Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lilion]

I think you are right and it looks to me like she might settle the debate soon by laying an egg!
But the question does keep popping up, so I am interested in views. Oh, and I love posting pictures of her because I think she is very pretty!

I agree, she's a very pretty chicken. And she just looks "feminine" if you know what I mean.

 

[RoyalChick]

I had to put on makeup and pants that zip!

That really is the pits!
Sorry you have to do that.

she just looks "feminine" if you know what I mean.

I do! And I agree.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I will tackle some of your questions that I feel I know the answer to.
Old epsom salts should be fine. It is just a mineral (magnesium sulphate). Check you didn’t get some fancy stuff with weird extras added in that might be an issue.
Yes just soaking is OK - sometimes even for bad cases. You could skip bandaging until you are back.
The key is repeated soaking to soften everything up. As often as you can for as long as you can.
While your partner is in town make sure he gets something that can create the ring to take the pressure off the bumble once you start bandaging. @bgmathteach uses corn rings from the foot care part of the pharmacy. That foam that is used to insulate plumbing pipes is also good (you cut off slices).
Also he should get whatever drawing salve is available in France. The gold standard would be anything containing ichthammol.
And lots of vetwrap bandage because it sticks to itself.

Ty for posting this. With my preoccupation about my own medical issues, I delayed getting more chips for my coop after taking it down to dirt to deal with the rats . I only have about half the normal amount in there and Doodle has Bumblefoot. I just saw it day before yesterday.

I can’t believe I missed it until now, she isn’t limping at all but her foot is definitely swollen and it has that telltale scab underneath. My husband is picking up Epsom salts and corn rings today to start soaking it followed by placing the ring and wrapping with vet wrap.

You are not the first to question Sylvie’s gender. The crowing is only now and then. Not every day. So I am thinking it is more likely a hen getting excited about something.
But any excuse to post pictures of the lovely Sylvie and if you do think she is a boy, please break it to me gently!

I have noticed that Bernie is much more aggressive to Sylvie than she is to any of the others. She really doesn’t like her (him?).
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She is beautiful . Her feather coloring does look V like especially around the neck but I think its an optical illusion when I zoom in I can see the white feathers forming a round shape same at the base of tail all nicely rounded. I see a pullet 100% no doubt in my mind.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

You are not the first to question Sylvie’s gender. The crowing is only now and then. Not every day. So I am thinking it is more likely a hen getting excited about something.
But any excuse to post pictures of the lovely Sylvie and if you do think she is a boy, please break it to me gently!

I have noticed that Bernie is much more aggressive to Sylvie than she is to any of the others. She really doesn’t like her (him?).
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Ok her markings were making it a optical illusion. Yup that is a girl. In fact, all the young pullets appear to be girls. I was just trying to figure out who is crowing since you claim to hear crowing.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yesterdays 1st day of school picture with the offending hair cut. She has wore it the same for 8ish months now. I do not care what she does as long as she does not shave it or have wild colors put in it. It is her hair and I want her to have what makes her feel good about herself. Of course when crap happens like this morning she does not believe me when I tell her it looks good. I'm her mother and I am supposed to say things like that.

 

[knoturavggrl]

And now I’ll post again because I need some help... again ! . I just noticed this morning that at least five of my chickens have bumblefoot. Only one is pretty severe, Cannelle, but I would like to address the issue. I’m really worried as it's the first time i’m dealing with this, and of course just when i’m leaving for two days next week which I haven't done in a year. There has been a lot of great info on this thread that I read again carefully, but I still have a ton of questions, and I really hope some of you may help.

Cannelle is the only one whose foot is swollen. Looks bad but she isn't limping so I guess it doesn't hurt her so much.
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My first practical question is that I have some Epsom salt that's been around for two years and it's gone liquid. My partner is going in town tomorrow and will get some, and all the supplies we need. Do you think I should still use the old Epsom salt today, or just soak them in plain water, or maybe add betaine today to the soak and switch to Epsom salt tomorrow? And do I need to make a different bath for each chicken, since we're dealing with a bacteria or can the same bath be used for all ?

My second question is whether we need to make daily bandages for all the light cases, or is it possible to do just the soaking ? Some of these chickens are very skittish and I think it won't go well. Or maybe do it a bandage for all the chickens but only every two day ?
I will use human corn dressings for Cannelle as I unfortunately have a bunch of those for my own bumblefoot . Any opinion as to whether it would be useful to try drawing salve for her since she’s so swollen ? She’s one of the skittish so if we can avoid having to open the scab it would be best by all means.

My fourth question is about the cause of the problem. We were really glad to have changed the roost and added a ramp three months ago but now I feel dreadful that obviously the new setting caused this problem. I really can't imagine that it comes from the roosts as they are made of old wood and very round and big. So it must be the ramp. I took several pictures to ask if you can see what's wrong. I was thinking maybe they hurt their foot rubbing the screws ? I’m not sure if we should just give up on the ramp idea, or if we can improve it. I have a mite problem in the coop so I can't add soft material on it as it would allow the mites to crawl under.

I was thinking of maybe putting a chair so they can hop on the roost instead of using the ramp.

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Thank you all so much for any help you could give. I’m inclined to cancel my get away as i’m pretty sure my partner is not going to spend two hours bathing and bandaging unwilling chickens if he’s alone.

Here’s a picture of Piou-piou for some cheers. Her feet are so dirty from scratching around that I can't even tell if she has it or not .
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I have one with bumble foot too, this will be my first time treating for it as well. Please post what you do, if you have time and what helps or not and I will too. My chickens are also not to keen on being handled over much. I am thinking maybe a towel could come in handy to loosely wrap her while I do the vet wrap.

 

[RoyalChick]

Ok her markings were making it a optical illusion. Yup that is a girl. In fact, all the young pullets appear to be girls. I was just trying to figure out who is crowing since you claim to hear crowing.

I am not making up the crowing but I cannot figure out who it is because it is only now and then. All evidence - timing and location of individuals - points to Babs, but it is a bit hard to believe it is her!

 

[RoyalChick]

Yesterdays 1st day of school picture with the offending hair cut. She has wore it the same for 8ish months now. I do not care what she does as long as she does not shave it or have wild colors put in it. It is her hair and I want her to have what makes her feel good about herself. Of course when crap happens like this morning she does not believe me when I tell her it looks good. I'm her mother and I am supposed to say things like that.
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Looks great to me - but I am an old lady and my opinion therefore doesn't count. Oh wait, the person claiming it is a bad haircut is also an old lady. Ha! Her opinion doesn't count either!!
By the way, you may need to relent on wild color. I keep pondering a purple stripe for myself. Or a bright green one to match my green chickens.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I am not making up the crowing but I cannot figure out who it is because it is only now and then. All evidence - timing and location of individuals - points to Babs, but it is a bit hard to believe it is her!

I am just going to throw this out there then for flocks in general.
I feel for a stable flock dynamic there needs to be 1 rooster. If that rooster is lacking you will see a hen step up to try to fill that role. I guess that can even include crowing.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have one with bumble foot too, this will be my first time treating for it as well. Please post what you do, if you have time and what helps or not and I will too. My chickens are also not to keen on being handled over much. I am thinking maybe a towel could come in handy to loosely wrap her while I do the vet wrap.

You are making me realize that mine are all overdue a good inspection. This lot are all very much against being handled so it will be a production for sure and have to happen in the middle of the night.