Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Thank you. However, Margo’s necropsy said she DID have Marek’s. It said she did NOT have tumors, but evidence of a “background infection” based on microscopic review of the nerve caps. The thought was her Merek’s compromised her immune system, allowing the bacterial infection from dorsal egg yolk peritonitis.to go septic.(On a side note, they did not diagnose egg yolk peritonitis until microscopy revealed egg yolk protein.) Bagheera died two weeks later with no mention of Marek’s in the necropsy. However, her cause of death was obvious, fatty liver hemorrhage, and there was no microscopy done that I can tell. Some good news is that Ruby was negative for Avian Flu and Bagheera was negative for Infectious Bronchitis.

Since not not one of three necropsies has had Marek’s tumors, I feel I still don’t know for sure if it’s in my flock. Maybe I should just trust thst it’s there based on Margo’s necropsy.

We know Margo and Rusty had egg yolk peritonitis. I suspect Dorothy did, too, since she was mostly Leghorn, laid soft eggs, and presented the same as Margo (Leghorn), like she had a septic infection (I was unable to get a necropsy done based on the timing of her death). As yiu know, Ruby had cancer.

I think it may mostly come down to poor genetics of hatchery stock. Bagheera’s death was likely my fault, as she had abundant fat stores.

Sorry about the long post. Just thinking it all through. Thanks for allowing it!

Actually, it was really useful for me to read this history. It provides a lot of context for your hens.

 

[Shadrach]

More about Lima.
I just feel so somethingfor this poor little hen. She has improved and is still improving.
After lookiing at the last picture you can't tell me chickens don't feel empathy.
I've got three on the danger list. I'm hopeful but...

 

[micstrachan]

An update on my little patient Minnie (sorry a bit long - I just need to offload on folk who understand how I feel).
The plan was to let her roost each night and then haul her into the hospital for the night with food and electrolyte water so she could get electrolytes and an uninterrupted breakfast. The vet suggested Gatorade but I had some sachet's of chick electrolytes so I used those (vet said that was OK too).
The first night she chose to roost on her own so I executed the plan. Of course I have a camera in the hospital so I could keep an eye on her. I learned a lot from the first night's experience. From the camera I learned that she spent a lot of the night doing this. Every 10 to 15 minutes for most of the night.

To me it looked like she was trying to rearrange stuff in her crop. So, I got up at about 4:30am and hauled her out of her hospital bed and sure enough her crop felt like it had a big hard lump still in it. I gave her a couple of pellets of frozen coconut oil and I held her and massaged her crop. I didn't really know how to do that because @Shadrach had told us it needs to be quite strongly manipulated to break anything up, but on the other hand I was terrified of causing her to aspirate.
In the end she seemed to enjoy the cuddle and fell asleep tucked under my arm while I pummeled and squished her crop around. It definitely got smaller as a result of this manhandling, but also wasn't completely empty when I put her back to bed.
When it got light she informed me that she hates electrolyte water. She wouldn't touch it and just sat there head down and all hunched up. Naturally I thought my night-time intervention had killed her, but when I gave her plain water she drank and drank and drank and then perked right up and had some breakfast.

So on to the second night (last night) and of course the best laid plans.. .. .. she roosted with her buddies. I mean look at them. Can any of you say you honestly blame me for deciding to let her stay there? From left to right that is Dotty, Minnie, Diana, Maggie.

View attachment 2872164

I had a camera on her and she did do this, but only once the whole night.

I got up at about 5am (still dark) and picked her off the roost. Her crop was not empty but way less full than the day before. She got more coconut oil and a crop pummeling and then when put in the hospital bed where she consented to having a pretty long drink of Gatorade so now at least I know she got some electrolytes and some calories.

Onwards to another day - you can do this Minnie. Get better my baby!

This sounds like a great update! Videos are filtered out at work, so I’ll check later. I think you handled it beautifully. Like I said on Shad’s poll thread… what is up with all these crop issues with molting hens? Your situation sounds like MY Minnie, along with Flash. Anyway, it seems things are improving for your Minnie.

 

[MaryJanet]

I just watched this to try and learn more about how to assess the chicken's keels. Everyone is going to be subjected to another keel exam later!

And yes, I did spot it is from the land of drop bears!

That vet is not far from my house!!

They're my second choice after Dr Mark. If ever he's unavailable, I'm going to move the hens over to Walkerville.

 

[Shadrach]

Sad to write that my sisters hen Chick who I was very fond of died last week. Vet thinks liver failure possible brought about by feeding layers pellets at to earlier age.

 

[Shadrach]

Not a lot wrong with this young hen apart from a small split in her lower beak.

 

[micstrachan]

Back for More

Well, I know exactly what it was. It was a hawk and it is after the littles. Just as I posted the other post, it attack again. This time it was foiled because I surprised it. I was on the deck and saw it coming in. I jumped up and started after it causing it to alter its flight and land on the fence. It did not wait for me to reach out before flying away.

It is a juvenile hawk smaller than my full grown hens. The red tailed hawks which we have here are larger than a normal hen. Here is where the hawk landed.
View attachment 2872269

There must have been an alarm because the littles had time to hide. I did not hear it but I was bent on intercepting the attack.

The littles are hidden in this photo. Can you find them?
View attachment 2872275

Spoiler: Here is where they are

View attachment 2872280

The littles are now locked into the big run. I just can't risk them free ranging. I will try opening it up right before dusk. Mostly so Phyllis could roost there if she wanted. I guess I will be outside a lot for the foreseeable future.

I really don't know how to get rid of it aside from shooting with the nerf gun.

Ugh. I’m sorry, Bob. I’m glad you are on the case, though!

 

[micstrachan]

Sad to write that my sisters hen Chick who I was very fond of died last week. Vet thinks liver failure possible brought about by feeding layers pellets at to earlier age.
View attachment 2872781

Awww… I’m so sorry, Shad! May I ask at what age she was started on layer feed?

 

[micstrachan]

I have been using the gold ball shooter for years now. It reaches everywhere at Fluffy Butt Acres.

I think you linked it before, but can I trouble you to link again?

Edited to add: and air horns! Did we already discuss them on this thread? Apparently one was used to scare a coyote off attacking a little dog!

 

[BY Bob]

This morning Plati was squatting and squat walked around when I went to greet her. Feet aren't in the ideal pose, but she is up and moving a bit.

That is real progress! Thanks for sharing the good news.