't know about you, but when I was young, tent camping, with my sleeping bag directly on the tent floor, was fun and I would wake up with no aches and pains - ready for a full day in the woods! Now, well, I would even be lucky if I could get down on the ground in a tent - never mind back up. And to sleep on the hard ground? HA! So, in this heat, cool metal probably feels good - and sleeping like that for a couple of nights will not hurt them. It would only do so if it was long term. Besides, you already said they are adjusting - last night two were on the metal brackets - tonight only one!

And, I know you are a problem solver - if they do keep roosting on the metal bracket after a few more days, you could make it more comfortable for them by wrapping it with an old hand-towel or something similar and securing it with zip-ties and/or bungies. That said, I would NOT do that for a few days, so as to encourage them to roost on the actual roost....making the bracket more comfortable should only be a measure taken if they are unwilling to adjust over the course of a week to utilizing the whole roost proper.

I know you are just a worrying momma bear, but they are smart - they will figure it out. Just like having teens. They stress you out, but when given a good upbringing and a generally good environment, most of the time they really do make good choices - they are smart enough to do so. It is usually the need to 'fit in', or the lack of being able to see long term and the wider world that causes bad decisions when all else is decent (well, and their innate sense of invincibility - but I think that is nature's way of giving them the courage to 'leave the nest') Give them the time to ;think it through' on their own, and to get comfortable with making that move. Remember - they are cautious because they are prey - they will, over time, be able to adapt once they get over that initial fear/nervousness.

You worry like a mom sending her kids out into the big, bad world. But, this is like them moving out of the house proper into the apartment over the garage - they are still under your watchful eye ,and will be okay once they adjust. Deep breath, momma bear, all will be well!