Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Bert has been rehomed, he will have a flock of his own now.

A very chatty older Vietnamese gentleman and his wife and son, she was quite taken with Mr and Mrs LC. They have 8 hens, their Roo died about 3 weeks ago so they were looking. He also tried to buy a bunch of my hens hahaha. I asked him about him using them for meat but he laughed and said no way could he kill any of his hens and his wife laughed saying they only eat eggs.

He tried to give me money for Bert but I said no - his wife gave me a box of chocolates and then he slipped $20 in my pocket as he was leaving.

Anywhoo I also mentioned about worming them, so I will get them some Panacur to do their hens when I do mine next week. I sure hope they like Bert and that it’s a good home for him.

He is already planning on getting some pullets from me next year I told him if he was interested he could get a bunch of day olds, I would raise them then he could come get them. I get the fun with the babies and he can get them when grown hahaha we all had a great chuckle over that.

Seems his wife is happy with Bert she carried him in her arms up to the car! All I could think was don’t let him loose!

I am happt to hear this, Kelly. I’m so sorry I’m not up to speed and didn’t even know you had an unwanted roo. I’m glad Bert has a new home.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok everyone, I didn’t know how many chooks I had so tonight I counted the all.

Let’s have a little contest on how many chickens do I have now…. A hint, it’s less then 100.

Let the guessing begin!

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And yes over half are free loaders!

60-ish?

 

[micstrachan]

Bernie continues to struggle - I don’t know if it is molt or something more serious. But I have discovered that she transforms into a different hen when turkey scraps are offered.
To describe it as a favorite food is a significant under statement.
One minute she looks like she is not far from death. Then suddenly she is a raging carnivore tearing into her cousin’s carcass like a mad thing!

Oh, RC. I’m so sorry Bernie is unwell. I sincerely hope it is just molt. I’m so glad she’s getting some turkey to help her through that. As you know, sometimes I offer my hands, beef liver if they need a boost. Or buttermilk poured over slightly moistened pellets. I know you know everything to look for, so I won’t ask. But do you have any cluess?

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, all you smart and experienced chickeneers. I have something odd going on. Still have birds moulting (they do it in rotations). However, 2 of this year's pullets have joined in: Hyacinth and Rose are both moulting: rumpled feathers, neck/head/tail feathers clearly have new feathers coming. Anyone have experience with this?

I’m sorry I’m behind and haven’t had a chance to check if you figured this out, but I don’t recall my first year pullets molting significantly. Maybe a minor molt. Have you checked for parasites? Are you certain they are not getting pecked?

 

[micstrachan]

Where............to Sleep, Purchance to Dream

Everyone was up so late Sunday night scratching in the new straw that Aster starting looking for someplace else to sleep.

Oh my goodness she’s precious!

 

[micstrachan]

Super Busy Sunday

I got a reprieve with the weather yesterday and had an opportunity to correct my poor behavior and get the coop complex ready for winter. It was 57 F (14C) and I took advantage of it.

It started with a deep clean of all coops.

Cluckle Hut
Let's start with the Cluckle Hut as other adjustments were needed.

All cleaned out

Nest box
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Coop
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You can see the heating panel in the photos above facing down the roost. It was there to keep Betty and Phyllis warnm in the winter. There is no reason for it to be up there any longer so I moved it down to nest box so Hattie can curl up next to it on cold winter nights.

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This necessitated a re-routing of the wire which I am not entirely happy with but which should work for now. You can see it going behind the lower roost in the pictures above and behind the food and water dishes below.

The nest box with the heater panel along the wall and deep straw.

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The coop all strawed back up.
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Main Coop
I then cleaned out the Main Coop.

Nest boxes
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Main Area
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I then re-strawed the nest boxes
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And piled the straw in the main coop, awaiting my helper. I have gone 2-3 inches deep with the straw so the can nest up and stay warm in the winter.

Spoiler: Help Arrives

I wound up with a nice even spread of straw. Aurora is super reliable when it comes to spreading straw. Watch at the end when she realizes she is on camera.

A nice even spread
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Then it was time to get the shower curtains up to protect the run and porch from snow and wind. I also had to repair this damage from the wind storm last week.
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Porch, side door, and lower section done. Aurora inspecting my work.
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Side of the run complete.
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Wind damaged section repaired
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Sealed up to protect them all from the worst.

I decided to put straw on the porch as well as it is now waterproof with the shower curtain on. Aster and Lady F were enjoying scratching around until some one arrived and drove them off.

Those no Longer with Us
I then decided to deal with the bum silhouettes and their place in the run. I re-organized the ones already there and took down Phyllis and Glynda and with my heart feeling heavy put them up in the run with all the others that have left us.

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I need to make Aster a silhouette along with one for Sylvie and Legertha. It is wrong that they are not represented. I just have never been able to bring myself to make them one simply to put into the run. It's just so sad.

