Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Sick Tsuki

Tsuki did not come running when I went out to fill the breakfast bar this morning.
I checked the coop and she was sitting on the floor facing the window sitting well back on her heels. When I took her out and put her on the ground she fell over on her side and had trouble sitting up.

I have taken her to the vet and am awaiting news.
The way she is behaving reminds me of your description of Ester @micstrachan. She is moulting a bit, but nothing like Ester was. She was eating and bullying the other hens as usual yesterday.

I expect to hear something this afternoon. I will up date when I do.

Oh, no, Aussie!I am so glad a vet is an option for you and Tsuki. Is this an avian vet? For future reference, the first thing a sick bird needs is a heat source, followed by fluids. I hope the vet can help her.

I HATE saying this, but I would first guess a laying disorder, since Tsuki is a Leghorn. If this vet diagnoses a laying disorder and suggests a hormone implant, I recommend giving it a try. I have had great success with Ruby doing this. Having said that, I think Ruby is slowing down, but still eats, drinks, preens, forages and socializes. The implants are very expensive and not guaranteed, but *can* be very effective. Apparently there is an injection option, as well, but I’ve not tried that on Ruby.

Did you happen to check her over at all (crop, breast muscle, abdomen, vent, etc.) when you found her this morning? Do you know when she last laid an egg? Has she molted yet this year? Please let us know what you find out.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Had to look it up online ( I had emptied the bag into a storage tub when I got it to keep it fresher/no rodents) and it seems it is a medicated grower
There is a mixed flock pellet they sell
View attachment 2513355
Or the layer pellet I have had in the past
View attachment 2513357

They don’t have a huge range, feed stores aren’t in abundance here, seems there’s lots of free range mixes which is what I use as a scratch treat for them here and there but not as an everyday feed.
It’s more out of concern for my non laying older hen that I started thinking about laying pellets and not using them this time once the young girls are ready to start.
Thanks for any advice

My local Pet Barn sells chicken feed Scrambles. Do you have one near you?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

No, you are not wrong. The first one is the all flock, one I was considering for when they finish their grower crumbles.
The grower that they are currently on is as follows ☺
View attachment 2513467

How is it the Grower would have less protein than the Mixed Flock? What's the thinking there?

 

[RoyalChick]

Note to self, "Get RC some snowshoes"

I actually looked into that. I might even get some. But it looked complicated like buying skis.

 

[Scrambles83]

My local Pet Barn sells chicken feed Scrambles. Do you have one near you?

I can get feed no worries from our local rural pet supplies and garden place, I’m just trying to work out which one is going to be the best out of what they sell

 

[Scrambles83]

How is it the Grower would have less protein than the Mixed Flock? What's the thinking there?

This is my thinking, doesn’t really make sense does it?
It’s not something I ever considered in the past, it says it for the age range you are feeding it to so I guess I took it at face value that it had what they needed in it.
Reading through this thread has opened my eyes a bit and got me looking into what the commercial feeds have in them a bit more so I can hopefully choose one that will be best for the 3 of them that is also cost effective

 

[RoyalChick]

@Kris5902 is primarily posting here these days. She has dropped her thread I believe. She now has a baby goat the sleeps with her and Andrew in the trailer. The house is partially built but because of COVID all the permits expired and they had to stop work. Her best rooster, Roostie, has an infected foot and she is contemplating doing foot surgery.

I think that covers it in summary. Kris will add what I have missed.

Wow. That was an impressive summary. I was going to give it a go but you nailed it!

 

[BY Bob]

How is it the Grower would have less protein than the Mixed Flock? What's the thinking there?

Makes no sense to me either.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow. That was an impressive summary. I was going to give it a go but you nailed it!

Thanks! Good thing you read ahead.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sure baby!View attachment 2513566

That comb looks like the Rockies! A fine fellow. When Hazel wakes up and sees it she might ask to print this out and post it in the run.