Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Hazel's molt

I've been very concerned for Hazel the last two days but I'm feeling a little less anxious today. Here's what's different about this that I haven't read anywhere (maybe I've missed it) and I want to report for everyone's thoughts. She has been drinking for a very long time when I come around filling their waterers - she sees me, comes over, and asks to drink from the jug, looking up hopefully, which I've done in the past. Just like cats they like the stream of water. So I sit and pour a thin stream out and sometimes go to the second jug to keep it up. Seriously, she will drink taking good sips for ten minutes. She will walk a few steps away like she's done but then come back and tap on the plastic jug I've still got in my hands so I pour again. Others come around and have some and then go on their way but she stays forever. Her poops are loose, and I am guessing that's why. I have seen her drink from the waterers too. DH jokes she has diabetes. Is this normal molt behaviour & normal poops for molt?

Her pea comb is a dark dusty rose. Not clear pink to pale pink like the others. It is maybe not purple but distinctly darker than the others and I worry it is verging on purple by comparison and I'm paranoid about it. I might be able to get comparison close ups of their combs, what I have doesn't show it well.

She did go up into the coop and nest box yesterday early afternoon, after doing a little wail and a croaking moaning wanting sound, like she used to. She came out shortly but I thought maybe that was encouraging.

But especially later in the day yesterday she was doing a lot of standing around and napping while standing (I thought). However when she stood close by me while I sat with them around dinner time I saw her tremble and tip her head sideways a bit as she closed her eyes. Was that what I was seeing earlier from a distance when I thought she was just dozing? Is she cold? She has some feathers everywhere. Cold from not enough calories? Mareks? A parasite? It was disturbing to see. She wasn't ruffled up. Her feathers were smooth, lying better than they've looked actually. Her new tail feathers are visibly sticking out now. She wasn't hunched up. Maybe a little bit hunched. I could see her head, body and her one long tail feather tremble in a little spasm. She did that two or three times. She'd pop out of this state and act sort of normally again, but she stuck by me not moving much while everyone else foraged elsewhere. It was weird. I frankly thought she might die in the night, and was glad the coop is protected and she could be next to someone if she was cold and be relatively warm with everyone in it. I hoped for the best.

She is very light and bony. Her underside in the back is soft but concave feeling, not flat and soft with innards like everybody else, there's not much in there. She has some crop, she is eating small bits. I've been giving her anything I can think of (yesterday worms, today sardines and some cooked corn on the cob - some kernels off the cob for her, maybe a tablespoon, and then the chewed cob she loved getting into also, and then also today Baby Bird formula in a soft pudding, she took some bites) and she is catching worms again today. Yesterday I got her worms but had to pretend she was catching them, she wouldn't take them from my fingers, she would grab it, drop it, then look quizzically at it and not bite it again, or sometimes she would, and she ate a couple, but I couldn't predict it. So I hid them in dirt, and then scratched and tried to show her they were in there, and even then she was not at all the predator she normally is. But that worked better, she ate some. She did also eat a little greens.

Today she acted much better, she was out and about this morning, and much more bright-eyed and active. I never saw her nap while standing. She was vigorously foraging and getting wild things to eat plus greens. She came over and pulled off bits from dandelion greens I held and ate them, didn't just grab and drop them. Tiny worms have hatched and they found a couple of great spots to dig. Hazel and even Peanut pecked both Butters and Popcorn when the whole bunch were at it and they got too close. Hazel was really hogging it, and I was crouching next to them digging some too with a stick, so I distinctly heard a serious skull knock she gave Popcorn, poor Popcorn! Eventually Popcorn and Butters foraged a foot away together, I dug a bit for them, but anything good or possibly good Hazel was right there, they never got a break though they did manage to get some goodies.

Sorry for the long post. I hope more experience will let me just sum up something, right now the details are all I see, I don't know what it all means. Thanks for listening. I appreciate any ideas or thoughts.

I marked as sad because she's in a something is not right kinda thing and I have no idea. You've got great observation skills so maybe someone else will have an idea and ask the right questions.

 

[featherhead007]

Door handle hanging down almost vertical rather than the horizontal it should be means disassemble to see if can be fixed. Results: large spring wrapped around the center has a wing missing (heard metal hit the floor when opened it up, found the pointy little thing before stepping on it). Put back together so wind doesn't whistle through the house. Use the bolt lock to keep the door shut.

Tomorrow's unplanned project: get/install new door handle.

