Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

There was a Ruffed Grouse that flew in and went to the apple tree right near the run, and when it flew a brief alarm went out, so if it' had been hanging around earlier maybe that was it before. And the bucket got knocked over in the rush to get to safety.

Well - I am still concerned for the Spuds' health and watch them closely. I have been thinking about asking everyone's opinion: they appear to be acting well, eating a lot, not sleeping abnormally as far as I can tell, though they need more naps than the adults.

Anna's voice after the antibiotic treatment became more like it was before she got sick, clear and cheepy, but Tedi and Ida Diane both still have deep chesty peeps and boks, Ida Diane's in particular is very hoarse and rough sounding. Today Anna sneezed and Ida Diane did too. But other than how their voices sound they seem to be okay. Their nares are dirty, but no visible mucus or discharge, and no bubbles in the eyes.

I have been going by what I thought was the conventional wisdom in the case of respiratory illness, that they can live with it and have it the rest of their lives, it may wax and wane depending on stress and condition, but not to treat unless it interferes with them living their lives and they start behaving sickly.

I think it is also possible that the horrible exposure to mold in their first brooder shavings, which I think killed their two chick sisters, could have been the entrance for the bacterial infection Anna got, and maybe Ida Diane and Tedi are suffering from that mold exposure? But those two developed the chesty sounds and sneezes later, after Anna, so I'm not sure about this idea.

I hope that not treating unless sickly is the correct thing to do, and that their air sacs aren't all scarred and cause problems for them down the line. Or maybe all that is in the cards at this point anyway so I ought to look at it as battle scars and nothing to do about it now? If I were to give those two a course of antibiotics, what would be the goal? Would it help them, or maybe it is too late to treat now? If it is fungal- related, there would be no point (I think?). If I know they're okay as is, then when I note the way their voices sound I won't wonder, but since I'm unsure I keep thinking about it and doubting this path.

Tough decisions. I don’t have any advice for you. We’re not sure what the situation actually is? I’m not there to witness the actions of your birds.

 

[featherhead007]

Tough decisions. I don’t have any advice for you. We’re not sure what the situation actually is? I’m not there to witness the actions of your birds.

Sorry CB

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sorry CB

It's not a horribly sad situation. They are acting well enough I think, their lives seem pretty full and rewarding, they jump and fly and run. They aren't lying about not feeling well, though we all know how they don't show it until they are really sick. It's just how they sound. Maybe I can get a video with sound.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Tough decisions. I don’t have any advice for you. We’re not sure what the situation actually is? I’m not there to witness the actions of your birds.

And true, I never got a culture from the vet since the practical situation was Anna was acting okay and improving with the antibiotic and I was fearing a finding of avian flu (even if not highly pathogenic, I'm not sure what they would do with that?)

 

[featherhead007]

And true, I never got a culture from the vet since the practical situation was Anna was acting okay and improving with the antibiotic and I was fearing a finding of avian flu (even if not highly pathogenic, I'm not sure what they would do with that?)

It would be bad!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

It would be bad!

Right. It results in not testing, so we're in the dark.

 

[notabitail]

And true, I never got a culture from the vet since the practical situation was Anna was acting okay and improving with the antibiotic and I was fearing a finding of avian flu (even if not highly pathogenic, I'm not sure what they would do with that?)

There was a article I found here about someone that had avian flu. If you want me to find it and link it here, I can, but it is horrifyingly sad, and I was really upset after reading it.

I hope your chooks get well. The Empress said that she sends your chooks her best wishes.

 

[notabitail]

Right. It results in not testing, so we're in the dark.

Maybe there's a way to get a test anonymously?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

There was a article I found here about someone that had avian flu. If you want me to find it and link it here, I can, but it is horrifyingly sad, and I was really upset after reading it.

I hope your chooks get well. The Empress said that she sends your chooks her best wishes.

Thanks, I will tell them in the morning!
No, I know the stories and what you said is enough. I don't know if you're old enough - we all got a vaccine in the 2000's? - 2005? - for an avian flu that people were getting. I just read an article from this summer about domestic cats in Poland catching it (they don't really know how). And Mink farms there having it, and brutally wiping out tons of minks hasn't controlled it. Same story here. It's in Whitetail Deer besides minks. There's got to be another way.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Maybe there's a way to get a test anonymously?

Yes, @RoyalChick did that. They aren't acting sick, I wonder if there would be enough present to show in a culture.