Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

I got home from work tonight and BOTH my Wyandottes seemed unwell. Roxy (the SLW who had black poop and inflamed intestines) was pale and sitting around again, despite the fact that I haven’t seen black poop in awhile and her comb had gotten quite vibrant again until today. Lucky (BLRW) was waddling around with her tail up, wings slightly down, and a very messy fluffy butt. She always has a messy butt, as she has a bulge below her vent. I think it’s a giant fat pad. She’s the only one who hasn’t really slimmed down since I’ve been rationing feed. Anyway, she looked a little slimy, and I thought it could possibly be a dribble of egg white, so after I tucked them in, I plucked her off the roost and brought her inside. l gave her a soak in a warm bath, which she did not resist. As soon as she wanted out, I got her out and wrapped her in a towel, then gently towel dried her. She seemed weak and just stood there. The next thing you know, there was a sudden puddle of egg. I watched until the membrane was just barely sticking out and gently pulled it out for her. Washed the egg off her feathers and attempted a blow dry, which she did not want. Administered half a calcium tablet, waited for her to perk up a little, and brought her back out to the coop, which she was happy about. I peeked at Roxy who was still very pale and slightly open beak breathing. I really hope Roxy is just heading into molt, but I have a bad feeling about it. The tip of her comb is ever so slightly bluish. She did get several bites of canned cat food (first ingredient beef, second ingredient salmon) for iron. Poor babies.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Apparently it does. It's pretty incredible really. If there isn't a rooster there then one of the hens takes up his duties. The hormone balance in chickens, hens in particular it seems is very fine.
There is some seriously interesting science in there somewhere. But. of course, they're just chickens and what could we possibly learn from them.

Well she makes a rotten rooster. No tidbitting, no leading to safety, no looking out for danger. She just likes to bully and mount.

I wonder if I should start carrying a squirty bottle with me to dissuade her?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I'm not sure if its the same thing but I have seen several hens in my flock do what looks like a mount/not a mount. Morrigu does it fairly regularly to the junior Campines. I've seen Mhari do it to the Wyandottes. It doesn't seem to be about sex with my lot but about dominance & who's who in the rankings. Aoife will be rather pushy & Morrigu will run her down & do the mount thing. She seems to prefer to grab onto the neck feathers but Aoife's quite a bit bigger than she is. Mhari did it to Wrold last night over a feeding dispute. All Wrold did was flare her hackles when Mhari was done.

Tsuki has done the mount, peck and bully thing before but this time she was balancing for longer and definitely "bumped bottoms"

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Not an Australianism that translates well

It always means tired or broken in Australia.

Don't forget "Silly buggers".
I seem to remember hearing once that Prime Minister Bob Hawke used the phrase "The Australian Government will not play silly buggers with the Japanese people" It was translated as "The Australian Government will not play humorous homosexuals with the Japanese people" .

The Japanese PM looked perplexed...

( I may have the wrong receiving country.... but you get the idea)

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I am clearly out of my league!
I too give eggs away and was following the same logic but I was scared to go past about 10. I have no idea why as the Palace is sized for twice that if you believe the standard numbers (I don't) and by the time I even got to 10 I would be retired and able to accompany them on free-ranging time.
I am definitely doing two more next year - I am having such fun with the two young ladies growing up I just have to do that again!

Never less than two. Always add at least a pair. Your two are just darling!

I did 3 this time. It worked out well. Always at least 2 though. They need a friend in the pecking order.

I made the mistake of adding Pepper alone to the flock. Never again.

It took months for her to be accepted, and then it was only Edwina at first. Now she tends to hang out with Edwina during the day and snuggle up with Deana at night.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I got home from work tonight and BOTH my Wyandottes seemed unwell. Roxy (the SLW who had black poop and inflamed intestines) was pale and sitting around again, despite the fact that I haven’t seen black poop in awhile and her comb had gotten quite vibrant again until today. Lucky (BLRW) was waddling around with her tail up, wings slightly down, and a very messy fluffy butt. She always has a messy butt, as she has a bulge below her vent. I think it’s a giant fat pad. She’s the only one who hasn’t really slimmed down since I’ve been rationing feed. Anyway, she looked a little slimy, and I thought it could possibly be a dribble of egg white, so after I tucked them in, I plucked her off the roost and brought her inside. l gave her a soak in a warm bath, which she did not resist. As soon as she wanted out, I got her out and wrapped her in a towel, then gently towel dried her. She seemed weak and just stood there. The next thing you know, there was a sudden puddle of egg. I watched until the membrane was just barely sticking out and gently pulled it out for her. Washed the egg off her feathers and attempted a blow dry, which she did not want. Administered half a calcium tablet, waited for her to perk up a little, and brought her back out to the coop, which she was happy about. I peeked at Roxy who was still very pale and slightly open beak breathing. I really hope Roxy is just heading into molt, but I have a bad feeling about it. The tip of her comb is ever so slightly bluish. She did get several bites of canned cat food (first ingredient beef, second ingredient salmon) for iron. Poor babies.

It sounds like you got Lucky sorted out.

Roxy isn't sounding too good.

I hope they are both feeling better in the morning @micstrachan .

 

[LozzyR]

Tsuki has done the mount, peck and bully thing before but this time she was balancing for longer and definitely "bumped bottoms"

My mother-in-law had a pair of lesbian ducks for years.

 

[LozzyR]

Don't forget "Silly buggers".
I seem to remember hearing once that Prime Minister Bob Hawke used the phrase "The Australian Government will not play silly buggers with the Japanese people" It was translated as "The Australian Government will not play humorous homosexuals with the Japanese people" .

The Japanese PM looked perplexed...

( I may have the wrong receiving country.... but you get the idea)

Yep, definitely loses something in the translation!

 

[RoyalChick]

Clever man! This is what the army taught my oldest to do. I am in awe.

In awe captures it well. I cannot even conceive of what doing that entails. It is all a black box (literally) to me!

 

[BY Bob]

Yep. Dorothy is my last Leghorn, which is a shame, because their personalities are fantastic, at least the only two I’ve had were.

Yes, leghorns have fantastic personalities. There are times I get weak and forget the short life spans and think, next time I'm getting a leghorn or 2. Then Mrs BY Bob will remind me.

Elphie