Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Happy Friday

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MAGNIFICENT!

 

[BY Bob]

Are late molters generally hard molters? I am tempted to put a heating pad for part of the roosting area, as Popcorn is throwing a little weight around and decided to occupy the nest box doorway, and Peanut has not been able to get in there, she’s sleeping on the roost platform. I did fill up the tray below the platform with a lot of shavings and hemp so there’s very little draft from below.

I don’t know much about it but I’m thinking that the cold snaps help bring on a molt? Last year she molted hard, but I think it was Sept into late October. Not this late. This year we had very little of any cold snaps, like no early frosts and then “Indian Summer” after things had died from frost - it was all warm weather and now it’s like the middle of winter, all the time! 22F here. We used to have at most a weird early snowstorm that would melt away, and then usually freezing rain around Thanksgiving.

I don't know that I can call Aurora a hard molter. She seems like sort of a medium molter. No truly naked spots but lots rough patches if that makes sense.

If they are molting and not letting Peanut in, I would intervene. I would go out after dark and rearrange them. Starting with bringing popcorn in the house if she hates it. After you do that mine tend to roost as far from the door as possible the next night. I won't tolerate a molting hen being left out because someone is being a bully. That is not allowed here.

 

[BY Bob]

Marie, I missed that you had a sinus infection. I have one right now, too. Finally got some antibiotics today. And listen to this, people. I found this actually fascinating. Guess what my prescription is? 100 mg of doxycycline twice a day for seven days. I weigh 27 times the weight of one of my hens. And their dose is only half that. What the heck???

Absorption, metabolism and other things effect dosing. Doxycycline seems very aggressive for a sinus infection. A Z Pack, Azithromycin is more common. Doxy should surely knock it out.

 

[micstrachan]

Water Cooler Talk

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B: Hey Sydney

S: Hey Betty

B: Did you see that egg the new girl lay on Wednesday?

S: Yes, can you believe it!

B: I've never seen one that color

S: Neither have I although I did hatch a green one back in the day

B: You have to tell me about that some day. Phyllis is always talking about hatching. Was it fun?

S: Nope it's a lot of work and then the kids, don't get me started on those needy buggers. I could not wait to get rid of them. At 4 weeks old I said you clowns are on your own. Been there, done that, no need to do that again.

B: Yikes! I'll avoid that.

S: Good decision. I'm off to eat some corn. See you in a bit.

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G: Hey Betty

B: Hey Glynda. That sure is a pretty egg you lay. How do you make yours blue like that?

G: I'm not even sure how I lay the egg! That sure was a surprise. How often an I going to have to do that?

B: More often than you would guess but you get used to it.

G: What color is your egg? Are blue eggs different?

B: We've never had blue eggs around here before. Mine are white, so are Phyllis' eggs.

G: I guess different looking chickens lay different colors?

B: I don't know about that but everyone else lays like a browny beige egg. Of course "Princess" Aurora calls hers pink. But it's browny beige.

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H: Hey ladies, what is everyone talking about?

G: Egg colors

B: Did you see Glynda's pretty blue eggs?

H: I did. They are very pretty. The human rooster will be very pleased.

G: Will he!

H: Yup, he has always wanted blue eggs. In fact, let me tell you a secret. Come here everyone.

S, P, LF: We're here Hattie, what's up?

H: Now I will deny saying this if Aurora finds out but did you all know that Aurora was supposed to lay blue eggs!

From the group: GASP! No way!

H: That's why she calls her browny beige eggs Pink.

P: You're kidding

B: That's Crazy

S: Why am I just hearing this now?

H: She is going to be extra crabby now. You better stear clear of her Glynda.

G: Thanks for the warning.

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B: SHUSH! Here she cones!

LF: I'm out of here. I had no part in this conversation.

G: I'm just saying clear of her.

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A: What us everyone taking about?

S: (trying to get a rise out her) Oh nothing much, just egg colors! Did you see the blue egg that the new girl laid?

B: I gotta run

P: Me too

A: I saw it. It's cute but it's no Pink egg.

H: Lady Featherington is calling me, gotta run

S: I think the blue egg is quite pretty, I wish I could lay one, don't you Aurora?

A: You are a fool. PINK IS THE BEST COLOR!

S: (pleased with herself but not wanting to get pecked) What's that Hattie? I'll be right over.

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A: (to herself) That Blue egg is pretty but I'll peck the crap out of anyone who says it again. My eggs are bigger and smoother and I know the human rooster likes them best.................They must be Pink.............He told me so.

Awww… super cute read, Bob. Thank you!

 

[BY Bob]

My Flash does this, too.

Maybe it's a Legbar thing? No matter what,

 

[BY Bob]

MAGNIFICENT!

She truly is!

 

[micstrachan]

Absorption, metabolism and other things effect dosing. Doxycycline seems very aggressive for a sinus infection. A Z Pack, Azithromycin is more common. Doxy should surely knock it out.

I’m thinking they went Doxy since I just had a sinus infection a few months ago (June).

 

[Marie2020]

Jaffar is doing better tonight. After everyone went into the coop, he let me rub his waddles, without argument. His crop is full too.

Good boy Jafar

 

[micstrachan]

Maybe it's a Legbar thing? No matter what,

I know. I love it. Flash is actually a very quiet girl, though. I need to capture her sweet voice on video sometime. It’s very subtle. Or maybe one of these mornings I can remember to take a video when I give them their sprouted wheat berries and Flash jumps up on a roost while everybody else is down on the ground.

 

[BY Bob]

I’m thinking they went Doxy since I just had a sinus infection a few months ago (June).

That would be reasonable. I hope it works. Please get well soon.