Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LaFemmeKatia]

What a weekend! We're all sick. Doing better since my fever broke. I hurried and got tested on Sat. since our ins. pays for it. Came back neg. Good thing, I would have been disappointed in the vaccine. We have two weeks past the last now. My son got real sick.. grandson too, bless his heart, double ear infections. All of us still coughing, husband too. At least we feel up to.. getting up! Now for chicken tax. I will be getting photos later. Haven't gotten any lately. Waiting for it to warm up out there.

Oh man. That stinks. I hope you all get well soon!

 

[micstrachan]

I did mean Bridge.

In my experience seniority is a huge factor in the pecking order, more so than anything else. In general I have seen debates among hens added at the same time but rarely outside of that. The Aurora/Hattie rumble being the only such incident. And that still may not have been pecking order related, it may have been a needed attitude correction.

Here is how it has worked for me starting with the greatest hen ever.

Daisy, the greatest hen ever, was here when we added Patsy and Lilly. Patsy was over Lilly in the pecking order so it became

1. Daisy (Seniority at this location)
2. Patsy
3. Lilly

When Daisy passed, Patsy took over and we added Hattie who fit in at the bottom.

1. Patsy
2. Lilly
3. Hattie

The Maleficent and Aurora joined us. When they joined Aurora was ahead of Maleficent.

1. Patsy
2. Lilly
3. Hattie
4. Aurora
5. Maleficent

Then Maleficent started laying first and took over Aurora's spot. Notice this is only within hens added at the same time.

1. Patsy
2. Lilly
3. Hattie
4. Maleficent
5. Aurora

Then Patsy passed and Lilly moved up.

1. Lilly
2. Hattie
3. Maleficent
4. Aurora

Then Maleficent passed and we added Sydney, Sansa, and Phyllis. The pecking order of the three new ladies was Sansa, then Sydney, and last Phyllis. They tagged onto the bottom of the existing order in that fashion although to be fair Sansa did try to take on Aurora. That was not smart.

1. Lilly
2. Hattie
3. Aurora
4. Sansa
5. Sydney
6. Phyllis

There was an interlude where Sydney moved ahead of Sansa by starting to lay first, but once Sansa started laying she forced her way back past Sydney. Notice again though that was within a same age group.

In my tribe it has clearly been seniority based. Not based upon comb size.

Interesting for sure! Mine are ranked roughly by seniority, as well, but having only been at it five years with four batches of chicks, the alpha spot has changed over many times yet.

 

[BY Bob]

What a weekend! We're all sick. Doing better since my fever broke. I hurried and got tested on Sat. since our ins. pays for it. Came back neg. Good thing, I would have been disappointed in the vaccine. We have two weeks past the last now. My son got real sick.. grandson too, bless his heart, double ear infections. All of us still coughing, husband too. At least we feel up to.. getting up! Now for chicken tax. I will be getting photos later. Haven't gotten any lately. Waiting for it to warm up out there.

Is it's never good when everyone is sick. I hope it clears quickly and you all get better quickly.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm really not sure what to do.
Today she didn't fall once and what's more I watched her run a couple of times after Treacle gave a warning call for a hawk. Not much wrong with her running, a bit slow but she makes up for that by picking the quickest route to shelter while some of the others are exposed for a longer time and not as good at judging where will protect them and where wont.
She's on mega B complex with boosted vit E and this seems to be making a difference.
The desperate part of it all is, is she doesn't look at all unwell. You can this from the pictures. If she was sitting with her eyes partially closed and her head pulled in I would think she was in some pain. But, she isn't doing any of that.
I was probably a bit slow on picking up on the digestive problem although I was reasonably quick when the crop problem became obvious. Her crop is working well now and she put on a few grams in weight.

It sounds like it might not quite be her time yet. I have faith that you will know. You are doing a wonderful job with her.

 

[micstrachan]

Ooops!!! Hahaha! I accidentally put this on an emergency thread this morning!

I keep forgetting who my sprouting buddy is on this thread. One of our later joiners, I think? Anyway, here’s a fodder treat. Just a big handful vs. a whole tray. The video is a bit long, but take a peek at part of it.

 

[LozzyR]

I'm a great believer in food. I don't know much about what your hens get to eat, but even here free ranging some of the hens, particularly the bigger ones seem to do a lot better with some added vitamins when laying.
Some people use supplements which is fine. I prefer whenever possible to use proper food and keep the supplements for when a hen has lost interest in eating normally.
Fish and meat have done wonders for perking up hens that while no clinically sick, are not quite themselves.
Some of the healthiest hens here hardly eat any commercial feed. Donk for example forages most of what she eats and tops up with supper time treats.
I should point out that supper time treats are in general fish, meat, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cooked rice with coconut, tomatoes, grapes, occasionally cheese, yoghurt, whole meal bread, wholemeal pasta but mixed together in various combinations, never just one on it's own.
I could live on that while I couldn't survive on the commercial feed for very long.
For most creatures, diet and exercise are the building blocks of good health. This doesn't mean one doesn't get sick, but it can mean the chances of recovery are better.

