Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

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, I hope she will be ok

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

So do your feelings today change your reposnse if he asks again?

The feeling of relief I had today, yes they do. My girls have me trained. I have 4 new layers who started up in the past week and a half, Clover and the 3 Holly girls, *Bunny, Lola, and Granny*. So far they are consistent in where they choose to lay and have yet to make me play 'find the Easter egg" like Henrietta and Daisy would sometimes do if something disturbed their preferred egg laying spot. Today's snow threw them for a loop as they would have to venture out into it to reach their nest boxes. They were having none of it and raising a ruckus. So I did the only reasonable thing to do. Bundled up, and carried each hen to her spot so she could lay her egg. Clover who is generally hands off even came up and hopped up on the chair between the stalls and waited her turn to be carried. I got to thinking, would they get this kind of pampering with someone else? I think it might be better if he does get hatching eggs and raise his own chicks. I have spent countless hours with these chickens since they hatched. I know all their quirks, they are spoiled, know their names, and expect certain treats at specific times of the day and I oblige them happily. Now the odd boy Crybaby will have to go, and sadly, it looks like it wont be a happy ending. But if I have to do it, it will be quick, and he will have lived a good life until the end, and buried. He really crossed the line today attacking Bumblebee, and got aggressive trying to breed momma hen who wanted nothing of it until Drummie gave him a sound whipping. It bother's me more then I care to admit to even think of doing this, but, it must be done and eating him is out of the question. Its not because my family does not like to eat chicken, its simply because none of us like dark meat, or prefer chicken on the bone, so we all agree eating any of them would be a waste.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Sad News I'm afraid.
The vet looked her over and said her condition appears neurological . Could be Marek's Disease (her neck was weak and her head was pointing back), a spinal injury, poisoning or a number of other things none of which can be realistically treated . I asked the vet to euthanase her.

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.

I gave her a quick once over when I looked at her this morning @micstrachan . She felt heavy to me. I couldn't feel her crop, her vent was a bit pink with some poo on the feathers. Her last egg was in around March last year I think. She was in the middle of a light moult. The vet said that her breast muscles were atrophied which I hadn't noticed so she has probably been sick for a while.

The only odd behaviour I had noticed in the last few weeks was that she preferred to roost on the floor instead of on the perch. She roosted on the high perch the night before last so...who knows?

I'm sorry it is such sudden bad news.

Tsuki at the breakfast bar, bullying until the end. 25/1/21

and having watermelon 15/1/21

I'm sitting in the study looking out the window. Deana is perched on the back of the garden bench alone.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone.❤

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The first time I wore a skirt around the chickens (something I normally wear a lot, but they were born in feb.) they freaked out and ran away. it took me awhile to figure it out. I guess suddenly not having legs they could see was just too much for them!

A long skirt is something like a sail. I could see how having it coming near to them, with maybe the edges all flapping and moving around unpredictably, would be pretty intense in chicken world!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I'm glad the additional bowls help. Did Queenie get her fair share?

Yes! She ate quite peaceably with one to two others, everyone was very busy as I was breaking the bits up. It had cooled and congealed a bit too much and wasn't easy to break up, so I got into making it into smaller bits. There was some moving between bowls but only once did she get edged out - she is quite deferential now- with three Buckeyes suddenly at her bowl. By putting my hand near one Buckeye that attracted her off that bowl and over to another. Generally all was well!

 

[Scrambles83]

Sad News I'm afraid.
The vet looked her over and said her condition appears neurological . Could be Marek's Disease (her neck was weak and her head was pointing back), a spinal injury, poisoning or a number of other things none of which can be realistically treated . I asked the vet to euthanase her.



I gave her a quick once over when I looked at her this morning @micstrachan . She felt heavy to me. I couldn't feel her crop, her vent was a bit pink with some poo on the feathers. Her last egg was in around March last year I think. She was in the middle of a light moult. The vet said that her breast muscles were atrophied which I hadn't noticed so she has probably been sick for a while.

The only odd behaviour I had noticed in the last few weeks was that she preferred to roost on the floor instead of on the perch. She roosted on the high perch the night before last so...who knows?

I'm sorry it is such sudden bad news.

Tsuki at the breakfast bar, bullying until the end. 25/1/21
View attachment 2513726

and having watermelon 15/1/21

View attachment 2513725

I'm sitting in the study looking out the window. Deana is perched on the back of the garden bench alone.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone.❤

I’m so sorry to hear this news

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yes! She ate quite peaceably with one to two others, everyone was very busy as I was breaking the bits up. It had cooled and congealed a bit too much and wasn't easy to break up, so I got into making it into smaller bits. There was some moving between bowls but only once did she get edged out - she is quite deferential now- with three Buckeyes suddenly at her bowl. By putting my hand near one Buckeye that attracted her off that bowl and over to another. Generally all was well!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's made oatmeal for their chickens. Last winter when momma hen was raising her brood several times during cold snaps I would fix a small kettle of oats and to make it more appealing added raisins into it to soften. It was a huge hit and everyone had to have their share.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Sad News I'm afraid.
The vet looked her over and said her condition appears neurological . Could be Marek's Disease (her neck was weak and her head was pointing back), a spinal injury, poisoning or a number of other things none of which can be realistically treated . I asked the vet to euthanase her.



I gave her a quick once over when I looked at her this morning @micstrachan . She felt heavy to me. I couldn't feel her crop, her vent was a bit pink with some poo on the feathers. Her last egg was in around March last year I think. She was in the middle of a light moult. The vet said that her breast muscles were atrophied which I hadn't noticed so she has probably been sick for a while.

The only odd behaviour I had noticed in the last few weeks was that she preferred to roost on the floor instead of on the perch. She roosted on the high perch the night before last so...who knows?

I'm sorry it is such sudden bad news.

Tsuki at the breakfast bar, bullying until the end. 25/1/21
View attachment 2513726

and having watermelon 15/1/21

View attachment 2513725

I'm sitting in the study looking out the window. Deana is perched on the back of the garden bench alone.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone.❤

I'm so sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful hen.

 

[BY Bob]

Sad News I'm afraid.
The vet looked her over and said her condition appears neurological . Could be Marek's Disease (her neck was weak and her head was pointing back), a spinal injury, poisoning or a number of other things none of which can be realistically treated . I asked the vet to euthanase her.



I gave her a quick once over when I looked at her this morning @micstrachan . She felt heavy to me. I couldn't feel her crop, her vent was a bit pink with some poo on the feathers. Her last egg was in around March last year I think. She was in the middle of a light moult. The vet said that her breast muscles were atrophied which I hadn't noticed so she has probably been sick for a while.

The only odd behaviour I had noticed in the last few weeks was that she preferred to roost on the floor instead of on the perch. She roosted on the high perch the night before last so...who knows?

I'm sorry it is such sudden bad news.

Tsuki at the breakfast bar, bullying until the end. 25/1/21
View attachment 2513726

and having watermelon 15/1/21

View attachment 2513725

I'm sitting in the study looking out the window. Deana is perched on the back of the garden bench alone.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone.❤

I wish I had words. I'm so sorry. A very dear friend lost. She will be truly missed.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's made oatmeal for their chickens. Last winter when momma hen was raising her brood several times during cold snaps I would fix a small kettle of oats and to make it more appealing added raisins into it to soften. It was a huge hit and everyone had to have their share.

Mine will not touch oatmeal. No interest at all.