Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[GregnLety]

In memoriam

This morning the Chicken Palace lost a brave, and much-loved leader.
In the early hours of this morning Bernadette-the-brave stirred a bit on her roost. She moved a bit awkwardly but settled down and went back to sleep.
And then a few minutes later she suddenly fell off the roost dead.
She was just shy of three years old.
I take comfort that it was quick and that she was snuggled with her friends. I am also glad that she never lost her leadership position in the flock, and that her last days were joyous. I actually thought she was getting over her heath issues. Most of her new feathers had come in, her crop was beginning to be less full in the morning, her appetite was good, and she was enjoying being outside and eating turkey scraps.

Bernadette was an unusual hen and a force of nature. She had a difficult start in life as she lost the use of a leg when she was only 3 weeks old. Even though she was unable to walk she was still very much in command of her brooder buddies.
Her recovery was an uplifting journey that was documented here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

Bernie eventually grew to be a very tall hen with some rooster-like attributes. She did lay beautiful brown speckled eggs, but very rarely.

She carried herself upright and had a 'special relationship' with Babs. As far as I could see, this was a fully consensual special relationship and once Babs died, Bernie made only a few half hearted attempts with the other hens.

When Pooh was attacked by a hawk, Bernie rushed in and laid into the hawk with her feet and beak. Most of the feathers flying were from the hawk, who was forced to give up its attack.

In recent weeks Bernie has been under the weather. She was molting, lost weight, and was not fully emptying her crop overnight. I took her to a vet who could feel a small mass - possibly a tumor - deep in her abdomen. But she continued to have a real zest for life up until the very end.

Farewell Bernadette. I will miss your funny ways. I am sure Tassels will take over your leadership position, but for now your little flock-mates are in shock and have decided to roost away from your favorite spot.

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RC, you have my condolences. I truly sorry to hear of her passing. Bernie was one of a kind and will be missed.

 

[rural mouse]

Congrats @Logar

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-12-13-24-pic-by-logar.1647631/#post-28225954

 

[Logar]

Congrats @Logar

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-12-13-24-pic-by-logar.1647631/#post-28225954

Thank you!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you!

Cute picture!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Maybe they will also get chicks in.

Never heard of Family Farm and Home.

You guys are fortunate with the variety of different poultry feeds down there, not to mention poultry breeders

Yes, and they carry the Kalmbach feed so I'm happy. We won't need to make a seperate trip to get feed.

 

[McPickle88]

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I have been wanting to do this for some time now. I knew once I started doing this there would be no going back. So I am now diving in and I hope you all enjoy coming along for the ride.

First of all let me tell you how we view our flock as that will help you to understand why we treat them like we do.

Our birds are our pets and we treat them as such. We do not care if someone is not laying eggs. They are welcome to stay at Fluffy Butt Acres until they pass naturally. (Now don't go telling them that! I would hate for word to get out) We do thoroughly enjoy the fresh eggs.

I plan to tell stories from the past as well as from today. I hope you all enjoy and will share stories of your flocks as well.

Mine are pets too! I have 11 hens and 2 chicks. My hens don't have a house as good as yours but they are happy! Love to see this!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Kiddo wanted to watch a coop cam video. Now she's crowing with the roosters and naming them all.

 

[featherhead007]

Kiddo wanted to watch a coop cam video. Now she's crowing with the roosters and naming them all.
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That’s too cute!

 

[SimpleJenn]

That’s too cute!

She got to video chat with one of her great grammas yesterday and told her "I'm gonna hatch eggs for my birthday and have chickens in the house!"

 

[BY Bob]

Interesting that you say that about 3. I have been tracking the lifespan of every chicken i have had. Check out the average age of the deceased.

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I have this info. I have just not looked at it this way. I will do so and report back.