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Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock
- Thread starter BY Bob
- Start date
I love your tax payment!Here is my absentee tax for Friday (and an excuse to post fluffy butts!)
Lucy
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Charlie
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Tegan
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River
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And although I missed capturing it; here is Charlie after Nyssa had kicked wood shavings all over her.
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Poor girl! I hope the antibiotic works quickly. She's probably feeling a bit more stiff & sore today. It's kind of like having a vigorous workout...I find it's always worse on the 2nd & 3rd day!Mel wasn't quite so chipper this morning so it was on with the headlamp, magnifying glass and another check over. I found a tiny wound under her wing which I just hadn't seen the first time around and it's infected.
I'm kicking myself. I know to look for at least two puncture wounds from hawk attacks, one or more from the front talons and one from the back foot. It's the back foot I missed. Now she's going to have to have antibiotics and that will make her feel like shite.
I got the wound open and bleeding again and the infection isn't bad yet. The bleeding and subsequent cleaning will help but once an infection is there, it's in the blood.....
Of course, cleaning like this is painful for Mel and me.
I have antibiotics supplied by Gloria my vet.`
My problem is that if he decides to “play” he just doesn’t kill them, then I have an injured mouse running around the trailer I have to catch and finish off. Charlie either kills them right away or let’s them go. Not that I think putting them outside really prevents them from coming right back in or anything.
Yes, I would rather not have to finish them off, but if they are severely injured I will as a mercy. This is more likely due to a snap trap malfunction than my cat though.Good catch! My daughter was trying to save the mouse from some kids that were going to send it flying on a frisbee...she grabbed the mouse & it bit her hard, my poor sweet girl. The poor thing was terrified! I don't like to see things suffer, so if I have to put an animal down I do it as humanely as possible...so they never see it coming...not fun, but sometimes necessary...if my husband is around he will usually take care of it for me, but that hasn't always been the case!
Yeah, it was so cute!So sweet! I'll bet you were chuffed about that.
The things I learn over and over.
By mid day Mel was looking depressed. Despite the door being open she didn’t show any signs of wanting to go out. She was eating, but looking very much as many moulting hens do; just flat and uncomfortable. The wounds I believe are a minor problem but combined with the moult they sum to greater than their individual parts.
Mid afternoon Treacle arrives and this at least generated a bit of life into Mel but nothing exceptional.
I decided to shell some walnuts partly to see if this would encourage Mel out of the house. Treacle was on it immediately and after I had done a couple Mel took a few tentative steps outside. Once out, there was a noticeable improvement in her demeanor. She was more alert, ate grass and scratched up some grit and bugs and went to shelter under the blackthorn bush. coming over to the house a couple of times for pieces of walnut.
I could hear the rest of Tribe 1 heading slowly towards the house. One second Mel was under the bush and the next running full tilt to join her tribe at the back of the main house. Lots of clucking and herding shuffles by Cillin and no sign of nay problems.
Mel behind the main house happy to be with her tribe.
About ten minutes later the whole tribe arrived and moved into the house. The transformation in Mel was astounding. She became alert, got next to Fat Bird and close to Cillin and groomed.
Grooming has been for me a major sign of a recovery. Mel even groomed a bit under the wing with the infected puncture wound.
The acid test came at supper time. Tribe 1 get their treat food then. Mel was in the thick of it as she should be, driving off any juniors that got close.
She’s gone home tonight with the rest of her tribe. Tonight is going to be the coldest night of the year so far; +1C if the weather people are right. While delighted to see Mel’s attitude improve and to see her head home with her tribe, I was a bit concerned about the cold.
I shouldn’t have worried. When I checked Tribe 1‘s coop Mel had her infected side squeezed up against Fat Bird and her other side against the coop wall. There is a noticeable gap between Fat Bird and I think that’s Fudge. This is no accident. Fat Bird is helping to keep Mel warm and the other away from her.
