Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Happy Friday everyone.

I was going to post this last night but was too tired and crashed after I dealt with the chickens. I got called in to work at 8:30 yesterday morning and spent a 12 hour day at the diner in almost 100 degree heat with the ac out. I had flashbacks of working in the greenhouse in July 13 years ago yesterday.

Anyway, that phone call ended up saving Gryffyns life. I would have not gone out to feed and top up waterers for at least another hour otherwise.

I went out and was feeding the silkie chicks when I noticed Gryffyns 2 were running around screaming and trying to integrate with Goose and her boy. Goose was semi- ok with them but I found that very odd. I start looking for Gryffyn thinking maybe she was close and her 2 were just trying to play with the other chick. Gryffyn is not to be found. Panic sets in and I start looking everywhere for even a sign of blue feathers and I find nothing. At this point I'm really worried and fear she is gone. CeeCee comes around the house and goes and lays down in the creek to cool off. When CeeCee hit the creek it set off all my other chickens, they lost it.

Ok, I'm thinking something happened in or near the creek and maybe a coyote so I head over to see if I can see any evidence of a attack. I'm standing on the edge of the creek bank in front of the stalls focusing on the opposite side and hillside when I hear a low growl. Startled I look down and there she was. The creekbank had given way with her and she had fallen in. She was trapped on her side with dirt on top of her so she could not get up and the poor girl was exhausted, submerged all but her head and neck and close to dying. I waded the creek in my pj's and crocks to rescue her. She was waterlogged but she went straight to her relieved chicks. I really do not think she would have survived much longer in her predicament.

I got home late last night and she was the first one I checked on. Back to her old grouchy self and she got a good peck in when I lifted her up to do a head count on her chicks.

Big girl, that is twice now I have had to save your fluffy behind from the creek. last summer you managed to get trapped on the opposite side when the water was up and could not get across. You pecked me then in the midst of saving you. Ungrateful brat is what you are.

Side note, there is a new development with her two chicks Georgina and Georgette. Now that feathers are starting to come in they did inherit something from their daddy after all. It it tiny and just now noticeable but they are developing a crest. Right now it is a tiny mowhawk on each of their heads with a few feathers starting to stick up. They will not have Georges full crest, but they could have little fascinator style crests.

Wow that Gryffyn - she’s a handful, but I am glad she’s ok. They are as stressful as the horses I think!

I thought I saw a bit of a crest those last photos

Are crests somehow a dominant trait I wonder?

 

[Ponypoor]

fluffy Butt Friday

Ruth and Little Mouse

Sweetie Pie

Goldie and Eli-too

Daisy

A trio of hens
Little Grey, Jaffarra and Cayenne

 

[Ponypoor]

How terrifying. So glad you could rescue her. She will have wild tales to tell the babies about her near death experiences!

These chooks are a constant worry I think!

 

[Ponypoor]

Well actually I have done that a couple of times.
Once when I was live-trapping mice in the house and once with a neighbor's dog who kept coming round to visit because the neighbor kept forgetting to turn on her fence.
I got blue spray paint designed for marking cattle so it was safe, but I noticed that she started to remember the fence after her white dog returned with a blue stripe along his back.

Tax: Piglet feeling much better today now it is cool. Tail up again.
View attachment 4159852

 

[BY Bob]

Works for 2-FER... too!

It was an opportunity I could not pass up.

 

[BY Bob]

Nosy Posy is...making this sound

That's hysterical. Keep working on it buddy!

 

[BY Bob]

Happy Friday everyone.

I was going to post this last night but was too tired and crashed after I dealt with the chickens. I got called in to work at 8:30 yesterday morning and spent a 12 hour day at the diner in almost 100 degree heat with the ac out. I had flashbacks of working in the greenhouse in July 13 years ago yesterday.

Anyway, that phone call ended up saving Gryffyns life. I would have not gone out to feed and top up waterers for at least another hour otherwise.

I went out and was feeding the silkie chicks when I noticed Gryffyns 2 were running around screaming and trying to integrate with Goose and her boy. Goose was semi- ok with them but I found that very odd. I start looking for Gryffyn thinking maybe she was close and her 2 were just trying to play with the other chick. Gryffyn is not to be found. Panic sets in and I start looking everywhere for even a sign of blue feathers and I find nothing. At this point I'm really worried and fear she is gone. CeeCee comes around the house and goes and lays down in the creek to cool off. When CeeCee hit the creek it set off all my other chickens, they lost it.

Ok, I'm thinking something happened in or near the creek and maybe a coyote so I head over to see if I can see any evidence of a attack. I'm standing on the edge of the creek bank in front of the stalls focusing on the opposite side and hillside when I hear a low growl. Startled I look down and there she was. The creekbank had given way with her and she had fallen in. She was trapped on her side with dirt on top of her so she could not get up and the poor girl was exhausted, submerged all but her head and neck and close to dying. I waded the creek in my pj's and crocks to rescue her. She was waterlogged but she went straight to her relieved chicks. I really do not think she would have survived much longer in her predicament.

I got home late last night and she was the first one I checked on. Back to her old grouchy self and she got a good peck in when I lifted her up to do a head count on her chicks.

Big girl, that is twice now I have had to save your fluffy behind from the creek. last summer you managed to get trapped on the opposite side when the water was up and could not get across. You pecked me then in the midst of saving you. Ungrateful brat is what you are.

Side note, there is a new development with her two chicks Georgina and Georgette. Now that feathers are starting to come in they did inherit something from their daddy after all. It it tiny and just now noticeable but they are developing a crest. Right now it is a tiny mowhawk on each of their heads with a few feathers starting to stick up. They will not have Georges full crest, but they could have little fascinator style crests.

Oh my gosh! Great save. How many times do circumstances bring us to them just in time. I'm so glad you got her out.

 

[BY Bob]

Rue - update

She is improving slowly but steadily. She remains very alert. She preens, peeps at me, and has even pecked me for trying to help her get to her water bowl!

Her gate is now a clear limp vs the very a wild weird gate and other neurological symptoms she was displaying. This leads me to an injury induced neurological issues.

I have moved things around to accommodate her and reduce the amount of movement necessary for her to eat and drink.

I have quite a bit of hope that she will recover in time and be able to go be a chicken with her flock, she will be a house chicken until then.

@Ponypoor has been helping me, thank you so very much Kelly! I think we have the likely cause narrowed down to a hip or a spinal injury.

Her tent set up. The opened flat food tray and everything being in the middle of the tent really made a huge difference.
View attachment 4159676
Rue today - still fighting!
View attachment 4159675

Stay strong Rue! You can do this. Keep fighting.

 

[BY Bob]

This is always so stressful, it does look like they have friend in Hattie for sure. It clearly will not exempt them from some unwanted pecks but I bet it would be more intense without Hattie vouching for them. In my opinion I think this went as well as a first integration could have gone. Side note: They are fast

Speed is the number 1 skill right now.
That wasn't too bad but later I had to intervene and that was bad. I'm giving them today seperate and then tomorrow the fence comes down. We are pulling the bandaid off. I will be there to supervise but they are going to be mixing it up all day.

 

[Ponypoor]

Sitting on the lawn chair, enjoying the evening, it’s back to humidity, the 26C (79F) feels way warmer with the humidity, it’s so humid you can see the hazy air.

Chooks are sticking to the shade.

We are under a severe thunderstorm watch but for now it’s pretty darn nice!

The mud puddle is getting lots of action