Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

The White Suusex hen is moulting. I can't see any other health problems. This doesn't mean she may not have internal problems. I don't know any of them well enough yet to be able to tell within a few minutes that all is not well like I could with the tribes.

This weather has been warm at times for this time of year I'm not surprised our chickens are molting. Plus those poor girls must have been seriously stressed

 

[Marie2020]

Good night fluffy butts friends

 

[RoyalChick]

This is one of the reasons I love these threads. Who else in the general population of chicken owners would think to give their hens the alarm call? I’m sure most people would just run at the hawk flapping and yelling.

The shared knowledge and experiences here are brilliant.

I don’t get much in the way of aerial predators here Michelle but, if I see any, I hope to have the presence of mind to give the alarm call like you did.

It is a really good point. I tried doing it today but I think I got the wrong call. Or maybe my accent isn’t good enough. They paid heed but didn’t run for cover.
@micstrachan any chance you could do one of your lovely videos with you making the sound and the chickens responding?
I need to learn to do this right.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It is a really good point. I tried doing it today but I think I got the wrong call. Or maybe my accent isn’t good enough. They paid heed but didn’t run for cover.
@micstrachan any chance you could do one of your lovely videos with you making the sound and the chickens responding?
I need to learn to do this right.

Seconded! I’m more likely to give the call for “there’s some good grub over here!” And have them running in the wrong direction

 

[Shadrach]

Good Saturday morning. This is a really long video (almost 9 minutes), so set some time aside if you’d like to see how I’m treating Flash’d crop impaction. I’ve completed two of four of these sessions this morning. I’d like to get the full 60mL into her before putting her back out.

If you don’t feel like watching, no worries. It’s just that little Flash has a significant crop impaction and I’m attempting to clear it without assistance from the avian veterinarian.

Why do you think she has an impacted crop rather than a slow crop, or even sour crop?
I've rarely had to tube feed water to a hen with crop issues. I've found with some patience and a suitable attatchment to a syringe chickins will drink and this avoids any of the risks associated with tube feeding.
I watched quite carefully you massaging the hens crop. I can't be absoluutely sure but I don't think you are applying anything like enough pressure on the crop to break up any obstruction.
I'll leave it at that until I've seen your reply.
I will add this though. The one case of full impaction I dealt with (full impaction is pretty rare) there was no way that massage and water would ever have shifted the impaction.

 

[Shadrach]

Flash Update
Finally got the full 60mL into her and her crop is softer. Hopefully we’ve got this! Here is s very liquidy breakfast. I’d like her to eat as much as she wants before I put her back outside.

Sorry about DH’s hacking in the background.

It has taken me at least three days of encouraging a chicken to drink, getting at least 40ml of water down them every two to three hours plus feeding them frozen cocconut oil and vigerous massage for 5 mins each time to make any serious headway with just a slow crop.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I lost my Clover earlier this year. She had a prolapsed vent, a really bad one. I just was torn in two because she was acting normal, but couldn't live the rest of her life in a box! Her sisters tried to peck at it, which would have made it much worse. I did end up putting her down but had to leave her. I just couldn't stand to see her in pain. I tried everything, and so did you @micstrachan .

I'm sorry you lost Clover!

 

[rural mouse]

I am 100% caught up!

On hawks...nvm. tell story later. Have to go disassemble a door knob.

 

[Lexicon]

It is a really good point. I tried doing it today but I think I got the wrong call. Or maybe my accent isn’t good enough. They paid heed but didn’t run for cover.
@micstrachan any chance you could do one of your lovely videos with you making the sound and the chickens responding?
I need to learn to do this right.

I trained my hens to drop everything and come barreling over to me when I do the treat call. It wasn't hard, they are very food focused!

It has been my plan to use that in case a predator shows up while they are exploring outside of their run because at least they would then be close to me and my protection.

 

[featherhead007]

I am 100% caught up!

On hawks...nvm. tell story later. Have to go disassemble a door knob.

I don’t hear that every day!