Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Nearly Lost Hattie Tonight

I think I was at risk of Hattie not surviving until morning tonight.

It started snowing and I was refreshing their water dishes. I noticed that Hattie was not hanging with everyone else in the run. I noticed her laying over by Hattie House in the leaves. She was talking to me when I called her name so I kept up what I was doing. When I was done I went and got my phone to take photos / video of her in the snow.

Here is the video I shot.

Look closely at that video and you will notice her eye is closed. At the time I did not notice.

I tossed some corn in front of her as a pre-bedtime snack and a few kernels struck her. She stood up startled and Lady Featherington ran over to eat the corn. Hattie did not start eating corn. That got me more interested.

I went over and realized that both her eyes were closed and she wasn't opening them. I scooped her up and into the house we went.

Once in the house I weighed her and called Mrs BY Bob over. Her weight was good and craw was full but she was not opening her eyes.

So while I held her Mrs BY Bob forced her right eye open and it stayed open. Once the eye was open, it stayed open and she started acting like she could see. Once she had one eye open it was impossible to get to the left eye to open it. She was not having it and Mrs BY Bob was not willing to fight with her.

We put a Moxifloxacin drop into the open eye and I kept her in the house until she started fighting with me. Then to the coop she went.

She is in the nest box and is moving, grooming, and seems to be ok otherwise. If the left eye is not open in the morning I will get it open and get a drop in it.

I believe that if I had not noticed she would have slept outside in the snow and ice tonight. Who knows if she could have survived that?

I’m a bit worried about Hattie.
Maybe she’s more sick than she shows?
Bless her beautiful heart

 

[BY Bob]

I’m a bit worried about Hattie.
Maybe she’s more sick than she shows?
Bless her beautiful heart

Maybe. There was nothing else visibly wrong with her.

 

[BY Bob]

Good catch, very observant. Wonder what’s up with the eyes - last night I noted that Red had one of her eyes stuck shut, once I got it open it looked ok.

I know you would have noticed Hattie not inside, and on the cameras and gone to check on her

I have forgotten in the past. If I had tonight the outcome could have been terrible.

 

[Ponypoor]

Love your videos!

Thanks Alex

They are little time thieves - distract me from work.

The horses also… outside checking on them and the broken fencing curtesy of Reenie.

 

[Sylvester017]

If the time comes when I needed a Silkie, … Walmart isle 12 next to the mopsView attachment 4007483

& THEY DON'T POOP!

 

[Sylvester017]

Like I said, mine are pet quality. It took time to get this look. I do not want to take a step backwards by choosing the first male I come across.

Older pics, I will get some new ones this week if the weather cooperates and it stops raining.
View attachment 4007487View attachment 4007490View attachment 4007491View attachment 4007492View attachment 4007493

BEAUTIES ~ to be sure!

 

[Ponypoor]

Maybe. There was nothing else visibly wrong with her.

She’s an elderly little lady.

Arthritis is very debilitating - and it’s such a deceiving thing; your mobility is better the more you move around, but your so achy you don’t want to move.

I gave Truly and Reenie some Bute tonight as they were looking achy earlier. And I also took some Naproxen.

I can see how Hattie would want to just rest - I like how you are giving her some Meloxicam. Can I ask what the dosage is for chooks? I was thinking of getting some for Penelope.

Also have you ever thought of giving some Tylenol along with the Meloxicam? There is evidence that giving Tylenol along with an anti-inflammatory med enhances both their actions (at least in mammals).

 

[Ponypoor]

The horses find you entertaining.
I miss my horse Chaco. She was so sweet

Yes I miss you pics of her

Oh I am sure they find me entertaining running after 40 odd chooks all going every which way. Telling them ‘go to bed, come on now go to bed’.

Then ending up just carrying them in one by one hahaha.

I think that having the chooks has definitely given the horses something to look at and entertain themselves with.

 

[Ponypoor]

I have forgotten in the past. If I had tonight the outcome could have been terrible.

Don’t do the woulda, coulda, shoulda thing.

You observed something different and acted on it

We all are only human.

 

[featherhead007]

Regular aspirin? What is the dosage for chooks?