Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Bob, I just posted in response to @ChicoryBlue’s post. I use calcium citrate plus D3. Sometimes I pop a tablet into the beak and sometimes I crush it onto a baby bird formula treat. I used to try and crush between two spoons, but have since purchased a little mortar and pestle.
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I have a mortar and pestle. I could grind them up if I need to. Thanks so much.

 

[micstrachan]

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.

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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.

Wow, Bob, so interesting! I am glad you got the bloodwork done. Was Sansa laying consistently before molt? She may have depleted her calcium stores. I am glad you are treating the infection and hope all the measures you are taking help.

As far as feed…I’m so torn, I never know what’s right. I tried just starter/grower, but then some don’t eat enough oyster shell for calcium. I tried an all flock, but Roxy got inflamed, bleeding intestines. I currently mix layer and grower feed, but do worry about those who are not laying. It’s so difficult to know what’s best.

 

[micstrachan]

"Come on Fat Bird, just do my wattles"
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So. Stinkin’. Cute.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow, Bob, so interesting! I am glad you got the bloodwork done. Was Sansa laying consistently before molt? She may have depleted her calcium stores. I am glad you are treating the infection and hope all the measures you are taking help.

As far as feed…I’m so torn, I never know what’s right. I tried just starter/grower, but then some don’t eat enough oyster shell for calcium. I tried an all flock, but Roxy got inflamed, bleeding intestines. I currently mix layer and grower feed, but do worry about those who are not laying. It’s so difficult to know what’s best.

The vet was also was not a great help either. She was as uncertain as I was about which way to go.

 

[micstrachan]

Possible predator in the coop. I was putting the chickens away for the night, they were all acting nervous. I looked around a bit, and found a stray cat in one of the laying boxes (comfy as can be) I had to escort the kitty out of the coop and said to it “Sorry, this place is for chickens only, and you are not even close to being one” just happened, and all the chickens are okay.

I think between the hens and Jaffar, kitty would be wise not to attack. But that cat will be a serious threat when the chicks come. Do you have any ideas on how to mitigate that risk?

 

[BY Bob]

I think between the hens and Jaffar, kitty would be wise not to attack. But that cat will be a serious threat when the chicks come. Do you have any ideas on how to mitigate that risk?

I forgot about his broody. Yes the chicks will need defending.

 

[micstrachan]

The vet was also was not a great help either. She was as uncertain as I was about which way to go.

I just don’y think there’s much information/research on feed and longevity. It’s all about the almighty dollar.

 

[micstrachan]

You can buy calcium tablets for humans Bob. The ones I've used you can crush to powder. Make a paste with a bit of water and honey and dip some bread in it , oor whatever and feed it to her.
Bear in mind that a high calcium layers feed is around 4.5%. To make life easy, assume a hen of 2.something kilos will eat 100 grams of feed a day. This means you need 4.5 grams of calcium powder fed during a day.

I used that method (bread dipped in liquid or paste) when I wormed them. Also, a few years ago when Margo had an infection, I needed a way for my neighbor friend to administer her meds while I was out of town. That’s when I “invented” the method, though apparently it was not an original idea.

 

[micstrachan]

Some things never change

Kiko (Then)
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Kiko (Now)
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Kiko is adorable!

 

[micstrachan]

That's not a silly question. I truly had not considered it. She does not seen to have a feather out of place. I certainly will be checking tomorrow.

What an idiot I am.

Not an idiot. I forgot about that possibilty, too. Or we’re both idiots.

However, this reminds me that the same had occurred to be about Hattie. Is there any chance she was hit in the first hawk attack?