Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Yes. That. Though I think she has people around her who could help.
The daytime grabbing sounds like a fox - but the other day I saw a large coyote watching me and that was the middle of the afternoon so still could be coyote.
I confess I really do not like coyotes. I swear he licked his lips looking at me!

Sometimes by the time you get help alerted to the need to shoot, the opportunity is gone and foxes are canny enough to be listening for a commotion in the house, even with the windows and doors closed. The one handed is a "just in case" helping hands would be preferable on this.

 

[BY Bob]

For tolbunt eggs, I'd take vacation and meet you North Dakota/Minnesota/Manitoba. border....and swing by my sister's place, see the new baby (due any day), leave half the eggs with her, and incubate them. However, I have to do 3 weeks out. Or meet halfway on below the Lakes route

If you really want them, I know where you can purchase and have them shipped to you. That's where this fellow came from.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi everyone.

My boss covered for me today so I could get some last minute things done before I have surgery next week. 8 days away. I'm looking forward to it and terrified of it at the same time. Word has got out to my regulars, who are mostly older. Their new favorite past time and topic of conversation is telling me their experiences with rotator cuff surgery. It is worse then going down the rabbit hole of a google search. One of my favorites looked me in the eye and told me she would rather give birth unmedicated 5 times in a row then have that surgery again. She's also had hip and knee surgery to boot. Hahaha.....help. I managed to get my pre-op bloodwork in, stocked up on some new icepacks which will apparently be my best friends for the next few weeks and got the shirts the nurse told me to get. She told me to go buy a pack of t-shirts 2 sizes too big for me because for the first week or so I will no be allowed to put my arm through the affected sides shirt sleeve. I also picked up a couple new pairs of pajama bottoms so I can live in them the first 2 weeks.

Now for a chicken update. We had an incident a week and a half ago that has stripped my chickens of any free range time for the foreseeable future. Dad and Rosie were out front finishing up mowing the lawn about 4. They heard a commotion and ran out back and something had gotten Goose. It has now hit in broad daylight and at night. The first week was rough, they were not happy but have settled into coop life. Rosie has employed lots of treats inside the coop and has even hung up a cabbage for them which they are devouring. Poor Homer was orphaned though and he was not ready to leave his momma. Rosie has taken him under her wing for me and he buddied up with the silkie chicks. I combined the silkies with their parents Sunday and I put Homer in with them. It went great. No picking on them and both Davy and Barbosa immediately took to calling them over to show them the food. Heaven forbid you make one of the chicks panic by trying to pet them. Barbosa is on you, do NOT touch those babies. Last night when I did my nightly check he had them all on the roost and he was in the middle of them. I hate that they are no longer allowed to free range, but, now I'm thinking fox. No one has seen anything come into the yard so it is a complete mystery.

Speaking from experience with a fractured wrist (Colles fracture), when they send you to physical therapy, gut it out and do every single thing they tell you to do. I weaseled out on my homework after the wrist repair, and I have severely limited range of motion now.

I kick myself every day for what could have been if I’d just sucked it up and done the work.

Good luck with your surgery! My daughter had rotator cuff plication after a sports injury, and it went very well. (She’s way more self-disciplined than I!)

 

[BY Bob]

Bottom of the old doorView attachment 4191147

Different angleView attachment 4191148

Thank you babies for being smart little velociraptors. This BADLY needed replacing.

It sure did! Wow!

 

[BY Bob]

Oh you’re saying cross at the Sault in the US.

SS Marie is 7hrs from me.


I was brow beaten into contacting the person, could get eggs next week if I wanted.

Not to worry I’ll get them to you

Do it. They are special chickens. Imagine Mr. Pompeii's reaction to some of his own.

Look at those Wednesday Wattles!

 

[BY Bob]

Everything you wanted to know about it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preparation_H


The dream….
View attachment 4191184


The reality….
View attachment 4191185

Heaven forbid if a broody got up there… I’d never get to her!

No @Ponypoor THIS is the Dream!

 

[BY Bob]

No, I am in central Ontario, fires are a long ways away. Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. But the prevailing winds push the smoke this way. And also down south, I was about to see if @BY Bob was affected his way, from the maps up here I can see the smoke going as far south as his area.

Makes for some interesting sunrises and sunsets. Last night it was so hazy it was actually dark early, the chooks all headed to bed early hahaha - good little velociraptors!

Yes, we are having air quality alerts. The smoke is here.

 

[BY Bob]

Is she pooping ok? As long as she is pooping ok and eating I just take a watch and see approach.


Poor Twister had a retained soft egg this morning, I went to lift her down from the roost ledge and noted her butt was wet, looked and she had egg membrane partially dispelled.

She was working at spitting it out, so a bit of tension to stop it from getting sucked back in, helped it along.

Never ever pull on a partially expelled egg, you can prolapse the hens cloaca. Best to just let them work at it. Away from other hens who might also want to pull at it. Anyways she finally expelled it, and I gave her some Sulphatrim to help combat any infections. Made me late for work….

She’s one of my favourite ladies. Even if she did try to remove a chunk of my forearm a few times!

View attachment 4191241View attachment 4191246

So glad you were able to help her.

 

[BY Bob]

Hi everyone.

My boss covered for me today so I could get some last minute things done before I have surgery next week. 8 days away. I'm looking forward to it and terrified of it at the same time. Word has got out to my regulars, who are mostly older. Their new favorite past time and topic of conversation is telling me their experiences with rotator cuff surgery. It is worse then going down the rabbit hole of a google search. One of my favorites looked me in the eye and told me she would rather give birth unmedicated 5 times in a row then have that surgery again. She's also had hip and knee surgery to boot. Hahaha.....help. I managed to get my pre-op bloodwork in, stocked up on some new icepacks which will apparently be my best friends for the next few weeks and got the shirts the nurse told me to get. She told me to go buy a pack of t-shirts 2 sizes too big for me because for the first week or so I will no be allowed to put my arm through the affected sides shirt sleeve. I also picked up a couple new pairs of pajama bottoms so I can live in them the first 2 weeks.

Now for a chicken update. We had a incident a week and a half ago that has stripped my chickens of any free range time for the foreseeable future. Dad and Rosie were out front finishing up mowing the lawn about 4. They heard a commotion and ran out back and something had gotten Goose. It has now hit in broad daylight and at night. The first week was rough, they were not happy but have settled into coop life. Rosie has employed lots of treats inside the coop and has even hung up a cabbage for them which they are devouring. Poor Homer was orphaned though and he was not ready to leave his momma. Rosie has taken him under her wing for me and he buddied up with the silkie chicks. I combined the silkies with their parents Sunday and I put Homer in with them. It went great. No picking on them and both Davy and Barbosa immediately took to calling them over to show them the food. Heaven forbid you make one of the chicks panic by trying to pet them. Barbosa is on you, do NOT touch those babies. Last night when I did my nightly check he had them all on the roost and he was in the middle of them. I hate that they are no longer allowed to free range, but, now I'm thinking fox. No one has seen anything come into the yard so it is a complete mystery.

This is terrifying. I hope you are able to figure it out soon.

So sorry for the loss of Goose. It's very sad.

 

[BY Bob]

got sent proof of life
View attachment 4191347

I'm sorry but that cat is not proof of life.