Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I never really tire of watching them use their staircase.

 

[bgmathteach]

It may be her daughter. In my video it looks like she has a touch of mange and the one who was going to the squirrel grocery store did not have mange.
Mind you, the one in the video must have been pretty strong and healthy to raise that many kits so maybe she beat back the mange.
I saw a juvenile with horrible mange last Fall who I imagine did not survive through last winter - it can be very debilitating particularly for the young ones.
It is apparently easy to treat mange by lacing food with ivermectin. Maybe I should douse the dead mice I leave out with ivermectin.

I read that Nexguard treats it, also - though I suspect you wouldn't get close enough to drip flee and tick worm medicine on the backs of their neck!

Is something like Nexguard harmful to a dog if injested? If not, maybe douse with that - pretty easy to get a dose correct, as you buy it based on dog weight, and do one 'drip/pkge' worth per month for a dog.....just size it for a 10ish pound dog (for mom/adult), less for kit!) Or, one pkg for small dog (5 lbs or less) per mouse/rat, and leave 2 -3 out on consecutive nights for a week, then wait a few weeks and repeat.

 

[bgmathteach]

I never really tire of watching them use their staircase.

Interesting their different styles of use. Some step with one foot, bring the other to it, step again with original foot. Some alternate steps (like a human) and some just plain old say - the heck with it - I'm outta here - and fly off!

 

[Ponypoor]

What a wonderful and thoughtful response to Alex’s dilemma.
And what a stunning rooster - so glad he is staying!

(I love that little guy )

 

[RoyalChick]

Interesting their different styles of use. Some step with one foot, bring the other to it, step again with original foot. Some alternate steps (like a human) and some just plain old say - the heck with it - I'm outta here - and fly off!

Same going up. Some fly to the top, some hop each step, and some stride like a person.
Babs is almost always first out

 

[Ponypoor]

It is Pony Sunday so I thought I would share a very short video that explains why I have so many foxes.
This was from several years ago before I had chickens. My understanding is that the females tend to stay in the general area of their birth.

Wow that’s a big litter for a fox! Usually 4 is the max here!

And they all looked really health.

 

[Ponypoor]

(I love that little guy )

Should clarify, the Roo not Alex….

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Update:
We were having a discussion on vets, in my case lack of them especially a veterinarian that deals with chickens.

I told you all that I had spoken too the rescue for battery hens, as I had been searching on their map for vets nearest to my location.

Eventually I found one around 30 miles or there abouts from here. So on calling too inquire if they are able too book an appointment if need be in the future.
There was a message on their answering machine, that it was a five day waiting time for any bookings. But I waited to speak to a receptionist. And as usual I was told that no vet would be available for chickens to be seen as their one and only vet had retired.

So i called back too the rescue to inform them that their directions for a vet was no longer available and put my suggestion in on advertising for a vet for our part of the country plus advertising for retired vets.

To my pleasent surprise the young lady I spoke too, called me on Thursday morning, (she was really interested in helping after all ).

She said she had spoken too her manager and would call me back if there was anything positive on the vet situation but as for the retired vet suggestion I made, she felt that was doubtful.

Not the best of news but it came as a relief that the staff are really trying to help these battery girls, but sadly I still suspect that it's the management that could be improved. My reason for thinking this is... I've seen adverts in other parts of this country in the past, advertising for retired vets to help out in various rescues.

IMHO, The managers should be trying harder, as the saying goes... if you don't ask you don't get. Where on earth is their enthusiasm?

From what I am witnessing, in a majority of work areas, (not all) it's the management and CEO's that are failing most companies. I am under the impression that the higher they go the lazier they get.

I think in the U.S. even "retired" professionals here have to keep up their credentials and insurance if they want to legally practice at all. So free/donated services still cost somebody, usually themselves, money. It would have to be someone financially well-enough off, is healthy and who still wants to still keep their hand in because they aren't burned out. It's a tough situation, because there is endless rescue work to be done.
Local vets here may have a small percentage of their active practice to donate, or they choose here and there as they come across it.

I've been thinking about this post all night. I like to help people, but I don't like to 'enable', and I am not by any means wealthy. My approach would be: speak with her outside - at a picnic table or standing at your fence - or something like that (she probably is lonely. ) If/when she does ask for money - my policy is: I do not give money to the homeless etc. If they really need something, I will buy them a bag of groceries or such - but I do not give money (for those who I am close to and want to help - I also generally don't give money, either - I quietly pay their electric bill or such anonymously). Feel free, when she asks, to state something like "It is my policy to not give money/cash to people - I give to authorized charities locally. If you are hungry, I will happily buy you some food at the grocery store" Or whatever iteration works for you. Be polite but firm, and if she starts harassing you for money after that statement, say, again, firmly but politely. "I've given you my answer - I think you should leave now. If you can't handle my personal response, please don't come back, as while I enjoyed our conversation, I do not like to be harassed. (It is, I think, okay to lie a little white lie about enjoying the conversation...I think everyone needs to feel valued - but it doesn't mean you need to be taken advantage of - and you should stand firm on that. I will give people some of my time, but I worked too hard for what money I have to give it away and potentially be used in a manner I can't abide by. You could also refer her to local charities that help with whatever she states she wants the money for.

Polite but firm! Since you were in law enforcement - I KNOW you can do both simultaneously. I hope this helps.

Tax for non-chicken ramblings;

View attachment 3702162Yay! Mommy says I'm Handsome! and can stay instead of going to some camp or other!
(Well, she actually says I'm pretty nice for a hormonal idiot and handsome, but I'm all about the HANDSOME part! Right Ladies)
See how handsome I am:
View attachment 3702165

I have some brothers (like, a whole bunch) and she is contemplating keeping one more, but can't decide if it will be Harry or Joe (I'm joking about the names, she hasn't named them yet - but those two names are just your average, run-of-the-mill names, like them - they aren't SPECTACULAR like me!!)

Good general advice to Alex @featherhead007 but - I also got the impression that this person is not mentally stable and can't be counted on to hear what he says the way he means it...

Which cockerel is Handsome in that Gang of Nine, looks like he was #1? https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27318196 So who are the two contenders for second keeper? Among that group still?

 

[Ponypoor]

My poor little one has had around 10 minutes in the garden all week and this was yesterday, it's been windy cold and very wet.
She wandered into the hallway yesterday then chased the cat around the living room before going back into her coop.

I'm so annoyed with the people I ordered her nappy from. The lazy sods took 4 days too post this item after payment they have ignored my message on enquiries as to why even after 9 days it's still not here.

I was stunned too see the postal address its being sent from is not so far away . Guess who'll be getting bad feedback as soon as this arrives.
View attachment 3702103

They likely have a supplier in China for those items, buy them for 5cents a piece then sell them for $10 to us!

 

[Ponypoor]

I never really tire of watching them use their staircase.

That was great but looks like Tassels (was it her?) decided flying was more energy efficient