Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

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ChicoryBlue said:
Today I tried tube feeding Butters and part way in she really objected. Also, the syringe plunger was very stiff, so I had lubricated it all inside with coconut oil and that worked for awhile but then the warm liquid melted it off and it got stiff again. The syringe and tube set I ordered for backups don't fit together. The red tube syringe end is way too big for the tiny nozzle of the syringe and doesn't stay on!

So I decided to try to syringe feed her at least a little bit. Switched to a 3ml size syringe, and guessed at how to do it, but it worked out with a change in hand positioning - I slowly dripped about 1 to 1 1/2 ml of the liquid feed into the front of her open lower beak, then let her beak go. She seemed to be breathing okay between doses. It would go down, then I'd let her go, she would "smack" her beak some like she was clearing what was left in her mouth maybe. She seemed much calmer. I might have gotten maybe 10 ml into her; I could feel her crop bulge a bit. I might try it with a thicker feed mix next time, and /or some honey/sugar water for the liquid, to try to maximize the calories.

I am frankly not expecting her to live but I'm trying to give her a chance with some hydration and calories to see if she'll rally. It is so much like a starvation molt. The vet herself wrote in our latest exchange that she is guessing the problem is a heart or kidneys issue as the root cause of loss of appetite - and the resulting poor nutrition causing her inability to replace her shaggy feathers. So it sounds like it's similar to a starvation molt in effect, but brought on by an organ failure. Her blood work did not point to anything conclusive except her liver seems to be normal so that isn't a suspected culprit. The vet recommended to try to support her as I've been doing.
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:hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs

I'm so sorry. I have no advise or thoughts to help. I am just sending a big, warm hug, and lots of positive thoughts for you and Butters.
 
BREECH, BREECH, BREECH!

Well, yesterday near the end of my workday (worked remote/from home) I hear a very loud peeping - the kind emitted from a lost or upset chick. I am zooming with a new student...and I think the sound is getting louder, but I try to ignoire it and focus on what the student is asking, saying, etc. This appointment takes about 45 min...and at times is it difficult to hear the student (soft spoken) over zoom - over the seemingly ever louder distress peeps.

Finally, I finish with the student and start talking in a soft voice to the chick while I enter notes on our appointment - I'm focused on my computer screen and just saying random things like 'here chickie, it's okay chickie', etc.

Next thing I know, I look up and there is a chickie half way across the living room! Now I speak to it in earnest, and if comes bopping over and stands on my foot (socks but no shoes on)! once settled there, it changes to soft, content chickie chatter peeps! 🥰

This chick was one of my 'slow grow' meat birds (rainbow red rangers) It not only managed to hop out of the box, but go down the short hallway the box is in (6'), through the very long kitchen (15-18 feet), and through the living room - I am in the farthest corner - so about another 12-15 feet - and the chick has never been out of the box, so must have been navigating solely by my voice!!! Talk about melt my heart! (and, no, visually, it is all angles, so no line of site until it entered the living room!)

Gosh, 13- 14 weeks from now will be very difficult! I didn't have my camera out then - I had to quick pop it back into it's box with hatch-mates before my next appt. arrived. However, when I opened the door late this evening to come home (I worked on site today, not remote), I had to get my camera, as this is what I found:

IMG_3732[1].JPG
IMG_3733[1].JPG
IMG_3729[1].JPG
IMG_3730[1].JPG
Not only did he get out, but evidently showed a couple of friends how to get out, too. :th:lau:th Seems I had really better get my 2 broody/isolation, breeding huts done this weekend!!! (And I'll have to test out my ;portable power supply) to see how it runs the brooder plate (only 18w, so it should handle it just fine!:fl!)
 
