Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[lightm]

I worked with horses for years both personally and professionally and never have I seen this. I have watched and rewatched the part where she falls. What I think I am seeing is her throwing herself down. I dont see a fall per say. Her front feet come off the ground first. Almost as if she throwing herself on the ground so she can lay down. Could it be that she cant fold her rear legs to lay down and this is her solution? Can you check each leg for flexibility? If its her hips it could be impossible to test without a sling. I would definitely call New Bolton Center and see if they can do a video consult. If anyone would know they would!

@Ponypoor Just want to make sure you saw this.

 

[bgmathteach]

I was worried about Mr Pompei’s beak, it appeared overly hooked/long so I nipped it back a bit. Has anyone ever had to trim back a beak?

I remember long ago as a teen when I had budgies I had to trim a beak…

I have gently filed a beak with a nail file. I am very afraid to trim with scissors or nail clippers as they have sensitive nodes near the outer edge of their beak that they feel with.

I believe @Shadrach has posted about this in the past, but I'm not sure.

Chicken Beaks

 

[lightm]

I can hardly put this into words, but little Lulu is in trouble.
She went into the nest boxes this morning and stayed about 4 hours. No egg. She came out on her own and wandered around but looked bad (tail down, not moving fast). I gave her some calcium pills and had a feel around but I cannot feel an egg, so if one is stuck it is stuck higher up in the system.
She went back into the nest boxes this afternon for another couple of hours.
Still no egg.
She is out now but not looking great.
I managed to get some more calcium into her but I have a horrible feeling of impending doom.

If I lose Lulu I think I really need to rethink keeping chickens. I just don't seem to be very good at keeping them alive. Or maybe I keep a much larger number and care more about the flock than the individual and accept losses as just one of those things that goes with keeping chickens.

Poor little Lulu - I knew she was too young and too small to be laying eggs (albeit very small ones).

Does she have a good appetite?

 

[featherhead007]

Ewww! Poor gal!

What do you bathe a chicken with btw?

I have the hall bathtub, it has a hand sprayer, and use mild dog shampoo for the feathers. She likes bathing. It’s very relaxing for all the kids.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Ewww! Poor gal!

What do you bathe a chicken with btw?

When Branch was in his teenage idiot phase this winter he ninja kicked a bucket of used oil all over him. He was coated from his neck down the little dummy. I saw it happen and snatched him up and ran him straight to the bathtub and used dawn dishwashing liquid on him. The first lathering up removed the oil, but I had to repeat the process two more times to get the smell of the oil off of him. Thankfully he really enjoyed the bath and fell asleep. It was a good thing as whether he liked it or not he had to have it done along with the following blow dry. Young roo's are simply idiots. Be it terrorizing hens, thinking your shoes or hands are suitable mates or other suicidal stupid stuff, you have to keep reminding yourself they will be good when they are older. As long as they do not channel that idiot hormones and energy into attacking me or someone else, I will ride it out with them.

 

[featherhead007]

I have the hall bathtub, it has a hand sprayer, and use mild dog shampoo for the feathers. She likes bathing. It’s very relaxing for all the kids.

And when the bath is done, they have the softest feathers (and smell nice)

 

[RoyalChick]

I was worried about Mr Pompei’s beak, it appeared overly hooked/long so I nipped it back a bit. Has anyone ever had to trim back a beak?

I remember long ago as a teen when I had budgies I had to trim a beak…

Maybe where he was he didn't have access to something to file it down on. My lot are always wiping their beaks on the concrete footings of the Chicken Palace and I assume that wears them down. Like a nail file.

 

[RoyalChick]

Does she have a good appetite?

Hard to tell - almost all her waking hours today were spent sitting in the nest box.
When she came out she did eat a bit - but not ravenously. She also drank a bit before going to bed.

 

[lightm]

Dog tax. The last picture I took of my little Ezzie.
View attachment 3231113

Oh little Ezzie

 

[RoyalChick]

Dog tax. The last picture I took of my little Ezzie.
View attachment 3231113

Oh Ezzie! So adorable.