Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[drstratton]

Good morning all! Well, I'm going to grab a cup of tea and sit down to try and catch up on what's happening with all of you! I am now 88 pages behind! I will try not to create another 10 pages to read through as I go along...

 

[BY Bob]

Poo Sample Identified

I think she is OK

Spoiler: Poo

 

[drstratton]

I don't want to bring people down but I do need to post about Fat Bird as it helps me come to terms with what is happening and the posts may help others, not just with their chickens health but with coping with the sadness that comes with watching death approach a creature one loves.
It's been a glorious day here. Warm sunshine, a slight breeze blowing up the valley and Spring in full glory.
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I carried Fat Bird from the coop this morning so she could eat with the others. She hardly ate anything and about half an hour later I found her alone under the hay rack next to the sheep field.
I brought her down to the house, fed her a few pieces of walnut and she wandered outside and settled down next to the fence and the yellow maternity unit. She stayed there all day.
Cillin and Moon visited; In fact Cliin spent most of the day close by. I tried to get her to eat at lunchtime but all she would do is drink the water I put in front of her.
Evening came and all but Cillin went off to roost. Fat Bird showed no signs of wanting to leave her spot. Eventually I leant over the fence and picked her up and got her to drink a mixture of vitamins, Metacam and water. When I put her on the ground this is what she deposited on the ground and the second picture is what she deposited where she spent the day.
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The colour hasn't come up very well but the yellow is bright yellow and the pink is quite bright as well. All the chickens that I've seen poop these bright colours have died within a couple of weeks if not sooner.
I am told these bright colours are a sign of organ damage more often than not and that unfortunately is not something one can do much about.
There are no obvious signs that she is in any pain yet. With other chickens it has been pretty obvious so I think I know what to look for. She just looks tired.
I carried her up to her tribes coop at late dusk and placed her on the main perch. She settled against the coop wall having given Hurry a few pecks to move her along the perch so she could shuffle to that spot.

So sorry Shad! It's hard to watch a pet you love come to the end of their life!

 

[drstratton]

I think she could ship them to you successfully. It does occur frequently these days.

I might have to talk to CCCL at some point and see if we could make that happen!

 

[RoyalChick]

Just buried Lock. Goshawk got her. It was quick at least. Mag and I will miss her most.
She's got her piece of walnut for the ferry man and is buried just behind the tribe coop.

Spoiler: A bit graphic." [ATTACH type="full

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So, so sorry Shad.

 

[Marie2020]

What a lovely lady!

She's the one that loves a cuddle.

 

[drstratton]

Just buried Lock. Goshawk got her. It was quick at least. Mag and I will miss her most.
She's got her piece of walnut for the ferry man and is buried just behind the tribe coop.

Spoiler: A bit graphic." [ATTACH type="full

2608422[/ATTACH]
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]

So sorry Shad! I lost one of my girls to a hawk, broke my heart!

 

[Marie2020]

There is some looong (like over 2 feet!) grass up against the chicken run where the mower doesn’t reach. Will have to trim it up pronto, as they pulled a couple long pieces through the hardware cloth and ate them whole. Not great for crops.

One of my girls almost choked with long grass, luckily I managed to gently get it out

 

[drstratton]

Happy Caturday all! This is my son playing with our cats Rueger & Mr Bentley about 6 years ago. They are both gone now, but I love having this memory of them. Rueger was having a blast, Mr Bentley wasn't so sure...

 

[drstratton]

One of my girls almost choked with long grass, luckily I managed to gently get it out

I've had that happen before! I don't know what they do when we're not there and something like this happens. I imagine they get it down somehow, but it's probably not a very fun time for them. I'm glad you were able to help her Marie!