Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Too early for the pointy other than the crest. What about Leah?

Hmmm, Leah - very pretty. I like it.

And if male Lee….

 

[Ponypoor]

Yep, there are some sweet people in this world & you're one of them

You are very kind thank you.

I think everyone is wonderful, really there are very few people whom I have met whom I disliked. One woman I detested but now I just feel extremely sorry for her. Everyone has a story.

 

[Ponypoor]

Also, although antibiotics can cover some infections plus possible complications of the original “cold,” most respiratory diseases are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and antibiotics don’t work for viruses.

I’m glad that the seller is acting responsibly by not passing along sick birds! Signed, grandmother of two little kids who energetically pass along any contagious diseases within a 20-mile radius

Little germ factories

I do not allow anyone to visit here if they or their kids are sick, and they respect that

 

[Ponypoor]

I was thinking this would be worrying to read for you! Hugs back for your anticipatory / planning worry!
17 weeks old exactly (given Hatch Day is June 2).

The BO’s generally beat him back weeks ago as he has been chasing and playing with and testing everyone for a long time, so there aren’t many confrontations with them that I’ve seen. The most recent interaction before all this was a short ninja fight and stare-down with Diane a week or two ago and Hazel ended it when she charged him from behind and took him totally by surprise with her ninja jump. It seemed to me then his tests were getting more lengthy and determined.

The BO’s just need to walk toward him with intent at this point as far as I can tell. They will escalate to a little charge / chase sometimes but he is very fast and I haven’t seen them touch him or actually ninja-fight since that interaction with Diane. Maybe he will try for them if he gives up on Hazel. Or maybe he’ll decide there’s a virtual buffet around him and go for everyone!

In the weeks prior, if he was in the mood for chasing he’d run at his hatchmates and even if a sister pullet just stretched and flapped her wings from 15 feet away he might charge her too. Or maybe she’s inviting that, she must know he’s hepped up? He seemed to find them easier pickings than Hazel and the BO’s. Haven’t seen him try to actually grab them yet.

Young Roos are like young stallions - they all need older mares / hens to beat the crap out of them if they step out of line.

My only worry is the fact your ladies are not aware of what a Roo is, and it will take time for them to all figure it out.

I had horrible experiences with young Roos here with my poor ladies prior to getting Mr P. But it was like night and day with the hens when he arrived. And of course with him here he was able to beat the crap out of Bert, Clyde, Mr LC and Sit Shirley - along with a few other young cockerels that were here. And the girls learnt that they could also beat the stuffing out of them.

From were I see things, if Diana can step up and be the ‘Roo’ to teach him manners and protect Hazel, then you shouldn’t have too much problems. Just keep an eye on his harassing Hazel too much, those boys are devious little monsters sometimes.

If he is bothering her too much don’t hesitate to separate her from the group with a friend to keep her company. You can always shuffle them around so that Hazel is kept away for a day and then young lad with his sisters.

The real problem will be in the winter when they have less room to roam around. You may need to have 2 separate groups at that point until Spring.

But let’s cross that bridge when we get there. Patience is required along with some strategic planning. This time next year you should have a glorious young rooster with some good manners. I am sure Diana will make sure of that!

 

[Ponypoor]

They look very happy!

Had a devil of a time catching them!

Didn’t think it through enough hahaha! Then Leah (thank you RC) got free and ran amok, I was able to corner her in the other tomato patch.

Hopefully they will become less wild as they get older.

 

[RoyalChick]

Had a devil of a time catching them!

Didn’t think it through enough hahaha! Then Leah (thank you RC) got free and ran amok, I was able to corner her in the other tomato patch.

Hopefully they will become less wild as they get older.

Not me. I think @rural mouse came up with Leah. I can’t even name my own chickens right now let alone offer good ideas for others!

