Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

You know, the leghorns were quadruplets, so I never knew their individual names. But collectively, they were Flopsy, Mopsy, Topsy and Turvy. I have one left. Shall we just call her Turvy?

None of them had the big distinctive combs for some reason.

 

[featherhead007]

Thanks. It's such a hard thing to do. Such a hard day. Don't mean to be depressing, but it's just hard.

I did it myself. It was very hard for me too.

 

[bgmathteach]

Not hatching chicks here, but I'm all set up to go pick out some chicks. I think it's time to add to the flock. I need to have enough hens to bring Cooper back in. If there are enough of them, maybe the two roosters can get along. That's my hope anyway.

On a sad note, DH finally decided it was time to put the little leghorn down. She has been suffering with ascites for a couple months and I've wanted him to do this for a while. She was in very poor shape today, so he sent her off to chicken heaven. It's so sad, but it was so necessary. I know you are all very fond of leghorns, but this last year, losing one by one, has been way too heartbreaking for me.

I will enjoy going out there so much again, now that I don't have that sad reminder. To me, it is best to put them down sooner than later. I never want them to suffer. DH didn't think she was really, until today.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thanks.

 

[ValerieJ]

I did it myself. It was very hard for me too.

So sorry. It's really the worst thing.

 

[Sylvester017]

Not hatching chicks here, but I'm all set up to go pick out some chicks. I think it's time to add to the flock. I need to have enough hens to bring Cooper back in. If there are enough of them, maybe the two roosters can get along. That's my hope anyway.

On a sad note, DH finally decided it was time to put the little leghorn down. She has been suffering with ascites for a couple months and I've wanted him to do this for a while. She was in very poor shape today, so he sent her off to chicken heaven. It's so sad, but it was so necessary. I know you are all very fond of leghorns, but this last year, losing one by one, has been way too heartbreaking for me.

I will enjoy going out there so much again, now that I don't have that sad reminder. To me, it is best to put them down sooner than later. I never want them to suffer. DH didn't think she was really, until today.

That is so sad & must be sad for your DH too to be the one to do it.

Neither my DH or me can do this selfless act ourselves & have had to take 3 hens to our vet to euthanize birds we could not save. Other birds that we lost were from old age or heatstroke, or avian leukosis (internal cancer virus in chicks). It's particularly sad to lose a bird you're trying to save.

Some sweeties we miss....

PHAEDRA

JEWLZ

TAFFY

MINI

 

[Sylvester017]

....Sorry I haven't posted pictures, when I try to get them off my phone I can't seem to get it to work. I can't find the picture. I can find photos that I took a month ago but not the chick photos, which is weird.

Oh, I hope you can find chick pics to post for us to see

 

[micstrachan]

They're here!

View attachment 4059626

Bob, I missed this. Who needs these and what happened?

 

[RoyalChick]

Not hatching chicks here, but I'm all set up to go pick out some chicks. I think it's time to add to the flock. I need to have enough hens to bring Cooper back in. If there are enough of them, maybe the two roosters can get along. That's my hope anyway.

On a sad note, DH finally decided it was time to put the little leghorn down. She has been suffering with ascites for a couple months and I've wanted him to do this for a while. She was in very poor shape today, so he sent her off to chicken heaven. It's so sad, but it was so necessary. I know you are all very fond of leghorns, but this last year, losing one by one, has been way too heartbreaking for me.

I will enjoy going out there so much again, now that I don't have that sad reminder. To me, it is best to put them down sooner than later. I never want them to suffer. DH didn't think she was really, until today.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

So I've been thinking about how to set up the silkie breeding pen.

Tomorrow first I need to track down some kennel clamps. While I am out I need some zip ties and I want to stop by the dollar store. I need 2 clear plastic shower curtains to cover the sides that will be exposed to wind. I already have a big roll of welded wire fencing to line the bottom half of the kennel with. I think I need to pick up one more roll to have enough. I plan on putting it right beside Russ's stall next to the house. That gives me a wind break from the back, a wind break from the front thanks to the hillside so I only have to worry about the sides as far as wind goes. I also will not need to cover the back in extra fencing. Dad thinks I need to put it near or under the mimosa trees for natural shade cover. It is a good idea but it takes away one of my wind breaks and is another section to cover in wire. I will say dad's spot has never once been in any danger of flooding so there is that to think about. We also have enough spare tin to make a roof for at least 80% of it if not the entire thing. I'm thinking the entire thing. Once it is built and covered and filled with sawdust I am going to get 2 cinderblocks and stand them up and use one of the 2 x 4's we have and make a low roost. I will have to teach them to roost as unlike Branch and Chiquita my current group have never attempted to get up on the roost in the coop. They always preferred to sleep on top of the tote. As for nest boxes, I'm heading down grandma's for a raid. She kept every milk crate she ever owned. She also has several old smaller buckets down there still. I could lay them down on their sides and line them with hay. It is not even built yet and I already love the door. It is wide enough I can fit the wheelbarrow through it. That is the one fault I have to the current coop. The door is too narrow which makes cleaning it out a chore.

Now that I have the kennel here though I do feel bad for George. I am taking his silkie siblings away from him. He has done wonderfully with them. He also has never roosted, he wants to but in the end always comes down to sleep in the middle of the silkie pile. I know without the silkies in his coop he will stay on the roost which is better for him honestly. I am also not taking away all of his girls, he will still have 15 hens of his own. 16 if I give him Turkey when she is grown. Turkey will be iffy, if she stays tiny George will probably be too big of a rooster for her even though he is small himself.