Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

I’m sad for you losing Lucy

Thanks Alex, I know how much it would have hit home for you.

 

[LozzyR]

I am so sorry about Lucy!

Thanks Daffy.

 

[LozzyR]

So sorry for your loss I am glad you were able to take her into a vet, you probably saved her a lot of pain. Hugs

Thanks Kris, she was miserable yesterday. There was no way she was ok. In true chicken-style she hid her illness until she couldn’t.

 

[LozzyR]

I may have lost two pullets yesterday. I am thinking possibly a raccoon or mink. The aerial predators were fed in the morning at our disposal pit (slaughter day excites them and keeps them busy for the next several days) and only Owls and maybe the Red Tail hawk weren’t feasting there. I arrived home at 4:45 to put up the birds and was short two on my headcount of the free range flock. After over an hour of fruitless searching we gave up, hoping they would show up today. I haven’t completely given up hope (maybe they are sitting on eggs somewhere, hidden, or waiting for the roosters to find them) but will be sure to get up earlier today. I would like to just stay at the trailer today, but have to package sausage. We are very slow because my back is still questionable.

I hope they show up for you Kris.

 

[LozzyR]

It's no secret that my high production hybrid hens have reproductive issues, and I've seen some strange things left lying around, but this one seems the strangest of all. Have any of you ever seen anything like this?
View attachment 2446794
This is the strangest looking "egg" I've ever seen. I'm sure it came from Mrs. Howell. It's frozen solid so it was deposited sometime during the night.

I've been wondering for some time now if these problems are severe enough to warrant culling as a way to alleviate suffering, but for the vast majority of the time she doesn't appear to behave any less chickeny than any of the others. I really can't tell if she is suffering. When I talked to our local vet a while ago about these issues his response was, "Most people around here just break their necks."

Thoughts?

That’s awful, I wouldn’t trust myself to do that quick and painlessly. I would rather pay a vet $80 to euthanise peacefully.

And to answer your question; no I haven’t seen anything like that but it doesn’t surprise me, given that they are bred to be little egg factories. Another option is a hormone implant; @micstrachan has had some success with those.

 

[featherhead007]

That’s awful, I wouldn’t trust myself to do that quick and painlessly. I would rather pay a vet $80 to euthanise peacefully.

Trust me, it's not a simple thing, to have to put a hen down. (I really never got over Roxy) But the ones that died in my arms, I feel I made comfortable until the end. (Their comfort, not mine)

 

[LozzyR]

Trust me, it's not a simple thing, to have to put a hen down. (I really never got over Roxy) But the ones that died in my arms, I feel I made comfortable until the end. (Their comfort, not mine)

Roxy’s passing would have been really traumatic for you. I really am glad I have access to avian vets.

 

[featherhead007]

Rest in Peace my beloved pets.
Roxy
Pepper
Canna Canna
Beebees
Sunshine
Linda Lou
Lisa
Red
Peeps
Daddy Blue
And my MIA rooster BEN

 

[featherhead007]

Rest in Peace my beloved pets.
Roxy
Pepper
Canna Canna
Beebees
Sunshine
Linda Lou
Lisa
Red
Peeps
Daddy Blue
And my MIA rooster BEN

All were hand raised from the eggs, except for Linda Lou

 

[featherhead007]

I hope they show up for you Kris.

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