Mr Flapper Duck

I think the new kids are plotting something.

But I am not too worried, because that is Olivia’s butt they’re talking to.

This is the front end of Racquel L’Oreal (because she’s worth it!). She’s pretty cute, for a fuzzy face. Who am I kidding? She is all fuzz.

Olivia is very cute, too. And sweet. She is a little cautious of me, but she talks to me every day. I don’t speak chicken though, so I am a little concerned that she is threatening me.

She reminds me a little bit of my baby boy O’Malley Peepers. Do you see the resemblance?

Sunny and the chickens are doing as well as can be expected.

Racquel L’Oreal is a little confusing at times.

But I’m starting to figure her out. I like her blue ears, don’t you? They’re BLUE.

In other news, Meelee is doing meh… okay, but not awesome. She is eating and I hope she’s gaining weight. She is old though… at least 15-years-old I think (hard to say exactly as she was a rescue, too). I know she can’t live forever, but I’d like her to hang out a bit longer. That’s really up to her at this point.

Flapper and Chewy enjoyed a nice, overcast Seattle day in the aviary. They’re good kids.

Lastly, since we’re medicating chickens, a duck and a cat this week, we thought we’d ask you take this poll…

POLL RESULT UPDATE: For me, the chickens are the easiest to give pills and liquid medication to — except of course for medication myself. That’s super easy as almost all of you noted in your votes.

Well! It has been quite a bizarre weekend, but the new kids are settling in okay. These are the notes we received from Racquel the chicken’s vet visit…

And this is how much all of that costs…

Wow, right? Actually, I’m pretty sure when I saw the bill I uttered a few expletives.

I must say, I was not expecting the chickens to have any health problems, but I knew the duck was handicapped. She will need a vet visit soon, but not this week.

I never take in any animal that I cannot afford to care for. Still, your donations do help me out a TON, especially in unexpected situations like this one. So, a VERY SPECIAL “THANK YOU” to those of you who are able to send donations. Racquel L’Oreal Chicken got the care she needed because of people like you. And those of you who can’t send donations, believe me… I understand. Times are tough right now all over.

Oh, you may have noticed I’ve added a middle name for Racquel. L’Oreal: Because she’s worth it. It’s not often you meet a $500 chicken, but now you can say you have. Racquel L’Oreal Chicken. She’s a natural celebrity with charisma to spare… if you can figure out which end to talk to.

All three foster kids are getting medication for their flukes, tapeworms, spiro & trich parasites (ick). They are all adjusting well to their new surroundings, though I would like to see Sunny the duck eat a little more.

Because they all have parasites, especially the Trichamonas which is highly contagious, they cannot be near my ducks. I tried to keep them in their own part of the aviary this weekend and use separate clothes and shoes to care for them, but today I realized the rain run-off flows down into Chewy & Flapper’s aviary area. So for the duration of the foster kids’ treatment, they will have to stay in their predator-proof night pen most of the time. They will do just fine in there, and I even built Olivia and Racquel L’Oreal a perch. I’ll give them aviary time when I can, and when it’s not raining.

In other news, Chewy is molting and very cranky.

It hurts to molt feathers, so he is not quite himself this week.

Flapper is just starting to molt as well, but he is always a love bug no matter what.

Even though the foster kids won’t be on the Flapper cam much this week, I will update the blog about them when I can. I am quite busy giving them all three different medications twice-a-day, as well as caring for Meelee the cat who is still struggling to keep on weight. But I’ll post when I can.

A special “hello and quacks” to Abigail who came over to feed treats to Flapper & friends today.

And again, a very special thank you for the generous donations to help out these cute foster kids. It means so much to me to have your help and support.

XOXOX

Tiff

All is well in Seattle today. The ducks are snoozing and playing in the sprinklers.

The female crow is monitoring the aviary activity.

The male crow is hanging with the muscovies.

And the foster kids are settling in.

“The what?”

The foster kids, O’Malley. Racquel the puffy silky chicken and her friend Olivia get acquainted with their area of the aviary. Unfortunately Racquel had to go to the vet today.

So Sunny the duck and Olivia the chicken had to spend the day without her. Racquel will be back Sunday morning, and all three of the foster kids will have medication for the next 2 weeks.

They all have parasites. Lots of them unfortunately, especially the chickens. They have flukes and tapeworms and spiro and trich. After 2 weeks of medication they should be improving, if not completely better. They have to stay completely away from my own ducks, so they don’t transfer the parasites. I need to wear separate shoes when walking around them even.

Sunny won’t ever be completely better, as she is a handicapped duck. But she gets around okay.

We already have offers for homes for these kids, but they will need a few weeks of medicine before they’re ready to be adopted. Until then, we’ll share photos and stories.

If you have a few dollars burning a hole in your pocket, consider donating to the Kozmo Kirby Memorial Fund. These kids could use the help for their vet bills and medication.

Thanks and quacks and… clucks, too!

This is Racquel the chicken. She is coming to stay at Flapper’s house until we can find her a new forever home.

Olivia is also coming to stay with us. Aren’t they cute?

Sunny the duck is also staying with us, but just long-enough to get a vet appointment and transport her to her new forever home. She is going to live in Eastern Washington with our friend Terrie. Sunny is a handicapped duck, and she is going to be friends with another handicapped duck named Matilda.

We hope we can find a great, safe home for Racquel and Olivia the chickens so they can stay together.

We’ll post more once they’ve settled into their new temporary digs here at Flapper’s house.

Quacks,

Tiff