Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

I'm going to try once more because I feel I am not communicating my point well. Perhaps there is actually a difference in language here that is beyond my ability to bridge.

When I tell someone I am sorry for their loss, it is because I am sorry for THEIR loss. Whether they have lost a chicken or their best human friend or their parent. I believe them to be grieving and due consolation. They possess their loss. I am sorry that they are experiencing that loss. I wish grief upon no one and yet we all suffer it from time to time and I feel that I should do all I can to help anyone experiencing it.

If I could communicate with the chicken, I might also tell it that I was sorry that this has happened to them, unless of course, they told me they were glad of it.

Well said. For me, the “loss” is real. The relationship is (partly) mine, even if the chicken, human, whoever wasn’t really mine. So I guess it’s projecting my feelings on someone else to say “I am sorry for your loss,” but I actually mean it. They are not just words.

 

[BY Bob]

And we have a good warning which is the absence of song birds.

It is interesting. Most days there are no song birds here. I have only seen them a couple of days since the successful attack. I don't know if that means the hawk is here every day or if the song birds no longer come by because there is no food for them.

 

[BY Bob]

Hi everyone. Sorry I’ve barely been on and have only posted about Ester. Lots going on.

My son was just diagnosed with strep throat. Ester is still unwell and has been self isolating, so I brought her in to warm up. She’s literally just standing there. She is backed up, swollen, not pooping or eating. I did see her drink when she came out this morning.

I gave her an aspirin for the ascites and swelling, and started her on amoxicillin. I wanted to give her some pedialyte with aloe detox, but her crop isn’t moving, so I held off. Instead, I gave her some coconut oil in hopes it helps loosen whatever is backing her up. There is a disgusting stench coming from her when I handle her, I think from her crop. Poor thing… like she’s rotting from the inside out.

Unfortunately, I don’t know if the ascites is causing the blockage or is secondary to it.

I don’t usually like to remove sick birds from the flock, but she’s been hanging out by herself, anyway. I may keep her in tonight for warmth and so I can know for sure that she isn’t pooping. If I can get her crop moving, I’d also like to get some aloe detox in her for the ascites, as well.

I’m not sure what else to do at this point. I may check in the morning if an avian vet can see her. It would be helpful to know what color the fluid in her coelum is, and maybe they could do some imaging. If she’s blocked by cancer, salpingitis, or something that can’t be cleared, like her gizzard, I may have her put down.

I was afraid that this would be so. I'm very sorry for you both.

 

[MaryJanet]

And we have a good warning which is the absence of song birds.

Good point.

 

[featherhead007]

You need to stay in out of the rain for your health. Be smart.

Tax
View attachment 2943386

I had to go see Chaco today! I didn’t get too wet. And stopped by for Chinese food too! (Kung Pow beef will stop any chills)!

 

[Ponypoor]

Chickens are tropical and sub tropical creatures. The temperature ranges they find comfortable can be estimated by where they thrive and their original natural habitat.
Asian jungle temperatures roughly range from 20 centigrade to 35 centigrade.
I know people will tell you that their chickens are just fine at sub zero temperatures and will talk a lot of nonsense about how chickens can adapt and they've got all those feathers to keep them warm etc.
Now go and ask the chicken and offer them a choice of a trip to Hawaii or Canada.

Yep, which is why I have an insulated heated Hen House

My chickies and I are all woosies when it comes to cold and snow; as for choice of trip - they better choose Hawai'i, we already know all about Canadian weather

 

[MaryJanet]

Hi everyone. Sorry I’ve barely been on and have only posted about Ester. Lots going on.

My son was just diagnosed with strep throat. Ester is still unwell and has been self isolating, so I brought her in to warm up. She’s literally just standing there. She is backed up, swollen, not pooping or eating. I did see her drink when she came out this morning.

I gave her an aspirin for the ascites and swelling, and started her on amoxicillin. I wanted to give her some pedialyte with aloe detox, but her crop isn’t moving, so I held off. Instead, I gave her some coconut oil in hopes it helps loosen whatever is backing her up. There is a disgusting stench coming from her when I handle her, I think from her crop. Poor thing… like she’s rotting from the inside out.

Unfortunately, I don’t know if the ascites is causing the blockage or is secondary to it.

I don’t usually like to remove sick birds from the flock, but she’s been hanging out by herself, anyway. I may keep her in tonight for warmth and so I can know for sure that she isn’t pooping. If I can get her crop moving, I’d also like to get some aloe detox in her for the ascites, as well.

I’m not sure what else to do at this point. I may check in the morning if an avian vet can see her. It would be helpful to know what color the fluid in her coelum is, and maybe they could do some imaging. If she’s blocked by cancer, salpingitis, or something that can’t be cleared, like her gizzard, I may have her put down.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Attack Thwarted

I just stopped the Cooper's Hawk. The girls were out gathered around me like this.
View attachment 2943403

The Hawk was coming in from the left, above the shed.

View attachment 2943405
I saw it and took two steps forward to put myself between it and the ladies. It aborted and flew off to the right.

It is NOT gone.

Not a song bird to be found today.

@Shadrach @MaryJanet @Ribh

Thats horrible! Im glad their alright.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well said. For me, the “loss” is real. The relationship is (partly) mine, even if the chicken, human, whoever wasn’t really mine. So I guess it’s projecting my feelings on someone else to say “I am sorry for your loss,” but I actually mean it. They are not just words.

I think it's important to differentiate between things like "my feelings" and "my car" - one is of a person, innate to them and unownable; the other owned. There are sketchy things too like when I purchase and legally own food for the hens, but it's never MJ's chicken food. It's always the hens' food, belonging to the hens. It doesn't belong to me.

 

[Ponypoor]

Well said. For me, the “loss” is real. The relationship is (partly) mine, even if the chicken, human, whoever wasn’t really mine. So I guess it’s projecting my feelings on someone else to say “I am sorry for your loss,” but I actually mean it. They are not just words.

Death and dying are tough subjects. And our personal experiences shape how we deal with it.

For me the death of my silkie Roos to a fox, both at the same time, was deviating. I feel responsible for not protecting them, but at that time I was new to chickens and didn't fully understand the predation risk.

Now I have experience and while the lesson was tragic, I learnt from it, and moved on. There are two constants in this universe: birth and death.