Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[DaisyBuff]

Snowy Monday mugs!
Penny:
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Rosa:
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I LOVE penny! Is she a Buff Orpington?

 

[Shadrach]

You helped her pass on the fourth day? I thought your "rule" is not a bad one, because how can you be absolutely sure before a certain number of days, or symptoms displayed, that she won't take a turn for the better? I guess I'm thinking one can second-guess either way, acting early or late. But nobody can know the absolute best time. How is it possible to know "Oh yes, that was just right"?

Sometimes I just know that I did the right thing at the right time. A lot of factors contribute to this. Knowing the chicken well and having a good knowledge of the kind of life they've led. Knowing what the medical problem is and what the long term prospects are is another. A judgement on their quality of life should one manage to treat them successfully. Attatchment to the chicken; this works in a strange way. Some I've been extremely fond of and just couldn't face their suffering. The better I've known them the quicker I want them to die.
In an attempt to level all these factors out and on the advice of a chicken keeper who I knew in Spain, I came to adopt the three day rule.

Perhaps the fact that I've known to a greater or lesser extent over 100 chickens that are now dead (I know that seems horrifying) some line for my and their sakes has to be drawn.

There are some ailments that I can usually sort out with minimum stress to me and the chicken. Injuries for example ime chickens can recover from well provided they are not stressed and infections can be avoided.

Other problems one can chase for weeks it seems, never being entirely sure what causes them and what if anything can be done about them.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sansa's Molt

Sansa has been molting since before 9/7/21 as documented in this post.

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24881422

That has he molt s over 60 days now. I am getting concerned. I have never had one last this long. Plus is seems her old feathers have fallen apart but not out. Bald patches would make more sense. Look closely at these photos.

Has anyone ever seen this before? I am getting very concerned that something is wrong.

View attachment 2899074View attachment 2899075View attachment 2899076View attachment 2899077View attachment 2899078

Diana has a bit of that. She has some tail and wing feathers that are destroyed but not coming out. But it is just 8-10 feathers so nowhere near as bad as Sansa.

 

[BY Bob]

Sometimes I just know that I did the right thing at the right time. A lot of factors contribute to this. Knowing the chicken well and having a good knowledge of the kind of life they've led. Knowing what the medical problem is and what the long term prospects are is another. A judgement on their quality of life should one manage to treat them successfully. Attatchment to the chicken; this works in a strange way. Some I've been extremely fond of and just couldn't face their suffering. The better I've known them the quicker I want them to die.
In an attempt to level all these factors out and on the advice of a chicken keeper who I knew in Spain, I came to adopt the three day rule.

Perhaps the fact that I've known to a greater or lesser extent over 100 chickens that are now dead (I know that seems horrifying) some line for my and their sakes has to be drawn.

There are some ailments that I can usually sort out with minimum stress to me and the chicken. Injuries for example ime chickens can recover from well provided they are not stressed and infections can be avoided.

Other problems one can chase for weeks it seems, never being entirely sure what causes them and what if anything can be done about them.

I think you handled this quite well. These are very difficult decisions. Having a system to fall back upon has to make it a little easier.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Oh gosh! Not snow. It's too soon.

Oh yes, and I am woefully behind on their winter quarters prep.

Sansa's Molt

Sansa has been molting since before 9/7/21 as documented in this post.

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24881422

That has he molt s over 60 days now. I am getting concerned. I have never had one last this long. Plus is seems her old feathers have fallen apart but not out. Bald patches would make more sense. Look closely at these photos.

Has anyone ever seen this before? I am getting very concerned that something is wrong.

View attachment 2899074View attachment 2899075View attachment 2899076View attachment 2899077View attachment 2899078

Maybe there are pins coming in, in between the ragged feathers? She hasn't dropped any feathers at all?

 

[BY Bob]

Diana has a bit of that. She has some tail and wing feathers that are destroyed but not coming out. But it is just 8-10 feathers so nowhere near as bad as Sansa.

That helps a little to know. Thanks.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh yes, and I am woefully behind on their winter quarters prep.

Maybe there are pins coming in, in between the ragged feathers? She hasn't dropped any feathers at all?

She dropped some early but I have not seen feathers laying around from her for weeks.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh yes, and I am woefully behind on their winter quarters prep.

Maybe there are pins coming in, in between the ragged feathers? She hasn't dropped any feathers at all?

My understanding is that new feathers grow from where the old ones fell out. It would be unlikely to find pins in between the old ratty feathers.

 

[RoyalChick]

That helps a little to know. Thanks.

I will try to get some pictures for you.

 

[RoyalChick]

My understanding is that new feathers grow from where the old ones fell out. It would be unlikely to find pins in between the old ratty feathers.

I thought the same, but am not sure if it is true. Maybe they have spare follicles.
I have also read that plucking a feather stimulates a new one to grow. I wonder if you should pull a couple out. Suspect you should consult a vet before trying that.