Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

The 21st is last treatment date for the trial. Then surgery will be on 31st. I am not looking forward to the 21st as I got very sick from the large amount of vaccine. Thankfully it was short lived about 24 hrs of feeling icky. I will be glad to get the surgery behind me and to find out whether or not its invaded my lymphatic system or not. The constant worry of the unknown is beginning to weigh on me.

Ive been keeping as busy as possible, out with the chickens a lot , crocheting a lot, and I learned how to make sourdough bread. Distraction is the name of the game at the moment.

Thank you for checking on me

I will keep you in my thoughts on Monday! I would love to say 'hope the side effects aren't tooo bad', but if that is what you have been experiencing, I suspect it will continue as such. I really do hope that these immunizations are helping significantly, and that the surgery on the 31st goes really well.

Have they given you a timeline for when you will know if it has spread or not? Or do they think they will know when they do the surgery? That all goes really well and good news is forthcoming!

I would gladly hold the barf bag and your hair on Monday if I could - you are such a strong and brave woman!

 

[Lilion]

SO MANY PAGES!!! I tried to read...but skimmed.

Today is vent out loud day here - not that the chickens care, but they do look at me while I am venting, so hopefully they are listening and agreeing with me. Maybe they just think I am nuts - that's ok also.

What is with this trend on asking what your salary expectations are? WTH?! Well I want to make $180,000/yr - ok? how does that sound? Is that within the scope of the job you are posting? No? well then WTH would you post the job without a salary range.

Why waste my time and yours (potential employeer) with my reading your posting, creating a resume, and submitting (which on average is over an hr of my time).

If you posted the salary range I would look at it and not even bother to apply if it were not in the range that I expect. What a farting waste of my time and any potential employer. As such the current job posting I just applied for with Ducks Unlimited for an Admin person received an addendum to the question they asked 'Why would you like to work for us?'.

When I got to the field asking salary expectation I typed in 'negotiable' as I don't have any idea their salary range they are looking for in a candidate. Well of course the field was only accepting a numerical value - so I put in '1'. And then in the field were they posed the question on why I would like to work for them, this is the addendum I added:

RE: Salary Expectation - Please note that I am negotiable, I find it stressful that potential employers ask this question - what shall I put? I know that this position is extremely varied from $20/hr to $60/hr. I am negotiable, but might I suggest that for future postings please put a salary range in the job posting - it takes me a very long time to review your posting, write a resume and then submit. It would save you and I, a lot of unnecessary work, if a salary range was posted with the job. Sorry if I sound snippy, it is a challenging topic and I felt I needed to voice my concern over this trend I am seeing. I do hope to hear from you, but if I don't I hope your organization continues with the wonderful work that they are performing.

I can kiss my arse goodbye with this job but if maybe the HR/hiring person sees this then they will stop and think - hey maybe we should take a look at putting up salary ranges so that we don't receive unnecessary applicants.

And now for the whining tax:

Sophia gifting broody Whiskers with an egg, and of course Henny is there in the bottom box.
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Pretty Boy Floyd hiding out from everyone.
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I love that letter and I'm so very glad my next job will be retirement!!!

I follow her on TikTok, she is a brave soul and quite funny. I have no idea how she handles Karen, she is absolutely terrifying and completely cured me of any inclination to add an Emu to our family Brad is quite the charmer isn’t he?

My husband laughed a lot, but also said Brad would be soup. Lol

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Raven here everyone. I hope Queen Aurora does not mind but I thought I would take a minute to pass words of wisdom and warnings to those hens out there gunning to become a future Queen one day.

First off let me state. If a Queen does not want to give a mugshot to your human, you no loner have to. I now have 1000 other duties I MUST perform. Looking at a humans black box is way down on my list of priorities.

So all you young pullets and hens of any age who aspire to one day be leader of your flock, this is to you.

Do you have energy and stamina in spades? I only ask because as I have shockingly found out, a Queens work is never done. I do not know how Butter did it. She settled spats between flock members. Protected and still kept in line troublesome teens when their mothers let them loose. Made the roosters toe the line while still letting them believe they were in charge. Was first and got the tastiest bits to any food offered or found. Threw a hen off the nest when she needed to lay, and then to assert her dominance sat in the nest spot for a hour napping because she could. If a hen is dust bathing, I now have to go sit on her to make her move over to dust bath there because it is my responsibility. I am now a Better, THE BETTER in fact. There is simply not enough hours in the day and those days are getting shorter. No wonder The Great Queen Aurora throws her minions off the roost at night. She is tired, she is cranky, and as I have found out, sometimes you just have to throw a minion off the roost or you will loose your mind. It is greatly stress relieving if you wait until everyone is settled on the roost and you decide to charge several hens off at once to watch them scatter. You do not need to physically touch them, just charge, they get the point.