micstrachan said:
Hi everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. I’m popping in to let you know about a new method I’m going to try to help keep the chickens cool in hot summer. I already run films and misters, but we have a vacation planned at the end of September and I’m concerned that we might have a major heatwave when are we gone, and I won’t be able to look after their them. I’m going to put in a little drip irrigation system, where drips will go into some water pans so they have fresh water every day and then there’s also a skinny little soaker hose you can put on the drip system to help cool and wet the earth for them. I’ll let you know how it goes. I did a practice run yesterday, but it was leaking. I learned that I need a pressure regulator, which is coming today. I also plan to filter the water to help keep things from clogging up. We are very hard water here. If all goes well, I’ll put the whole thing on a timer. If that works well, I may put the Mr. on a timer as well. And maybe get a solar fan.
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Hello friends. So the watering system actually works pretty well overall. One dripper already seems to be clogged, but I ran it before adding the filter, so maybe that’s a factor? I ended up using TWO pressure regulators; one right after the filter and one where the regular garden hose meets the main drip line. I did not rinse the filter, and I’m not sure if I was supposed to. I think what I’ll do is rinse out the whole line and I have a new drippers. The mini soaker hose is actually super awesome. Now with the two pressure regulators going, I think you could leave it on all the time in hot weather.

Once I have all the kinks worked out, I think I will fine tune it, and add a timer.
 
BY Bob said:
Ask Aurora
Today's questions come from 2 Human Servants!
@knoturavggrl View attachment 3590202 writes……

@BY Bob I was wondering there are multiple people here dealing with way way to many and/or to often broody hens.

Would you mind gently requesting that Queen Aurora could perhaps issue a beak-book statement explaining that remaining chick free is a valid option and not to be so hasty about hatching out more of the adorable troublemakers.

I am certain myself, @Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd , @bgmathteach and probably a few other folks I missed would be so grateful and willing to send cheeseballs and/or meal worms to seal the deal 🤝.

Thank you and Queen Aurora for considering the request 🤣.



And @RebeccaBoyd View attachment 3590203 writes…….

I second this. I also request that Queen Aurora sends out another royal decree to my lot through beakbook. Please tell her that if they must hatch chicks, *looking at you Momma Hen*, then please for the love of all things holy, pullets please. I really cannot wait for that bat to hit henopause and stop laying entirely. Momma Hen is worrying me. She is spending a awful lot of time on the hillside. She should be back to laying since I sold her chicks 5 almost 6 weeks ago. Holly was within a week. Not a single egg of hers has been found. I do not trust that bat. All it takes is for her to hide away and lay 3 eggs in a single spot for them not to be disturbed and it triggers her. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, that or just laying for 2 weeks in general before she starts thinking about chicks again.

*edited to add*

If you can convince Aurora to get through to my lot I will pay her with blueberries. Lots of Blueberries and overripe cherry tomato's that she does not have to share.


Dear @knoturavggrl & @RebeccaBoyd

This is a first. Letters from human servants. Asking me to intervene on their behalf with their chicken tribes. And what riches they offer. Cheese Balls, Meal Worms, Blueberries, and overripe Cherry Tomatoes. Cherry Tomatoes that I don’t have to share.

Let me set one thing straight right now.

I don’t have to share.

Everything here is mine. I just happen to know the value of allowing others to share in the bounty of food that is so rightfully mine. I even let that thing Phyllis enjoy a treat now and again. Everyone gets a portion so that they can appreciate the benevolence that is my just and right rule.

Such a conundrum you present me with. On one hand, I truly love all of the snacks you have promised. They are all my favorites. Add to that the drop off in meal worms available here since the human servants figured out my trick of always having someone stationed at the backdoor and you make a compelling offer. On the other hand, it truly is the way of the chicken to reproduce and make more chickens. Chicks are the greatest gift and Momma hens do the work for all of us hens who are more career minded.

I’m certain you would agree that an over-abundance of chickens is just not possible. The more chickens there are, the more you humans get to serve, and the more you serve us chickens, the more rewarding your life is. These humans have blessed themselves with 100s of chickens to serve. They truly must be the most satisfied and fulfilled humans anywhere.

