Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Remember, we were talking about the green pine needles here....

And you asked about giving them Cedar, too. (see below).



I know you don't use cedar shavings - I was referring to the Cedar branches (green) you were thinking of giving them, or at least asking about. My train of thought was - itf it is bad to use as bedding, I would NOT give them green branches (to eat the needles) of cedar without doing some research first...just to be sure.

I read up on it awhile ago. The thinking on cedar shavings or chips is that fresh cedar oil / aromatics is bad for their lungs, so if you were to pile a whole bunch in a coop as bedding that could be toxic. Also especially for chicks in a brooder this would be bad. But some people use some cedar without issues, maybe in sheltered but outdoor runs? If it's old and has lost the oil / aromatics it's better.

It reminds me of the ammonia & poop rule, that their lungs get damaged at some small percentage of what we can even begin to smell. So by my lights it's better to stay away if you can.

I would think fresh cedar greens would be pretty aromatic especially as chickens nipped at it (IF they even want to eat it?) so they might be getting a good dose into their lungs there.

 

[ValarieF]

Is that one a frizzle? So cute - only the two?

So far only the 2

 

[Sally PB]

Didn’t Cat Stevens write a song about your cat? Well the cat’s in a coma and the silver spoon, (I don’t know the rest.)
I’m pretty sure that most people have heard of it.

Harry Chapin. "Cat's in the Cradle."

Song about missing your children's growing up because you're too busy, and the cycle repeating with the next generation.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Does Bolt have difficulty picking up food? Is Bolts beak any straighter now? It's difficult to see but it doesn't look very crooked. Do they have stones around where they can wipe their beak?

They have sensitive organs very near or on the edge of their beaks. I'll try to find a diagram Shadrach linked to. There is no "quick" with everything else non-feeling, like we have with our fingernails.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/
Here's the anatomy article he links to
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/

If you do anything you have to work very slowly as @RoyalChick said. Shaping Bolts beak to straighten it will take time, like months.

I'm about to go let some baby guineas out, so I will get pictures of her beak soon.

I don't think that she has difficulty picking up food, but she likes softer leaves of brussel sprouts and softer parts if pepper. broccoli, etc.

I see her drink out of the nipper waterer ( it holds more water and gives them something satisfying to play with) and she has no problem pecking it.

She is at the bottom of the pecking order, and I think that it is because her beak is kinda harmless.

 

[featherhead007]

I had a beak to beak chat with Xzit. I don’t think she’s ready to go broody.
She didn’t lift a feather in interest about the subject!

 

[featherhead007]

I had a beak to beak chat with Xzit. I don’t think she’s ready to go broody.
She didn’t lift a feather in interest about the subject!

But she did get her steak breakfast!

 

[featherhead007]

Harry Chapin. "Cat's in the Cradle."

Song about missing your children's growing up because you're too busy, and the cycle repeating with the next generation.

Yep, that’s the one.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Oooo so cute - careful though she will be on beakbook before you know!!

what is beakbook?

 

[BY Bob]

I am waiting to see if Xzit grabs him by the head and hauls him of his bed! Then he will truly be The Way of the Chicken!

That would be an excellent indication that they see him as one of their own.

 

[BY Bob]

Sure hope it’s not a dry hot miserable summer for you, Sydney is looking wonderful

The weather will be what it is. I can then complain about it. It is good to have something to complain about.