Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Do, please, mention her discoloured comb to the vet, and maybe bring the couple of pics you posted of her - I think it is very concerning that her comb is so deeply purple. Was she overheated...and just brought into the house to cool off? ?Maybe she isn't drinking enough with her impacted crop and the heat? I'm not a vet nor doctor - but it is worriesome to me.

Maybe @BY Bob or @RoyalChick (? or @Ponypoor ) has some more constructive and informed thoughts regarding this.

 

[RoyalChick]

I really wanted to laugh at this - but also send you hugs!

I have (if I counted correctly - they don't like to stand still long enough!) 61 babies - the oldest is the 5 that cross beak is a part of, the youngest hatched sometime Sat night. (Crop girl is a mum!! She is brooding 6 babies - yay for her!!!) And I still have a few more broodies sitting - 2 due to hatch any day now...and who knows about timing for two more

I will say, though, that I cheated slightly - I ordered 15 meat birds (red ranger type - I will never do CX again, personally), and bought a couple pullets& s.r. to put under a mom who only hatched 1 chick as previously mentioned.

I am excited that crop girl has chicks. She has been through a lot!

 

[Lilion]

Well...this isn't good.

Especially as we're supposed to be out of town Fri and Sat for the husband's birthday. We can ask neighbors to watch them...but I'm so worried we'll come home to dead chickens! We can't expect them to water the coop down every hour. What do I do?

 

[RoyalChick]

hmmm, upon dissecting your dream, I have come to the following conclusion:

Your brain is attempting to:
A) Make you realize that you are 'missing' your babies and suggesting getting more to ease you 'empty nest' anxieties.

B) Trying to show you just how beautiful and useful roosters are. It is saying "you know you want these - see - it is a good to get some"

and, my final analysis:
C) Cuttings, and hence their grown counterparts are lovely. See what a gorgeous space you can and will create with your nurturing of cuttings!!! go for it.

In other words: all this beauty and life is within your reach - take the plunge! especially with the Roo, as more chicks will follow - and thye all will help 'groom' and maintain your expanded garden!

I have a much simpler explanation.
I am crazy!!!

 

[ManueB]

I'm sure I have said this before - but: I have work here for 24 years. I used to LOVE going to work, and was proud to be working here. It has gotten to the point where sometimes I cry in the morning because I have to go to work. (especially on days that both I and my boss are on campus!) I can't afford to retire -most of my time here were non-benefitted positions - but health wise I can't afford to stay. The lotterys are having huge jackpots lately - maybe I should partake in ( as a former colleague called it) 'the poor man's retirement plan',

I'm also incredibly sad and angry to learn you are going through this. I don't know enough to say if your case is sufficiently solid. One thing I'm sure : this person functions with fear, being afraid and making others afraid. If you take some form of action, at least you will reverse the fact that she reigns with terror. Think of the chickens - how it makes us crazy to see the ones who are bullied just stand there not moving and letting themselves be hurt ? Any action you take will have at least the positive effect of taking you and the two people you mean to help out of the awful position of waiting to receive blows.
Work is a place you spend so much time of your life at. It shouldn't be a place of suffering because of one person. I realize there is a lot at stake financially. But it seems you have some advantages on your side, and it maybe once you speak up, you find other support you didn't expect.

Mugs as tax for intervening out of the blue.

Lilly.

Théo. While his position is still pretty difficult, he can now stay most of the day not too far around without being threatened and he even gets to mate Chipie every now and then.

Sweet heart Piou-piou. Still not feeling well, and still plucking all her feathers away and irritating her skin by continuously pecking. We may take her to the vet next week if the heat has dropped a bit more.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Mugs Monday

Sugar: yes I have dirt on my beak worms come with dirt nothing can be done about it.

Cinnamon her comb has gotten so big she almost looks like a roo

Avalon: why must you take a photo of me?

Also Avalon: fine if must get my good side

 

[bgmathteach]

No one should cry before going to work. Pull all of your documentation together. That is the definition of a hostile work place. Perhaps an attorney would be a good choice after you "retire" because of the stress and anxiety of working there.

View attachment 3587201

thank you. affording a lawyer is out of the question. We just voted in a new slate of officers for the union (very good thing - first year in about 20 there was any 'competition' and an actual election (versus the secretary casting a single ballot to elect the slate of candidates because not a single position was contested) I am actually hoping it can turn into a full chapter grievance since so many people are involved. imo, that would be the best outcome.

and, just an fyi: no, I am not on byc during work. I will pop in sometimes during a break. (i.e. 'my time'), and I am using a day today and tomorrow. One of the ways I actually can get her to approve time off: I have enough vaca time built up that I will lose some in the next pay cycle, and, even though there is not supposed to be any 'black-out' periods regarding vaca time, August is very crazy and she won't grant vacation time then - soooo...I essentially forced her to approve a couple days each of these last few weeks - and put in that I would be over the max hours of vaca time otherwise - so she had to approve it - as that alone is a lawsuit. If we go over so many hours (375hrs/50 days), we lose them. It used to be 60 days, and any above that rolled into sick time. twice a year. Now, each pay period they check, and anything over the 50 day you LOSE (i.e. the state takes back!) So, I am taking enough time to stay below that through mid September/after the add/drop period ends - which is also crazy busy.) Since I requested it 6 weeks ahead (of the first week - requested a couple of days per week for each of a few weeks), AND made sure my days requested didn't overlap with more than one other person's in the office AND that I was still working on our extended 'accepted student's days) she really didn't have a choice.

