Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

They do not float, they tend towards sinking, but are able to sort of “swim” for short periods, though not very well. Think of the old westerns, cattle drives and fording rivers, just a little hairier, and with those gorgeous horns! Or, think of the Temple Grandin movie and the steers needlessly dying in the dip because it was altered from her design to something that would be more “efficient” if you haven’t seen it, it’s a great film, and all of her books on autism and animal handling are awesome.

Seen it. Liked it!

 

[BY Bob]

Quite a Bounty

I am a little miffed. I armed the nest cam the last few days to try and confirm who had been laying. All I got was Aurora popping up scaring me and Sansa pecking Phyllis. No shots of anyone laying.

Then I find this when I check the nest box today.

Clearly I missed them. Or they are laying like ghosts not seeing off the motion sensor. O well, I'll keep arming it in the morning. I'll catch them sooner or later.

 

[featherhead007]

They do not float, they tend towards sinking, but are able to sort of “swim” for short periods, though not very well. Think of the old westerns, cattle drives and fording rivers, just a little hairier, and with those gorgeous horns! Or, think of the Temple Grandin movie and the steers needlessly dying in the dip because it was altered from her design to something that would be more “efficient” if you haven’t seen it, it’s a great film, and all of her books on autism and animal handling are awesome.

Maybe if we help By Bob build one of those ramps, thru his pool (Like in the film) then he could get a hairy Highland coo? (I know )

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks! He’s currently 4.8kg or 10&1/2lbs. He has lost a lot of weight during this illness, and he is just finishing up his molt as well.

Thank You, I hope and pray you’re right!

The infection was quite deep in the foot , and Xrays would be needed to determine if it has moved into/begun to deteriorate the bones. That plus a very expensive and possibly fatal surgical option to remove any internal solidified pus if the infection hasn’t moved to the bones... I declined, and we went with a massive antibiotic dose. He just finished ten days of 500mg twice daily of an amoxicillin. I do have a drawing salve (Prid) but there isn’t really a clear exit point for any infection, if it does point I am to clean and debride the area thoroughly.


Thanks Bob! I really do appreciate your knowledge in the field.

Basically, I’m just not sure if continuing an antibiotic Treatment would have any positive affect. Perhaps the staph infection is essentially fully treated/cured and the swelling just due to the residual pus that formed around it? (Lack of heat in the foot?) Could the amoxyTyl have an effect on helping breakdown any pus internally? Should I consider foot massages, and warm water soaking (once this cold snap passes, I don’t need frost bitten toes!), or just a liberal application of the drawing salve? Would that have any impact on the foot? I wish I had a Dr. Gloria type vet handy.

I haven’t been giving him the pain medication and yet he seems to be far less sore now. So it’s definitely improved with the antibiotics... even if it still looks awful. I’m reluctant to put the drawing salve on his other foot’s bumble at this point. I will certainly get more pictures and see how he reacts to handling it more on Monday with DH’s help. He has an early start tomorrow, so we will probably have just long enough in the morning for the basic chores.

I would love to chip in here and say try this or that but I'm struggling with Cillin.
And one for Roostie as well.

 

[featherhead007]

Quite a Bounty

I am a little miffed. I armed the nest cam the last few days to try and confirm who had been laying. All I got was Aurora popping up scaring me and Sansa pecking Phyllis. No shots of anyone laying.

Then I find this when I check the nest box today.
View attachment 2501267

Clearly I missed them. Or they are laying like ghosts not seeing off the motion sensor. O well, I'll keep arming it in the morning. I'll catch them sooner or later.

EGGcellent find there, By Bob!

 

[Shadrach]

That's great news all around Shad.

Do you think Cillin will allow you to soak his foot for a bit now that it is draining, or is it best to keep bandaging and leave it alone?

I don't know AC. It leaks a bit then closes up. Leaks a bit more then closes up. He's walking well with the pad but I need to improve the pad. I've tried something different today. I'm off shopping for something else tomorrow if the bike wil run.

 

[Kris5902]

I think you should go with a course of Amoxy-Tyl just in case there is something anaerobic going on. You so far have not treated for that possibility. Let me know if you decide to go that way and need dosing information.

Thanks Bob I trust your calculations way more than my guesses at it!
Roostie is going to hate me for this for a little bit, but hopefully will come out the better for it and appreciate it in the end (I won’t tell him you’re involved until he’s feeling better and thankful though ok?)

Remember if it is in the bone that needs more and longer dosage.

Considering where we are at now, (I wish I had this stuff back in October) I don’t think the package instructions are going to cut it either. *Sigh*, and we were both really enjoying the break from medicating! (The whole day and a half of it) Roostie was so happy to not be having things stuffed down his beak twice a day, and I enjoyed not having to fight to get it into him every 12 hrs, in the dark and rain using a headlamp in the middle of the field, but I was thinking this might be the case. The vet tech was quite surprised by the Tylosin component, “I haven’t heard of that one in a long time” was her response.

So recap/summary he is 4.8kg or 10.5lbs and just ended a ten day course of 500mg Apo Amoxicillin/Clavulanic 2x daily at 12 hr intervals.

Putting the powder into his drinking water clearly won’t work, as he’s free ranging with his ladies, all the other birds would be able to access it (someone else’s water always tastes better) and he might decide to just drink puddle water instead. I have to agree with Shad on this one, isolating him from his tribe is more detrimental at this point, it really stresses him out. Even when I was daily taking him to my trailer for the liquid enrofloxacin he would get really stressed at about 20-30’ away from his girls.

 

[Kris5902]

Quite a Bounty

I am a little miffed. I armed the nest cam the last few days to try and confirm who had been laying. All I got was Aurora popping up scaring me and Sansa pecking Phyllis. No shots of anyone laying.

Then I find this when I check the nest box today.
View attachment 2501267

Clearly I missed them. Or they are laying like ghosts not seeing off the motion sensor. O well, I'll keep arming it in the morning. I'll catch them sooner or later.

Ninja chickens! Forget the highland cattle, I’ll take Gus on a little road trip and you can have my ninja bull, don’t worry, the neighbors won’t see him, he can blend into almost anything (especially in the dark!)

 

[Kris5902]

I would love to chip in here and say try this or that but I'm struggling with Cillin.
And one for Roostie as well.

So far you’re doing a much better job of it than I did, or I wouldn’t be in this mess. I wish I had realized and caught that the infection was moving up earlier, before the draining point/scab location had fully healed. Or that I had noticed the Bumbles sooner. I feel terribly guilty for his suffering, but I am holding out hope and trusting in the antibiotics... we will try the Amoxy Tyl and reassess. I wish Roostie was a little more relaxed, like your Cillin, at hanging out in my trailer for treatment, that would make everything so much easier! For you, and Cillin too

 

[Scrambles83]

Treat recipes/ methods please @Scrambles83. It's pretty hot here too!

Nothing special, tinned corn I freeze with the juice in silicon baking moulds. Same with the yoghurt (I was recently given a set of callipo like silicon moulds for making frozen juice or yoghurt pops for my daughter so put it to use for the girls to haha)