Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Grandma The Chicken]

Everyone, it is definitely getting really late so I'm going to leave this here. I know we do thirsty Thursday...

But this Thursday, I want to do something different. Of course, continue showing thirsty chickens, but do a throwback photo of your chickens. Something from a while ago. You may show as many photos as you'd like. Whether the photo(s) is/are from a few months ago to last year or 5 years ago, I'm willing to see how our flock has changed since last year (that is if any change has occured). I'll start. This photo was from January of this year.

This photo was from July 9, 2024. Grandma is enjoying her portable AC.

 

[knoturavggrl]

So, the silkies turn 6 weeks old tomorrow. I really lost a week somehow. I was thinking they were getting ready to turn 5 weeks old until I went back and looked to see when they hatched. So yup, it's official, they start going outside during the day by the weekend, it is time.

These are not the greatest pictures. They are friendly with me but are terrified of the camera and panic every time I use it.

First up is Calypso. I'm ready to call color now and have been for about 2 weeks. At hatch I really thought splash but not anymore. Calypso is a dominate white chick. I knew it was a slim possibility of hatching one as it was definitely on Branch's side of the family tree as his parent's produced to my knowledge 3 dominate white chicks.

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Next we have the dark partridge Lucky who almost choked to death at a few days old. This one will end up looking like Reba and her sister Lorrie as a adult.
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Next up is Bingo. I thought Bingo was a blue partridge at hatch but with the coloring coming in black I was wrong. Normal partridge. I am perfectly fine with that though as the juvenile feathers are revealing a secret he/she was keeping. The crest is coming in jet black. Bingo is a moorehead partridge. I am definitely not complaining at this new development.
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Last but definitely not least is Bluey. This one is also a bit of a surprise color wise. Hatched out with the palest silvery blue hatch down and look at her now. Still blue but several shades darker then I predicted.
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Not one of them is bearded but they are showing signs of having very nice crests. I can say with them not having beard that no hint of wattles yet either which is very good at this age. They all are looking rough and coming out of the ugly stuck a toe in a light socket stage. 1 or 2 more molts and 4 more weeks and then I can start really staring at them and trying to determine genders. For now, they are still girls to me and they had better stay that way.

All of them are beautiful I really like the Moorhead look just darling!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Gosh that must have so upsetting. They are carrying live cargo and should be keeping them safe

It's just pathetic that after years of carrying live creatures that they are not more organised. They haven't any incline on keeping them alive during their transportation.

It's in no way your fault

I cannot help but feel guilty but yes the post office is at fault here. It’s clearly a live container and the most likely thing her is mishandling on their part.

I'm terribly sorry this has happened to the them. It's very tragic.

I have sort of been where you are. I once had some lost by the post office. They arrived 2 days late but alive. I lost each one of them over the next 3 days, one by one, despite my best efforts to save them.

This heartbreak has Mrs BY Bob adamantly opposed to shipped chicks. We won't do it again.

It does sting. I ignored my gut instinct not to have bantams shipped because it was in state and I had good luck both times before with standard sized chicks. I think I am officially done attempting that. Two moon Acres is the only place that I can personally say does it as right as is possible. Chicks are not shipped until 3-4 weeks of age. Any older ones she ships go by animal transport only. This is the only way she will do it. I know it may not be cheap but it really does seem to be the most ethical way to do it.

I am so very sorry this happened. I know you were looking forward to those chicks. I have been tempted to order chicks in the past but if I cannot trust my post office to handle hatching eggs properly I hate to see how they would handle shipped chicks.

If you have your heart set on some more silkies have you given it a thought to reach back out to red barn? Hatching season is probably getting ready to gear down I know, but maybe see if you can be put on a list for pullets that do not make the cut for his breeding program. It might also be worth a shot to see if he has any older girls he is looking to retire and replace with younger ones.

I mean, it would not hurt to ask.

I did just this. I hemmed and hauled when I called Meyers but ended up just asking for a refund and just sat with the loss for a bit.

Then after some time I reached out to Red Barn Silkies (where I got Pebble and Nyx from). I figured the worst he could say was no.

He didn’t say no though, he said and I quote “I will look around this weekend and see what I can find.” Where are they hiding??? The gentleman that runs Red Barn is a character for sure.
He also said it’s a bit early yet for soft culls but I am not in big hurry.

So, I have decided to just wait and see if he “finds” some hidden pullets for us in his barn sometime in the next couple of months.

 

[knoturavggrl]

How is Rue today?

Not so great. I went out today to let them have some supervised free range time and she was having issues walking. I picked her up and checked her over again and still I see absolutely no obvious injuries. After that I put her down and she did walk then, even ran and hop flew while ranging with the flock.

I have gone ahead moved her to the brooder tent in our garage this evening. I have changed my treatment regimen. 2x a day she will be getting 1 Vitamin E capsule, Vitamin B12 Complex, and a bit of selenium as well. Poultry cell in her water. She is still eating and drinking normally. Her poop looks completely normal. I did notice tonight that she is holding her tail down in addition to the odd twisting so I will check her vent area as soon as I have good light in the morning.

I will also get a video of her to post here and see what you guys think. I could use a more experienced eye on this one.

 

[Marie2020]

Everyone, it is definitely getting really late so I'm going to leave this here. I know we do thirsty Thursday...
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But this Thursday, I want to do something different. Of course, continue showing thirsty chickens, but do a throwback photo of your chickens. Something from a while ago. You may show as many photos as you'd like. Whether the photo(s) is/are from a few months ago to last year or 5 years ago, I'm willing to see how our flock has changed since last year (that is if any change has occured). I'll start. This photo was from January of this year.
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This photo was from July 9, 2024. Grandma is enjoying her portable AC.
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Good morning lovely chickies

 

[Marie2020]

My little scruffy princess

 

[Marie2020]

Relaxing for a bit….

What adorable creatures

 

[RoyalChick]

Not so great. I went out today to let them have some supervised free range time and she was having issues walking. I picked her up and checked her over again and still I see absolutely no obvious injuries. After that I put her down and she did walk then, even ran and hop flew while ranging with the flock.

I have gone ahead moved her to the brooder tent in our garage this evening. I have changed my treatment regimen. 2x a day she will be getting 1 Vitamin E capsule, Vitamin B12 Complex, and a bit of selenium as well. Poultry cell in her water. She is still eating and drinking normally. Her poop looks completely normal. I did notice tonight that she is holding her tail down in addition to the odd twisting so I will check her vent area as soon as I have good light in the morning.

I will also get a video of her to post here and see what you guys think. I could use a more experienced eye on this one.

For the vitamin B, it is specifically B2 deficiency that causes curly toe paralysis. You can supplement with a human ‘B complex’ (which has all the B vitamins) or you can get B2 specifically on line.
I don’t know that B12 on its own will help a lot although it can be associated with leg weakness.
I would cover your bases and just get B complex from the pharmacy.
That may be what you are doing so apologies if it is. I was thrown by ‘B12 complex’.