Though she did comment - in person, mind you, not in response to my emailed request - 'What are you taking vacation time for? You never go anywhere." Um, hello - I explained in the request email I would lose the time otherwise...and what is wrong with a staycation???? I REALLY wanted to say "Any extra time away from you is well used time" - but I bit my tongue!!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Mugs Monday

Sugar: yes I have dirt on my beak worms come with dirt nothing can be done about it.
View attachment 3587429
Cinnamon her comb has gotten so big she almost looks like a roo
View attachment 3587430
Avalon: why must you take a photo of me?
View attachment 3587432
Also Avalon: fine if must get my good side
View attachment 3587431

Lovely birds!
Speckled Suspect.....

 

[bgmathteach]

I'm also incredibly sad and angry to learn you are going through this. I don't know enough to say if your case is sufficiently solid. One thing I'm sure : this person functions with fear, being afraid and making others afraid. If you take some form of action, at least you will reverse the fact that she reigns with terror. Think of the chickens - how it makes us crazy to see the ones who are bullied just stand there not moving and letting themselves be hurt ? Any action you take will have at least the positive effect of taking you and the two people you mean to help out of the awful position of waiting to receive blows.
Work is a place you spend so much time of your life at. It shouldn't be a place of suffering because of one person. I realize there is a lot at stake financially. But it seems you have some advantages on your side, and it maybe once you speak up, you find other support you didn't expect.

Mugs as tax for intervening out of the blue.

Lilly.
View attachment 3587426
Théo. While his position is still pretty difficult, he can now stay most of the day not too far around without being threatened and he even gets to mate Chipie every now and then.
View attachment 3587427
Sweet heart Piou-piou. Still not feeling well, and still plucking all her feathers away and irritating her skin by continuously pecking. We may take her to the vet next week if the heat has dropped a bit more.
View attachment 3587428

Oh, I am so glad Theo is managing a bit better now. Being knocked off top-dog rooster position is hard - and I always loved Theo! Glad Chippie has stuck with him

I hope Piou-piou improves. I can't imagine having my entire body itchy. Just thinking of her is making my skin crawl!

Lilly is a sleeping beauty! You should submit that photo!!!


I hope going forward will help. As mentioned, a number of years ago I went to HR with over half dozen emails and was told 'you mis-understood her' There was no doubt. But, she was protected and the HR person (who just retired in Jan.) was notoriously 'pro management' in any decisions. It actually made thing significantly worse for a couple of reasons - she was pissed that we reported her, so she doubled down, AND. more critically - someone must have schooled her on the 'nothing in writing' as it suddenly switched from emails to phone calls and accosting you in the hallway or pulling you into her office. i.e. all verbal, nothing in writing. That year she had the gall to writie in my review that I 'speak out of turn in situations where it isn't appropriate'. I kept my head down for a while because I wasn't tenured. I should have been long ago, but only got it last year because she fought to keep me off state money so I didn't get protection nor annual step raises. She even stated that to me - You don't deserve the extra money -you already get paid enough.' But she got her annual raises.
\
Yes, she manages out of fear. And because of her and her boss, a number of really good people have left - either through her intimidation, or because she couldn't manage a few very destructive personalities under her that ended up driving others out. One in particular, I was so happy when she was asked to coordinate E. Warren's presidential campaign in Mass., as that was the only way we would be free of that colleague - despite me trying to gently 'coach' my boss on managing her (by putting thoughts out there - that I was hoping she would 'absorb' and take on as her own - that is the only way you can get her to do anything - put out suggestions that she thinks about and takes on as her own. If you 'openly' make a suggestion, she will immediately shoot it down if it doesn't match her current thinking. She doesn't even have the capacity to say 'let methink about this and I'll get back to you"- nope, it is a gut reaction - and always negative for the suggestee. (I, for a while, managed an education and training center - loved the job, but at 26K for 60+ hours a week, it just wasn't sustainable for me. My point of saying this is: I don't like having to manage others, but I can do it, and reasonably well. Not perfect, but a decent manager - and my boss is almost as far from a good manager as you can get.)

 

[RoyalChick]

thank you. affording a lawyer is out of the question. We just voted in a new slate of officers for the union (very good thing - first year in about 20 there was any 'competition' and an actual election (versus the secretary casting a single ballot to elect the slate of candidates because not a single position was contested) I am actually hoping it can turn into a full chapter grievance since so many people are involved. imo, that would be the best outcome.

and, just am fyi: no, I am not on byc during work. I will pop in sometimes during a break. (i.e. 'my time'), and I am using a day today and tomorrow. One of the ways I actually can get her to approve time off: I have enough vaca time built up that I will lose some in the next pay cycle, and, even though there is notsu;p;osed to be any 'black-out' periods regardng vaca time, August is very crazy and she won't grant vacation time then - soooo...I essentially forced her to approve a couple days each of these last few weeks - and put in that I would be over the max hours of vaca time otherwise - sol she had to approve it - as that alone is a lawsuit. If we go over so many hours (375/50 days), we lose them. It used to be 60 days, and any above that rolled into sick time. twice a year. Now, each pay period the check, and anything over teh 50 day you LOSE (i.e. the state takes back!) So, I am taking enough time to stay below that through mid September/after the add/drop period ends - which is also crazy busy.) Since I requested it 6 weeks ahead (of the first week - requested a couple of days per week for each of a few weeks), AND made sure my days requested didn't overlap with more than one other person's in the office AND that I was still working on our extended 'accepted student's days) she really didn't have a choice.

Though she did comment - in person, mind you, not in response to my emailed request - 'What are you taking vacation time for? You never go anywhere." Um, hello - I explained in the request email I would lose the time otherwise...and what is wrong with a staycation???? I REALLY wanted to say "Any extra time away from you is well used time" - but I bit my tongue!!

And document that too. It is none of her business what you use your vacation for.