Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

Wow! What a crazy place for tap to nest!

You're a long way back!

 

[Shadrach]

I’m a bit concerned about Tegan’s comb, at first I thought it was dirty but now I’m not sure. Can chooks get fungal infections on their combs? Can anyone tell me what they think this is?

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That looks like Fowl Pox to me. Clean the affected areas with betadine, be careful around her eyes, and take some more pictures.
Fowl Pox, both wet and dry are not normally a major problem. I think it's viral rather than bacterial. Sever cases are treated with antibiotics.
You need to look inside her mouth to see if there are any lesions.

 

[Shadrach]

Here are the shoes as an example in case this helps.
http://www.hensaver.com/Birdy-Bootie.html
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Thanks for the thought Bob. Unfortunately they aren't really suitable for a couple of reasons. Cillin needs his feet and toe nails in particular because he's going to be fighting just about everybody. He's already at a disadvantage having lost a spur.
The next thing is the pad needs a hole in it for the swollen part to sit in while the surround cushions the rest of his foot.

 

[Shadrach]

Maybe you have seen this about treating bumblefoot non-surgically already then? I see people are using pool noodles too. I think vet-wrap is used to tie it on:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-cure.915880/
I bookmarked it because it seems like a common-sense non-surgical way to address it, at least try it first, keeping surgery as a last resort. It takes awhile, but meets the physical need to relieve pressure on the exit point for the infection - that's where it likely entered, after all, and works with the chicken's anatomy to promote self-healing.

I have seen it and have it bookmarked. Thank you anyway.

 

[Shadrach]

Well, it has all gone horribly wrong.
I'm working on getting the foot pad right. It isn't easy. Gloria said the wrapping holding it on shouldn't be very tight. Fortunately the bump is so large that just having it in the hole helps to stop the pad moving.
I fixed Cillin up this morning and let him out. Within 15 mins Notch picked a fight with Cillin. Nobody won as such and Cillin held his ground. A bit later Treacle chased Cillin away from the hens. Every time these two meet now Treacle attacks Cillin. Cillin puts up a brief fight and then runs.
To be fair Treacle has put up with similar from Cillin for over a year now.
The problem is, the hens will not at the moment at least, follow Treacle.
A further problem which at the moment is working to Cillins advantage is Treacle is scared of all the other roosters apart from his dad Cillin. Cillin isn't scared of any of the other roosters.
What Cillin managed today was to pick a patch by the bamboo where Notch hangs out with his hens. Treacle wont go near Cillin there. This afternoon Link thought he would have a go at Cillin. Cillin drove him off easily.
So, Cillin got some time with some of the hens.
The bad news is when he went to roost in the tribes coop Treacle drove him back out. This happened three times and eventually Cillin made his way back to my house. I now have for the forseeable future a house guest at night.
From past experiences I do not think this situation between Treacle and Cillin is repairable.
I believe that Moon and maybe Tap and Hurry will follow Treacle. That would leave Fat Bird, Fudge, Tackle and Mel with Cillin....maybe. In order for this to work I will have to divided the coop and provide a back entrance. Ideally I need another coop a bit away from the current one. That may be possible later.
I'm okay with Cillin sleeping in the house. He's very good and as long as he's out and about during the day, where he sleeps while he has no hens and is recovering from his foot problems doesn't matter.
I'm finding watching the whole business heartbreaking. I'm hoping as has happened in the past that once both of them have at least one hen, referably two the fighting will in general stop.
Cillin this morning before he left the house. Mel came to visit. I'm not quite sure why. She's not laying eggs yet.

Cillin by the bamboo. The hens came down to join him while Treacle stayed at the sheep shed with the rest.

It looks a bit loose but was still in the right place when I checked at roost time.

A very tired Cillin.

 

[Ribh]

Ribh, if it is fowl pox, you'll soon know it. That has been making its way through our girls slowly, and I think it is finally through. All were affected but a couple of them.

The lesions did begin as tiny black specks on some of the girls' combs, but they got much bigger and more noticeable as they erupted. So if that's what it is, you'll soon know.

Still, in every case I had, none of their combs were that affected. By that I mean I saw no combs with that many spots. So hopefully it's just something else that will wash away, as has been said.

It does look a bit different I think than ours did? FWIW.

Thanks, @FransGran . I was replying to @LozzyR, whose bird is affected . I think @Shadrach agrees with us & suggested Betadine. I see it a lot here as we are in a heavy mozzie population area. but it has never been anything to worry about though it is unsightly.

 

[FransGran]

Thanks, @FransGran . I was replying to @LozzyR, whose bird is affected . I think @Shadrach agrees with us & suggested Betadine. I see it a lot here as we are in a heavy mozzie population area. but it has never been anything to worry about though it is unsightly.

So sorry! As always I am lost in the thread.

 

[Ribh]

You're a long way back!

I'm having trouble keeping up here. I'd have been sorry to miss that pic though. She's mad as a hatter!

 

[Ribh]

So sorry! As always I am lost in the thread.

Oh, not a problem. I just thought I'd better clarify before things got real muddly. This thread jumps around on me a lot & I'm behind to boot so mix ups are to be expected.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well, it has all gone horribly wrong.
I'm working on getting the foot pad right. It isn't easy. Gloria said the wrapping holding it on shouldn't be very tight. Fortunately the bump is so large that just having it in the hole helps to stop the pad moving.
I fixed Cillin up this morning and let him out. Within 15 mins Notch picked a fight with Cillin. Nobody won as such and Cillin held his ground. A bit later Treacle chased Cillin away from the hens. Every time these two meet now Treacle attacks Cillin. Cillin puts up a brief fight and then runs.
To be fair Treacle has put up with similar from Cillin for over a year now.
The problem is, the hens will not at the moment at least, follow Treacle.
A further problem which at the moment is working to Cillins advantage is Treacle is scared of all the other roosters apart from his dad Cillin. Cillin isn't scared of any of the other roosters.
What Cillin managed today was to pick a patch by the bamboo where Notch hangs out with his hens. Treacle wont go near Cillin there. This afternoon Link thought he would have a go at Cillin. Cillin drove him off easily.
So, Cillin got some time with some of the hens.
The bad news is when he went to roost in the tribes coop Treacle drove him back out. This happened three times and eventually Cillin made his way back to my house. I now have for the forseeable future a house guest at night.
From past experiences I do not think this situation between Treacle and Cillin is repairable.
I believe that Moon and maybe Tap and Hurry will follow Treacle. That would leave Fat Bird, Fudge, Tackle and Mel with Cillin....maybe. In order for this to work I will have to divided the coop and provide a back entrance. Ideally I need another coop a bit away from the current one. That may be possible later.
I'm okay with Cillin sleeping in the house. He's very good and as long as he's out and about during the day, where he sleeps while he has no hens and is recovering from his foot problems doesn't matter.
I'm finding watching the whole business heartbreaking. I'm hoping as has happened in the past that once both of them have at least one hen, referably two the fighting will in general stop.
Cillin this morning before he left the house. Mel came to visit. I'm not quite sure why. She's not laying eggs yet.
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Cillin by the bamboo. The hens came down to join him while Treacle stayed at the sheep shed with the rest.
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It looks a bit loose but was still in the right place when I checked at roost time.
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A very tired Cillin.
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Thanks for sharing the news Shad. It's a very hard situation just now. I'm hoping the tribe split without too much harm to either rooster. Thank goodness Cillin felt confident in coming to your kitchen for shelter.