Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Howdy y’all!

TLDR - I’m still alive. Lost some chickens, added some chicks, and life is crazy busy.

Details - This will be really long. Sending in several posts with pics.

I know I have been MIA for quite awhile. But as some of you know, there are two things that tend to make me show up again. When I lose a member of my flock, or when I get new chicks. This time, it is a little of both. There is a lot to tell, so will split this in a few posts.

A few months ago, I lost one of my “firecrackers”. Spangle was one of my Sapphire Olive Eggers, and was only 7 months old. This hit pretty hard, especially since we don’t really know what happened. She seemed fine in the morning. We had medical appointments in Austin that day, and when we got home early that evening she was dead. I searched her thoroughly for any sign of Injury and couldn’t find a mark on her. She had laid an egg the day before and all seemed normal there. When I looked back at the security cameras for some clue to what might have happened, I could tell she seemed a little off early in the day but that was it. Our best guess is that she might have eaten a dead mouse that was poisoned. We try to only use rat poison in extreme circumstances , and never anywhere near the coop, but you never know. Here is a picture of Spangle from last September, and the spoiler is from the day she died.
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Spoiler

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Then a few weeks ago I lost one of my original chicks. Hazel was three years old, was one of my ISA Browns, and one of the two chickens I have been the closest too. The bad thing is I will probably lose the other one, Scarlett one of my EEs, in the near future. They both have Ascites, most likely EYP. Scarlett actually started showing symptoms first, and then Hazel. We think Hazel got worse quicker after the other hens tried to attack her. Bobby caught them right when it happened, and the next day we took both to the vet. He did ultrasounds on both of them and confirmed there was a lot of free fluid in the belly. He said Hazel had some minor injuries to the back of her head from being pecked but that he didn’t think there was anything serious. It she never seemed to be able to walk very well again after that, and we lost her a week later. Hazel and I got close after I saved her from almost killing herself when she was only a few months old. She managed to get her head caught between the dust bath and a 2x4 on the wall, and almost decapitated herself trying to get free. Plus it was July and really hot. So she was overheated when I found her. She spent a few days in my office in crate while I nursed her back to health. Here is a picture I took with her back in January.
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Next post - new chicks.

 

[Marie2020]

I was! It was lovely - now I pay for that lovely heat and humidity.

It is now 8C (47f) and that wind is still fierce.

Everyone is on edge, the chooks didn’t want to go to bed, the horses are cranky, I am cranky this wind gives me a migraine and I can’t take anymore naproxen it bothers my gut.

I put the chooks in bed and told them to figure it out themselves. It didn’t help that it’s still light now until almost 9pm.

My four Swann cameras are down - getting fed up with them. But the main gang in HH-A seem to be settled in.

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I hope today is going to be better for you. Your being run ragged. Night time you should be able to recuperate

I'd definitely be checking out other cameras if these keep on letting you down

 

[Marie2020]

Ok good night lovely people. See if I can get some sleep….

Today’s haul
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Well now that's worth having, something good from your hard work

 

[Marie2020]

The eight larger chicks are being raised by a broody hen. Indigo, one of my blue-laced Wyandottes, agreed to adopt them. But it wasn’t immediate. When I got the first batch of chicks, I temporarily set them up in a tub. I put her in my “mini hospital/brooder coop”, and waited until late that night for everyone to be asleep. She had been broody for almost three weeks. So I took the babies and tucked them under her in the middle of the night, then nervously checked on them a few times. She still had them under her until the next morning, when I found several of them huddled in a corner. Tried several more times to put them under her, but she kept pecking at them. So back in the tote they went, and put her back in her nest box.

Henrietta, another Wyandotte,
was also broody. So decided to try her the next night. Same basic result. Was still trying to see if she would accept them the next morning, when we let the other chickens out of the big coop. Lo and behold, Indigo and charging out to the little coop, tut tutting and trying to get in. I figured what the heck and put her inside the top. She went straight over to the babies and gathered them under her. So I let Henrietta back out. Indigo has been a great mom since that rocky start. Here are several pics.
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Haven’t let her and the littles out when the other bigs are around. But the bigs have been around the little coop, some have even laid next to it. And have let Indigo and the babies out several times with the bigs put up, or with the gate closed between them. The babies can get through the gate, so have stayed close. They have gotten close to it a few times but mama has been able to call them back.

Dust bathing lesson, lol.
View attachment 4110842

Here are some more pictures, especially of the mystery breeds and the silkies that I am unsure of colors.

