Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Checking in, wish I could more often, hopefully soon - hey! I caught Mr. Shehnai eating from the treadle feeder today! What a smart observant boy! Maybe he can just make out the other feeder across the way in the Bigs area, maybe he sees them use it, though the view is partially blocked by a perch, a log, and the waterer. He certainly hears that feeder (it's not a soft-close) and can see a hen go to it, but her back is to him when she's at it....

I've also been treating them with all-flock pellets (switching from grower crumbles) and had started showing him the treadle, which holds the pellets. He loves pellets, and pays close attention. So I take some out of the front for them, getting them all used to the motion and sounds, and tell them this is where they are. Shehnai is front and center for this. I hadn't started any sort of feed withhold to get them to eat from it, and it's not on the right stable base yet actually, but is functional. The sides aren't blocked either. Just started holding the treadle down and letting them see in there and whoever dared stick their head in from any direction and get a snack. Couldn't get anyone to step on the treadle yesterday while I had it pushed down.

He appeared a little nervous about being on the treadle, but was grabbing some beakfuls! He stepped away just as I got the camera app going. Needless to say I heaped praise on him!

Training them to use the treadle is amazing. Great work!

 

[Sylvester017]

Snow Day

We had an interesting day today.

It started with snow....

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We had a significant amount fall this morning. Everyone was staying in the complex. I needed to give Niamh her dose of Baytril this morning. Niamh and Tilly were under the main coop staying away from the big ladies. So I took some scratch grain out, threw it into the run, where the big ladies were, and moved to the drop door. I sprinkled some scratch and Niamh came out. I scooped her up and got ready to head in with her when Tilly came out from under the coop.

Aster has come over to see what was up and Tilly fled out into the snow to get away. I didn't want to leave Tilly alone in the snow so I scooped her up and brought her into the house as well.
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They ate well and then started exploring. First discovery, the Christmas tree!

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They explored a little and then they settled in and watched the Great British Baking Show with Mrs BY Bob.

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One would sit down and the other would stand and I think, keep watch.

At some point, Mrs BY Bob lost track of them and Tilly made her way downstairs to where I am remodeling the family room. Chickens are real explorers if given the chance.

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Tilly was pretty calm all day. They were in until 3:30 when I took them back out to the coop. Not once did Niamh ask to go back out. I think they would have stayed inside all day.
Mrs BY Bob really enjoyed their company although she was not crazy about all the poo cleanup. On the plus side, they both have nice, solid, normal poos. Niamh was acting normal all day although her tail is still not all the way up the way it should be. Tilly is now bigger than Niamh. Tilly is 1.28 kg (2.82 lbs), Niamh 1.17 kg (2.58 lbs).

Mugs Monday

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LOVE the story & pics! So glad we're not the only weirdo's w/ visiting house chickens

 

[BY Bob]

Well I'm sorry but I was definitely not aware of this and I read Bob's rules. I know about the taxes but I didn't know about the beady eyes rule. Truly sorry but here's another set of eyes, what I like to call a void. A black void.
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Okay, shall I bring in Grandma? The one that never had beady eyes but rather carrot colored eyes?


You've got this. I'm trying to maintain good grades this year. AP Bio is rocky for me right now and AP Physics 1 isn't any better (because it's hard) but I have a great teacher and I've been able to maintain A's because of him and what he assigned. I have to step it up in English though.

No experience with coops but I'm sorry to hear about your friend's pullet being eaten. I would've been livid if something like that happened to me. Other than that, looks like a lot has happened.

I'm not offended. They aren't the best singers... They haven't had a number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

To be clear, beady eyes are permitted here.

 

[Ponypoor]

I wonder how Laverne likes being bald like she balded Mr P?!

Oh I am sure she would say she’s not bald - just looking trendy!

 

[Ponypoor]

To be clear, beady eyes are permitted here.

If eyes can be located!

Can’t trim! Too many pin feathers.

 

[Ponypoor]

I sure an hoping that you have gotten on top of things and he improves quickly.

Back to being really wheezy tonight

I threw some prednisone into him. So frustrating, poor wee fella.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

No more ISA’s

Hi everyone. I am once again several weeks behind in reading. I know several people have had losses lately, my deepest sympathies to all of you. And now I have also had a loss. Buffy, the last of my five ISA’s passed late Sunday or early Monday.

She was 3.5 years old, and has had reproductive issues for about a year. I had drained her abdomen a few times. The first was many months ago, the last a few days ago. When I drained it that time I could feel a hard lump in her abdomen. She had also started having crop issues that seemed to indicate that things weren’t able to pass through as well. When I did her abdomen I also used a catheter to drain her crop, because when I went to pick her up dark fluid gushed from her mouth. At least she seemed to be a little more comfortable her last few days.

Once she was gone I did a partial necropsy, mainly just opening her abdomen a little to examine the hard lump. It turned out to be similar to a lash egg, which I assume was from advanced infection in her abdomen.

She and Crystal, who I lost several weeks ago, will be laid to rest together. I kept having the feeling that as soon as I buried Crystal, Buffy would go too. So decided to just wait and bury them together when the time came.

Fly high my dearest ones. At least you will now be reunited with Goldie, Sassy, and Hazel.

Buffy from a few months ago, with her last fluffy butt photo.

I always loved the patterning on her back feathers, that looked almost like lacing or pencilling.

Memorial photo, and one of the material that wa in her abdomen (since I know some people appreciate things like this of a medical nature).

Spoiler: Buffy Memorial photo

Spoiler: Abdominal material

And I don’t think I ever posted pictures when Crystal passed.

Showing off her sunbathing pose

Spoiler: Crystal memorial