Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Here is an example of my worry about Bernadette. She gets where she needs to get but with some difficulty.

 

[townchicks]

Hi everyone! Especially Bob. No way am I going to ever get totally caught up, so I'm just going to jump in here. Twofer Tuesday is it? Ok, here's my two old ladies Harper and Nevada sharing the nest box. It use to be two, but they all were piling up in one, so I just took the divider out. Nevada did not like the flash. I don't blame her, I didn't expect it to go off.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Here is an example of my worry about Bernadette. She gets where she needs to get but with some difficulty.

I would not worry too much about Bernadette. I know that is easier said then done, but not only is she recovering very nicely from a injury, she is also growing. That is going to take time. The lack of energy you mentioned in a earlier post out of all 3 of them can be explained by simple them being in the middle of a growth spurt.
It is time to take a walk down memory lane with Butter.
April 20th of last year I came around the side of the house to find Butter unable to stand just outside of Dirt's stall. Dirt was playing with his jolly ball and was kicking out while playing. Due to some bruising that showed up we assume while in play he grazed her with a kick. I rushed her inside and felt no broken bones but it was apparent that she was paralyzed on one side. She could not stand up even with assistance.
Here she is the night the injury occurred.

Butter was kept in the house for a little over a week. We thought she may have to be euthanized at first but being mom's favorite hen we had to try to save her. The first few days were rough, bruising turned her bad leg almost black. She was eating and drinking and pooping so there was hope. What we were afraid of was internal injuries that were hidden, but 6 days later she laid a egg. We crushed up baby asprin for pain, she got nightly epsom bath soaks and I would massage that leg and thigh several times a day.
5 days later, with assistance she was able to stand for very short periods. If she tried to take a step she would fall over, but we were heading in the right direction.

A few days later it was clear depression from missing her flock was setting in and she was loosing interest in eating. She had progressed to taking a few very unsteady steps before sitting down, but she could stand for about 10 minutes at a time. I rigged up a dog crate as a hospital cage to keep her confined but allow the rest of the flock to visit her. Her fighting spirit returned and hourly during the day I would let her out to enjoy the grass and sun. This also encouraged her to try and walk more.
This video was taken on the 15th of May, not quite a full month after the injury. She was still only allowed supervised time out of the hospital cage. I did not want any of the boys bothering her as I was afraid if they had tried to breed her it would cause a huge setback. You can see she's walking, but there is a limp. This limp would persist for about 4 months before it disappeared.

Today a year later, Butter is queen of the flock and runs when she wants to. If you look at her now you would not believe anything had ever happened to her at all.

 

[RoyalChick]

I would not worry too much about Bernadette. I know that is easier said then done, but not only is she recovering very nicely from a injury, she is also growing. That is going to take time. The lack of energy you mentioned in a earlier post out of all 3 of them can be explained by simple them being in the middle of a growth spurt.
It is time to take a walk down memory lane with Butter.
April 20th of last year I came around the side of the house to find Butter unable to stand just outside of Dirt's stall. Dirt was playing with his jolly ball and was kicking out while playing. Due to some bruising that showed up we assume while in play he grazed her with a kick. I rushed her inside and felt no broken bones but it was apparent that she was paralyzed on one side. She could not stand up even with assistance.
Here she is the night the injury occurred.
View attachment 3090629Butter was kept in the house for a little over a week. We thought she may have to be euthanized at first but being mom's favorite hen we had to try to save her. The first few days were rough, bruising turned her bad leg almost black. She was eating and drinking and pooping so there was hope. What we were afraid of was internal injuries that were hidden, but 6 days later she laid a egg. We crushed up baby asprin for pain, she got nightly epsom bath soaks and I would massage that leg and thigh several times a day.
5 days later, with assistance she was able to stand for very short periods. If she tried to take a step she would fall over, but we were heading in the right direction.
View attachment 3090631
A few days later it was clear depression from missing her flock was setting in and she was loosing interest in eating. She had progressed to taking a few very unsteady steps before sitting down, but she could stand for about 10 minutes at a time. I rigged up a dog crate as a hospital cage to keep her confined but allow the rest of the flock to visit her. Her fighting spirit returned and hourly during the day I would let her out to enjoy the grass and sun. This also encouraged her to try and walk more.
This video was taken on the 15th of May, not quite a full month after the injury. She was still only allowed supervised time out of the hospital cage. I did not want any of the boys bothering her as I was afraid if they had tried to breed her it would cause a huge setback. You can see she's walking, but there is a limp. This limp would persist for about 4 months before it disappeared.

