Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Good for Princess!
Some of mine sit for a while after laying an egg even when they aren’t broody. They seem to like the opportunity for some quiet reflection.

or to recuperate from the effort of laying! I've watched one lay (close to expelling the egg through to actually expelling it) - there is a fair amount of 'push' going on. I think I would want a short nap/rest after that effort, too!

 

[RoyalChick]

I've never heard of that as actually it's recommended in lieu of electrolytes in especially a sick chick or chicken. I don't use it because I have all the powders for chickens but would in a pinch. Manuka honey is also excellent for healing wounds. For humans, I can speak to how great it is for a toothache or sore throat.

The issue is clostridium botulinum spores which if they grow can release toxins that cause botulism which can be fatal.
For human babies you are supposed to wait until they have developed their own gut microbiome which prevents the C.botulinum from taking hold and creating the toxin.
The academic literature is a bit scant on the topic but does support that birds are susceptible and even wild birds have died.
Logic suggests (no articles I found) that this would be more of a risk to baby birds than adults for the same reason as with baby people. Also I would guess, adults whose microbiome has been compromised (e.g. from antibiotics).
That said, as with many of these things, the dose is the thing! A tiny bit of honey is unlikely to cause a problem.
I tried to find out how often honey has C.botulinum spores but got no further than they are commonly present in honey.

 

[Ponypoor]

One of those controversial pro/con benefits I read years ago re DE, honey, apple cider vinegar, tomato leaves, and the lists go on.

For instance, tomato leaves are listed as toxic to humans/living things -- insects and hummingbirds avoid tomato plants like the plague (except tomato worms and spider mites seem to love the plants) -- but I can't keep my chickens away from our garden tomato plants even when we bird-netted the plants. It hasn't killed or sickened our birds eating the leaves they manage to reach so how iffy are the toxic vs safe lists chickens can eat? All depends on the info one wants to believe? Also, peanuts supposedly aren't a safe chicken food yet our Dominique hen seeks them out specifically if she gets into the wild bird seed mix. And she's 7 yrs old now -- not dead or sick.

I suppose I would depend keeping NutriDrench in supply as a picker-upper for any weak or ailing bird rather than guess at a home-remedy unless advised by my vet. We've been so spoiled having him for all our indoor parrots, budgies, cocktiels, & chicken needs for the last two decades.

Yes information should be taken with a grain of salt. My 7 month old chicks devoured my 4 tomato plants - leaves stems and fruit one afternoon - all they left me was the stalk!!! Hahaha brats! Didn’t hurt them.

Next we’re my petunia plants I stupidly forgot to hang up after watering.

They have eaten styrofoam, the paint on the barn door, pecked a chunk out of my my eyeball….. yep even a snake!

They are opportunistic feeders.

 

[Ponypoor]

Stripes?!

View attachment 3870504

Hi Sydney

 

[Ponypoor]

Well, 3 times already I've drug Mera out of a nest box. I held her feet in the sprinkler so her belly is soggy but her back is mostly dry. Each time I've packed her farther from the coop. Most recently she headed into the pea shrub hedge. She's not happy with me but until I can build some sort of broody breaker roost system, she's going to have to deal with it. I'm just as soggy.

Yep I feel your pain!

Whiskers is a brat!

 

[Ponypoor]

I was thinking the same but wasn’t confident. I love how you know this stuff. Never tire of learning from you!

Some sort of finch looks like.

 

[Marie2020]

Take it to a local pub, and start a tab. (It works well for the locals around here)

A little helpful advice would be nice.

 

[Marie2020]

Beak shape makes me think it eats seeds.

It looks tiny to me. I think mixed corn might be to big.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply

 

[Marie2020]

Some sort of finch looks like.

I'm still battling to find food for it to eat

 

[bgmathteach]

I have a 42" wire dog kennel/pen we put on bricks in the large fenced dog kennel, which is gravel. I use a twist tie to tie an icecream bucket of water to one end, and a smaller jar feeder next to it. There's a 2x4 on it's side on the other end so they can perch off the wires. That usually takes 3-4 days.

However, I learned sometimes there's a cause. I have a breeding pen with 4 hens and a roo. One was broody going over a week, then another was with her and neither were breaking. I got an idea and removed the rooster. Another rooster was standing right there. I opened the door and let him jump in. I put those two hens back in the pen. Magically, they were over being broody! Blueboy is tickled he gets to finally be in there, and the ladies are all out every morning for the first time in weeks!

I suspect they weren't broody, but trying to avoid the rooster. I have had that - but their behavior on the nest is different - not the broody 'buk-buk-buk'. More like 'resting after laying - but 'resting' all day.