Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

RC, I’m sorry I have not been following closely enough on this. I do not like her stance. It looks like laying or poopy discomfort. What is her laying and molting status? Can you feel her over for a couple things? Specifically, check how prominent her keel bone us compared to her sister. Also check her fluffy butt for bloatedness. You can also compare this to her sister. For how many days has this been going on? Do you know how her poops are looking?

She is not laying and neither is her sister.
She has had watery diarrhea for two days. She is molting.
She is eating and drinking, and she is foraging.
But she is more subdued than normal and is off roosting on her own.
I am trying to get a poo sample to the vet. I can try and get her an appointment too.

 

[micstrachan]

Her expression, her eye, looks like she feels a little off, or subdued, to me. But hard to say without knowing her better.

I agree 100% she is a little off. Sorry to say. It might not be a big deal.

 

[Scrambles83]

I’m sorry. I had to do this with Little Mill. It’s heartbreaking and feels unnatural to break them, but sometimes it must be done. And for the record, she wanted to kill the chicks I broke down and got her. Point being, don’t feel too bad; she may not have made a good mother, anyway!

Is little Mill your speckled?

 

[micstrachan]

She is not laying and neither is her sister.
She has had watery diarrhea for two days. She is molting.
She is eating and drinking, and she is foraging.
But she is more subdued than normal and is off roosting on her own.
I am trying to get a poo sample to the vet. I can try and get her an appointment too.

Well, molting can do that to them in my experience. I’m glad she’s foraging. Suggestion: pull her aside for private feedings. I’ve had hens foraging like crazy, but not actually consuming anything. My molters can get shy around the flock and not assert themselves to eat. But if I pull them aside to eat in peace, they’ll often actually consume something. If you do the private feedings, you might have to experiment with what gets her excited to eat. Molting or sick birds can get very picky.

 

[micstrachan]

Is little Mill your speckled?

Yep!

 

[micstrachan]

Well here’s a first!

I brought Flash in for some crop work and she tried to roost on the table! See that big ol’ crop on a tiny hen? She’s back out in the coop with her sisters now.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, molting can do that to them in my experience. I’m glad she’s foraging. Suggestion: pull her aside for private feedings. I’ve had hens foraging like crazy, but not actually consuming anything. My molters can get shy around the flock and not assert themselves to eat. But if I pull them aside to eat in peace, they’ll often actually consume something. If you do the private feedings, you might have to experiment with what gets her excited to eat. Molting or sick birds can get very picky.

I will do that. She is bottom of the pecking order so a bit diffident but she got a fair bit of beef liver with rice and kefir today and I have enough food stations she can eat pellets in peace. I think she is eating OK but no harm in giving her extra.
I really hope she picks up.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Well, we have definitely joined the broody club. (sigh)

Pepper has been like this for several days now.

 

[Scrambles83]

Yep!

Good to know.
I was thinking eggs, there’s so many fertile eggs for so many different breeds for sale here it’s crazy! But I can’t think about it or my already weak resolve will weaken more and it’s not workable atm.

 

[Scrambles83]

Well, we have definitely joined the broody club. (sigh)

Pepper has been like this for several days now.
View attachment 2867509

Is Pepper disagreeable when broody?