 

[Ponypoor]

Good afternoon everyone.

ugh I am tired. The last 2 1/2 weeks I have clocked in at work after my therapy appointments. The first 3 times mom stayed and loafed around incase it proved to much to handle or we got busy. We were kind of slow and I did not do things I should not and was ok. Then mom decided if I was going to clock in she was going home and would come back if I needed her to, again all ok. Well, there is a "bug" going around and it hit mom, Betty, and Leena who was hired after I had to take time off for the surgery. Mom was down for the count and could not get out of bed. I worked Thursday and Friday with Leena. Thursday was slow, normal but we got slammed Friday. Oh I was sore Friday, but not from shoulder overuse, I am out of shape again after only a month. Those concrete floors killed my feet, legs and back. I can do everything at the Diner except the mopping. I tried but 3 passes in with the mop and it felt like my shoulder was being ripped into so I passed that chore off. Friday evening the "bug" hit Leena and hit her fast. Yesterday I worked with the other girl Tracie who can only fill in on Saturdays and after she gets off her full time job during the evenings if we need her. The last 5 Saturdays have been dead, really not worth opening. If they do get a busy spell it has been around 4:30ish to about 7. Mom thought we would have a easy Saturday. LIES....ALL LIES!!

I had 3 cars waiting the moment I opened the doors and they did not stop coming or calling in until 7. Saturdays special is 2 large Pizza's. We sent 36 pizza's out the door in a 4 hour time frame among everything else. Me and Tracie ran out of Donuts by 2, and ran out of pizza dough by 6:30. By closing time my shoulder was hurting. Mom who is starting to feel better came a little early and helped us close it down and clean it up. I cleaned everything with a ice pack strapped to my shoulder and mom yelling at me to sit down I had done enough. I did not, I wanted out of there and to come home and crash into my bed.

Today I have done absolutely nothing at all. Well, I did go out and sit with the chickens with the coffee pot, but that requires no energy to do. I slept with my ice packs last night and took one of my pain pills. When I got up my shoulder is not hurting and I have gently moved it around with zero pain so I think yesterday was just a warning.

Mom is even better today and she informed me that after therapy tomorrow she is sending me home and I was to rest a few days.

Oh no! That’s rotten luck, lots of stuff going around now that our darling germ factories are back in school!

You be careful and take it easy! 12 hrs is not to far for me to drive down and give you a thump!

Ok pep talk done

 

[Ponypoor]

Not me. I think @rural mouse and up with Leah. I can’t even name my own chickens right now let alone offer good ideas for others!

Oh for crying out loud - yes I was thinking RM but my fingers have a mind of their own sometimes….

 

[BY Bob]

Big Doings at FBA

Hello everyone. I am back. Thanks for bearing with me. The loss of Nimue was a real shock and really has me still reeling. However, life goes on and the chickens need my attention.

After I finished grieving and got back to observing the flock, this is what I found.

The flock was locked in the complex for 5 days after the attack so that the hawk wound be encouraged to move on and so that, hopefully, Niamh would find someone to hang out with and perhaps merge with the main flock.

Well merging did not happen. Lady Featherington scares the life out of her. Sydney is not kind as well. She can hang with Aurora, no issues there. Aster will peck her but not run her off. No one has accepted her to be their friend. Any hope that Aster wants a traveling buddy has been dashed. She is a loner by choice.

This led us to consider other options.

Yesterday, we went to a swap meet and found a polish that is a little younger than Niamh. Her name is Joy. She is in quarantine until I can get her tested to confirm she is not carrying anything. Eve named her and considers Joy to be her chicken.

Joy is in Hattie House under quarantine. She looks to be around 4.5 months old.

The plan is to introduce her to Niamh at night in the Cluckle Hut. As she is younger than Niamh I am hopeful Niamh will teach her and they will bond.

More to come!

 

[BY Bob]

It's time for another Shrimpie Sunday update.

The little shrimplets are 2 weeks old and are now all over the tank. They are big enough now I can leave the light on. My poor plant is thankful for that I'm sure as it took a slight hit with me keeping the lights off most of the time while they were super tiny. I have tried counting them now that they are all over and exploring and I keep getting different numbers each time. I think I have about 15, maybe more. I really need to clean the algae off the front of the tank but I'm going to leave it for another week. The shrimplets are almost big enough to eat the fish food if I crumble it up really small, but right now their main source of nutrition is still the algae. I was finally able to get a video of them and have them show up on camera. They are still a little blurry but at least they show up. Last week when I tried I got nothing. Hopefully next week if they keep growing like they are they will be in focus more.

That's so cool!