Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Thursday night the roosters were all growling like crazy - it had all the flock on high alert (except a few of the older ones like Blanche and Sophia), it even had me all freaked out. Still don’t know what they were going on about.

They knew something was around. Good boys!

 

[Marie2020]

I was ready to go to sleep when I heard Mr Wyandottey crowing as if something was wrong. I got dressed and went to the coop. I found one of Nacho’s little ones out on the ledge separated from her mother by chicken wire. I wasn’t counting her chicks when I put them to bed. Anyway, they are reunited and I took Dakota inside with me as my reward. Just a fantastic rooster I have in Mr Wyandottey! I know when his crows are directed towards me.

Way to go Mr Wyandottey

 

[rural mouse]

Probably that rabbit that Mr P was crowing about
I hope so

I've found around here, it's usually something large enough to be a threat but small enough to be only a maybe threat....like the neighbor's cat wanting to hunt mice around the coop. The "threat" is something they want to leave, but isn't quite intimidated by the roosters. (So not a predator like a fox or lynx that would carry them off). It's more like a threat to babies.

Alternatively, it's something they've sensed more than seen so they aren't even sure what is there. The whole flock is on alert until they decide it either isn't a threat or can be categorized into type of threat so they know how to respond.

@Ponypoor give your boys some extra goodies (they'll share with the ladies and look better with them). They earned the treats.

 

[Marie2020]

@Sylvester017
Flexi and Agatha.
They were devoted friends until the very end

Grumpy Princess

Above...Princess and Timmy

Flexi

Tina and princess asking for treats

Tina and Princess

 

[Marie2020]

Good morning from Princess

Agatha my little heart breaker

Above Agatha and Flexi

 

[BY Bob]

Oh I forgot about that!

A lot of feisty in that chicken.

 

[featherhead007]

I've found around here, it's usually something large enough to be a threat but small enough to be only a maybe threat....like the neighbor's cat wanting to hunt mice around the coop. The "threat" is something they want to leave, but isn't quite intimidated by the roosters. (So not a predator like a fox or lynx that would carry them off). It's more like a threat to babies.

Alternatively, it's something they've sensed more than seen so they aren't even sure what is there. The whole flock is on alert until they decide it either isn't a threat or can be categorized into type of threat so they know how to respond.

@Ponypoor give your boys some extra goodies (they'll share with the ladies and look better with them). They earned the treats.

Always give the roosters the first treats and then will tidbit them to the ladies! I learned this from Experience

 

[featherhead007]

Dakota is a happy girl today. Tail sticking high up. She knows I don’t usually wake up this early but I did to give her some breakfast. My leftover ham and cheese sandwich from last night.

 

[BY Bob]

Good evening everyone. I have not been on since either Monday or Tuesday. I am so exhausted I cannot honestly remember.

With mom having the flu I have covered her shifts this week and worked all week. I still have tomorrow to go. I'm not going to lie, I have not worked full time since Grandma had her stroke 3 years ago. I have gotten out of shape and am no longer used to being on concrete 9 to 10 hours a day. My feet and legs are killing me.

Flu/sickness update.

Dad is 75% recovered. He is still coughing sporadically and tired but he's feeling better. Mom is still down with it. She said today was the best she has felt, but she has zero energy. The migraine that lasted for 2 days is finally gone. The Tamiflu was causing it, she did not take it this morning and by this afternoon her headache went away. She also did not get the headache until she took that first dose of Tamiflu. Her fever broke yesterday afternoon.

Rosie, my poor Rosie is another story. Her fever finally broke Tuesday. I thought she was doing a little better Wednesday. Thursday morning before I left for work she started to scare me. She woke up and her face was splotched red and white on her cheeks. The moment I walked into her room I could hear her wheezing. First time I had heard her wheeze. I set her up with a breathing treatment before I had to leave and told dad to make sure she took another one around 3 or 4 which he did. He had to work to get her roused up to take it. When he picked me up last night he told me she was worse. I came in and checked her and made up my mind instantly as soon as I could get her to get a shower we were leaving for the ER. We got there a little bit after 10 and did not leave until 6am this morning. Rosie has developed Walking Pneumonia on top of the Flu A. The only thing that kept her from being admitted was the fact that I have a nebulizer machine at home and promised she would get a treatment every 4 hours for the next few days. They also hit her hard with steroids. She got a shot plus 5 days worth of prednisone, 20mg a pill. She is still very sick this evening but her breathing is so much better.

I am very thankful and counting my blessings that so far I have yet to come down with this. I am soo tired though, so very tired. Did not get home until 7:30 and had to be up at 9 to make it to work on time and keep up with the 4 hours breathing treatment schedule. I have went 48 hours on 1 hour sleep. Today being valentines day, and the most popular day of the week at the diner we were slammed from the minute we opened until we closed. Literally had 3 tables come in 5 minutes before we closed at 8. By the time we cleaned up I did not get to leave until 9:30. Rosie gets her next breathing treatment at midnight and I am hoping I am wound down enough that if I lay down I will actually be able to fall asleep. I cannot immediately come home and go to bed, I am not built that way no matter how tired I am. I need a good hour and a half to just sit and wind down. Always have been that way.

My chickens are doing good. I have only gotten to see them for a few minutes in the morning when I let everyone out and feed. My girls are picking back up laying, I got 8 yesterday. Bosa and Davy have free ranged for 2 whole days now with the flock. I intended to wait until my day off Sunday to let them do it for the first time. Well, yesterday the little brats bolted out on me before I could close the door and at that first taste of freedom I could not catch them and did not have time either. Dad kept a check on them and said they got along well with George and they put themselves up in the coop with everyone last night. This morning when I let them out Davy came up and did his rooster dance around me. I caught him mid-dance and held him for a minute and he did not struggle. Bosa had other things on his mind first thing this morning. He pulled a Branch and took a ride unsuccessfully on big Grouchy Gryffyn who shook him off. Keep dreaming little man.

I skimmed the 60 pages I was behind, I see there has been a lot of things happening the last few days. I fully intend to catch up Sunday.

Glad to hear you are still well. I surely hope you can find some rest soon. Very scary how sick Rosie got. Glad to hear she is on the mend.

I'm sure there will be a Sunday soon to help you catch up.

Stay well.

 

[BY Bob]

Precious little darlings trying to figure out how to roost!

They were that.