Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

Good news on both fronts! I am walking mostly normally again, but very delicately, and I have trouble reaching for things in front of me and standing for long periods, but the back is getting better.


Even better news, all 40 chickens showed up for bedtime last night! I have no idea where they went, we scoured the area, I kept the free range flock in later than usual yesterday morning hoping the missing pair would show up trying to get into feed and their friends. Nothing in the morning except four fluffy black bum feathers eventually found mid field. No one ran to greet the flock when I released them either. Everyone got a stern talking to about bedtime and coming home to roost.

Good news all round, Kris! Lets hope they haven't hidden a nest somewhere.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Even in our fairly “agricultural” area here it is nearly impossible to find a farm vet. There’s just more money in treating pampered pets, and it’s usually less challenging than having to deal with a sheep, cow, or goat. When it comes to chickens, the general vets get edgy because they produce food (eggs) or could easily be food (meat) and that changes what medications can be used in them legally here. All the vets that do handle poultry are usually contracted to big commercial chicken operations, and won’t work outside them to limit the spread of diseases into those huge vulnerable flocks. Horses though, you can find vets for no problem... people who have horses are considered to have a large disposable income, and will of course be willing to part with lots of it for Sally’s little pony.
chicken tax:View attachment 2448017

Good post. Your description of different vets and clients reminded me of a story: the time I took our cat Calvin (RIP) to the vet for a yearly checkup and he had to see a different vet who turned out to be their Large Animal guy instead of Calvin's usual dog and cat guy.

Lol, this vet was all business. Caring and concerned in attitude, but he surprised me (and Calvin) with how rough and tumble he was, spinning him 'round on the metal table, sticking the thermometer in, spinning him 'round again to check his ears and eyes, pushing his mouth open to look in there, lifting him by his haunches to feel his insides, spinning him 'round to look him over again generally, etc. There wasn't any of the usual gentle prods and pickups which our cats have grown used to complying with. It was a little like watching a guy make pizza out of a dough ball.

I looked on a bit aghast but he wasn't actually hurting Calvin (at least that I could tell). Calvin seemed a bit stunned, is all. Maybe this vet had a domination thing? Calvin was used to "chatting with the techs" (as his vet told me) while in the back if they had to take him back for a test. He was a friendly and gregarious cat who liked people. No domination necessary.

I checked the vet's name so that we wouldn't see him again except in emergency and that's where I saw he was their Large Animal vet. Then it all made sense....I supposed by comparison to his usual patients this cat was a flea. But it made me feel bad for the cows!

 

[Ribh]

Good post. Your description of different vets and clients reminded me of a story: the time I took our cat Calvin (RIP) to the vet for a yearly checkup and he had to see a different vet who turned out to be their Large Animal guy instead of Calvin's usual dog and cat guy.

Lol, this vet was all business. Caring and concerned in attitude, but he surprised me (and Calvin) with how rough and tumble he was, spinning him 'round on the metal table, sticking the thermometer in, spinning him 'round again to check his ears and eyes, pushing his mouth open to look in there, lifting him by his haunches to feel his insides, spinning him 'round to look him over again generally, etc. There wasn't any of the usual gentle prods and pickups which our cats have grown used to complying with. It was a little like watching a guy make pizza out of a dough ball.

I looked on a bit aghast but he wasn't actually hurting Calvin (at least that I could tell). Calvin seemed a bit stunned, is all. Maybe this vet had a domination thing? Calvin was used to "chatting with the techs" (as his vet told me) while in the back if they had to take him back for a test. He was a friendly and gregarious cat who liked people. No domination necessary.

I checked the vet's name so that we wouldn't see him again except in emergency and that's where I saw he was their Large Animal vet. Then it all made sense....I supposed by comparison to his usual patients this cat was a flea. But it made me feel bad for the cows!

Yeah our vets are mostly small animal ~ though as we border country they do some large animal too, mostly horses & goats. They are pretty clueless about chickens though the lady I usually see keeps chickens herself, she just doesn't know much about them.

My present cats are Ragdoll Xs & they hate the vet & flatten themselves in the carrier & push their not inconsiderable weight down. Last time the vet said she had to remove Marlow ~ yard by yard... It was like reeling in a dead whale!!! Luckily my Big Boy is also very placid.

