Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Where did the 600-800 come from?

I think it may be wrong in this context. It came from Azygous who posts it on BYC as a minimum for acute use in egg binding and it may be the right dose to get contractions going in the acute setting.
Both @Shadrach and Purina (unusual bedfellows!) agree a laying hen needs about 4 grams a day. Several sources say 2 grams go into the egg shell.
So for maintenance I am giving way less than they need. But mine are on layer feed so in theory I am just topping up or overcoming poor absorption.
You therefore likely need to give more and that will be a lot of pills! You can get liquid formulations to syringe down the throat. I have got adept at giving even reluctant chickens a pill, but I am not sure I am confident enough to syringe or pass a tube. If you were able to do that it would be easier.

 

[RoyalChick]

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.

The trouble Bob has is that 4grams of calcium is a big volume of powder.

 

[micstrachan]

That is what I am most concerned about. Sansa has never been hands on. Now she is going to need antibiotics as well. This is going to be rough. Add Lilly to that and no one is ever coming near me again.

I have found remaining calm is the most important factor in keeping them from getting frantic. You may need to restrain her with a towel. When I have one who hates being handled but requires medication, I provide a reward. Live meal worms and hulled sunflower seeds are favorites around here.

 

[micstrachan]

The trouble Bob has is that 4grams of calcium is a big volume of powder.

True. I think I’d pop pills.

 

[featherhead007]

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?

Tulare County Animal Shelter 28 miles away (for the stray cats)

 

[RoyalChick]

I have found remaining calm is the most important factor in keeping them from getting frantic. You may need to restrain her with a towel. When I have one who hates being handled but requires medication, I provide a reward. Live meal worms and hulled sunflower seeds are favorites around here.

I also do it after dark or before dawn. They are awake but a bit less liable to run around.
I suspect it is easier with two people but I have been successful so far just on my own.

 

[Ribh]

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.

This sounds good. You have a direction to go in

 

[Ribh]

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

My poor Hattie. Extra mealworms for my pretty girl.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Close as I can get to explaining her video ::View attachment 2927717

So cute!

 

[rural mouse]

You would think all the new rocks would lay throughout this winter being their first laying season. I'm sorry you've had to resort to buying the dreaded "fake eggs" as my daughter has come to call them. I'm soo glad my girls don't have access to beakbook to hear of this freeloading situation going on. I'm still getting 5 to 6 eggs a day.

I was in that boat most of the summer. now they're averaging 6 eggs a day and my MIL is in that boat, with more chickens .