Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

What is this called, when your hen happily lays next to you and as you pet her, she quickly opens and closes her beak like she’s chewing bubblegum? (I like to call it (Bubble Gumming)?

There must be a term for that behavior??
Kinda like roosters “tidbitting” behavior

 

[RoyalChick]

We had those yesterday as well. All the alarms were up!

OK I will fess up - it wasn't just the chickens and cats who were a bit scared.

I also had a bit of a flash flood in the Chicken Palace - not too serious because it is on a steep hill but it revealed that I need to divert some drain outlets so I have been digging trenches all day. I will definitely sleep well tonight even if there is thunder!

 

[featherhead007]

OK I will fess up - it wasn't just the chickens and cats who were a bit scared.

I also had a bit of a flash flood in the Chicken Palace - not too serious because it is on a steep hill but it revealed that I need to divert some drain outlets so I have been digging trenches all day. I will definitely sleep well tonight even if there is thunder!

I need a pic of you in your muddy clothes! Please?

 

[featherhead007]

I need a pic of you in your muddy clothes! Please?

You don’t have to show me any pictures, if you prefer not to.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Ok, here you go. Flo didn’t love it, so the second video is a little better.

Here is Flo:

Here is Little Mill:

Both are great videos actually, Little Mil's does show hand positioning well, so thanks!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Amber has been really unwell and I basically know what this is but dealing with the symptoms.

I've spoken to a lady vet that is aware of these symptoms and I know all I can do is to keep her as comfortable for as long possible. She is content outside under the old coop dusting herself so still enjoying life and is still top bird.

Flexi us such a patient little love and puts up with all of her grumpy ways by letting her get away with almost everything except when it comes to bananas and then it becomes a free for all.

The vet believes that she has liver problems being the worst factor right now so I hope I'm doing the right thing because all I have too hand is milk thistle.

She loves melon so I sprinkled this fruit with the thistle then later added water which she enjoyed both ways.

This is not a very good picture because princess keeps covering the shot with her bottom.

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So sorry poor Amber is not well, but it's good that she is still enjoying her life as best she can!

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

I'm sorry I mentioned, it's very sad news.

I used to catch up on my news especially world news, at work, but I can't now that I no longer have a desk and computer.

Don't feel bad, I like to know what's going on be it good, bad, or indifferent.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I accidentally broke Peggy's liver from too many treats. To support her, the whole flock have four supplements: milk thistle, choline, biotin, and DMG.

To ensure the hens eat the supplements, I crush them finely in the mortar and pestle and add to two cups of pellets. I shake it all vigorously to mix through, then add a half cup of water and leave it to stand for 30 minutes. Finally I share the wet food out in four bowls and add a tiny amount of cheese (for methionine - another liver supplement) for the hens to eat before roosting.

Peggy was diagnosed some time ago, last year. She's thriving.

Btw, these supplements are recommended by our vet, who's an avian specialist. Here is the post of Peggy's diagnosis and treatment (it dates from November last year, so we know for sure a busted liver is not a death sentence).

PS sorry for sharing all this when you hadn't asked for it x

I've recalled another important thing. I transitioned the whole flock away from a 17% 15% protein grain mix to a 19% 16.5% protein pellet. They weren't happy because they loved that grain mix, but they're much healthier.

And zero starchy foods like bread.

And I buy the supplements from an online vitamins store.

This was informative for me, so thanks for sharing! Question- was the grain mix not balanced in some way for your flock and their livers, such as too many starchy grains? I'm not clear on that. The protein change seems minimal. What else changed?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Hey Scrambles, thanks for asking. Naenae has had a rough go, but is a trooper. She had laid a hard shelled egg in the middle of the yard one afternoon. It looked like a murder scene with mud and blood all over it, but she was acting fine.
The next day she was in the box in the morning and struggling to lay. I watched her and she produced a soft egg (egg 1). Then she was fine.
Later that afternoon I noticed Whip was eyeing Naenae's backside with interest, so I swooped in and brought her into the house. Some poo had collected under her vent, so I bathed her. She then seemed a little out if it, so kept her in to observe and let her rest.
She said a soft egg. (Egg 2) she was complaining and wanted to be out with her sisters, but I didn't like how she was holding her tail.
About an hour later she produced another soft egg (egg 3).
We put her back outside the next morning. She is fine and happy.

I tried researching 3 eggs per day, and people seem to think it is impossible. But I literally watched her lay the first and she was the only bird in the house for eggs 2 and 3.

Regardless...my poor girl will probably have a short laying life... and sadly a short life overall with her tiny little body doing this regularly. At this point this isn't about lack of calcium...it is she releases too many ova too soon.

I haven't been posting bc I'm sad about the whole thing. All we can do is keep a close watch on her and hope her immature little body rights itself quickly and with minimal long term effects on her.View attachment 2764142
Naenae with Allele and Ms. Meatbird playing in grass clippings

Hugs for you, and for poor Naenae, her body is just working so hard, on overtime. You are doing what you can for her. Sending you good vibes for strength and support, and sending hope for Naenae that she has as good a life as she possibly can, doing chickeny things and enjoying the company of her chicken sisters too.

 

[featherhead007]

Hugs for you, and for poor Naenae, her body is just working so hard, on overtime. You are doing what you can for her. Sending you good vibes for strength and support, and sending hope for Naenae that she has as good a life as she possibly can, doing chickeny things and enjoying the company of her chicken sisters too.

I think that we all have a soft spot for beautiful Naenae. I know I do.