Future Queens, if you truly aspire this role I want you to think long and hard in the meantime if you aspire to also be a mother. You see, I am a mother, and I was happy in that role under the good Queen Butter. My children did not need to be mine or even hatched by me. I had love and guidance to give and gave it freely to the little ones. I protected them fiercely. I was and am called a troublemaker, I shared with my children the love of pranks and I hung onto them longer then some of the other mothers. If it were not for the Good Queens passing I would probably be plotting on my next brood of children and could have lived blissfully in that role much to my humans ire. I am no longer just a mother now you see, I am also their Queen. I have had to let my brood go and earn their place among the flock. Now I am torn. I desire to protect them, but, I must now also put them in their place. I tell myself as I peck them for eating before me that I am doing for their own good, yet their confused looks hurt me. I am fully aware now why Good Queen Butter never reared chicks of her own. She was able to both protect and discipline the youngsters without any guilt. Think of this future Queens. While you can be both, and do a good job, it will come with heartbreak.

Future Queens, another piece of advice. Before you assume your role you need to know who your allies are. Who can you trust to do your bidding when you are not present. As much as I try I cannot be everywhere at once. One would naturally assume the other hens who challenged you but you put in their place would be good at seeing to things. You would be wrong. They cannot be trusted with this responsibility. You see, they too wanted your role. Too much authority and they may get it in their heads they can do the job better and once again challenge. Holly and Squirrel sometimes try to act in my behalf. They wanted my spot so I must remind them I am their better each time and I do not need help. Truthfully I do need help and am carefully recruiting my helpers. Butter had Chiquita as her main enforcer and now both are gone. I am eyeing the 2 cinnamon Queens. They do not wish to lead, but have proven in the past they can break up a spat if needed. They also love to give a good peck to a unsuspecting flock member if the mood strikes. I admit, I may have taught them that when they were younger. They have joined me many times in our games of chase the Squirrels and defended the yard from songbirds. They have proven they can follow my directions without question.

Take heart though future Queens, once you rise to the top you will find it all worth it. I may be tired, I may be grouchy but I have proven to myself and to the flock that I am truly their better. In time I will figure out how to lead and relax like Good Queen Butter. I am quickly learning who I can depend upon. The rooster Branch is the best with child care, and I already knew this. I will soon take a step back and let him continue to teach and reprimand the youngsters as needed. Momma Hen and the Marshmallows have proven their expertise in spotting and evading predators. Very soon I will relent and rely on them for lookout duty. That just leaves my other great joy brooding and teaching the next generation my ways. I do not need to brood to ensure future generations, we have more then enough hens who desire to raise chicks for that. They are all very good at their jobs but as in everything else I feel I am better. Actually I feel I am the best and if Good Queen Butter had not passed I would have proved it and out-brooded Momma Hen. Can I take a page from Good Queen Butter's book and step away from the call of motherhood. That future Queens, I have yet to decide.

That is all for now my fellow future flock leaders. I know you follow The Great Queen Aurora's words to heart and do not wish to step on her toes. I just thought I would throw these thoughts out to those striving to be a better. Being a better and queen comes with responsibilities one could not dream of before finding oneself a Queen. Before you take up that role of a better, prepare yourself and make sure you are truly worthy.

The newest better and queen.
Raven the troublemaker.
P.S.
I earned the title "troublemaker" as a young pullet. I worked hard for it and I perfected it. Queen or not I shall not let that title go.
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Queen Raven the Troublemaker. All the best kings and queens have nicknames.

@Ponypoor
Outside today! Bought a folding dog pen and set it up on a grassy half-shade, half-sunny spot. Wondered if the bars were small enough. Nope. They can wriggle out between the bars if they really try (one did in today's first run, with the Buckeyes locked away). Need to put something along the sides low down, cardboard...Or maybe easy to wrap it with some plastic poultry netting on hand. Cause maybe the Buckeyes might try to peck them, put their head through the bars, unless I make the protection high enough? I have a length for along the top, in case someone (looking at you, Hazel) tries to fly over and in (like she did with Queenie, she took her enforcer & lieutenant role very seriously there)....

