Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Many years ago we rescued a house sparrow chick, dug up earth worms & fed its open mouth w/ the smallest wet worms. The next morning we set out a small shoe box wedged in the yucca bush and the parents flew to the shoe box to feed their chick along w/ the other chicks located deep inside the sharp yucca leaves! The box was empty one day but I know it wasn't a cat that got it - not in a sharp yucca plant any way.

You were supposed to chew up the worms and then spit them into the baby bird’s beak. FYI

 

[Marie2020]

Lots of birds have short, fat beaks. Finches for example, sparrows......and they eat seeds. The beak shape makes it easier to Crack the shells open.

Robins have longer narrowish type beaks (compared to the sparrows and finches). They go primarily for bugs.

He/she wouldn't go for seeds.
I finally managed to get it to eat a little banana and wet crumble. It chirping for its family. But I cannot think how it got here.

I've fed pusscat but the other two aren't here yet, so I'm afraid to let it go.

It landed in the grass as I already said, so I'm not sure if it can fly properly.

I wish there was a tree near I could put it in.

 

[Debbie292d]

I imagine vets that come to your property cost more than our suburban vets. We felt if $$$ was an issue we would choose only ONE pet after we retired and firstly remodeled the cottage.

Dogs cost a lot yearly with required vaccinations, routine health visits like teeth-cleaning, local county/city licensing, housing, feed, medicines, etc. Cats require a little less $$$ maintenance but vet bills and medicines still add up plus DH already had dog and cat pets before and wanted to try chickens. I'm a farm kid so any pet he picked was fine w/me.

However, as w/ any pet there also comes the responsibility, caring, and commitment to the choice of animal that fit our budget. Small property, small fixed income, hence, very small backyard flock

We just took four of our five four-legged pets to the vet yesterday for whoever needed whatever. $580. But we don't have to bring anyone back for over a year!

 

[RoyalChick]

Then offer it to them!

As I teenager I worked in a fish and chip shop at night.
Ate a lot of deep fried food during that period as I got to take home whatever was left over when I closed up.
It took many years before I could face deep fried anything again - but I got over it and now would fight the Princesses for a good plate of fish and chips if I knew where to get any around here.

Fish and chips tax: Beautiful Babs (RIP) brings up the rear of the parade down the jungle path.

 

[Marie2020]

I am so happy my horse vet is just 4km up the road, he has beeen my vet for about 40yrs, he is semi retired but still will treat my old gals. I am hoping he will be around when the time comes for them to be put down, he was there for their birth.

And he is really good about trying stuff with my chooks. I do have a small animal vet who will see my chooks but she is very expensive. I do have a ‘$700 chicken’ here who just looks pretty most of the time.

Oh well what can you do, you have the responsibility so you must follow through with whatever is required.

Just to euthanize my wee 1 week old spraddle leg chick was almost $200 - I cried for more than the chick that night. I cried because I need to get back to working in the oil patch we’re I can make better money. While I love my job here and love being home each night, I need more secure pay. Everything is so expensive and that one chick finally made me realize I needed to go back out west.

I hope you get a better paid job soon
You were wonderful to that little chick

 

[Marie2020]

Sounds like you and I are in similar situations regarding cash flow.

I have land tax due, hay to buy (if it ever stops raining and it can get harvested), and my monthly mortgage, utilities, etc.

Thankfully the chickens pay for their feed and most of the horses grain. But once they slow down laying or stop then I wi have to fork out for their feed. I don’t begrudge them that, they don’t owe me anything. Not the horses. They have done their work over the years.

I did sell my old car yesterday, so my hay for this year is covered.

Life Tax
Dreaming of winter snow (not!)
February 2024
View attachment 3870593

Wimps! Don’t like the snow

My gorgeous Mr.P really stands out.

 

[Debbie292d]

He/she wouldn't go for seeds.
I finally managed to get a little banana and wet crumble. It chirping for its family. But I cannot think how it here.

I've fed pusscat but the other two aren't here yet, so I'm afraid to let it go.

It landed in the grass as I already said, so I'm not sure 8f it can fly properly.

I wish there was a tree near I could put it in.

Once my dog brought me a baby mourning dove.

Someone told me to soak dog food, add cooked egg yolk to it and make a mash. I used a needless syringe and it gobbled it up. I fed it every 3-4 hours for a week, then after that, twice a day as it was pecking some of the parakeet food I had on the floor. In a couple more weeks I tried to release it. It flew into a tree, then back onto my shoulder. I called the Humane Society and they called someone who raises them who came and got it.

 

[Marie2020]

Once my dog brought me a baby mourning dove.

Someone told me to soak dog food, add cooked egg yolk to it and make a mash. I used a needless syringe and it gobbled it up. I fed it every 3-4 hours for a week, then after that, twice a day as it was pecking some of the parakeet food I had on the floor. In a couple more weeks I tried to release it. It flew into a tree, then back onto my shoulder. I called the Humane Society and they called someone who raises them who came and got it.

I'm proud of you.

It makes me sick honestly, physically sick of people not giving a darn for animals.

I guess that's just me

 

[Debbie292d]

This lady says they are not even chickens. Call them what you want, just don't call them chickens.

View attachment 3870502

I won't say what Blueboy says to your lady. You can use your imagination.

 

[Marie2020]

One proud Princess