Mystery grey chick, “Pearl”. Splash something? Legs seem to be turning gray or green. I can’t remember what breeds TSC was supposed to have they say that would be that color. I think it was blue Jersey Giants and Wyandottes, or maybe Sapphire something.
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Yellow bantam, possible Porcelain D’uccle?
I have named her Angel because her wings look like Angel wings. We almost lost her, the other bantams were bigger and I think they kept knocking her away from the food. She could barely keep her eyes open and her wings were dragging.
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So once I got the second batch of bantams the next week I kept her and the smallest one separate for another week. They lived in a tote in my shower for some special care, including a daily serving of Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula laced with a few drops of NutriDrench. Now she is a little spitfire, who is determined fly out of the brooder. Her wings are still bigger than she is, but she is catching up.
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Mystery bantams, no clue what these two are. I have been calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2. lol
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Another mystery bantam. This is the tiniest of them all, who was Angel’s companion. Really pretty.
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Here are the “yellow”silkies. Would really appreciate any thoughts y’all have on what their adult color might be.
First one, who is more of a bluish/greenish pale yellow.
Second one, with some orange on top of head and around neck.
Third one, who has a lot more orange all over.
View attachment 4110823

Lucky ducky
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And all the ducks.
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Will try to send more photos within the next few days. Including updated ones of the silkies.

What lovely pictures

 

[Ponypoor]

The eight larger chicks are being raised by a broody hen. Indigo, one of my blue-laced Wyandottes, agreed to adopt them. But it wasn’t immediate. When I got the first batch of chicks, I temporarily set them up in a tub. I put her in my “mini hospital/brooder coop”, and waited until late that night for everyone to be asleep. She had been broody for almost three weeks. So I took the babies and tucked them under her in the middle of the night, then nervously checked on them a few times. She still had them under her until the next morning, when I found several of them huddled in a corner. Tried several more times to put them under her, but she kept pecking at them. So back in the tote they went, and put her back in her nest box.

Henrietta, another Wyandotte,
was also broody. So decided to try her the next night. Same basic result. Was still trying to see if she would accept them the next morning, when we let the other chickens out of the big coop. Lo and behold, Indigo and charging out to the little coop, tut tutting and trying to get in. I figured what the heck and put her inside the top. She went straight over to the babies and gathered them under her. So I let Henrietta back out. Indigo has been a great mom since that rocky start. Here are several pics.
View attachment 4110831

View attachment 4110836

View attachment 4110821

Haven’t let her and the littles out when the other bigs are around. But the bigs have been around the little coop, some have even laid next to it. And have let Indigo and the babies out several times with the bigs put up, or with the gate closed between them. The babies can get through the gate, so have stayed close. They have gotten close to it a few times but mama has been able to call them back.

Dust bathing lesson, lol.
View attachment 4110842

Here are some more pictures, especially of the mystery breeds and the silkies that I am unsure of colors.

Mystery grey chick, “Pearl”. Splash something? Legs seem to be turning gray or green. I can’t remember what breeds TSC was supposed to have they say that would be that color. I think it was blue Jersey Giants and Wyandottes, or maybe Sapphire something.
View attachment 4110839

View attachment 4110819

View attachment 4110818

View attachment 4110813

Yellow bantam, possible Porcelain D’uccle?
I have named her Angel because her wings look like Angel wings. We almost lost her, the other bantams were bigger and I think they kept knocking her away from the food. She could barely keep her eyes open and her wings were dragging.
View attachment 4110824

View attachment 4110828

So once I got the second batch of bantams the next week I kept her and the smallest one separate for another week. They lived in a tote in my shower for some special care, including a daily serving of Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula laced with a few drops of NutriDrench. Now she is a little spitfire, who is determined fly out of the brooder. Her wings are still bigger than she is, but she is catching up.
View attachment 4110844

Mystery bantams, no clue what these two are. I have been calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2. lol
View attachment 4110826

View attachment 4110825

View attachment 4110837

Another mystery bantam. This is the tiniest of them all, who was Angel’s companion. Really pretty.
View attachment 4110822

View attachment 4110835

Here are the “yellow”silkies. Would really appreciate any thoughts y’all have on what their adult color might be.
First one, who is more of a bluish/greenish pale yellow.
Second one, with some orange on top of head and around neck.
Third one, who has a lot more orange all over.
View attachment 4110823

Lucky ducky
View attachment 4110830

View attachment 4110838

View attachment 4110811

View attachment 4110840

And all the ducks.
View attachment 4110827

View attachment 4110841

Will try to send more photos within the next few days. Including updated ones of the silkies.

Awwww! Thanks for the updates. I was thinking about you last week wondering how you were

Figured since you came to mind I would hear from you soon, that’s what usually happens with me

I am thrilled you were able to save the wee ones, but still sad to hear about the passing of Hazel and Scarlett

Look forward to more baby photos, I am living vicariously through you all this year - no babies for me.

