Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Storm is the soft trill, semi hiding under the sounds of the others. That's her version of a warning scream. She inherited her father's voice.

Awwww She is a good mama.

Sophia makes that noise also .

 

[Ponypoor]

Looks like @Lilion isnt the only one getting heat warning alerts, heat and humidity ramping up here tomorrow, along with storm warnings, and more tornado warnings.

What sort of emergency planning does everyone have for say flooding or tornadoes?

I do t really have a plan for before or during, but I have a place I can relocate to.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

A tribute to a fallen Queen.

You came into this world during the wee hours of May 15 2020. The world was going crazy but you were a innocent ball of yellow fluff. We cannot say tiny because Butter girl, you were never tiny.
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It did not take you long until you were towering over your siblings. Yes at this point I was questioning you on if you were a boy.
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You were also a pig, you never saw a day of hunger in you life. If it could be swallowed, you swallowed it.
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Not even 3 months old yet but getting a preview of the beauty you were to become.
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Exactly 4 months old here. Butter you already had mom wrapped your toes. The phrase "Whatever Butter wants, Butter gets" was already in use.
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You never got into trouble as a youngster, you had minions for that. Instead you excelled at napping and supervising your future domain.
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The snow and the cold never bothered you. You had extra fluff for protection and used it as a backdrop, and a snack.
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You bucked the orpington trend of being broody. Chicks were not in your cards although you saw many of them come and go in your life. I could always count on you to ensure fair treatment at night once their momma's abandoned them. They knew they could count on you to shield them from pecks and flocked to you. You did become a mother though thanks to momma hen when your daughter Squirrel was born.
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Butter dear you gave me your first scare a month shy of your first birthday. You managed to receive a glancing blow from Dirt while he was playing. You were paralyzed and for the first few days unable to stand even with assistance. We were preparing ourselves to let you go when you rallied. 5 days in you laid a egg again letting us know everything was ok internally. You also started to stand for short times with assistance. Your stay inside cemented it in your mind that if you wanted to come inside you could and would. In fact you took it upon yourself to ensure stays inside your next 2 winters when you molted extremely late and it was either bring you in or let you freeze.
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Once you rejoined your flock in 2 months your limp was gone and you could run again. You also at that point took over as the undisputed Queen of the flock. You were never ruthless but was able to keep the others in line with a simple glare. Momma hen even backed down to you.
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Farewell my sweet Butter. May you have your fill of raisins every day and nap until your hearts content.

Beautiful lady, I feel I knew her some, and your mom's relationship to her too! Great to see these lovely pictures. May she have endless minnows and crunchy snow snacks whenever she wants now.
Incidentally, or coincidentally - or maybe not! - she was born the day after Queenie, also a Buff Orpington, passed.

 

[GregnLety]

I will say that of all the times I have taken a chicken to the vet, only Lilly's arthritis was actually fixed. Sansa and Gucci both passed away. Now I don't blame the vet. They were both likely genetic issues but it was a lot of money spent to no net result.

It's just what else can you do when you don't know and you need help?

Even though we have very competent vets we rarely take a chicken to the vet. I wish I had taken Big Boy, he was far more ill than I realized. They made Goldies leg good enough to not have to euthanize her. With the ill cinnamon queens they confirmed our diagnosis. We have a decent first aid kit and at most times feel like we can do well for the chickens or dogs that get ill. It's a learning experience that is tempered by cost. If I had been home when the copperhead bit the huskies I would not have taken them to the vet. I was able to instruct Lety and she got the meds into Lobo but Maya had a stronger reaction and required a vet visit. When you feel you can't adequately care for the pet by all means make haste and see a doctor.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I just got a photo of my whole, correction...most of my flock SUN BATHING!!! i rarely see them do this and it normally only happens in spring. Even more rarely will I get a picture of them and this flock behavior.
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Wow this is positively renaissance in composition and poses, 1900's in color. Calendar worthy!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yeash! I couldn't even drill the starter holes because the darn drill bit is dull! I'm always saying how capable and handy I am. Not hardly tonight. Also I couldn't find the staple gun...

And I got no eggs today! No. Just no. I'm done with the chicken coop tonight. I need to get some dinner and just crash.

Whining tax.
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the was for the lovely photo

these and a cooling one of these is for you

 

[Lilion]

Yep and in the winter they fog up! And I keep running into things with them on because they are for reading only! Who put that wall there! That’s were the door is supposed to be!

Fog up in winter, or coming into air conditioning...and of course they get all covered with little water spots if you sweat or cry or go out in the rain...and grease if you fry anything.

I hate wearing glasses.

Looks like @Lilion isnt the only one getting heat warning alerts, heat and humidity ramping up here tomorrow, along with storm warnings, and more tornado warnings.

What sort of emergency planning does everyone have for say flooding or tornadoes?

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I do t really have a plan for before or during, but I have a place I can relocate to.

I don't live all that far from Kansas, near a Missouri town that had an EF5 tornado in 2011. I do not have a basement. This does not please me.

 

[featherhead007]

I will say that of all the times I have taken a chicken to the vet, only Lilly's arthritis was actually fixed. Sansa and Gucci both passed away. Now I don't blame the vet. They were both likely genetic issues but it was a lot of money spent to no net result.

It's just what else can you do when you don't know and you need help?

It’s a helpless feeling.

 

[rural mouse]

Getting Storm and babies into the coop was a 2 hour process. When went out (7pm), she was warming the babes just outside the hatch. Instant understanding. They couldn't get in. She moved. Under the olives.

I built

Also did a similar one inside in front of the big door. Not good enough. She snuck them back out to her nest. I circled out and approached from the opposite side. Wound up almost "stepping" on her so she could attack the bottom of my shoe and get uncomfortable with her nest sight getting torn apart (breaking the grasses). Eventually, she headed back to the olives.

Reluctantly

Settled here for a bit (one of the popular dust baths). Then tried sneaking back out to the hillside. I beat her back around and stood out there. She retreated to next to the bricks where I wound up adding smaller pieces, shrinking the steps. Finally got dark enough had to pry her up with a stick (she BITES), carefully so as not to hurt babies under her. 2 had made it up the step/ramp, but they kept trying to follow her voice (inside) while they were outside. She kept coming back out before I could snatch the babies for a lift to the top. She'd then settle back on them to warm them again. Finally saw her eyes closing so one last attempt. She headed in (after some effort with the stick), back out, back in...snatched a chick up...2...3...4....gosh darnit! The little blonde snuck under a brick! Storm, STAY IN THERE! Where is the little rascal? Moved the brick, 5 up! Nudge nudge, in you go littles. Finally hopped in. Followed Storm across the coop. I reached through the hatch to unlatch the inside hook. Storm went for me, AGAIN. She's showing good instincts. Ok. Got in unlatched and pulled shut. They're are ALL in the coop. Going to have to be good enough. I'm not going in to latch from the inside. Storm is likely to go for me again and stir up all the others. (I did put a couple of banana boxes in for more shelter this afternoon, too.)

Hector and Enigma did a side by side size comparison tonight too.

 

[RoyalChick]

I just got a photo of my whole, correction...most of my flock SUN BATHING!!! i rarely see them do this and it normally only happens in spring. Even more rarely will I get a picture of them and this flock behavior.
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Love the family portrait!