Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

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?

I cut bread (starch), mealworms (mostly fat), and leftover potatoes (starch) from their diets (a big change).

I've already explained the various dietary supplements (a huge change).

All the hens were eating the grain mix selectively and therefore not taking up the full nutritional benefit. With pellets, they can't possibly miss out on a nutrient. (Also a huge change).

Is it effective? After 7 months, Peggy thrives.

Every afternoon the hens free range (to the extent possible in a suburban backyard) for an hour or two before they eat their mash and turn in for the night. So they're still eating greens and bugs, but it's restricted to what they can find. In one session, Peggy might eat a cockroach and a worm with a lot of greens - this is much healthier than 150g of live mealworms to herself once a week (which is what I used to give as a treat).

 

[featherhead007]

I cut bread (starch), mealworms (mostly fat), and leftover potatoes (starch) from their diets (a big change).

I've already explained the various dietary supplements (a huge change).

All the hens were eating the grain mix selectively and therefore not taking up the full nutritional benefit. With pellets, they can't possibly miss out on a nutrient. (Also a huge change).

Is it effective? After 7 months, Peggy thrives.

Every afternoon the hens free range (to the extent possible in a suburban backyard) for an hour or two before they eat their mash and turn in for the night. So they're still eating greens and bugs, but it's restricted to what they can find. In one session, Peggy might eat a cockroach and a worm with a lot of greens - this is much healthier than 150g of live mealworms to herself once a week (which is what I used to give as a treat).

Do you know just how difficult it is for me to refrain from giving my chooks treats? I’m glad for you and your success. I just cannot do that. I don’t have the willpower

 

[BY Bob]

Sandy liked her one visit to the beach, but it has to be said she didn't leave the car.

that was just the sweetest moment.

 

[BY Bob]

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!

You must show us the improvements. My run is just soaked right now. The ladies are either under the house or in the coop.

 

[MaryJanet]

Do you know just how difficult it is for me to refrain from giving my chooks treats? I’m glad for you and your success. I just cannot do that. I don’t have the willpower

Yes, I do (really do) understand how hard it is. It's a hardship I lIved through. It wasn't emotionally easy.

She would have died. I did it to save her.

I still give treats! They can all have treats like lettuce.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I cut bread (starch), mealworms (mostly fat), and leftover potatoes (starch) from their diets (a big change).

I've already explained the various dietary supplements (a huge change).

All the hens were eating the grain mix selectively and therefore not taking up the full nutritional benefit. With pellets, they can't possibly miss out on a nutrient. (Also a huge change).

Is it effective? After 7 months, Peggy thrives.

Every afternoon the hens free range (to the extent possible in a suburban backyard) for an hour or two before they eat their mash and turn in for the night. So they're still eating greens and bugs, but it's restricted to what they can find. In one session, Peggy might eat a cockroach and a worm with a lot of greens - this is much healthier than 150g of live mealworms to herself once a week (which is what I used to give as a treat).

The only extras I give my flock is greens from the garden- today they got turnip greens

 

[Marie2020]

I think I posted it on your emergency thread. It’s Lily of the Desert Aloe Detox. I buy it on Amazon.

View attachment 2764721View attachment 2764722View attachment 2764723View attachment 2764724

I'm still searching for this over here. I found the right make but not with all these beneficial ingredients.

Thank you I will find this

 

[Marie2020]

Cloud tax: View attachment 2764832View attachment 2764827

How on earth do you guys cope over there. The heat here is bad enough

 

[Scrambles83]

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

Thanks for the update and I’m sorry she’s going through this. You have every right to be sad, I had just noticed you hadn’t been on so was hoping all was ok

 

[Marie2020]

That's really heavy! Have you seen the flooding in Belgium and Germany? It's given me the shudders.

The weather has gone completely mad. This is scary it's either scorching or under water.