Today a year later, Butter is queen of the flock and runs when she wants to. If you look at her now you would not believe anything had ever happened to her at all.

Thank you for that reminder I will keep the faith!
Maybe some grass time will help. I have been focusing on trying to make sure they know how (and have the flying and climbing ability) to get back up to their brooder box. I am certain Lulu can as she fell out and worked herself back home. I am mostly sure Bella can. But I am not confident Bernadette can.
Maybe I will switch to a sunshine and fresh air regime for a few days.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Thank you for that reminder I will keep the faith!
Maybe some grass time will help. I have been focusing on trying to make sure they know how (and have the flying and climbing ability) to get back up to their brooder box. I am certain Lulu can as she fell out and worked herself back home. I am mostly sure Bella can. But I am not confident Bernadette can.
Maybe I will switch to a sunshine and fresh air regime for a few days.

The hardest part of the whole ordeal was the second guessing myself. I agonized over the question of was I doing the right thing by Butter. Was I prolonging suffering simply because we did not want to let her go? Would she be in pain the rest of her life? I know now that I made the right decision, but when you are in the moment of the here and now there are doubts. I hope I never have to deal with another similar situation, but, if I do I will once again give it a shot. Oh and Dirt's jolly ball, the night the accident occurred mom went out and popped it and threatened to shoot him for "killing" her favorite hen. He was actually on her hit list for a few weeks before she forgave him.

 

[fuentemoon]

I love how we adopted that tradition

I was trying to get Missy to come up neat the hens to get a pic... No way! She is afraid of them, and the gals know it and gang up to scare her off hahaha poor kitty!

Somewhere I have a picture from our old house of a chicken a cat and a squirrel sitting on a log together. One of these days I will find it

 

[Kris5902]

Caturday is not on Bob's thread. It's on Ribh's thread.

You know I look forward to the SHRA Taxable posts, because you always have such splendid photos!

 

[Kris5902]

She certainly has me under control. She has the first hearty breakfast this morning. I'm surprised how she's taken it on the beak with no sulking or upset. It's almost like she feels extra special.


I'm bigger and better than the rest. I have my very own sleeping quarters and I'm getting fed first
View attachment 3090282

Princess and her old bestie flexi
View attachment 3090281

I’m still confused by Princess… what breed is she? And how old? She is beautiful, but also very Large… assuming Flexi is an average barred rock?

 

[Kris5902]

It's time you posted some photos anyway. Hop to it.

Are you sure you don’t work for the CRA? Lol I spent two hours on the phone with them yesterday… and in two to three weeks will have back tax forms for the last 7 years. In three to four months I should be getting some rebate cheques as well. If only the chicken taxes were so forgiving. Spending all day inside during the rainstorm on the phone with the government isn’t good for getting tax payment pics!

I hand fed this beast last night at bedtime… still ungrateful… looks just like the video? Because she hasn’t budged an inch! Stubborn

 

[Kris5902]

Mugs Monday is here
2fer Tuesday is here
Kaffe Klatch Wednesday Wherever is @Ribh
Thirsty Thursday is here
Fluffy Butt Friday is here
Caturday is @Ribh
Pony (goat) Sunday is here

Now the only challenge is keeping track of what day it is…