The Spud's first day out. First I was outside the pen, putting food and water and a familiar item in there, but they had no interest in exploring, just wanted to be near me. So I sat on a piece of cardboard on the ground in the sun in there and they relaxed and just crawled over and around me and explored from the "home base."
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Two definitely ate some grass and beaked other greens. Showed them the grit again and freshened it when we got back, they pecked and scratched in it. Hope they're going to be okay. They've had some sod in their brooder for a few days now, since Sunday.
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Sunbathing, and later a nap in my cupped hand. Then the other two also cuddled up and dozed. Then it looked like they were all getting cold, trying to snuggle together so back inside we all went.
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The spuds are beyond cute! I look forward to our new coop and getting a few babies next year.

That's not Thunderdome, that's Buckaroo Banzai isn't it?
Here's the fighting cage

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Not Thunderdome! They wouldnt all leave!

My mum has been plagued with a repetitive stress injury in her shoulders from shoveling snow last winter and then cutting down the apple tree with my reciprocal saw. I told her not to do either tasks but she did.

My BIL went and got her some CBD lotion to apply to her shoulders and it seemed to do some good. So I figured I would try it on my lower back/hips as my RLS has been aggravated by my arthritis lately.

After a couple days I seeemes to have some relief so today I skipped my mid day application of it and my arthritis again was bothering me. So applied more this evening in the hopes it would aid in some relief and maybe some sleep.

That’s when I figured I should read what was written on the jar, hunted down my magnifying glass and read the ingredients: cbd oil, but it was the thc that freaked me out (25mg of it - not sure is that’s a lot or not). Darn it all, I do not need to be testing positive for thc if I get a project come my way.

I wonder how long it takes for that to clear your system sheesh! All those years of just saying no!!!


It darn well better help my arthritis or I will really be annoyed!

Drink up kiddos
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I saw that later you said what I was going to that the amount of THC if any absorbed they skin is unlikely to be significant.

Is it legal? like over-the-counter-no-prescription legal, in Canada?

My daughter Angela asked the most random question today. She wants us to go skydiving together. She is fearless and very tough. She survived 6 months of rehab after scoliosis surgery when she was 14. She is far more brave than I. She once said that I am her rock. In my heart she's my hero.

Such a wonderful thing. My son and I have a complicated relationsip. I envy you. But, I still wouldn't jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Cooking on cast iron can assist that. Also, 2 types of iron. Meat has lower (or less concentrated if I remember correctly) but more readily absorbed by the body. Plants have higher concentrations, but more difficult to process. I was also looking at lists of foods that assist in iron absorption vs block/slow iron absorption. At the time, there were a number of things on BOTH lists.

Taxes: curious Enigma and damp SherlockView attachment 3612540View attachment 3612541

Sherlock .
He's soooooooooo cute!

OMG - I don't think I would even be able to watch on video. As I age my fear of heights gets worse and worse. I can't even really describe it as 'fear' - it is a very physical thing - a bit like butterflies in the pit of the stomach but worse. I got a tinge of it even reading your post about it so I think I will have to just sit out the visual!
Good luck though - I could well be convinced it is an amazing experience.

I am not afraid of heights. I quite enjoy them. I am, however, afraid of falling. So weird. Airplanes, skyscrapers, no problem...but I can't go down stairs without a handrail! Pretty sure skydiving would kill me even if the chute opened.

That fears gotten worse with age, but more with weight. I'm, sadly, a very big lady now and I find the fear of falling and my slight claustrophobia got worse as the scale went up.


So...in chicken news, the transfer to platform gets better every time. We went last night later than usual, and found Eenie and kids where we expected, but the other three were not snuggled, but spread out on the floor! Good thing I noticed the black splotch on the flooring the dim light or I'd have stepped on Sheba!

This morning all 3 were on the roosts. I may not spend money on a coop cam, but I think one of the husband's trail cams is going to have to be put into service for a night so I can see what they get up to!

 

[featherhead007]

SO MANY PAGES!!! I tried to read...but skimmed.