I’m glad I read this just now; Nyssa’s sick. She’s very underweight, the vet’s not sure if she has an infection or a virus. She’s given me antibiotics and pain meds and I’m going to do a full coccidiosis treatment for everyone. I also need to check everyone’s keel bone to see if I can feel it.

I’m not really sure I can keep doing this!

 

[BY Bob]

I’m glad I read this just now; Nyssa’s sick. She’s very underweight, the vet’s not sure if she has an infection or a virus. She’s given me antibiotics and pain meds and I’m going to do a full coccidiosis treatment for everyone. I also need to check everyone’s keel bone to see if I can feel it.

I’m not really sure I can keep doing this!

Oh Lozzy. I'm so sorry. Keep fighting. You can get through this.

 

[Kris5902]

Hi! I am so not caught up, so I won’t even pretend at it I’ve missed everyone’s updates and chat... it’s been kind of crazy around the farm lately, and in the community in general here. Let’s just say the FBook community forum for our island got so crazy/heated that there’s a new “no slander/personal attacks/name calling” one now that’s moderated and you have to actually live here/visit often to join it. And yes, both myself and my little baby goat were subjects of a few of those “attack” posts, from complete strangers!

Weather has been on and off, and I have lost two meat chicks (@ 5weeks old!) to cold snaps. They are now stuck in the barn here for another week, minimum. I’ve started to get my garden in, with seedlings in the greenhouse and cleaning up the overgrown beds at my friend’s farm. I walk Arduinna 3-10 miles a day, so we are getting some serious cardio in during daily chores/commuting. I lost one Red Rock girl to a predator (I’m thinking hawk) but otherwise everyone is doing well and we are looking at doing Roosties foot in the next couple weeks.

@BY Bob I also received the wonderful cards, and love them! Project Camper is also on, I scored free flooring and DH and I finally have some agreement on the short term/long term renovations. More importantly, I will be buckling down and concentrating on what I can do on the house. I’ve made two new island friends (taxidermy and Sauerkraut!) and they had some great suggestions on getting the panels up to the second story without the tractor, which BIL won’t share and recently broke (again). I’m going to blast up some photos in a separate post, but wanted to pop in with an update as well.

@Shadrach i am so sorry to hear of Fat Bird’s troubles, and I know you will do your best by her. If I’ve missed anyone else’s troubles, I’m sorry and don’t feel slighted, I just haven’t had a chance (is it even possible?) to catch up yet. Much love, and I’ve missed you all!

 

[micstrachan]

Violet laid her first dozen of eggs. Would you like some to hatch? They are from my Phoenix pair.
View attachment 2591801

This is such a nice offer. I know it wasn’t meant for me, but someday… When I actually own a home again, if I do at some point. I would like to keep chickens that come from somewhere other than a hatchery. The idea of fertile eggs from someone I know is amazing. And to be able to have roosters, too! Oh my! One can dream, right?

 

[micstrachan]

I'm a great believer in food. I don't know much about what your hens get to eat, but even here free ranging some of the hens, particularly the bigger ones seem to do a lot better with some added vitamins when laying.
Some people use supplements which is fine. I prefer whenever possible to use proper food and keep the supplements for when a hen has lost interest in eating normally.
Fish and meat have done wonders for perking up hens that while no clinically sick, are not quite themselves.
Some of the healthiest hens here hardly eat any commercial feed. Donk for example forages most of what she eats and tops up with supper time treats.
I should point out that supper time treats are in general fish, meat, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cooked rice with coconut, tomatoes, grapes, occasionally cheese, yoghurt, whole meal bread, wholemeal pasta but mixed together in various combinations, never just one on it's own.
I could live on that while I couldn't survive on the commercial feed for very long.
For most creatures, diet and exercise are the building blocks of good health. This doesn't mean one doesn't get sick, but it can mean the chances of recovery are better.

This is a wonderful reminder, Schott. I, too, offer fish on occasion, but I haven’t been offering much fresh food. However, might do get greens you’re around in the yard. Even in the hot, dry summers, at least keep a patch of green near the coop. And I offer sprouts when I know they’re going to go stretches without free range time. This is a reminder that maybe it’s time for another beef liver treat! I found a trap door spider under a rock yesterday, and I’m tempted to bring Dorothy over there and lift the rock. Last time I saw one of those, she had a torn it apart and consumed in seconds!! For those of you who don’t know what they are, they are sometimes mistaken for small tarantulas.