 

[RoyalChick]

Good post. Your description of different vets and clients reminded me of a story: the time I took our cat Calvin (RIP) to the vet for a yearly checkup and he had to see a different vet who turned out to be their Large Animal guy instead of Calvin's usual dog and cat guy.

Lol, this vet was all business. Caring and concerned in attitude, but he surprised me (and Calvin) with how rough and tumble he was, spinning him 'round on the metal table, sticking the thermometer in, spinning him 'round again to check his ears and eyes, pushing his mouth open to look in there, lifting him by his haunches to feel his insides, spinning him 'round to look him over again generally, etc. There wasn't any of the usual gentle prods and pickups which our cats have grown used to complying with. It was a little like watching a guy make pizza out of a dough ball.

I looked on a bit aghast but he wasn't actually hurting Calvin (at least that I could tell). Calvin seemed a bit stunned, is all. Maybe this vet had a domination thing? Calvin was used to "chatting with the techs" (as his vet told me) while in the back if they had to take him back for a test. He was a friendly and gregarious cat who liked people. No domination necessary.

I checked the vet's name so that we wouldn't see him again except in emergency and that's where I saw he was their Large Animal vet. Then it all made sense....I supposed by comparison to his usual patients this cat was a flea. But it made me feel bad for the cows!

My cats main vet is a bit like that but they seem to like him more than the gentler vets. Mutual respect? He does always end by scratching the top of their heads before popping them back in the carrier. I like that he is so quick.
One of the other vets is gentler but also high speed and that works well too.
The third vet is all sweet talk and they puff up and growl at that one!

 

[LozzyR]

Yeah our vets are mostly small animal ~ though as we border country they do some large animal too, mostly horses & goats. They are pretty clueless about chickens though the lady I usually see keeps chickens herself, she just doesn't know much about them.

My present cats are Ragdoll Xs & they hate the vet & flatten themselves in the carrier & push their not inconsiderable weight down. Last time the vet said she had to remove Marlow ~ yard by yard... It was like reeling in a dead whale!!! Luckily my Big Boy is also very placid.

I literally LOL’d at your post Ribh; removing Marlow yard by yard, like reeling in a dead whale! That gave me the best mental image! I’m going to file that away next to “well insulated like a seal”.

 

[LozzyR]

Good post. Your description of different vets and clients reminded me of a story: the time I took our cat Calvin (RIP) to the vet for a yearly checkup and he had to see a different vet who turned out to be their Large Animal guy instead of Calvin's usual dog and cat guy.

Lol, this vet was all business. Caring and concerned in attitude, but he surprised me (and Calvin) with how rough and tumble he was, spinning him 'round on the metal table, sticking the thermometer in, spinning him 'round again to check his ears and eyes, pushing his mouth open to look in there, lifting him by his haunches to feel his insides, spinning him 'round to look him over again generally, etc. There wasn't any of the usual gentle prods and pickups which our cats have grown used to complying with. It was a little like watching a guy make pizza out of a dough ball.

I looked on a bit aghast but he wasn't actually hurting Calvin (at least that I could tell). Calvin seemed a bit stunned, is all. Maybe this vet had a domination thing? Calvin was used to "chatting with the techs" (as his vet told me) while in the back if they had to take him back for a test. He was a friendly and gregarious cat who liked people. No domination necessary.

I checked the vet's name so that we wouldn't see him again except in emergency and that's where I saw he was their Large Animal vet. Then it all made sense....I supposed by comparison to his usual patients this cat was a flea. But it made me feel bad for the cows!

We had a nurse that handled our newborn like that!

 

[Ribh]

I literally LOL’d at your post Ribh; removing Marlow yard by yard, like reeling in a dead whale! That gave me the best mental image! I’m going to file that away next to “well insulated like a seal”.

It was worth seeing. poor puss. He was so frightened.

 

[LozzyR]

We had a nurse that handled our newborn like that!

To be fair, she didn’t hurt him; she just handled him like someone with lots of experience and knew he wasn’t as fragile as new parents think.

I’ve also got a story about hubby being stitched up by a large animal vet...

 

[micstrachan]

I haven’t seen Bob on here since this morning. Are you all good @BY Bob ?

 

[micstrachan]

Also, since it’s already Monday for some of you, here is a Monday Mugshot! (compliments of Minnie)