Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Well it has been a roller coaster the past week.

Found someone to take the meatbird chick last Thursday, so no longer stressing about it but also sad to see her go.

Sunday night we finally lost Scarlett due to her ascites. I will miss her terribly. She was my “shoulder chicken”, the only one who really kept flying up on me o feel they were grown. And she is also my avatar. She was three years old.

View attachment 4129306

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Spoiler: Memorial photo-warning, deceased chicken

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And Buffy, one of my last 2 Isa Browns from my original flock has also come down with Ascites, and it progressed rapidly. I first noticed it about two weeks ago. Yesterday she was already in so much distress that I made the decision to drain her a little. It went well, but I know it is a temporary measure to make her more comfortable. And it also comes with risks like shock or infection. She did seem to feel a little better today, it I know it is only a matter of time until I lose her too.

I do also have happier news and pics. Will post those separately. And not sure if it will be now or tomorrow as it is getting late. And I have a time of quotes saved from posts I want to reply to and have not gotten to it yet.

I'm sorry to hear you lost your beloved 'shoulder girl'! It is heartbreaking what we have done to chickens in terms of so many genetic issues just for a few extra eggs or more meat. Bless you for still having the fortitude to rescue more chickens - and may some of your littles buoy your spirits while you remember Scarlett and work with Buffy.

 

[rural mouse]

gorgeous photos and I really like the tire photo!

Those tires have been wonderful. I have 4 set up for catching water off the garage roof (fill with hose during the summer)....and 1 hanging on a spigot.....and 4-5 more for assorted dust bathing (ashes from the fireplace in one of those). They usually go create their own dust spots, so I'm going to move those around a bit this year.

I have some garden sulfur for a couple and some DE for another. Thinking this through while typing this, I need to get some paver sand and some decomposing granite (take a tote and shovel with me and stop after work to collect). Once I've acquired all of those things, I need to move the tires so they're more spread out (and still sheltered) then fill them.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Those tires have been wonderful. I have 4 set up for catching water off the garage roof (fill with hose during the summer)....and 1 hanging on a spigot.....and 4-5 more for assorted dust bathing (ashes from the fireplace in one of those). They usually go create their own dust spots, so I'm going to move those around a bit this year.

I have some garden sulfur for a couple and some DE for another. Thinking this through while typing this, I need to get some paver sand and some decomposing granite (take a tote and shovel with me and stop after work to collect). Once I've acquired all of those things, I need to move the tires so they're more spread out (and still sheltered) then fill them.

That is such an awesome idea. The creativity! Very practical use(s) and those tires have the bonus benefit of making for some great photo opportunities with a nice frame built right in.

Ah yes shoveling sand, An activity I have recently become quite accustomed to . After many many years of my youth and young adulthood spent cleaning horse stalls though, this is not bad and once done it’s done for quite sometime. I stopped at about two thousand pounds, that’s what is currently in my coop. It’s not as deep as they suggest yet
but I will add another thousand lbs more at the end of the summer.

We have a creek that runs through our property and it has tumbled tiny pebbles in the bed of it and that is what we will use for around the perimeter of the coop but it will be a slow add over time kinda labor.

The things we do for the love of our animals

 

[knoturavggrl]

Well it has been a roller coaster the past week.

Found someone to take the meatbird chick last Thursday, so no longer stressing about it but also sad to see her go.

Sunday night we finally lost Scarlett due to her ascites. I will miss her terribly. She was my “shoulder chicken”, the only one who really kept flying up on me o feel they were grown. And she is also my avatar. She was three years old.

View attachment 4129306

View attachment 4129307

View attachment 4129308

Spoiler: Memorial photo-warning, deceased chicken

View attachment 4129311

And Buffy, one of my last 2 Isa Browns from my original flock has also come down with Ascites, and it progressed rapidly. I first noticed it about two weeks ago. Yesterday she was already in so much distress that I made the decision to drain her a little. It went well, but I know it is a temporary measure to make her more comfortable. And it also comes with risks like shock or infection. She did seem to feel a little better today, it I know it is only a matter of time until I lose her too.

I do also have happier news and pics. Will post those separately. And not sure if it will be now or tomorrow as it is getting late. And I have a time of quotes saved from posts I want to reply to and have not gotten to it yet.

I am sorry to hear of your loss We know this is inevitable but heavens it never gets easier.

I wish more care had been taken in creating the production breeds, their lives are so often cut way too short. I do know this; they had a much much better life with you. They had love, care, grass and dirt to scratch in, bugs to eat and sun to bask in.

 

[RoyalChick]

Those tires have been wonderful. I have 4 set up for catching water off the garage roof (fill with hose during the summer)....and 1 hanging on a spigot.....and 4-5 more for assorted dust bathing (ashes from the fireplace in one of those). They usually go create their own dust spots, so I'm going to move those around a bit this year.

I have some garden sulfur for a couple and some DE for another. Thinking this through while typing this, I need to get some paver sand and some decomposing granite (take a tote and shovel with me and stop after work to collect). Once I've acquired all of those things, I need to move the tires so they're more spread out (and still sheltered) then fill them.

I have some tires in the barn and was thinking of using them for dust baths. Do you do anything to keep them dry?

 

[BY Bob]

Happy Thursday

 

[TOMTE]

Just a couple pics of Sybil and Magrat chillin' earlier

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy Thursday

Oh the chirps!

 

[rural mouse]

I have some tires in the barn and was thinking of using them for dust baths. Do you do anything to keep them dry?

Put them in somewhat sheltered locations (wind shelter). The places they make for themselves seem to be in full sun. I haven't done a roofed shelter yet, but am mulling ideas.

 

[bgmathteach]

Put them in somewhat sheltered locations (wind shelter). The places they make for themselves seem to be in full sun. I haven't done a roofed shelter yet, but am mulling ideas.

I have some tires in the barn and was thinking of using them for dust baths. Do you do anything to keep them dry?

I have a tire I picked up that was cut (i.e. for some reason, the center was cut out on both sides, so it has a 'wider center'. I have been thinking of screwing that to a plywood base with 2x4 (scrap) underneath to give it a bit of a lift so not so much bedding will be kicked into it, and putting a gable top over it - to add to their formal dust bath areas....and the roof will be to keep it relatively dry so it can be used in the winter - as I only have one dust bath area that is under cover of a roof in the run. That, unfortunately, isn't on the top of my list of things to do...so hopefully it will get done before this coming winter...but not right away. If you aren't in a rush, RC, I will let you know how it turns out! (and I will make a point of having DH take a picture on his phone so I can upload it here.

Note also that I get a lot of water off the dilapidated barn roof (into the run), so I couldn't just put it on the ground with a roof, as it surely would get wet at some point, so would freeze...hence the plywood base with 2x4 (scrap/from pallets - so free) underneath to lift it a bit to keep the base dry. It would also serve a shade (roof) for the summer, as well as another protected (dry) dust bath for the winter.