That’s what I was going to say. “ You will probably need a new handle assembly “

 

[featherhead007]

Hazel's molt

I've been very concerned for Hazel the last two days but I'm feeling a little less anxious today. Here's what's different about this that I haven't read anywhere (maybe I've missed it) and I want to report for everyone's thoughts. She has been drinking for a very long time when I come around filling their waterers - she sees me, comes over, and asks to drink from the jug, looking up hopefully, which I've done in the past. Just like cats they like the stream of water. So I sit and pour a thin stream out and sometimes go to the second jug to keep it up. Seriously, she will drink taking good sips for ten minutes. She will walk a few steps away like she's done but then come back and tap on the plastic jug I've still got in my hands so I pour again. Others come around and have some and then go on their way but she stays forever. Her poops are loose, and I am guessing that's why. I have seen her drink from the waterers too. DH jokes she has diabetes. Is this normal molt behaviour & normal poops for molt?

Her pea comb is a dark dusty rose. Not clear pink to pale pink like the others. It is maybe not purple but distinctly darker than the others and I worry it is verging on purple by comparison and I'm paranoid about it. I might be able to get comparison close ups of their combs, what I have doesn't show it well.

She did go up into the coop and nest box yesterday early afternoon, after doing a little wail and a croaking moaning wanting sound, like she used to. She came out shortly but I thought maybe that was encouraging.

But especially later in the day yesterday she was doing a lot of standing around and napping while standing (I thought). However when she stood close by me while I sat with them around dinner time I saw her tremble and tip her head sideways a bit as she closed her eyes. Was that what I was seeing earlier from a distance when I thought she was just dozing? Is she cold? She has some feathers everywhere. Cold from not enough calories? Mareks? A parasite? It was disturbing to see. She wasn't ruffled up. Her feathers were smooth, lying better than they've looked actually. Her new tail feathers are visibly sticking out now. She wasn't hunched up. Maybe a little bit hunched. I could see her head, body and her one long tail feather tremble in a little spasm. She did that two or three times. She'd pop out of this state and act sort of normally again, but she stuck by me not moving much while everyone else foraged elsewhere. It was weird. I frankly thought she might die in the night, and was glad the coop is protected and she could be next to someone if she was cold and be relatively warm with everyone in it. I hoped for the best.

She is very light and bony. Her underside in the back is soft but concave feeling, not flat and soft with innards like everybody else, there's not much in there. She has some crop, she is eating small bits. I've been giving her anything I can think of (yesterday worms, today sardines and some cooked corn on the cob - some kernels off the cob for her, maybe a tablespoon, and then the chewed cob she loved getting into also, and then also today Baby Bird formula in a soft pudding, she took some bites) and she is catching worms again today. Yesterday I got her worms but had to pretend she was catching them, she wouldn't take them from my fingers, she would grab it, drop it, then look quizzically at it and not bite it again, or sometimes she would, and she ate a couple, but I couldn't predict it. So I hid them in dirt, and then scratched and tried to show her they were in there, and even then she was not at all the predator she normally is. But that worked better, she ate some. She did also eat a little greens.

Today she acted much better, she was out and about this morning, and much more bright-eyed and active. I never saw her nap while standing. She was vigorously foraging and getting wild things to eat plus greens. She came over and pulled off bits from dandelion greens I held and ate them, didn't just grab and drop them. Tiny worms have hatched and they found a couple of great spots to dig. Hazel and even Peanut pecked both Butters and Popcorn when the whole bunch were at it and they got too close. Hazel was really hogging it, and I was crouching next to them digging some too with a stick, so I distinctly heard a serious skull knock she gave Popcorn, poor Popcorn! Eventually Popcorn and Butters foraged a foot away together, I dug a bit for them, but anything good or possibly good Hazel was right there, they never got a break though they did manage to get some goodies.

Sorry for the long post. I hope more experience will let me just sum up something, right now the details are all I see, I don't know what it all means. Thanks for listening. I appreciate any ideas or thoughts.

I have no idea what to do.

 

[featherhead007]

When I tucked Jaffar in for the night, I noticed that his breathing was heavy and he’s been sneezing lately. I pray nothing is wrong with my wonderful rooster.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Hazel's molt

I've been very concerned for Hazel the last two days but I'm feeling a little less anxious today. Here's what's different about this that I haven't read anywhere (maybe I've missed it) and I want to report for everyone's thoughts. She has been drinking for a very long time when I come around filling their waterers - she sees me, comes over, and asks to drink from the jug, looking up hopefully, which I've done in the past. Just like cats they like the stream of water. So I sit and pour a thin stream out and sometimes go to the second jug to keep it up. Seriously, she will drink taking good sips for ten minutes. She will walk a few steps away like she's done but then come back and tap on the plastic jug I've still got in my hands so I pour again. Others come around and have some and then go on their way but she stays forever. Her poops are loose, and I am guessing that's why. I have seen her drink from the waterers too. DH jokes she has diabetes. Is this normal molt behaviour & normal poops for molt?

Her pea comb is a dark dusty rose. Not clear pink to pale pink like the others. It is maybe not purple but distinctly darker than the others and I worry it is verging on purple by comparison and I'm paranoid about it. I might be able to get comparison close ups of their combs, what I have doesn't show it well.

