Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Poor Hen-Rietta, I found two June bugs and presented them to her. She snapped them up and ran, followed by five Barred Velociraptors (who quickly stole them away from her) she came back to me crying!

Actually, I bet she came back to you saying 'hey, those June Bugs were defective - I gave them to my sisters. Now, where are MY perfectly good June Bugs, dear Human???

 

[featherhead007]

You’re in The perfect location for a swamp cooler, low humidity makes them work better.

It’s 86F and 49% humidity here, not that humid really but still makes it hard for a swamp cooler to work well.

Gezz! Your humidity is so high, your mosquitoes are wearing raincoats!

 

[bgmathteach]

What is it with chooks and pepper plants ? Mine destroyed all my peppers in one day

Umm, they are green????

 

[GregnLety]

So, you bought a whole new complete package? Evap coil, blower, condenser unit?

I had to. The old unit was from the 90s. The evaporator had a leak that couldn't be repaired. The air handler stayed but the evaporator and condenser had to be replaced. My old unit use to run non stop all afternoon to keep the house cool but the new unit runs ten minutes or so and maintains temperature as it should.

 

[GregnLety]

Gezz! Your humidity is so high, your mosquitoes are wearing raincoats!

Only 49%? Must be nice, lol. Rarely under 60% here.

 

[RoyalChick]

Only 49%? Must be nice, lol. Rarely under 60% here.

I was thinking the same. It has been about 73% humidity here the last few days. Today it dropped way down to 50% and it feels so much better.
I too had to replace whole AC units from the ‘90s. These are supposed to be more efficient but so far I am not noticing that.

 

[bgmathteach]

Peanut's very ill
I think she is not long for this world, I'm afraid. Maybe ascites from tumors, or internal laying, but her belly is tight and she is not breathing well. This development was very quick, but was probably brewing for some days, and I missed it. The vet I thought she could see (but I didn't establish with them) is not in business anymore, and I've been calling around without success - but just got a call back by a traveling vet outfit that goes to farms and works out of trucks, River Valley Veterinary Services, and should know if someone can come here (or maybe we can go to them) . I don't see how this situation for her can be improved but I'd like a consult. Maybe they can give her pain meds. Any chance antibiotics could help?

I was away Sunday and back Monday evening, but she seemed active and talkative that evening, I didn't think to feel her, I thought she might be beginning molting as I think that's what is up with Butters, and now Hazel, they are both molting, and she held her tail a little down like they did in the beginning. Same Tuesday morning. But yesterday (Tuesday) late afternoon she began standing around and not foraging, her tail down, and went to roost very early. I thought she might have to lay, this didn't look too out of place but she didn't call about it like they normally might.

I should have felt her, because checking in on them late after the auto-door closed I saw she was breathing quickly, making a little noise with each exhale, her tail pumping with her breathing. I didn't think there was anything I could do late at night, so I woke up early this morning and saw she was still alive. I went and felt her, her belly is full and tight. I put a glove on and some KY and checked her vent, in about an inch and a half, I didn't feel anything. She left the coop and drank water

She is drinking, and ate a little, and is now resting in the shade of the lilac bush. She was alone for a couple of hours because the others were hanging out in the Winter run, but now she has company.
@BY Bob
@RoyalChick
@bgmathteach

I had a chicken with similar symptoms, I checked for egg binding - nope. I thought it was asities - when she passed, I did an informal necropsy on her and she was FULL of cysts. (not tumors, cysts - ovarian/reproductive track cysts - over 2 dozen of them ranging in size from a pea to a ping-pong ball) I did research and found an article (on production/commercial breeds, mind you) and it indicated that at least 20% of hens would pass by age 3 from cysts caused by herbicides, That is when I started using organic only - after reading that an also it's effects on humans, too. That study was done sometime in the late 90's. I haven't been able to find it again - I've looked since being on this thread - and, of course, I never book-marked nor wrote down the website.

I suspect if they can accurately diagnose what it is, they can treat - at least for comfort if not for longevity. I hope that they can see her and are able to help.

 

[rural mouse]

Beauties

Does that chick have leg feathers??

Shan has the leg feathers.

Shan of the upside-downhead, along with Zulu and Havoc.


Tuff has the cheek feathers. And the back of his comb looks like it's going to be similar to Rico's. I'm now wondering if by some fluke he is Thing and either Whiskey or Horus offspring. He has the cheeks: Pippa, Maizie, Thing (unless Whiskey or Kren popped a throwback). He doesn't have Thing's 5th toe or the crest, but could pop that part later. If he is from Thing, I'm shocked he doesn't have the toe. The only way he could have the straight crest from Pippa or Maizie is if they are single pea comb and gave him the Not pea and he got the same from his papa (long odds for that). The little cluster at the back of the comb is what makes me think Thing (v-comb) and Not Pea, not rose (aka straight) from the papa (Whiskey is that, Horus half straight, half rose, kren pea, looked like half pea, half straight).

No fresh pics as they're all mostly staying under the trees and aren't willing to come out and hold still with a pair of 3 year olds enthusiasts throwing bits of banana at them. The 3 year olds are visiting cousins (my nieces) and miffed over the lack of cooperation for petting. The adults are delighted to come forth for the treats, but evade reaching hands. No pics as my hands are covered in banana slime and I haven't gotten any from the parents (also enjoying tossing banana).

 

[featherhead007]

If chickens get heat stroke, I think Jaffar’s little body is experiencing it at the moment

 

[bgmathteach]

Shan has the leg feathers.
View attachment 3567114Shan of the upside-downhead, along with Zulu and Havoc.


Tuff has the cheek feathers. And the back of his comb looks like it's going to be similar to Rico's. I'm now wondering if by some fluke he is Thing and either Whiskey or Horus offspring. He has the cheeks: Pippa, Maizie, Thing (unless Whiskey or Kren popped a throwback). He doesn't have Thing's 5th toe or the crest, but could pop that part later. If he is from Thing, I'm shocked he doesn't have the toe. The only way he could have the straight crest from Pippa or Maizie is if they are single pea comb and gave him the Not pea and he got the same from his papa (long odds for that). The little cluster at the back of the comb is what makes me think Thing (v-comb) and Not Pea, not rose (aka straight) from the papa (Whiskey is that, Horus half straight, half rose, kren pea, looked like half pea, half straight).
View attachment 3567129


No fresh pics as they're all mostly staying under the trees and aren't willing to come out and hold still with a pair of 3 year olds enthusiasts throwing bits of banana at them. The 3 year olds are visiting cousins (my nieces) and miffed over the lack of cooperation for petting. The adults are delighted to come forth for the treats, but evade reaching hands. No pics as my hands are covered in banana slime and I haven't gotten any from the parents (also enjoying tossing banana).

Havoc is getting much deeper in color lately - more bronze/reddish yellow instead of true Buff. He is going to be handsome. (I assume it is a 'he'? I think, if I remember correctly, that you mentioned the 'reddening up' of his shoulders.)

I do have to say, though, that that picture of him is kind of funny. The fully-looking fledged body, with the baby chick pale chipmunkie head.