Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Just in time to raise some needed cash. I expect this is the first of many big storms this year. The squirrels don't lie. 🐿🐿 [I actually think those are chipmunks.]

It does sound a bit crow-like!

 

[MaryJanet]

I was thinking the exact same thing - it doesn't look like it has travelled up the leg but it is also not yet 'pointing'.
The best way to get an infection like that to point is soaking (which I think you are doing) and ichthammol.
Now the problem with the above is that is true for all mammals, I know chickens pus tends to go hard (like bumble foot) so I am not 100% sure it works for birds.

Hardened pus is why Janet had to have a surgical procedure on her face that time.

 

[BY Bob]

Just need to have a rant - I'll hide it under a spoiler...

Spoiler: Caution - rant ahead!

This year I started donating to a hen rescue charity in my state. They're wanting to buy a property so that they can house all the chickens that they rescue. I also donate to one of the large animal welfare charities (not naming names as this is a public forum), which I have on and off for a couple of decades.

I saw this video last night of the hen rescue people desperately trying to save hens in a deplorable condition on a battery farm, and officers of the large charity were standing around laughing and joking, completely disinterested in trying to save any of the hens, no attempts to rescue any of them, in fact the CEO told the officers to 'just get rid of them'. There is even their own bodycam footage of their "vet" casually breaking the neck of a poor hen in a not so quick and painless manner.

I am completely done with the large charity. I immediately cancelled my donations and I have funneled them towards the rescue charity instead. It was shocking how callous the officers were and completely disinterested in actual animal welfare. I'm not trying to turn everyone into radicalised activists; I'm just venting as I'm still angry about what I saw. However, if anyone wants to PM me about which charities they are, I will gladly tell you.

We will now return to your regularly scheduled day. [/RANT OFF]

I'm so sorry Lozzy. it breaks my heart.

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 2452484Hi folks!
Just checking in. Had a book study at work tonight, so just got home at 7:00pm. Last night we had a board meeting and I got home around midnight! It’s been a whirlwind this week between teenager appointments, COVID tests, getting Ruby a hormone implant, long work hours... but look what I came home to tonight! Hubby had to jump through hoops to get this for me, as they are pretty much sold out in California.

He truly loves you. They are so cute.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just need to have a rant - I'll hide it under a spoiler...

Spoiler: Caution - rant ahead!

This year I started donating to a hen rescue charity in my state. They're wanting to buy a property so that they can house all the chickens that they rescue. I also donate to one of the large animal welfare charities (not naming names as this is a public forum), which I have on and off for a couple of decades.

I saw this video last night of the hen rescue people desperately trying to save hens in a deplorable condition on a battery farm, and officers of the large charity were standing around laughing and joking, completely disinterested in trying to save any of the hens, no attempts to rescue any of them, in fact the CEO told the officers to 'just get rid of them'. There is even their own bodycam footage of their "vet" casually breaking the neck of a poor hen in a not so quick and painless manner.

I am completely done with the large charity. I immediately cancelled my donations and I have funneled them towards the rescue charity instead. It was shocking how callous the officers were and completely disinterested in actual animal welfare. I'm not trying to turn everyone into radicalised activists; I'm just venting as I'm still angry about what I saw. However, if anyone wants to PM me about which charities they are, I will gladly tell you.

We will now return to your regularly scheduled day. [/RANT OFF]

I can guess the big charity. Their reputation is not good in SA.

I hope the hen rescue peeps put a spoiler on that video.

I'm sorry for the chickens and for you Lozzy. It's a very painful thing.

 

[micstrachan]

It does sound a bit crow-like!

Um.... it appears I quoted the wrong post?

 

[LozzyR]

I can guess the big charity. Their reputation is not good in SA.

I hope the hen rescue peeps put a spoiler on that video.

I'm sorry for the chickens and for you Lozzy. It's a very painful thing.

Yes, the rescue charity put a spoiler warning at the beginning of the vid. It was unbelievable.

I have donated to the big charity on and off for probably close to 25 years. I used to think they were the epitome of animal welfare. I seem to remember an ad campaign in the 80s and 90s that advocated total inclusivity. They are now dead to me.

 

[Kris5902]

Any way to soak that foot in epsom salts?

Yes, he really doesn’t like it... or the big coop with those furry things in it, or being out of sight of his ladies for more than a moment. He is getting a bit better about the last two things but soaking is a challenge with the weather and his size. He has lost quite a lot of weight, but he is still a very, very big boy. I think the warm~tepid water makes it more painful, and I do t want to get him overly wet with our cooler weather.

 

[Kris5902]

I was thinking the exact same thing - it doesn't look like it has travelled up the leg but it is also not yet 'pointing'.
The best way to get an infection like that to point is soaking (which I think you are doing) and ichthammol.
Now the problem with the above is that is true for all mammals, I know chickens pus tends to go hard (like bumble foot) so I am not 100% sure it works for birds.

It was hard and I removed the pus and plug from the bottom of his foot, this is either the bumblefoot infection or a secondary infection. And the bottom of the foot is healed up nicely. The bumblefoot had made it to the stringy nasty stage, and it took a solid week of daily pus removal, wound washing, and re-bandaging with antibiotic ointment to get it to start healing. It was looking good, but then it moved up into the top of his foot and this swelling started. I am unfamiliar with ichthammol but will now be looking it up.

 

[Kris5902]

Yes, the rescue charity put a spoiler warning at the beginning of the vid. It was unbelievable.

I have donated to the big charity on and off for probably close to 25 years. I used to think they were the epitome of animal welfare. I seem to remember an ad campaign in the 80s and 90s that advocated total inclusivity. They are now dead to me.

I’m so sorry you witnessed this Unfortunately, it is the very sad fate of many commercial farm animals, that even the supposed “animal rescuing heroes” don’t really care about the animals. This is why I am very hesitant to support the local big animal welfare group here as well. I know that all too often the “rescues” are just euthanized, and that when it comes to large animals or livestock their understanding is quite limited at best. I will make the disclaimer that I have personally known many front line volunteers for our local big name group that worked hard and really do care, but the overall organizations and many of those involved with them at the higher levels are honestly not that much better than the battery farm operators.

On the other side of the coin a big poultry farm here locally, running organic CX broilers under very good chicken barn conditions made the Whole Foods market GAP (global animal partnership) animal welfare standards level 4 (on a 1-5 scale) rating. The only chicken I will eat other than my own... their abattoir is top notch, the animals are treated very well from hatching to the freezer, and I am confident in their standards for animal welfare. DH toured their facility as a meat dept manager, and became friends with one of the owners sons (who gave me a lot of advice on starting up my meat chicken venture). But, I will never buy store bought eggs again.