Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

They do seem to do their utmost to teach us to be emotionally resilient.

What is mean in their world is very different than what is mean in ours. It is very hard to remember that.

 

[BY Bob]

Well Bob I figured I would jump the current conversation to see what's up.... Will still continue reading of your journey with chickens though!

Welcome aboard. Sansa is having molting issues and a hawk is stalking the tribe. There, you are caught up to today.

 

[featherhead007]

It happens to us all.

Reason why I don’t have enough eggs, is that the lady from church (who makes the pillows) buys the ones that my chooks lay. She gets first choice, even before I do!

 

[BY Bob]

Awww, you’re right. Poor Hattie is really scared. She may have seen the attacks up close.

I am thinking so. She must have been close by when it happened. It seems to have affected her more than everyone else.

 

[micstrachan]

It’s finally happened, I feel so ashamed. I should have predicted that this may happen someday. And yes, it does feel as shameful as it is. /////// Due to my chooks not laying eggs (because of several reasons) I was forced “yes forced” to buy store eggs. I feel so ashamed No, the neighbors only had enough fresh eggs for their own families.
Only my BoPeeps is laying one a day.

I’m tempted to ask my mountain people if any hens are laying. I can go without, but I’m not sure about my family. If I must, I will only buy eggs labelled “pasture raised and humanely handled.” The brand here is called Vital.

https://vitalfarms.com/

I’d let my family go without, but if I don’t buy them, someone might go buy what I call “torture eggs,” and I can’t have that!

 

[micstrachan]

I am thinking so. She must have been close by when it happened. It seems to have affected her more than everyone else.

Minnie acted like that when she was attacked as a pullet. I never knew what got her, but thought it was likely a fox. It’s amazing she was unharmed.

 

[featherhead007]

I am resisting so far but I am not sure I can hold out for long. Fortunately there are locally available small farm free range eggs available. But I still feel disloyal.
The dreadful day has been delayed because today Minnie laid an egg. I think I can take her off my worry list.

RC, I know it’s difficult, but hang on. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!”

 

[featherhead007]

I’m tempted to ask my mountain people if any hens are laying. I can go without, but I’m not sure about my family. If I must, I will only buy eggs labelled “pasture raised and humanely handled.” The brand here is called Vital.

https://vitalfarms.com/

I’d let my family go without, but if I don’t buy them, someone might go buy what I call “torture eggs,” and I can’t have that!

This “egg topic” seems to be a fragile subject (pun intended)

 

[featherhead007]

I’m tempted to ask my mountain people if any hens are laying. I can go without, but I’m not sure about my family. If I must, I will only buy eggs labelled “pasture raised and humanely handled.” The brand here is called Vital.

https://vitalfarms.com/

I’d let my family go without, but if I don’t buy them, someone might go buy what I call “torture eggs,” and I can’t have that!

Thanks for that information link

 

[MaryJanet]

Sansa Update

The vet and I connected today. The blood work revealed three things.

1. Her calcium is very low. It is low even for a non-laying hen or rooster.
2. Protein electrophoresis has uncovered a low grade infection of some kind that is not causing a temperature.
3. She was dehydrated.

So what to do. The vet reached out to an expert with chickens. She said when I was there that she had not seen this before. I love people who admit they don't know and consult others. They were equally curious as to how all of this is connected. They are certain that her low calcium is having an impact on the feathers. They also believe that the infection, wherever it might be, could also be involved, especially if it is somewhere in the digestive tract where it might be interfering with the absorption of minerals and nutrients.

The vet left it up to me if I wanted to treat the infection or not. At this point I want to attack the situation aggressively so I agree to treat. We are putting her on Trimethoprim Sulfa. A combination therapy that has broad antibacterial bandwidth as well as antiprotozoal capabilities.

In order to dose her we needed her weight. So I went out and tried to catch her in the big run. Frankly, the Cluckle Hut has essentially ended that possibility. It is like she knew. Only her head came out to eat the meal worms the tricky human had used to try and lure her out.

View attachment 2928428

So I waited and plucked her off the roost, and weighed her.

This is really good news. Back on11/15 she was around 3 lbs/1.389 kg. Today, just about a month later after being weighed last, she is a respectable 4.55 lbs/2.064 kg. That is basically a 50% weight gain. She has been on a diet of chick food since 11/23 and it is working. I knew it as soon as I picked her up. This video from 11/30 shows how she has been chowing down and since they have been locked in because of the hawk (silver lining?) she has no other food source. The chick food has worked at least in getting weight back on her.

That leaves us to the conundrum of getting calcium into her. If I switch her to layer that would be the easiest way to increase her calcium intake but it will be at the expense of calories and protein. Additionally, the whole tribe would then be on layer when they are not laying. I am trying not to do this with Lilly as she really doesn't lay any more. I could segregate her in the Cluckle Hut with Phyllis and lock them in with layer feed but I really don't want to give up on the chick feed.

I need to check and see if Nutridrench has significant calcium in it as I could try supplementing in that fashion while I am giving the antibiotic. The vet said that she would look for alternative solutions to get calcium into her diet.

I know that their have been a lot of people on here treating for soft shelled eggs by supplementing calcium. Right now my brain cannot recall any of them. Please reply to this post with what you have done to add calcium to their diets when needed. I feel stupid but I just can't remember any and I know some of you were quite clever.

It's good to have some details at last. Sansa's weight gain is brilliant!