Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Hahahaha too funny! But they can fly! Silkies fly worth crap

My school chicks fly everywhere now - brats! They don’t even bother to walk around the fencing to the opening, they just fly up on the fencing and hop off it! Lazy brats!

So did you leave them up there? It’s so wonderful seeing them integrated into the flock so well

If I pulled them down, they'd just go right back up. They got themselves up there, zoom they can get themselves down. If they're "stuck" in the morning, then I'll help.

 

[BY Bob]

Not to bad really as long as I am not walking up steps or up a hill. I can’t walk up a step with that leg, I have to use the other leg to step up, and tonight when I was hauling Misty off the door using the step ladder I aboit fell off it when I stepped down the steps with the wrong leg. My bad leg gave out! Misty had a wild ride down hahaha.

I have to keep the bad side straight and not try to step up with my knee bent and straighten the leg, my hip just gives way. Which is what happen stepping down the ladder, my bad leg knee bent and the hip gave out! Poor Misty!

And the brat flew back up on the door while I was chasing the little monkeys around and I had to crawl back up to get her!

Chiiickeeens !

I feel like you might need those.

 

[bgmathteach]

So at last visit, Sheba was out in the run. Eenie was still on the nest. It's very warm in my henhouse and she gets no air in there! It has me concerned. I gave her a cherry tomato, which she jumped up and devoured, while I picked up the two eggs under her. It appears she isn't laying, which is another sign she's broody, right? I didn't stick these in the fridge... maybe I'll mark them and put them back.

If I just wait a couple days and she has 4 or 6 eggs under her, then pick up any newly laid ones, that'll work, right?

Still unsure how I'll block her off or get the others to go to the other boxes though. If I create a little pen around her, and give her her own little water and food source...will that work? Maybe penning off the area under the "ladder"?
View attachment 3548673
Still worried about how warm she'll get in there...

I think that is a good idea - penning off eh area under the ladder and giving her some food and water in there. You can do 2 things to help with the heat issue: make sure to put ice in her water and get a little fan that blows across in front of her (not directly on her) that will keep the air moving, but wont blow on and cool the eggs when she gets up to poop, eat, and drink.

If you don't have electricity there, there are a number of rechargable fans and some battery operated fans that can be used.

Corded fan
Rechargeable, small
rechargeable, small clip
Slightly larger (8" - others are 4") clip fan

 

[BY Bob]

Well shucks. It's just so weird. She stays on the nest all the time; she's in there now. But she popped up when I have her the tomato and the cauliflower and left the nest entirely; going several feet away from the nest box. She went right back though.

I've never heard of a hen acting this way.

She could be just thinking about being broody. Sometimes they just try it out without committing fully.

 

[BY Bob]

I have used it (I have that, too - but it resides in my kitchen cabinet, not in my chicken tool box/ first aid kit)

I really don't know about the strength of the anti-microbial effect. ( but it IS supposed to help cells heal more quickly, and have some anti-microbial properties - I have never used it in an infected wound, only on a clean one to assist with healing and keep it from getting infected.)

I would use it to prevent infection not cure it. Apply it to a cleaned out wound. I don't think it will cure an infection but rather honey will help prevent infection.

 

[BY Bob]

They keep out of Bernie’s way.

As well they should.

 

[featherhead007]

Dakota !!!
I wanted to eat those noodles and beef In Peace, but oh no!! Dakota smelled what I prepared, left the chicken room and flew on to my kitchen table, going after my dinner. She moved so fast, she had a beak full before I knew it.
I put some on a different plate and we had dinner together (next time I’m closing the door)! Bad Dakota! Bad girl!

 

[bgmathteach]

I am getting plagued by little black flying things that are making me itch all over.
I want to close up the Chicken Palace, make some dinner and clean up the kitchen.
Will the Pentagonists come in for the night? Will they hell!
They are playing some sort of game where they frighten each other by leaping out from behind some tall weeds.
There is much shrieking and flapping and running going on. And all I can do is sit here and scratch!

Itching tax: Jungle fowl
View attachment 3548750

I'm sorry. I know it isn't funny itching and scratching - but the thought of them playing 'scare my sister' and just plain old being boisterous kids had me almost peeing my pants I laughed so hard! Their antics are a hoot to watch - if you aren't trying to round them up at the time!

 

[featherhead007]

Coco left

Shenandoah laid her egg then went away.
Coco, still setting.

early on too. No broody hens today.

 

[bgmathteach]

I like the video and agree with Bob that hydrogen peroxide is not great to use.
Bandaging for bumblefoot should help the chicken keep weight off the infected area. So you need to create a ring/donut with the abscess in the hole in the middle.
Then the bandaging is to keep the ring in place and to cover the open area of the foot to keep it clean.
I am attaching a link to the first post in a thread that has some good pictures of the ring/donut approach. Look at post #3 and #8 and I think you will get the idea.
The creator of that thread used a slice of pipe insulation which I think is genius!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-cure.915880/

In full transparency my foot bandaging experience is not actually bumblefoot but was similar in that I had to bandage a 'prosthesis' in the form of a boot onto Bernadette's foot when she was tiny. Instead of a boot you will be using a pipe insulation donut.

A few general words about bandaging - you are probably already familiar as you say you are good with bandaging. But just in case:
- Vet wrap is great but it does come off so keep a close eye
- Don't use red vet wrap - like in the video blue is great on chickens
- Cut many strips ahead of time - some narrower than the roll of vet wrap
- Don't try to achieve too much with one strip - my guess is you will need a couple of strips to keep the donut attached to the bottom of the foot and another to cover it over
- Try and make sure the toes are in a more-or-less natural position - particularly the back toe is easy to overlook
- Always check the foot in the bandage an hour or so after to check that the toes are still warm because your biggest danger is cutting off circulation by wrapping too tight.
- Change out the bandaging daily if you can - you will need to do that anyway as you should be soaking and using the drawing salve every day. Patience is key!

Good luck!

What also works really well (if it happens to be the correct size) is those little 'donuts' for corns for people's feet. If it is the right size, they work REALLY REALLY well.