A lot of the silhouettes in the run need to be repainted but they remain as they were when everyone passed. I want them to look nice though. I suppose I will repaint them one by one this winter.

That was a full day. However with the bad weather today, I believe they appreciated the updated digs.

Great work, Bob! Now they areall clean and cozy.

Aurora looks so vibrant and healthy. Some of my older girls, Bridge and Little Mill in particular, both of whixh have bum legs/feet, are slowing WAY down. Poor Bridge can hardly walk now. But she is still the boss bird and I help her down every morning. I may give her some CBD and aspirin this weekend so she can get around better. Sometimes I find her laying on her side with her bad leg stretched way out behind her. Kind of looks like Merricks but I think it’s more that she’s relieving her pain somehow.

 

[BDutch]

In memoriam

This morning the Chicken Palace lost a brave, and much-loved leader.
In the early hours of this morning Bernadette-the-brave stirred a bit on her roost. She moved a bit awkwardly but settled down and went back to sleep.
And then a few minutes later she suddenly fell off the roost dead.
She was just shy of three years old.
I take comfort that it was quick and that she was snuggled with her friends. I am also glad that she never lost her leadership position in the flock, and that her last days were joyous. I actually thought she was getting over her heath issues. Most of her new feathers had come in, her crop was beginning to be less full in the morning, her appetite was good, and she was enjoying being outside and eating turkey scraps.

Bernadette was an unusual hen and a force of nature. She had a difficult start in life as she lost the use of a leg when she was only 3 weeks old. Even though she was unable to walk she was still very much in command of her brooder buddies.
Her recovery was an uplifting journey that was documented here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

Bernie eventually grew to be a very tall hen with some rooster-like attributes. She did lay beautiful brown speckled eggs, but very rarely.

She carried herself upright and had a 'special relationship' with Babs. As far as I could see, this was a fully consensual special relationship but once Babs died, Bernie made only a few half hearted attempts with the other hens.

When Pooh was attacked by a hawk, Bernie rushed in and laid into the hawk with her feet and beak. Most of the feathers flying were from the hawk, who was forced to give up its attack.

In recent weeks Bernie has been under the weather. She was molting, lost weight, and was not fully emptying her crop overnight. I took her to a vet who could feel a small mass - possibly a tumor - deep in her abdomen. But she continued to have a real zest for life up until the very end.

Farewell Bernadette. I will miss your funny ways. I am sure Tassels will take over your leadership position, but for now your little flock-mates are a little in shock and have decided to roost away from your favorite spot.

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Sorry you lost this amazing chicken personality..

And a thank you for writing this beautiful In memorian.

 

[featherhead007]

Late night vigil for poor Dakota. She is not comfortable and I don’t have any aspirin for her. She is talking with me and fixing her feathers, but I know my chickens, and she is not comfortable tonight.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

I haven't had a good day yesterday so some positive affirmations or anything would be nice.
Here's Grandma. This is for Pony since she can't seem to get enough of her.

 

[rural mouse]

In memoriam

This morning the Chicken Palace lost a brave, and much-loved leader.
In the early hours of this morning Bernadette-the-brave stirred a bit on her roost. She moved a bit awkwardly but settled down and went back to sleep.
And then a few minutes later she suddenly fell off the roost dead.
She was just shy of three years old.
I take comfort that it was quick and that she was snuggled with her friends. I am also glad that she never lost her leadership position in the flock, and that her last days were joyous. I actually thought she was getting over her heath issues. Most of her new feathers had come in, her crop was beginning to be less full in the morning, her appetite was good, and she was enjoying being outside and eating turkey scraps.

Bernadette was an unusual hen and a force of nature. She had a difficult start in life as she lost the use of a leg when she was only 3 weeks old. Even though she was unable to walk she was still very much in command of her brooder buddies.
Her recovery was an uplifting journey that was documented here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

Bernie eventually grew to be a very tall hen with some rooster-like attributes. She did lay beautiful brown speckled eggs, but very rarely.

She carried herself upright and had a 'special relationship' with Babs. As far as I could see, this was a fully consensual special relationship but once Babs died, Bernie made only a few half hearted attempts with the other hens.

When Pooh was attacked by a hawk, Bernie rushed in and laid into the hawk with her feet and beak. Most of the feathers flying were from the hawk, who was forced to give up its attack.

In recent weeks Bernie has been under the weather. She was molting, lost weight, and was not fully emptying her crop overnight. I took her to a vet who could feel a small mass - possibly a tumor - deep in her abdomen. But she continued to have a real zest for life up until the very end.

Farewell Bernadette. I will miss your funny ways. I am sure Tassels will take over your leadership position, but for now your little flock-mates are a little in shock and have decided to roost away from your favorite spot.

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