I read over and over on BYC the advice that you should isolate a sick or injured chicken and I wonder each time I don’t take that advice if I’m doing the right thing. Gloria my vet and those who know about chickens here tell only isolate if absolutely necessary. Today once again I’ve witnessed the wisdom of their words.
It is true that an isolated chicken is easier to treat but the cost in recovery time it seems is considerable.
Yep, getting the antibiotics into her will be more difficult while she’s out and about and yes there is always the risk that a predator identifies her as a weak chicken. But, there is no doubt in my mind that the extra speed of recovery and the protection of the tribe far outweighs these inconveniences and risks.
By mid day Mel was looking depressed. Despite the door being open she didn’t show any signs of wanting to go out. She was eating, but looking very much as many moulting hens do; just flat and uncomfortable. The wounds I believe are a minor problem but combined with the moult they sum to greater than their individual parts.
Mid afternoon Treacle arrives and this at least generated a bit of life into Mel but nothing exceptional.
I decided to shell some walnuts partly to see if this would encourage Mel out of the house. Treacle was on it immediately and after I had done a couple Mel took a few tentative steps outside. Once out, there was a noticeable improvement in her demeanor. She was more alert, ate grass and scratched up some grit and bugs and went to shelter under the blackthorn bush. coming over to the house a couple of times for pieces of walnut.
I could hear the rest of Tribe 1 heading slowly towards the house. One second Mel was under the bush and the next running full tilt to join her tribe at the back of the main house. Lots of clucking and herding shuffles by Cillin and no sign of nay problems.
Mel behind the main house happy to be with her tribe.
About ten minutes later the whole tribe arrived and moved into the house. The transformation in Mel was astounding. She became alert, got next to Fat Bird and close to Cillin and groomed.
Grooming has been for me a major sign of a recovery. Mel even groomed a bit under the wing with the infected puncture wound.
The acid test came at supper time. Tribe 1 get their treat food then. Mel was in the thick of it as she should be, driving off any juniors that got close.
She’s gone home tonight with the rest of her tribe. Tonight is going to be the coldest night of the year so far; +1C if the weather people are right. While delighted to see Mel’s attitude improve and to see her head home with her tribe, I was a bit concerned about the cold.
I shouldn’t have worried. When I checked Tribe 1‘s coop Mel had her infected side squeezed up against Fat Bird and her other side against the coop wall. There is a noticeable gap between Fat Bird and I think that’s Fudge. This is no accident. Fat Bird is helping to keep Mel warm and the other away from her.
I read over and over on BYC the advice that you should isolate a sick or injured chicken and I wonder each time I don’t take that advice if I’m doing the right thing. Gloria my vet and those who know about chickens here tell only isolate if absolutely necessary. Today once again I’ve witnessed the wisdom of their words.
It is true that an isolated chicken is easier to treat but the cost in recovery time it seems is considerable.
Yep, getting the antibiotics into her will be more difficult while she’s out and about and yes there is always the risk that a predator identifies her as a weak chicken. But, there is no doubt in my mind that the extra speed of recovery and the protection of the tribe far outweighs these inconveniences and risks.
This what I do now...it's a pain, especially if things are loading slow, but it does work!
The feline workforce is fickle and unreliable at best... I have found ye olde snap trap to be the most effective solution! Better attention span, more likely to actually kill the prey, and far cheaper to maintain. Added bonus, they will never drop a present next to your face while you’re sleeping. He puts the body on the doormat, he gets a treat, he puts the body on the pillow? No treat for you!
Tuned to Animal Planet!I was thinking (Wide screen TV)
I think the isolate advice is because most people aren’t keeping their birds in the same manner as you. In an enclosed run with less hiding spaces, without Roosters, it creates an entirely different dynamic. Boredom or competition for pecking order squabbles would target a sick or injured bird. And many keepers are less in tune with their birds and may miss subtle signs of illness or worsening condition.
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