Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Blazinga]

Good news, the pink comb was a false alarm, it's still orange. The lighting was playing tricks on my eyes. However, I see where the waddle buds should start growing, but then again I have nothing to compare to since Creamsicle is my only clean faced bird. I'm probably over worrying, but this is only the second time I've had chicks and last time was about nine years ago .

Took them outside for the first time. Apparently the favorite snack to forage are maple blossoms. They kept fighting over eating them.

 

[Blazinga]

Yes, there may be something to Lozzy's suggestion @Blazinga - early on I read about a bit of a kerfuffle on BYC - and I'm not straight on the details - but some people were upset about the use of their posted pictures. I read that some people put signatures or watermarks on their photos for this reason. I wondered if this had to do with the yearly calendar or the threads in general, I don't know. Anybody here know? But your artwork has real value and you wouldn't want it appropriated. At least we here don't want that to happen to you.

I've heard a lot of discussions on art theft and honestly I don't know the answer. The safest watermarks to use end up covering the focus of the art piece rather than a corner signature that can be easily cropped out. If the time comes I'll deal with it to the best of my ability, but I won't be too enraged unless someone is gaining monetary profit off of my stuff.

 

[fuentemoon]

We got our first and second eggs of the year today! Right egg is Rosie's and unfortunately has a dent in the tip, so will need to be used right away, the other we assume is Brennas despite looking more like an Alinta egg, since Alinta hasn't shown any interest in laying yet.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks, Michelle. I still haven't named them. They are so unlike what I'm used to in chickens & so far nothing has really resonated with me & them.

How so? Their personalities? What are they like?

 

[micstrachan]

We got our first and second eggs of the year today! Right egg is Rosie's and unfortunately has a dent in the tip, so will need to be used right away, the other we assume is Brennas despite looking more like an Alinta egg, since Alinta hasn't shown any interest in laying yet.
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Nice! And they look pretty big for first eggs of the season!

 

[fuentemoon]

Nice! And they look pretty big for first eggs of the season!

Rosie's eggs have always been big, largest have been hard to fit in the carton! The other egg is very long, they have both been talking and prepping for days, so happy those first ones have been laid, might get a little quieter for a day or two at least

 

[micstrachan]

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OMG. Best photo ever.

Where’s the link to that kitten/broody video? I need to share it out.

 

[Ribh]

How so? Their personalities? What are they like?

Well I have things like Campines & Wyandottes: loud, flighty, screamers. Really Smart, sassy, ~ & the Campines are really clever clowns. Not domineering or aggressive @ all but real pieces of work & mad as hatters more often than not. The Vorwerks are very quiet & clever but sorta really ditzy too. They are confident but also can also be timid with other hens. I just haven't really got a grip on them yet. They think I'm the devil incarnate.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I was very despondent last night. I'm not sure quite what prompted me to do it; maybe having a phone easily to hand. I rang my friend Mohammed. I think I've mentioned, he keeps Game Fowl.
I told him as much as I could about Fat Birds problem. He suggested massage. He said back in thhe day when his father had fighting cocks, sometimes a cock would get upended and land on his lower back. This dislocated caudal vertebrae
and sometimes damaged the nerves that send balance signals from the 'tail' nerves to the brain. We think, Gloria and I, that Fat Bird either banged her back just above this region, or now I think in retrospect that it is more likely that a tool handle such as a rake or broom got knocked over and hit her. All Tribe 1 was spending a lot of time in the care port at the time and stuff is always falling over.
Mohammed explained what I should feel for and a bit about how to massage gently pushing the joints upwards.
I gave it a try early this morning.
You would not believe the difference it made.
Fat Bird has been with her tribe all day. Her balance while not great is much improved. Considering yesterday she sat in just about the same place all day and hardly ate anything the change in her general demeanour is remarkable.
Let me show you.
This is the North earth retaining wall next to my house. There was no way Fat Bird would have attempted to come down this way yesterday; she would have split from the tribe and come down the South wall which has steps.
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Here she's having a bit of a sunbath and grooming. She hasn't been grooming much for quite a few days.
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Much better overall posture here and although you can't see it her feet are much better positioned.
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This is the one that had me worried. This slope is steep and if I have to go down it at this point I use a rope tied to the fence. The whole tribe had been down there and I saw the rest come over the top without Fat Bird and looked over the top of the fence expecting to see her stuck and sat down. She's eating on her way up. She made it all the way no problem.
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Mohammed says that the bones are unlikely to properly align again and if a nerve is damaged it's doubtful that it will properly repair. However, he believes that provided some relief is possible a chicken will in time learn to compensate for the lack of nerve response.
His view is that much like humans after an accident that damages the nervous system and may make walking almost impossible, if some relief can be provided they will learn to adapt. If on the other hand it is always too difficult then they stop trying.
Fat Bird still stumbled a bit today but I didn't see her fall over and she was normally active all day from what I could see. She went to roost with her tribe this evening. She was already on the perch when I went to look for her expecting she wanted carrying to the coop.
None of the above will sort out her internal problems but while she's coping with those I want to see her active, with her tribe and eating at least some commercial feed.
We all have to die, but I don't want her suffering needlessly on route.
I'm going to give her a half dose of Metacam in the evenings. Being in pain during the day for me at least is bearable. Being in pain when I'm trying to sleep, which is our natural escape, pisses me off and in time just brings me down.

That's great news Shad.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Happy Easter Sunday everyone.

My sister gave me a brooch recently which I wanted to share as it's perfect for Easter.