Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Out to the coop after sunrise this morning (it stayed closed yesterday): refill crockpot water, add more food, keep closed today (-19F just before sunrise this morning). They're all still roosted. Pellets, scratch, mealworms, all added to the feeder. The extra calories are needed. All were still roosted except for Pear, who was eyeing a nest box. They dove on the food, but headed right back up to roost. 6 eggs from yesterday, all frozen solid. Not surprised and disposed of. If I get out repeatedly today, I might be able to save today's, at the expense of letting more cold air into the coop....today's can freeze too. Birds are all fine, just hunkered in like the rest of us. Started a pot of chili in the kitchen crock pot, cornbread with it later. Maybe cookies. Kettle on the stove on low for constant supply of hot water for cocoa, cider, tea... Days like this are great for playing games with the kids, reading, staying by the fire...and it's NOT raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing. Also thankful I have the day off.

 

[Kris5902]

They're forecasting -35F with wind chill tonight here. The school postponed start time to 10 am tomorrow because of it, too.

it doesn't look like this here anymore.View attachment 3002179

Just NO. nope, never, OMGosh heck No! It was -7c here with the windchill, and we could barely function. These are not acceptable conditions for living

 

[Kris5902]

Lilly Update

The vet called at 7:30 pm tonight to discuss Lilly. She was consulting on Lilly because because the lab results showed nothing abnormal.

Nothing

After consultation, they have determined that they believe that Lilly has colitis. We are going to do another dose of time release doxycycline and put her on Metacam for inflammation. I will be taking her to the vet for 10:30 am to get her shot.

Overall, provided they are correct, this is a good diagnosis. We can cure this.

What a relief!

The Iron Beak is not done yet.

View attachment 3002216

@Ribh @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @LozzyR @Marie2020 @Shadrach @ChicoryBlue @micstrachan

Best news all day and then some! I am so happy for you both!

 

[Kris5902]

It was @RoyalChick and Dotty with the frostbite… yes? Well I thought I would share about yesterday’s development on Dean’s frostbites tips. As I was chasing everyone back inside “-7C you little idjet! This is how you got the frostbite in the first place get your little fluffy arse BACK inside and out of this wind!!!!” I noticed yet more rooster bleeding one of the little black tips was torn off or fell off (probably with help from one of the girls) and there was some slight bleeding. But he got his frostbite in late December/early January… so that might give you a little timeline idea of what to expect. It hasn’t really bothered him at all once the initial blistering and bleeding stopped (bleeding thanks to his girls pecking the blisters)…chickens…

 

[RoyalChick]

It was @RoyalChick and Dotty with the frostbite… yes? Well I thought I would share about yesterday’s development on Dean’s frostbites tips. As I was chasing everyone back inside “-7C you little idjet! This is how you got the frostbite in the first place get your little fluffy arse BACK inside and out of this wind!!!!” I noticed yet more rooster bleeding one of the little black tips was torn off or fell off (probably with help from one of the girls) and there was some slight bleeding. But he got his frostbite in late December/early January… so that might give you a little timeline idea of what to expect. It hasn’t really bothered him at all once the initial blistering and bleeding stopped (bleeding thanks to his girls pecking the blisters)…chickens…

Thanks Kris. And bleeding is a good sign as it shows the tissue is alive.
Here is the state of play with Dotty. The black but on the lower of the affected points is just about to drop off. I think she might lose the yellow part of the point above, but maybe not.
It is 63 degrees here and the ladies are catching some rays.
The weather is crazy though as it will be down to single digits tomorrow night. Dotty is still losing feathers and fluff so she isn’t out of danger yet I don’t think.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks Kris. And bleeding is a good sign as it shows the tissue is alive.
Here is the state of play with Dotty. The black but on the lower of the affected points is just about to drop off. I think she might lose the yellow part of the point above, but maybe not.
It is 63 degrees here and the ladies are catching some rays.
The weather is crazy though as it will be down to single digits tomorrow night. Dotty is still losing feathers and fluff so she isn’t out of danger yet I don’t think.


View attachment 3002772View attachment 3002774View attachment 3002776

While I was posting those pictures Dotty hopped up to supervise so I got a better close up of her poor damaged comb. Not looking that great.

 

[bgmathteach]

While I was posting those pictures Dotty hopped up to supervise so I got a better close up of her poor damaged comb. Not looking that great.

View attachment 3002788

Will she allow you to gently massage the comb at the base of the yellow tip? Encourage more circulation there? A little coconut oil would lube it up to reduce friction, and should be absorbed in before tomorrow night when it gets frigid again.

(Personally, I think I would stay away from the black tip...but I'm not schooled in that kind of thing (frostbite), so....

 

[RoyalChick]

Look at the yummy green shoots Maggie and Diana uncovered after some dedicated scratching. All gone now!

 

[bgmathteach]

Not looking that great.

View attachment 3002788

She still looks lovely, you know

 

[RoyalChick]

Will she allow you to gently massage the comb at the base of the yellow tip? Encourage more circulation there? A little coconut oil would lube it up to reduce friction, and should be absorbed in before tomorrow night when it gets frigid again.

(Personally, I think I would stay away from the black tip...but I'm not schooled in that kind of thing (frostbite), so....

Everything reliable I have read (like university extension courses) says not to touch it.
I don’t know any better so I am following that advice. Also of course none of mine love being touched (though Diana did have a bit of a sunbathe on the coffee table by my chair) so I try not to unless necessary.
I hope I am doing the right thing.