 

[Ponypoor]

Well now that's worth having, something good from your hard work

Their hard work!

 

[Marie2020]

Today was a good day

What's this protest about

 

[Marie2020]

Their hard work!

They are kept beautifully in very hard weather conditions, so your hard work to

 

[Marie2020]

I had 2 pulled today. The one that broke and another one on the opposite side that was in danger of breaking the same way. The broken one gave the dentist fits. Of course a piece of one of the roots broke off and had to be drilled out.

I am sore, but, it is tolerable with a ice pack and the pain meds. I mean I am hurting, but this is a different kind of hurt. It is not the drive you crazy and in tears hurt that I've dealt with off and on since it broke.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel now and I am looking forward to being able to eat again. I've been on sort of a crash starvation diet surviving on scrambled eggs, yogurt and oatmeal. I have dropped 6lbs in 2 1/2 weeks. I know I need to loose a few pounds, I have been working on it slowly before the tooth broke. This crash course dieting is for the birds.

Gosh Rebecca. Thank goodness that's over for you now

A lady I know had an awful time getting on tooth out , she went back 4 times. So goodness knows how you feel

It great that you're losing weight though. When you're as old ad i am that's an impossible task

 

[rural mouse]

The eight larger chicks are being raised by a broody hen. Indigo, one of my blue-laced Wyandottes, agreed to adopt them. But it wasn’t immediate. When I got the first batch of chicks, I temporarily set them up in a tub. I put her in my “mini hospital/brooder coop”, and waited until late that night for everyone to be asleep. She had been broody for almost three weeks. So I took the babies and tucked them under her in the middle of the night, then nervously checked on them a few times. She still had them under her until the next morning, when I found several of them huddled in a corner. Tried several more times to put them under her, but she kept pecking at them. So back in the tote they went, and put her back in her nest box.

Henrietta, another Wyandotte,
was also broody. So decided to try her the next night. Same basic result. Was still trying to see if she would accept them the next morning, when we let the other chickens out of the big coop. Lo and behold, Indigo and charging out to the little coop, tut tutting and trying to get in. I figured what the heck and put her inside the top. She went straight over to the babies and gathered them under her. So I let Henrietta back out. Indigo has been a great mom since that rocky start. Here are several pics.
View attachment 4110831

View attachment 4110836

View attachment 4110821

Haven’t let her and the littles out when the other bigs are around. But the bigs have been around the little coop, some have even laid next to it. And have let Indigo and the babies out several times with the bigs put up, or with the gate closed between them. The babies can get through the gate, so have stayed close. They have gotten close to it a few times but mama has been able to call them back.

Dust bathing lesson, lol.
View attachment 4110842

Here are some more pictures, especially of the mystery breeds and the silkies that I am unsure of colors.

Mystery grey chick, “Pearl”. Splash something? Legs seem to be turning gray or green. I can’t remember what breeds TSC was supposed to have they say that would be that color. I think it was blue Jersey Giants and Wyandottes, or maybe Sapphire something.
View attachment 4110839

View attachment 4110819

View attachment 4110818

View attachment 4110813

Yellow bantam, possible Porcelain D’uccle?
I have named her Angel because her wings look like Angel wings. We almost lost her, the other bantams were bigger and I think they kept knocking her away from the food. She could barely keep her eyes open and her wings were dragging.
View attachment 4110824

View attachment 4110828

So once I got the second batch of bantams the next week I kept her and the smallest one separate for another week. They lived in a tote in my shower for some special care, including a daily serving of Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula laced with a few drops of NutriDrench. Now she is a little spitfire, who is determined fly out of the brooder. Her wings are still bigger than she is, but she is catching up.
View attachment 4110844

Mystery bantams, no clue what these two are. I have been calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2. lol
View attachment 4110826

View attachment 4110825

View attachment 4110837

Another mystery bantam. This is the tiniest of them all, who was Angel’s companion. Really pretty.
View attachment 4110822

View attachment 4110835

Here are the “yellow”silkies. Would really appreciate any thoughts y’all have on what their adult color might be.
First one, who is more of a bluish/greenish pale yellow.
Second one, with some orange on top of head and around neck.
Third one, who has a lot more orange all over.
View attachment 4110823

Lucky ducky
View attachment 4110830

View attachment 4110838

View attachment 4110811

View attachment 4110840

And all the ducks.
View attachment 4110827

View attachment 4110841

Will try to send more photos within the next few days. Including updated ones of the silkies.

Things 1 & 2 are golden laced while Angel's companion is silver laced. Sebrights come in both and bantam wyandottes...

No idea on Angel....yet...

Pearl could be a lavender orpington...has the white skin under the leg wash.

Well done on saving the babies!