Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Hattie is Not Herself

Hattie has really slowed down the last 2 weeks, really ever since he birthday. Lots of laying in the yard and not even coming to the deck with the others. I have watched her poo (normal) and she is eating well. She has not been laying but all the girls have slowed down except the Polish. I believe because of the high heat. There is no weight loss. So I have just been keeping an eye on her.

I thought maybe it was depression over becoming middle aged.

Who knows?

I figured it out today.

I have been noticing these in the yard.

Not many but here and there.

Then I looked at her closely today after I noticed it looked like her feather shredding had really progressed towards her head.

She is looking kind of raggedy.

So I checked the coop.

It must have really kicked into gear last night.

Mystery solved.

This is very early in the year for her. She has always been a late molting hen. I'm glad I won't have to worry about her freezing this year.

 

[BY Bob]

Baby Bums

 

[bgmathteach]

Wow, Kren looks like he is going to be a big boy! Looking quite leggy in this picture!

 

[bgmathteach]

Hattie is Not Herself

Hattie has really slowed down the last 2 weeks, really ever since he birthday. Lots of laying in the yard and not even coming to the deck with the others. I have watched her poo (normal) and she is eating well. She has not been laying but all the girls have slowed down except the Polish. I believe because of the high heat. There is no weight loss. So I have just been keeping an eye on her.

I thought maybe it was depression over becoming middle aged.

Who knows?

I figured it out today.

I have been noticing these in the yard.

View attachment 3203892

Not many but here and there.

Then I looked at her closely today after I noticed it looked like her feather shredding had really progressed towards her head.

View attachment 3203898

She is looking kind of raggedy.

View attachment 3203893

So I checked the coop.

View attachment 3203894

It must have really kicked into gear last night.

Mystery solved.

This is very early in the year for her. She has always been a late molting hen. I'm glad I won't have to worry about her freezing this year.

I was really worried at first...you had me going. So glad it is just molting, not a health issue!!! (I'm sure you are glad, as well!! She must have had you nervous, too, until you figured it out.)

 

[bgmathteach]

Poor Hattie! Even having raggedy feathers, she still looks lovely, though!

 

[RoyalChick]

I was really worried at first...you had me going. So glad it is just molting, not a health issue!!! (I'm sure you are glad, as well!! She must have had you nervous, too, until you figured it out.)

Me too - I speed read to the end. I was definitely anxious from the title.

 

[BY Bob]

I was really worried at first...you had me going. So glad it is just molting, not a health issue!!! (I'm sure you are glad, as well!! She must have had you nervous, too, until you figured it out.)

I was quite concerned and worried for a couple of weeks now. I am thrilled she is molting. I'm sure she is not.

 

[BY Bob]

Me too - I speed read to the end. I was definitely anxious from the title.

I do know how to create tension, don't I.

 

[featherhead007]

I do know how to create tension, don't I.

Oh, my blood pressure!

 

[RoyalChick]

The poop report
Sadly no massive clean up required after Bella's overnight activities. BUT there were at least three tiny chick-sized poops in her hospital ward and they did not contain undigested corn so either she is stuffed full of corn or she is able to digest something.
Her crop was rock hard with corn kernels but definitely smaller than last night and the fluid baby bird formula I had tube fed last night had definitely moved on.
I managed to get a full 40ml tube feed into her this morning made up of baby bird formula, Gerber (human baby) beef food (I felt a bit of animal protein might help), extra probiotics, extra vitamin B, and Pedialyte (for quick energy).
On top of 40mls of that concoction she eagerly devoured a good handful of corn including 6 pieces laced with grit.
It is very subtle, and I am trying hard not to get my hopes up, but she seemed a bit perkier.
Usually after I tube feed her she plays 'dead chicken'. Really, her neck goes limp, her eyes close, and she is unresponsive. Each time I am convinced I have killed her.
This time she forgot that stage of the process and went straight to the 'now I deserve corn' stage.
She still never drinks which really mystifies me but the inside of her mouth looks less dry than it did a few days ago.
Her breath still doesn't smell yeasty, so fingers crossed I can avoid that nightmare.
I find myself daring to hope, but she is still not walking and I feel the odds are still slim.