Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

A final Fluffy Butt Friday picture of Cinnabun. Dad's dog just killed her so...fly high sweet bird, you were my favorite
View attachment 4258025
Hubby is talking to him about it now. I'm far too upset to be coherent.

I’m so sorry for your loss, it is heartbreaking! The situation sounds very challenging.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Oh, I've seen geese on migration before...just not quite this high. These were so high that the Vs looked like a strand of long hair blowing in the wind. I had to search the skies for several minutes to find them. They were easily mistook for ripples on the clouds.

I can’t say why I think this, it could be wrong, but I think they climb to where they get the best tailwind. On a good northern clipper-type air mass maybe that might be very high. The ones we saw last week were very far away too.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Hiding places:
Elsa and a brood of eggs.

Mama and her four little ones. View attachment 4258258View attachment 4258259

Or not-so-little ones!

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh, I've seen geese on migration before...just not quite this high. These were so high that the Vs looked like a strand of long hair blowing in the wind. I had to search the skies for several minutes to find them. They were easily mistook for ripples on the clouds.

They can fly at some astonishing heights where the air is quite thin.

Not sure if I posted this before but it explains the unique way that chickens (and all birds) breath.

 

[Ponypoor]

I can’t say why I think this, it could be wrong, but I think they climb to where they get the best tailwind. On a good northern clipper-type air mass maybe that might be very high. The ones we saw last week were very far away too.

Yes they pick up the jet stream which is very high up, and they can go very fast up there! Smart creatures- birds.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

If he gets another I will put my foot down and say they need to keep him in the run or rehome him.

The dog WILL kill another, that is assured. I don’t see much incentive otherwise, especially given the likely view that these things are just the “way it goes”. If you can live with losing your chickens this way now and then, you might be able to make a dent in his thinking if you upped the cost.

He's the one who pushed and pushed for me to have free rangers, so he needs to do the responsible thing by my birds.

Two things: I feel as you do about reciprocity, but some people would NOT find the idea of free-ranging chickens incompatible with their also-free-ranging dog killing a few now and then. Consider not free-ranging any birds if you can, while this gets sorted out.

Sending you thoughts of support and strength, to advocate for yourself. Hugs!

 

[Ponypoor]

Hiding places:
Elsa and a brood of eggs.

Mama and her four little ones. View attachment 4258258View attachment 4258259

Are you letting her keep them

You soon have more than I do!

 

[featherhead007]

Are you letting her keep them

You soon have more than I do!

I don’t know

 

[Ponypoor]

Dad brought over $40 for the two birds Baxter killed. He mentioned that he's been stalking/chasing her for a couple DAYS. Yet he didn't see fit to tell me so I could contain her, this is beyond just a dog opportunistically chasing. If he gets another I will put my foot down and say they need to keep him in the run or rehome him.
He's the one who pushed and pushed for me to have free rangers, so he needs to do the responsible thing by my birds.

Well winter snow will keep the birds close to the hen houses. It’s likley a bit late in the year now, but that safety fencing is inexpensive and easy to put up and move around.

I use those electric fence posts, but you would be better using re-bar a 5’ post stuck in the ground a foot, then t you have enough for the fence height.

I use strapping to keep the fencing from sagging down the rebar. And of course I have tonnes of baling twine to tie it on hahaha. I tie the wooden strapping to the rebar sandwiching the fencing between the rebar and the strapping.

Keeps chooks in and hopefully dogs out.

 

[rural mouse]

Amazing.
Could you hear them? I usually hear the honking and then look up to see them. Saw a bunch today heading South (don't blame them - brrrr!).

They didn't sound quite like Canadian honkers. That's why I went to Audubon where I could listen to calls. The migratory pattern on the map also fit with what I was seeing and hearing. I think they were Ross's.