Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Don't feel guilty RC. Firstly the accepted general weight for a hen of a particular breed isn't particularly helpful. All the tribes hens were underweight by USA standards. I think anyone who has seen pictures of them and knows a bit about their history knows they were about as healthy as chickens get.
I mentioned earlier. weight lose/disinterest in commercial feed is hardly covered on any chicken site. There was a rather wise women here when I first joined who spoke with me about this feeding problem with moulting hens but unfortunately she got more ot less driven off the site by the so called experts.
So, it is quite possible that Minnie is having a moult/diet problem. Lots of hens do as you can tell just from this thread. On this thread most of contributors observe their chickens to a rather greater extent than the general BYC population.
If it is a moult/diet problem she will recover and you will know next time.

I agree with this. Thanks for stating it well, Shad.

 

[RoyalChick]

Don't feel guilty RC. Firstly the accepted general weight for a hen of a particular breed isn't particularly helpful. All the tribes hens were underweight by USA standards. I think anyone who has seen pictures of them and knows a bit about their history knows they were about as healthy as chickens get.
I mentioned earlier. weight lose/disinterest in commercial feed is hardly covered on any chicken site. There was a rather wise women here when I first joined who spoke with me about this feeding problem with moulting hens but unfortunately she got more ot less driven off the site by the so called experts.
So, it is quite possible that Minnie is having a moult/diet problem. Lots of hens do as you can tell just from this thread. On this thread most of contributors observe their chickens to a rather greater extent than the general BYC population.
If it is a moult/diet problem she will recover and you will know next time.

Thank you for this Shad - I did spend the afternoon feeling pretty awful about myself.
To be fair to the vet she didn't make a big 'you are starving your chickens' deal out of it, and she did say that it was not uncommon for chickens to lose weight during a heavy molt.
I am going to try the hearty breakfast regime - letting her do what she wants during the day and go to bed where she chooses and then move her at night so I can ensure a hassle free breakfast for her.

 

[RoyalChick]

I've been thinking about this sort of scale.

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And then replacing the tray with a thick branch.

Then I can sneak out after dark and move a sleeping hen from her roost onto the thick branch and hold her steady until the scale has taken her full weight. Read the dial. Put the hen back on the roost. Come back a week later to do another hen.

That is smart. I bought mine in a flurry of panic about how awful I had been so I likely got something useless. It is a flat platform so I would stand the hen on it and hope it reads quickly enough to get a measurement before she decides to beat a hasty exit.

 

[MaryJanet]

That is smart. I bought mine in a flurry of panic about how awful I had been so I likely got something useless. It is a flat platform so I would stand the hen on it and hope it reads quickly enough to get a measurement before she decides to beat a hasty exit.

You could use treats to help her stand still.

 

[bgmathteach]

Shadrach said:
Volt and Amp.
These two are Red Rocks, a cross between a Rhode Island Red and a Plymouth Rock.
They are the most aggressive hens in the group.
Volt, instant aggression but over in a flash.
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Amp, just plain mean and chases any more junior hen that upsets her.
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The pair. Interestingly, Henry won't have anything to do with either of them and chases them away from the food and the weaker hens.
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So, you are trying to say that both ladies have electrifying personalities.

Too bad they aren't nice, they are pretty birds. Must be the RIR in them!! (lol, I happen to love my Barred Rocks and the one Partridge Rock I had, so of course it can't be that breed's fault!)

Sounds like Henry II is a pretty smart man. Maybe he and one of the ladies will hatch a few chicks and he can have some help keeping the ladies in line when his offspring grow up!

 

[bgmathteach]

Monday mug.

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Snow is hanging out with me due to Belle being a near permanent resident of the nesting box still

What a look. I think she is saying " Are you really interrupting my scratching for that??? A picture? Impetuous humans!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I have a nice shaped thick branch I'll think of something. They love getting on the branch.

My accommodation wont match them living indoors all the time but most of the time through winter, they're in with mama

Are you talking about bringing them in at night in winter and out with everyone else during the day? Consider that chickens can have a hard time with temperature swings, I believe I've read here that they will adjust to the outside better if they have a steady temperature, or minimal swings in temperature. I may be misunderstanding you here here, I apologize in advance if so...

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m so sad to say that Charlie is dead. I came home this evening and hubby told me he found her dead on the ground. She would have been three in November. Her voice sounded a little different for a day or so and I noticed today I could hear her breathing (through her nostrils, she wasn’t panting). Otherwise she didn’t seem any different. She laid an egg today and squatted for me. We buried her with a sliver of cheese to pay the ferryman and a blueberry for her to snack on for the journey.

I honestly don’t know if I can do this anymore. It’s been nearly a year since we lost Lucy, which it the longest we’ve gone without a death. I’m struggling to do the maintenance required and the meds are making it difficult to care about stuff. I’ll see how I feel in a few days.

As it’s still Monday, I’d like to honour Charlie with Monday Mugshots. RIP my big beautiful bully.

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I'm so sorry, @LozzyR

She was a beautiful girl. At least she didn't suffer - and you gave her a wonderful life with you.

It is always hard to lose one that you have gotten so attached to; only you can decide what you can bear. But remember all of the joy she brought you.

When you are ready (?if?) you might want to consider giving another girl some happiness, and let her bring you joy - even if somewhat fleeting. But it is okay to mourn now and not think about that. Your grief is a testament to Charlie & your relationship!

 

[Blazinga]

This moulting and diet business isn't well covered, not just here on BYC where many do not even seem aware that there is a problem, but in chicken studies in general.
To notice of course, you have to observe chickens. There is a clue in there somewhere.

Perhaps we can all work together to produce some actual research.

 

[bgmathteach]

Just checking in with a quick update on Minnie. We are back from the vet and not a lot to report except I feel like I am a terrible chicken caretaker and I am trying to tell myself it is because I am still learning.
The good news is I really like the vet I went to even though she is a fair bit away. She isn't a chicken expert but she does have her own small backyard flock.
Trouble is, to quote the vet "Minnie didn't tell me much". So no impaction that she could feel. She thinks she has lost weight and is too skinny (which is what makes me feel so terrible because I didn't notice that at all). She thinks is worried that 'something is going on' beyond either parasites or molting.
She will call me tomorrow when results are back but in the meantime she approved of the beef liver with chopped cabbage diet supplement and suggested I add some electrolyte powder to her water as she is probably losing a lot in the diarrhea.
The treatment plan for now is mainly supportive: let her run around with everyone else during the day because it is stressful to separate her but put her in the brooder box at night so she wakes up and I can be sure she has eaten a hearty breakfast before letting her out. Add electrolytes to her water and make sure she isn't in any drafts (it is getting cold at night now.
I feel quite sad and desperate to be honest - how can I have let her lose weight and not notice? I have bought scales so that won't happen again.

It is very easy to not notice things like that...unless you intentionally check - by feeling their body, keel bone, and such. Chickens are good at hiding illness, and their feathers can hide lots of ill, too! When you are worried about distressing her when she isn't feeling well, it makes it all the more difficult. Don't beat yourself up - you are attending to her the best you can and, like all of us, learning and improving as you go.

I should have thought to mention electrolytes when you mentioned diarrhea, shame on me for not thinking of that, as I know better.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you an Minnie