Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Exactly, thanks!

I had an idea about the loose poo after reading about sorrel and oxalic acid. I read it can be a diuretic in humans when consumed in enough quantity. Also I know from possibly outdated nutrition teachings that oxalic acid is thought to bind with the calcium in foods like brocolli and kale, making the calcium less available to the body. I thought it would work the other way too. In the absence of additional calcium to bind it up, could the oxalic acid in the dandelion, grass and other greens she was eating be causing the loose poo through a diuretic action? This would be why she seemed to drink so much also.

She is molting and it is Fall. She is laying less and never went to the oyster shell cups that I saw (however much she used to eat). She was not eating the pellets or mash due to the molt. The only calcium she was likely getting then was in the greens, and that's not enough to compensate for the oxalic acid in them. She had both digging-only days and days I saw her go after greens exclusively (when I watched her), and she always ate the greens I offered her.

Just a thought.

Funny… I was reading up on this just last night!

 

[micstrachan]

@RoyalChick Did I miss a Minnie update? Holding my breath on what the vet says.

 

[RoyalChick]

Just checking in with a quick update on Minnie. We are back from the vet and not a lot to report except I feel like I am a terrible chicken caretaker and I am trying to tell myself it is because I am still learning.
The good news is I really like the vet I went to even though she is a fair bit away. She isn't a chicken expert but she does have her own small backyard flock.
Trouble is, to quote the vet "Minnie didn't tell me much". So no impaction that she could feel. She thinks she has lost weight and is too skinny (which is what makes me feel so terrible because I didn't notice that at all). She thinks is worried that 'something is going on' beyond either parasites or molting.
She will call me tomorrow when results are back but in the meantime she approved of the beef liver with chopped cabbage diet supplement and suggested I add some electrolyte powder to her water as she is probably losing a lot in the diarrhea.
The treatment plan for now is mainly supportive: let her run around with everyone else during the day because it is stressful to separate her but put her in the brooder box at night so she wakes up and I can be sure she has eaten a hearty breakfast before letting her out. Add electrolytes to her water and make sure she isn't in any drafts (it is getting cold at night now.
I feel quite sad and desperate to be honest - how can I have let her lose weight and not notice? I have bought scales so that won't happen again.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick Did I miss a Minnie update? Holding my breath on what the vet says.

Oh you are so sweet to check in. I was feeling a bit despondent to be honest so just sat out with the chickens and moped. Just posted an update now.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Praying for the best!

 

[cfonts]

I’m so sad to say that Charlie is dead. I came home this evening and hubby told me he found her dead on the ground. She would have been three in November. Her voice sounded a little different for a day or so and I noticed today I could hear her breathing (through her nostrils, she wasn’t panting). Otherwise she didn’t seem any different. She laid an egg today and squatted for me. We buried her with a sliver of cheese to pay the ferryman and a blueberry for her to snack on for the journey.

I honestly don’t know if I can do this anymore. It’s been nearly a year since we lost Lucy, which it the longest we’ve gone without a death. I’m struggling to do the maintenance required and the meds are making it difficult to care about stuff. I’ll see how I feel in a few days.

As it’s still Monday, I’d like to honour Charlie with Monday Mugshots. RIP my big beautiful bully.

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I am SO sorry to hear about your loss! I know that it never gets any easier losing a loved one (because that's what these chickens are to us, they're more than pets), but I hope that you find some comfort in knowing that you gave her a good home. Please know that I am thinking of you during this difficult time

 

[cfonts]

Just checking in with a quick update on Minnie. We are back from the vet and not a lot to report except I feel like I am a terrible chicken caretaker and I am trying to tell myself it is because I am still learning.
The good news is I really like the vet I went to even though she is a fair bit away. She isn't a chicken expert but she does have her own small backyard flock.
Trouble is, to quote the vet "Minnie didn't tell me much". So no impaction that she could feel. She thinks she has lost weight and is too skinny (which is what makes me feel so terrible because I didn't notice that at all). She thinks is worried that 'something is going on' beyond either parasites or molting.
She will call me tomorrow when results are back but in the meantime she approved of the beef liver with chopped cabbage diet supplement and suggested I add some electrolyte powder to her water as she is probably losing a lot in the diarrhea.
The treatment plan for now is mainly supportive: let her run around with everyone else during the day because it is stressful to separate her but put her in the brooder box at night so she wakes up and I can be sure she has eaten a hearty breakfast before letting her out. Add electrolytes to her water and make sure she isn't in any drafts (it is getting cold at night now.
I feel quite sad and desperate to be honest - how can I have let her lose weight and not notice? I have bought scales so that won't happen again.

Keeping Minnie in my thoughts and prayers. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to be so hard on yourself - you are NOT a terrible chicken caretaker. Like you said, you are still learning (as we all are) and you try and do the best for your chooks.

 

[Ribh]

Just checking in with a quick update on Minnie. We are back from the vet and not a lot to report except I feel like I am a terrible chicken caretaker and I am trying to tell myself it is because I am still learning.
The good news is I really like the vet I went to even though she is a fair bit away. She isn't a chicken expert but she does have her own small backyard flock.
Trouble is, to quote the vet "Minnie didn't tell me much". So no impaction that she could feel. She thinks she has lost weight and is too skinny (which is what makes me feel so terrible because I didn't notice that at all). She thinks is worried that 'something is going on' beyond either parasites or molting.
She will call me tomorrow when results are back but in the meantime she approved of the beef liver with chopped cabbage diet supplement and suggested I add some electrolyte powder to her water as she is probably losing a lot in the diarrhea.
The treatment plan for now is mainly supportive: let her run around with everyone else during the day because it is stressful to separate her but put her in the brooder box at night so she wakes up and I can be sure she has eaten a hearty breakfast before letting her out. Add electrolytes to her water and make sure she isn't in any drafts (it is getting cold at night now.
I feel quite sad and desperate to be honest - how can I have let her lose weight and not notice? I have bought scales so that won't happen again.

It's the feathers. They hide weight loss really well so just looking you'd never pick a chicken losing. You've done great with Minnie. I checked in here 1st thing hoping for news. Hoping the vet can pin point what's wrong.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I’m so sad to say that Charlie is dead. I came home this evening and hubby told me he found her dead on the ground. She would have been three in November. Her voice sounded a little different for a day or so and I noticed today I could hear her breathing (through her nostrils, she wasn’t panting). Otherwise she didn’t seem any different. She laid an egg today and squatted for me. We buried her with a sliver of cheese to pay the ferryman and a blueberry for her to snack on for the journey.

I honestly don’t know if I can do this anymore. It’s been nearly a year since we lost Lucy, which it the longest we’ve gone without a death. I’m struggling to do the maintenance required and the meds are making it difficult to care about stuff. I’ll see how I feel in a few days.

As it’s still Monday, I’d like to honour Charlie with Monday Mugshots. RIP my big beautiful bully.

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Condolences for Charlie's passing. So suddenly is a shock. I wish I could take your pain away. What a beautiful hen! I'm so sorry.

 

[Blazinga]

You will doubtless be pleased to read that you have won the impossible competition of coming up with a set of officially approved Shad style chicken names.
I'm going to use the names you've suggested. All I have to do now is work out who should have which name.

One of my old friends had a pair of chickens named the similes and a pair named the metaphors. I would like to name a hen in honor of her favorite girl who was called Rhodanza.