I love that letter and I'm so very glad my next job will be retirement!!!

Queen Raven the Troublemaker. All the best kings and queens have nicknames.



The spuds are beyond cute! I look forward to our new coop and getting a few babies next year.

I saw that later you said what I was going to that the amount of THC if any absorbed they skin is unlikely to be significant.

Is it legal? like over-the-counter-no-prescription legal, in Canada?

Such a wonderful thing. My son and I have a complicated relationsip. I envy you. But, I still wouldn't jump out of a perfectly good airplane.


Sherlock .
He's soooooooooo cute!


I am not afraid of heights. I quite enjoy them. I am, however, afraid of falling. So weird. Airplanes, skyscrapers, no problem...but I can't go down stairs without a handrail! Pretty sure skydiving would kill me even if the chute opened.

That fears gotten worse with age, but more with weight. I'm, sadly, a very big lady now and I find the fear of falling and my slight claustrophobia got worse as the scale went up.


So...in chicken news, the transfer to platform gets better every time. We went last night later than usual, and found Eenie and kids where we expected, but the other three were not snuggled, but spread out on the floor! Good thing I noticed the black splotch on the flooring the dim light or I'd have stepped on Sheba!

This morning all 3 were on the roosts. I may not spend money on a coop cam, but I think one of the husband's trail cams is going to have to be put into service for a night so I can see what they get up to!

US code 1801 use of video in voyeurism is a felony under federal law. Videos without consent can be classified as such.
Oh, wait. You meant for the chickens. Never mind!
I’m so kidding!

 

[bgmathteach]

Now we are up to 4 kittens. The first 2 are dried off and a light silvery grey tabby. The last 2 I think will end up being the same, grey tabby. 1 of them is iffy still wet, either a dark grey tabby or possibly black. I informed Trixie she failed, no a single white hair on any of them so far. Her markings are my favorite on a tabby, she could have at least had one mini me.

Um, only 4 kittens so far, right? Give her a break and don't scold until ALL have been born. In my experience, one mini-me is enough - more than 2 of the same (personality, looks, etc) can drive you bonkers!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Um, only 4 kittens so far, right? Give her a break and don't scold until ALL have been born. In my experience, one mini-me is enough - more than 2 of the same (personality, looks, etc) can drive you bonkers!

She can stop at 4 and not have a mini me. I am perfectly fine with 4 and no mini me. I left the bathroom about 20 minutes ago and contractions were just starting back up. I do not think she is going to abide by my wishes and stop at 4.

 

[GregnLety]

OMG - I don't think I would even be able to watch on video. As I age my fear of heights gets worse and worse. I can't even really describe it as 'fear' - it is a very physical thing - a bit like butterflies in the pit of the stomach but worse. I got a tinge of it even reading your post about it so I think I will have to just sit out the visual!
Good luck though - I could well be convinced it is an amazing experience.

My fear of drowning is stronger than my fear of heights but they're both prevalent. When my girls were younger we loved going to carnivals and ride everything together. I'll need to lose about 30 pounds but am willing to give it a go. Left to my own devices this wouldn't cross my mind but it's been a while since I've shared an adventure with my daughters.

 

[Gigachad poultry]

I don't know of anyone else knows about Clucks of Joy, because it's awesome. I get a monthly box of chicken stuff and it always based on the month and the season! I just got this months box! I have pictures below. In every box they also have people treat! Like cookie cutters, stickers like I got, or even tea!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Nothing lifts my spirits more than flying high in the sky.

will you be participating in any way?

 

[Ponypoor]

Cooking on cast iron can assist that. Also, 2 types of iron. Meat has lower (or less concentrated if I remember correctly) but more readily absorbed by the body. Plants have higher concentrations, but more difficult to process. I was also looking at lists of foods that assist in iron absorption vs block/slow iron absorption. At the time, there were a number of things on BOTH lists.

Taxes: curious Enigma and damp SherlockView attachment 3612540View attachment 3612541

We rarely use a cast iron pan, and mostly just roast things.

I will see how it goes in a few weeks with the Iron supplements.

what was Enigma looking at One thing with chickens - they are so darn nosey about things! I can't even come out here to just check horses they have to see if I have treats for them, if not then they just follow me around till I do give them something hahaha. Well trained, I am!

 

[featherhead007]

will you be participating in any way?

I’m not sure yet