View attachment 3590200

If I were to accede to your request, I would not only be letting down my fellow chickens but I would also be denying you the joy of serving more chickens. Surely you have room in your hearts and lives for more chickens.

If I won’t do that, you are asking that I at least encourage the ladies to hatch out more hens and fewer roosters. This is much less objectionable to me. Roosters are not for everyone. They are an acquired taste and too many of them in one tribe makes it hard on us ladies. Add in the stories I have heard regarding teenage roosters, and I can easily believe that it would be better for all if there were fewer of them born compared to us hens.

What to do? What to do?

I must say I was torn. I thought about just flipping Phyllis to decide which way to go. Heads means I take the food bribes and recommend no more broodies or Tails and I say follow The Way and hatch like crazy ladies.

How do you flip a Phyllis?

You can either wait for her to finish a dust bath and flip herself (which is fun) or you can simply push her off the roost and see if she lands on her head (heads) or her bum/feet (tails). I prefer to just push her off the roost as it is both fun and rewarding.

Here is Phyllis flipping herself.

First the bath
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/phyllis-taking-a-bath.7957584/

Then the shake and flip
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/flipping-phyllis.7957583/

The smart ruler never resorts to just flipping Phyllis to make a decision, no matter how much fun it is. So her is the deal ladies, take it or leave it. I will advise the girls that there are enough roosters around already in exchange for all the “snacks” promised above. You deliver the snacks to me here at Fluffy Butt Acres and I will reach out to your tribes on beakbook and let them know we’ve had enough boys for this year. This way we can keep on adding chickens to the world. Your lives will be made better by serving more chickens and I get more snacks. It is a win, win, win. How often can you say that?

I will be watching for the snacks.

Aurora

View attachment 3590201

Hey girls! I’m going to flip Phyllis tonight. Who wants heads and who wants tails?
Click to expand...
Haha! Thanks for the great read as always, Bob!
 
bgmathteach said:
BREECH, BREECH, BREECH!

Well, yesterday near the end of my workday (worked remote/from home) I hear a very loud peeping - the kind emitted from a lost or upset chick. I am zooming with a new student...and I think the sound is getting louder, but I try to ignoire it and focus on what the student is asking, saying, etc. This appointment takes about 45 min...and at times is it difficult to hear the student (soft spoken) over zoom - over the seemingly ever louder distress peeps.

Finally, I finish with the student and start talking in a soft voice to the chick while I enter notes on our appointment - I'm focused on my computer screen and just saying random things like 'here chickie, it's okay chickie', etc.

Next thing I know, I look up and there is a chickie half way across the living room! Now I speak to it in earnest, and if comes bopping over and stands on my foot (socks but no shoes on)! once settled there, it changes to soft, content chickie chatter peeps! 🥰

This chick was one of my 'slow grow' meat birds (rainbow red rangers) It not only managed to hop out of the box, but go down the short hallway the box is in (6'), through the very long kitchen (15-18 feet), and through the living room - I am in the farthest corner - so about another 12-15 feet - and the chick has never been out of the box, so must have been navigating solely by my voice!!! Talk about melt my heart! (and, no, visually, it is all angles, so no line of site until it entered the living room!)

Gosh, 13- 14 weeks from now will be very difficult! I didn't have my camera out then - I had to quick pop it back into it's box with hatch-mates before my next appt. arrived. However, when I opened the door late this evening to come home (I worked on site today, not remote), I had to get my camera, as this is what I found:

View attachment 3591365View attachment 3591367View attachment 3591368View attachment 3591369Not only did he get out, but evidently showed a couple of friends how to get out, too. :th:lau:th Seems I had really better get my 2 broody/isolation, breeding huts done this weekend!!! (And I'll have to test out my ;portable power supply) to see how it runs the brooder plate (only 18w, so it should handle it just fine!:fl!)
Click to expand...
How darling! Time for a walk about. 😆
 

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