Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Out with CeeCee and in with Dakota. (She whole heartedly insisted)!

Dakota wanted inside the chickens room so badly, she leaped off my arm and flew up to the high perch. Leaving my arm bleeding. She must have hit the right spot, because it hasn’t stopped bleeding yet.

 

[Lilion]

Got a deal on peaches at the store and canned some
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Also got a cool new teapot which is also in the picture
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Also made jam
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I also went crab apple picking, made applesauce, pies, and canned some pie filling. I plan to make jam soon.

I used to pick crab apples with my mom, in the bank parking lot. I was mortified, but I definitely ate the jelly.

I'm exhausted and stuffy and achy tonight and I've got two of the darn red squad refusing to go in either coop! They got locked out of the little coop accidentally, have climbed up on the ladder in the run, and won't move. Sheba is settled in the little coop, having gotten locked in there, but it's only Eenie and Meanie in the big one. I opened the doors and tried to get them to move...even poked them with a stick! One just grabbed the stick with one foot and held on.

The current set-up is such that to get to them I have to basically crawl thru the door after removing the wire that connects the two coops. I stuck some solar lights in both coops and I'll go out in a bit and do what I have to if they haven't moved. They'll be sleeping in the main coop whether they want to or not. I can't leave them in the run...which is totally predator friendly.

I am in no mood for this. I can't wait for that single coop!

 

[lightm]

Only 1 Mum Left

It pains me greatly to have to share this news. Just after midnight on 8/30, Glynda passed away.

It was something respiratory that seemed to move lightning fast. The first sign of symptoms was some panting on 8/28. Unfortunately for me and her, it was way over 90F, 32C, extremely humid, and everyone except the littles was in some form of distress. Therefore I attributed it to the heat. Yesterday morning I really knew something was up. Here she was at that time.

I determined that I was going to try some Baytril to help her out and waited for nightfall. When I went to treat her I could tell I was too late. She was laboring so hard to breathe that I figured she was more likely to aspirate than for the antibiotic to have any effect.

And then she was gone.

Here she was when I went to treat her. This will be difficult to watch so I will put it behind a spoiler.

Spoiler: Glynda Towards the end

Less than 48 from presentation of symptoms to death tells me this was likely not bacterial. She has not laid an egg since she went broody so that should rule out any reproductive breakdown. That mostly leaves viral and of course my greatest fear, bird flu.

If it is bird flu I will likely lose them all in short order and there will be nothing I can do about it. They say within 7 days.

She stayed away from the tribe yesterday but her children kept checking on her. Versace even slept with her last night. They are the most likely to have been exposed and I will have to watch them closely for symptoms.

Here is Aster with her mum yesterday.

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I've lost my beautiful white lady who laid the blue eggs. The chicken that would climb up onto me and visit. I am heartbroken and I am in serious fear that we will lose them all.

My sweet Glynda. Taken from us far too soon. You will never be forgotten.

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I am so sorry Bob.

At least Glynda didn't suffer too long. I pray for your whole flock.

 

[Sylvester017]

I think Orange County California is building condos about that size!

If so~our 927 sq ft cottage must be a Mansion!

 

[Lilion]

There's nothing I love more than duck-walking thru at 9:45 p.m. They're in the big coop and NOT happy about it. I tried the "let them step up on your hand" thing. Works fine, until I actually move. Then they lose their minds!

How the heck am I going to move these birds to the new coop without having one wing me in the face and escape?

 

[Sylvester017]

Dakota wanted inside the chickens room so badly, she leaped off my arm and flew up to the high perch. Leaving my arm bleeding. She must have hit the right spot, because it hasn’t stopped bleeding yet.

Who knew a 6-lb hen or 2-lb Silkie could inflict that much damage? DH has scars on arms, chest, & legs from chicken claws! We keep a giant bottle of hydrogen pyroxide.

 

[rural mouse]

There's nothing I love more than duck-walking thru at 9:45 p.m. They're in the big coop and NOT happy about it. I tried the "let them step up on your hand" thing. Works fine, until I actually move. Then they lose their minds!

How the heck am I going to move these birds to the new coop without having one wing me in the face and escape?

Do the step up on hand. Place other hand on back/wrap arm around wings. Bring into chest, keep wings pinned while supporting feet. Walk bird into new coop. Repeat 6 more times.
Go inside house, scrub all cuts and scrapes with soap, then disinfect.

 

[Sylvester017]

We have grapes!!!
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Very nasty tasting concord grapes...so I'm going to make grape jelly!
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The vines are all over. Dad says tomorrow we will do something to cultivate it and keep it safer for the dogs. Had a cousin that almost lost her dog to grape toxicity, it was a hefty vet bill.
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Seriously a TON of grapes out there!
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Butterbird
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Yes this one has a bigger, pinker comb than the other two, it's also larger and a darker orange. I'll keep an eye on it.
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It'll keep an eye on me too.
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Getting wormies tossed in by kiddo...but I caught her only tossing in BSF and dropping the mealworms outside the pen! Guess she didn't feel like giving them the mealies...
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Bab is 90% healed up now. She has a weird bump on her neck and a bit of a scar already but she looks so much better.
Didn't sell anything at the market today, we were also the only ones there. I hope Dad doesn't give up on doing them, his coasters are really cool and I know if we got actual customers he'd sell them. View attachment 3933689

Oh, there's gotta be a Fair, Swap Meet, or Farmers Market in a heavier populated area to get more people traffic! Your projects are wonderful & just needs exposure!

And those beautiful grapes. I'm so surprised they're not tasty! I remember decades ago as a kid loving the Concord grapes shipped to Calif & I have craved those luscious imports from childhood. Nowadays fresh Concords aren't available here ~ probably some agricultural law prohibiting it.

Smart to fence off the grapes ~ chickens, animals, can overdose on the sugar content. We sparingly give grapes to our hens ~ they have a massive sweet tooth!

 

[Sylvester017]

Do the step up on hand. Place other hand on back/wrap arm around wings. Bring into chest, keep wings pinned while supporting feet. Walk bird into new coop. Repeat 6 more times.
Go inside house, scrub all cuts and scrapes with soap, then disinfect.

Our friends had over 20 laying hens & catching them or handling them for inspections made them invest in elbow length leather gloves to prevent scratches! Not cheap but w/ that many birds to keep track of it was worth it for them. The gloves worked well for pruning plants & rose bushes too.

 

[Lilion]

Do the step up on hand. Place other hand on back/wrap arm around wings. Bring into chest, keep wings pinned while supporting feet. Walk bird into new coop. Repeat 6 more times.
Go inside house, scrub all cuts and scrapes with soap, then disinfect.

Or...catch one...hopefully without an excess of fuss. (Gently) stuff in dog crate. Carry crate to new coop. Dump chicken out (again, gently, of course). Repeat 6 times.