Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

It definitely clarifies some things....breaks down genetics terms clearly .... and has me interested in (being as I don't have facilities for) following some of the breeding attempts for non-vaulted Silkies and Polish in the US. Houdans have Polish relatives, and have the vaulted skull as chicks, so should be included in that. I wonder...do Appenzeller Spitzhauben have vaulted skulls too?

Read the comments at the bottom of the 'Part 2'
The short answer - YES

 

[Marie2020]

Petunia

Well she is one expensive chook. But I am glad to did take her in, the Vet felt that she didn’t have an egg in there, she did an X-ray and she didn’t see anything, she thinks what we feel in her abdomen is her gizzard enlarged, she also ran a fecal as Petunia was so nice to give her a juicy sample.

She had Round Worms and Cecal Worms.

The Vet also discussed nutrition with me as she noted several of my hens lay soft or brittle eggs. She told me stop the table scraps, stop the Starter ration, separate the chicks from the Bigs (that likely won’t happen), and look into a different feed, also to put my calcium/oyster shells into a container for them to access rather then feeding it off the floor.

So I was sent home with Panocur wormer for the herd to treat worms; and some Sulpha antibiotics for Petunia. So we shall see what happens.
View attachment 3766000View attachment 3766002

Wow.
I've learned something on those results.
Fingers crossed she'll heal quickly


Well done Kelly

 

[bgmathteach]

If anyone has been questioning this, I have done extensive research and have come to a conclusion:
Information is derived from Google. View attachment 3764727View attachment 3764728

Hmmmm, I am going to call you out on something here...you said you did all of the calculations - but all I see is the the formulas written down - no actual calculations (i.e. WORK) is shown. tsk, tsk, tsk

As tax, I present an actual flying chicken:

No competition to either Glynda or Phyllis, but a flying chicken none the less!

 

[knoturavggrl]

That is an interesting idea. I had been pondering something along those lines. Of course that is assuming Calypso ever decides to lay!

I think this is Calypso - she and Tassels look similar unless you can see either comb or feet. Or have a good sense of scale as Tassels is BIG!

View attachment 3766108

She is beautiful , if I had all hens I would not hesitate to feed layer feed and have oyster shell out as well. I have been reluctant to use layer feed because of the mixed opinions on how/if that added calcium affects roosters health long term. My dotty girls however seem clueless when it comes to the oyster shell because they were clearly not eating enough of it. So this was my compromise idea.

 

[Ponypoor]

So we went out and got better a look. Lots of the feathers appear to be broken off. Almost like they were cut.View attachment 3766338 View attachment 3766336

Alex made a good point - use some blue cote spray - the broken feathers are from the Roos likely, if she isn’t moulting they won’t grow bacK until she does. Any feathers missing she will grow back

A saddle might protect her from pecks from the others aalso.

 

[featherhead007]

Hmmmm, I am going to call you out on something here...you said you did all of the calculations - but all I see is the the formulas written down - no actual calculations (i.e. WORK) is shown. tsk, tsk, tsk

As tax, I present an actual flying chicken:
View attachment 3766396

No competition to either Glynda or Phyllis, but a flying chicken none the less!

I’m calling you out. That’s not a flying chicken, she was thrown across the yard!

 

[featherhead007]

Yay, it’s movie night for me and my buddy roo. He has been breathing heavily for a few hours and needs his rest. To help him sleep, I found an old Ronald Reagan movie that I put on. That’ll knock him right out! president Biden short speeches work well too for anesthesia!

 

[notabitail]

I love Empress Josephine's reaction to the wind ruffling her feathers!

"How dare it disturb my perfectly preened feathers! Huh, now I have to fix them YET AGAIN, darn that breeze."

She's tried commanding the wind to stop.

 

[knoturavggrl]

So we went out and got better a look. Lots of the feathers appear to be broken off. Almost like they were cut.View attachment 3766338 View attachment 3766336

I second @Ponypoor and @featherhead007 suggestions of a saddle and using bluekote (this stuff is messy but it does work and it also stains everything in its spray zone, so be cautious about where you are when you spray it as it will also be blue) on any red spots not covered by the saddle.

Here is my best guess for what it’s worth: your roosters were likely the root cause and they were overbreeding her causing feather breakage and red spots. Then the other chickens (who are notorious for pecking red injuries on other birds) are pecking at her injuries compounding the problem. I would think it very likely that once her feathers come back in, all will be well and since the roosters are gone she should be fine going forward.

 

[bgmathteach]

I am sorry she isn’t feeling well I have been following along on how she is doing and hoping for the best. Worms are at least pretty easy to take care of.

I have been reconsidering how to do calcium here too. I have it in a hanging feeder in the run. However, my Orps eggs were initially very weak at the apex of the shell where I typically date my eggs and they would break when I touched them with my pencil. I decided to switch to layer feed for the spring and summer when they are all laying the most. Then in the fall/ winter I will go back to an all flock to give the roosters a break from the calcium, which I know isn't great for them. Just thought I would share my middle of the road solution to meet the needs of all of the flock as the Orps shell issues resolved within a week of being on the layer feed.

If your roosters are enough taller than your hens, you can put a feeder higher placed (sifter, hanging, whatever you use) so only the roosters can reach it, and fill that with grower or all flock. They may not eat completely out of it, but they will some, and any less they eat of the layer, the better for them. (You could even try putting a small container just out of reach of the hens, but in reach of the roos, and in the morning fill it with a wet grower mash that they WILL gobble down...and if it is really soggy (enough for the pellets to break apart), then it will be difficult for them to grab pieces and drop them/tidbit with them for the ladies.