Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Thank you so much for this. I feel SO marginally informed and a bit at a loss as to what to do to improve my hen's health. This has helped somewhat...it was VERY informative...but I still feel like I am so out of my league!

Don't worry, we all are.

Apart from those folks doing the research.

 

[BY Bob]

He decides to spell it backwards...

Yup. Like this.

boB

 

[BY Bob]

I can't help it I just love this face
View attachment 3056599

It's pretty magnificent!

 

[BY Bob]

Measure twice cut twice, three maybe four times

Measure twice drill d@mn hole in the wrong spot... What is that line? Ooops wrong line, so measurement was correct just the incorrect spot to actually measure from!!!!

Also try not to drill a Phillips head bit through your finger, and finally when using a chisel and hammer, put your glasses on and don't smack your finger you tried to drill the Phillips through....

Once that new door latch is on the door, make sure the handles actually work before you go in the feed room and shut the door. Lucky I had that Phillips drill bit on hand to take that handle off

Phew! Should have called Kris to pop over and help!

Ok chicken tax for being a ding-a-ling!
View attachment 3056617

That sounds very stressful. Were you rushing? I do stuff like that when I'm rushing.

 

[BY Bob]

What a beautiful tribute to all of your past and present residents, Bob! What a storied history, my emotions ran the gamut as I looked at each picture. Oh my.

Thank you.

It was very emotional putting it all together. That's a lot of residents in just 9 years.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you so much for this. I feel SO marginally informed and a bit at a loss as to what to do to improve my hen's health. This has helped somewhat...it was VERY informative...but I still feel like I am so out of my league!

Funny, I ended up feeling like after all the science it was good old fashioned nutrition. Protein and leafy greens and not too much sugar.
I exaggerate obviously!

 

[RoyalChick]

Brilliant post!! Thanks for spending that time and writing it up RC!

It explains why Mark the vet was so keen on supplementing Peggy's diet with choline.

If anyone is interested, Peggy was diagnosed with FLHS surgically, as in the vet opened her up and took a look. There's no doubt at all that she has FLHS
That was 18 months ago. Today, she thrives (apart from moulting but that's unrelated).

Mark (the vet) prescribed pellets with high protein, which have adequate selenium too. To be supplemented with

• Choline
• Biotin
• DMG
• Milk thistle
• Cottage cheese
• Enzymes

I haven't missed a day of providing supplements, except when I let her try a hatch. It was not a wise decision in terms of her diet and I won't be allowing her to sit in future.

Anyway, if anyone's hens are confirmed as having FLHS, maybe try that supplement regime. There's no harm in the other hens having those supplements.

Cutting fat isn't always the right answer.

Oh this makes so much sense since all my reading. There was lots about biotin metabolism in some of the papers.
It is so encouraging to see the positive effect.
One day I would love to know Dr Mark’s view in animal protein, soy, and corn!

 

[RoyalChick]

Measure twice cut twice, three maybe four times

Measure twice drill d@mn hole in the wrong spot... What is that line? Ooops wrong line, so measurement was correct just the incorrect spot to actually measure from!!!!

Also try not to drill a Phillips head bit through your finger, and finally when using a chisel and hammer, put your glasses on and don't smack your finger you tried to drill the Phillips through....

Once that new door latch is on the door, make sure the handles actually work before you go in the feed room and shut the door. Lucky I had that Phillips drill bit on hand to take that handle off

Phew! Should have called Kris to pop over and help!

Ok chicken tax for being a ding-a-ling!
View attachment 3056617

Oh no. Sounds like a nightmare.

 

[BY Bob]

But can chickens get keto-acidosis and live, if they go on a low-carb diet? What diet in commercial feed really replicates a real chicken's diet? And can today's hatchery stock live on that? What breeds?

These are the real questions. I do not have any answers.

 

[BY Bob]

I think in the wild chickens will eat bugs, snakes, frogs, rodents, small birds etc.... Along with greens and seeds.

This is what I am seeing my gang eating when they are running free.

I was shocked at how vicious they can be with killing mice and snakes!!??

It is shocking the first time you see it but they can be vicious killers. They are predators.