Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Oh! That is very good to know. I thought it might be fatal - it is a nasty disease in people.

It actually is not as dangerous with chickens. For whatever reason they are able to manage it much better. Fingers crossed that is what it is and she starts to improve. If it is botulism and she is not getting worse, then she will start improving soon.

 

[BY Bob]

We used a dozen of my darker Marans eggs this year for easter. They worked great for blue, purple, red and green. You are right, yellow and orange do not work as great.

For yellow and orange you need beige eggs like all my ladies lay except Phyllis.

 

[micstrachan]

Maggie
I am having a bit of a health scare with Maggie right now. She went to the vet on Friday who is a bit mystified and going to do some research and consult colleagues before recommending a way forward.
Basically she has a problem with balance.

Here is a video compilation I put together to show the vet because of course in the vet’s office Maggie steadfastly refused to do anything but stand and stare at the vet and poop all over her table.

On my list of possible causes are:
- Marek’s (the vet is skeptical)
- Botulism (but she hasn’t been around anything rotting)
- Mold (but the food seems fine and she is off commercial feed again)
- Vitamin or mineral deficiency - thiamine, B12 and selenium deficiencies can cause ataxia (maybe she got deficient because she is off commercial feed)
- Zinc poisoning. When she was X-rayed 15 months ago when she laid two lash eggs the vet did note she had eaten some small screws but that is a long time ago.

She is getting about in a drunken sort of way and is as feisty with the roadrunners as ever. Actually they are more terrified of her even than normal because you can’t really predict which way she will lurch so she is harder to avoid!

The vet recommended I put her in the hospital ward after dark so she doesn’t fall over and injure herself, but she put herself to bed in her nesting box which is even more contained so I let her be. How she got up there is anyone’s guess.

I am not waiting for a diagnosis to treat for vitamin deficiency and zinc toxicity. Today she seems no better but also no worse.

I am a bit devastated. These lovely ladies seem so fragile! I am buoying my spirits by remembering that Minnie pulled through and at her worst was much sicker than Maggie seems now.

And here is an action shot of Minnie with her nice plump red comb going after some choice morsel.

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Oh no! Poor Maggie. That looks like significant ataxia. Do you remember my Minnie had ataxia toward the beginning of her molt when she was off commercial feed? I treated her with some B complex and she seemed to recover, but I never knew for sure what the cause was. I suspected the same things you did, with the exception of zinc poisoning and ruled them out the same way. I also tubed baby bird formula, but that comes with significant risk and some people say should only be used as a last resort.

 

[RoyalChick]

It actually is not as dangerous with chickens. For whatever reason they are able to manage it much better. Fingers crossed that is what it is and she starts to improve. If it is botulism and she is not getting worse, then she will start improving soon.

But where would she have got botulism from? I understand if she was free-ranging but she has been more-or-less confined given the weather.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh no! Poor Maggie. That looks lije significant ataxia. Do you remember my Minnie had ataxia toward the beginning of her molt when she was off commercial feed? I treated her with some B complex and she seemed to recover, but I never knew for sure what the cause was. I suspected the same things you did, with the exception of zinc poisoning and ruled them out the same way. I also tubed baby bird formula, but that comes with significant risk and some people say should only be used as a last resort.

I do remember your Minnie, but had forgotten specifically that she had ataxia. Early this morning Maggie got a full day's dose of B complex along with selenium and other vitamins and minerals.
I will try repeating that again every day over the next few days.

 

[micstrachan]

Winterizing

Yesterday I needed to cover the end of the run and porch with shower curtains as sustained winds up to 50 mph (80 kph) were due last night. I believe that @micstrachan asked how I secured it so I took photos of the process.

First, the end of the run takes a full shower curtain. I screw it on with the same screws and washers I use for the hardware cloth.

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I then staple it to the bottom of the 2x4 as you can see above.

Then I use boards with screws to attach it via the 3 frame boards on the end. This pinches the shower curtain tight. See below:

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I then staple it to the bottom board, top and bottom, and then replace the protective bricks.
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With that we are done. It stood up to last night's wind storm beautifully.

Thanks, Bob! That looks very secure! I love that the curtain has grommets. Brilliant! I used clear vinyl tablecloths and staples, which might not be very secure.

 

[micstrachan]

I think it is too early to say that she is losing her. I'm being she starts to come out of it soon. Maggie is tough. She does not give up easy.

I agree 100%.

 

[micstrachan]

But where would she have got botulism from? I understand if she was free-ranging but she has been more-or-less confined given the weather.

An old mouse carcass?

 

[Scrambles83]

Flockservations

I spent a lot of time with the tribe yesterday. I even let them out to free range. They had an armed guard standing among them the whole time and there was no sign of the hawk. Let's start with those videos.

We can come out?

This helps to demonstrate the fear they still have. As you watch you can see Hattie scare herself and some of the others.

Let's hang out under the apple trees

A New Leader
There has been a definitive change in the pecking order as well. I cannot tell you what happened but Aurora is now clearly number 2. Hattie has given way. I've seen Aurora growl Hattie off a hand full of food and I watched push Hattie off of a patch of leaves yesterday. The entire tribe followed her lead yesterday as to where they went. It is absolutely clear that she was in charge.

I have still seen Lilly push Aurora off of food and Aurora still defers to her elsewhere. So Lilly remains Alpha.

Watching Aurora yesterday I have to say that I am pretty much please with the way she is running things. I think much like Lilly, she has called down now that she is in charge, per se. This will be very interesting to watch.

The question at Fluffy Butt Acres being debated is did Hattie lose her spot because she was on sentinel duty when the hawk caught caught Sylvie and the tribe has asked for a change?

Its great they could have some range time with you watching over them.
When you mentioned Aurora moving up in the order my first thought was her sentinel job and not warning the others in time could be a factor.
It’s very interesting.

 

[BY Bob]

But where would she have got botulism from? I understand if she was free-ranging but she has been more-or-less confined given the weather.

An old blueberry, apple core, raisin, even and old piece of chicken food. It would not have to be a large piece. The wet weather would aid in the rotting process.