Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

I had a freezer disaster yesterday I had to use up some of what was inside it.
So I defrosted my fruit, frozen and shop bought.

I was worried because apart from the occasional peas I don't give frozen to my chickens. So i added it too filtered water then mixed it in with layers pellets pineapple and a little honey. They wiped the plate clean.

Today they got the same with yogurt added.
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Wow the presentation alone is very cool!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I want you all to be the first to hear,,,, as I sit here with my coffee ( I got up at 5:30am) I have not been out to the coop yet, I figure the chicks are 7 & 6 weeks old, can deal with the morning, I can have my coffee before I go out--
WELL! there has been the normal LOUD egg laying chorus being loudly sung for all in a 5 mile radius to hear--

I hear,,,,,,,,,,,, a young voice cackle/ chirp/ Peep- one of the 7week old Brown leghorns is trying to cluck Hahahahahaha

Oh how sweet!

 

[MaryJanet]

My dogs' vet deals with exotics...maybe they will take chickens too?

Give it a try. If she were mine, I'd take her to a vet.

 

[Scrambles83]

The hens at my place eat Barastoc pellets too, but the champion layer blend, which is high protein.

That’s what I was getting until this bag. Wasn’t sure how Belle would adjust to the longer pellet size but she’s having no issue

 

[Scrambles83]

Naenae is going be the death of me

This girl I popped outside after dinner and after the storms rolled through. The temperatures dropped nicely and the girls were happy to not be so uncomfortable.

Most were gathered by the hedge. I thought they were squabbling over a worm.
Nope.
Naenae has a soft shell egg slide out of her and they were devouring it. Piscia ran over and grabbed the entire shell and gobbled it down.
I couldn't shoo them away they were total vultures.
Meanwhile Naenae just stood there.
I thought she would perk up, but she walked about 5 feet and just stood there, closing her eyes.

Two of other birds were eyeing her backside. I snatched her up and brought her in the house.

As hubby and I set up the chicken infirmary I had kiddo hold her. She laid a full sized egg, but another soft shell. On kiddo's lap.

We are keeping her inside overnight to keep an eye on her.

This poor bird. Even my extra calcium foods to her aren't helping. I don't know what to do.

Poor girl.
I got this for ours the other week, it just goes in their water no thin shelled ones since (only have had 3 in the month but was concerned, even with new layers)

 

[Kris5902]

Sorry. It turns out I’m allergic to my new med. I’ve had a brutal, intensely itchy rash all over my hands and feet for days. It’s traveling up my arms, too, even though I stopped the medication Saturday. I awake every night in the wee hours of the morning to put them under running water after scratching myself raw. Here are my feet at work today. Notice the puffiness under the rash.
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I had a video appointment with a doc Saturday who agreed I was allergic, told to stop taking it, and said it was fine to continue with over the counter antihistamine. I was taking Benadryl around the clock to help control the itching. I was feeling a bit off and dizzy, as well. Kinda freaked me out. My rash was getting worse, too.

I had planned to take a vacation day Monday to spend time with my daughter. When we were walking the dog on the beach in the morning, I was light headed, had the shakes and tingling extremities… I really needed to sit down. Felt a bit freaked out again… “What if I pass out and she’s stuck here on the beach with a passed out mom and a dog?” She’s 17, but doesn’t drive.

Eventually we drove home and I wrote my doctor’s office. The dizziness/lightheadedness and shakes continued intermittently. I called an advice nurse, wondering if I should go to the ER. Based on my symptoms, she said no, but tried to set up another video call. All the docs were booked.

After that, I heard from a doctor from my doc’s office who said YES, go to the ER for further evaluation.

They did an EKG shortly after I got there and it looked good. Doctor came out to talk to me and said he thought it was a reaction to (more like a compensation for) all the Benadryl. However, he wanted to run some bloodwork “to check my heart” and get me some IV fluids to get me feeling better.

So I got 1000cc if fluids and my labs all came back looking good. Phew!

It was still pretty scary, but I’m glad it was more like a false alarm. I’m looking forward to feeling normal again, without itch or dizziness. I’m kinda wiped and am REALLY hoping to take some time off after this week. It’s been quite a year and I still have most of my 2020-2021 vacation time left and get my new days on Thursday. My body is CLEARLY telling me to take better care of myself. Putting myself dead last ALL the time has gone on too long.

So that’s my exciting story. Scary while it was going on, but thankfully not all that eventful in the end. I’m a bit tired from it all, but grateful.

I did enquirer with DH, asking if he had ever been on the same one… turns out that is one of the meds he cannot take because of the changes made during his heart surgeries, it’s pretty much lethal to him. There are still more options and it sounds like your dr’s will figure it out. It usually takes some fiddling/experimentation to figure out what works best, and it’s different for different individuals of course. Sorry about the itching, that sucks! But at least it’s not serious.

As to the Benadryl, I’m super tasty to all biting insects… so I’ve been on it for the better part of a month. It can be a doozy. Especially if combined with alcohol, or an anti anxiety medication… oops. snoring

 

[Kris5902]

Hello all!
I have been lurking on this thread now for over a month, trying in vain to read the entire thing from the beginning yet I am still stuck back in 2019…and the world has changed so much since then. So I couldn’t stand it anymore and opened another tab so that I can be in the past and present…I will continue to read all the stories as they are very enjoyable. Thanks, BYB for starting this thread and all the tales and pictures of your beautiful hens!

As you can see from my avatar, chickens are not my only interest. We are actually ‘renting‘ chickens this summer to see if it’s something I want to continue in the future with my own coop and flock someday. I love these little feather butts that I have. I’ve named them all and they all have very distinct personalities. There’s Bock, the Astralorp, she is so sweet and calm and I love her chortling sounds. A freeloader as it turns out she is not laying yet I didn’t want to exchange her (the rental deal promised lots of eggs). Then there is Rebock, a Rhode Island Red-number two in the pecking order with a dominant yet fair beak with the others. Even though she is number two she doesn’t take ANY crap from Cluck, the Barred Rock and leader of the pack. Cluck gets the best eating spot-heck-the best spot anywhere and the dust bath first, if she feels like it. Last of all is little Beaker, an Easter-egger. She lays green eggs (sorry, BYB!) and is very consistent with that. Beaker is super quick, always on the move and an escape artist. She was pecked on mercilessly for her first week yet just took it like a trouper, and now has things figures out. She steals food boldly and is so fast she rarely faces any repercussions for her actions!

So I feel I don’t have a right to be posting here as I may not be around after the summer, yet I have enjoyed reading about everyone’s flock so much that I just wanted to chime in. Right now we are dealing with an unprecedented heat wave, these poor chickens are just toughing it out. I’ve provided extra shade, water and coop ventilation and they are using all their coping skills that nature provided them with for the rest. I know animals are tougher than we think yet there is a limit! So I’m interested to read what others do for their birds in the heat. I have done my research yet real world situations are helpful.

So hello from Alberta, Canada! It’s not supposed to get this hot here, today it was 37* C. some areas of the province are pushing 40*C. We are more used to -30*C (and then some) in the winter!!!

Yay!! Another Canuck, please stay around

 

[Scrambles83]

I just ate 2 of Snow’s eggs on toast for a late dinner (I’m still not convinced Belle is laying, only when I get 2 eggs in 1 day will I believe it ) it’s been a while and they were so rich and delicious yesterday’s was 65gm, biggest so far.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow the presentation alone is very cool!

It is like they are in a restaurant!

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Poor girl.
I got this for ours the other week, it just goes in their water no thin shelled ones since (only have had 3 in the month but was concerned, even with new layers)View attachment 2742470

Where did you buy it?