She did go up into the coop and nest box yesterday early afternoon, after doing a little wail and a croaking moaning wanting sound, like she used to. She came out shortly but I thought maybe that was encouraging.

But especially later in the day yesterday she was doing a lot of standing around and napping while standing (I thought). However when she stood close by me while I sat with them around dinner time I saw her tremble and tip her head sideways a bit as she closed her eyes. Was that what I was seeing earlier from a distance when I thought she was just dozing? Is she cold? She has some feathers everywhere. Cold from not enough calories? Mareks? A parasite? It was disturbing to see. She wasn't ruffled up. Her feathers were smooth, lying better than they've looked actually. Her new tail feathers are visibly sticking out now. She wasn't hunched up. Maybe a little bit hunched. I could see her head, body and her one long tail feather tremble in a little spasm. She did that two or three times. She'd pop out of this state and act sort of normally again, but she stuck by me not moving much while everyone else foraged elsewhere. It was weird. I frankly thought she might die in the night, and was glad the coop is protected and she could be next to someone if she was cold and be relatively warm with everyone in it. I hoped for the best.

She is very light and bony. Her underside in the back is soft but concave feeling, not flat and soft with innards like everybody else, there's not much in there. She has some crop, she is eating small bits. I've been giving her anything I can think of (yesterday worms, today sardines and some cooked corn on the cob - some kernels off the cob for her, maybe a tablespoon, and then the chewed cob she loved getting into also, and then also today Baby Bird formula in a soft pudding, she took some bites) and she is catching worms again today. Yesterday I got her worms but had to pretend she was catching them, she wouldn't take them from my fingers, she would grab it, drop it, then look quizzically at it and not bite it again, or sometimes she would, and she ate a couple, but I couldn't predict it. So I hid them in dirt, and then scratched and tried to show her they were in there, and even then she was not at all the predator she normally is. But that worked better, she ate some. She did also eat a little greens.

Today she acted much better, she was out and about this morning, and much more bright-eyed and active. I never saw her nap while standing. She was vigorously foraging and getting wild things to eat plus greens. She came over and pulled off bits from dandelion greens I held and ate them, didn't just grab and drop them. Tiny worms have hatched and they found a couple of great spots to dig. Hazel and even Peanut pecked both Butters and Popcorn when the whole bunch were at it and they got too close. Hazel was really hogging it, and I was crouching next to them digging some too with a stick, so I distinctly heard a serious skull knock she gave Popcorn, poor Popcorn! Eventually Popcorn and Butters foraged a foot away together, I dug a bit for them, but anything good or possibly good Hazel was right there, they never got a break though they did manage to get some goodies.

Sorry for the long post. I hope more experience will let me just sum up something, right now the details are all I see, I don't know what it all means. Thanks for listening. I appreciate any ideas or thoughts.

Golly, I can see why you are concerned. I’m glad she seems better today.

Sorry to be a panic merchant but I remember reading an article about a chook with diabetes a while ago. They were able to manage it with help from the vet. I will try and get a link to it if you are interested.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Back with BY Bob before Bedtime

View attachment 2858829

I have video I will post later.

Ooh the pictures in the background reminded me of the resident signs you have! Are you going to make their placards or wait until they're older? Cute tiny butts to profile now! Loving their built-in shade hats

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Golly, I can see why you are concerned. I’m glad she seems better today.

Sorry to be a panic merchant but I remember reading an article about a chook with diabetes a while ago. They were able to manage it with help from the vet. I will try and get a link to it if you are interested.

That sounds interesting even if one doesn't have a diabetic chicken. How in the world would one manage that?

 

[AfiafiAfi]

Hi,I haven’t posted,i am srry i couldnt make u all happy even with some chicken pics.the reason is ive come to stay at my grans and my servant taking care of my chicks at home,I’ve actually been immensely busy and forgot about u guys while planning with my mom about her surgery in Dubai.She’s not really well and her operation needs to be done as soon as possible but her next doctor appointment is only available at 26 Oct.Prayers would make it easier on her as she’s really nervous about the surgery.I hope I can post my Sunday mugshots today.

 

[AfiafiAfi]

This is what Lilly laid me today-does it look fertile?should I let her keep her other eggs with her to hatch?I can see some red bullseyes but I’d better leave it to the eggperts.what do u think?

 

[micstrachan]

This is one of the reasons I love these threads. Who else in the general population of chicken owners would think to give their hens the alarm call? I’m sure most people would just run at the hawk flapping and yelling.

The shared knowledge and experiences here are brilliant.

I don’t get much in the way of aerial predators here Michelle but, if I see any, I hope to have the presence of mind to give the alarm call like you did.

I forgot to share that when the first hawk visit/attack happened, I did the flapping and yelling thing. But the hawk was on them before I knew it was there. It was their frantic squawking that alerted me.