Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

This is sort of where I am at, as well… it’s a very fine balance, and exacerbated by having such different breeds. The Meat birds, the production whoopsies, and the home hatched bitsa bunch. If given unlimited feed the meat birds will literally eat themselves to death, but it makes keeping those little red gals fed up enough a challenge. Luckily my chickens are my “work” so for the most part I am able to keep a close eye on it and supplement when someone is looking too thin. I’ve been known to isolate anyone looking thinner than I like and give them unlimited feed for a while to keep them from losing too much body condition.

This all seems reasonable and well thought out. Nice work.

 

[DaisyBuff]

A little update, my little leghorn flock is doing great, but one chick is a bit wet from falling in the water dispenser. She is a bit wobbly but does not seem sick. She is currently under her heat lamp with her siblings to keep warm, best wishes for my little chick Lucky!

 

[Ponypoor]

This is sort of where I am at, as well… it’s a very fine balance, and exacerbated by having such different breeds. The Meat birds, the production whoopsies, and the home hatched bitsa bunch. If given unlimited feed the meat birds will literally eat themselves to death, but it makes keeping those little red gals fed up enough a challenge. Luckily my chickens are my “work” so for the most part I am able to keep a close eye on it and supplement when someone is looking too thin. I’ve been known to isolate anyone looking thinner than I like and give them unlimited feed for a while to keep them from losing too much body condition.

Makes me glad my big gals are just plain mutts.

Now all I have to do is worry about my silkies!

 

[BY Bob]

Boring movie. Us bachelors, went back outside to see the girls (I think Jaffar’s happier that way) I noticed that Arizona is walking around better too.

That is excellent news on Arizona. I'm so glad she is feeling somewhat better.

 

[BY Bob]

Bob wins that contest!

Thanks!

 

[BY Bob]

A little update, my little leghorn flock is doing great, but one chick is a bit wet from falling in the water dispenser. She is a bit wobbly but does not seem sick. She is currently under her heat lamp with her siblings to keep warm, best wishes for my little chick Lucky!

I hope she does out and feels better soon.

 

[micstrachan]

I have no idea, but it sounds plausible. Soy is a big part of commercial chicken food because it is cheap. Fatty live is as you say is associated with estrogen and indeed soy binds to estrogen receptors - so this sounds quite logical to me.
I don't have time right now, but I may rootle around looking for some academic studies on the topic. The only brand I see available has flax and I am sure I read somewhere that is also not great for the chickens themselves.
Oh I have some research to do!

Let me know what you find! Yes, mine have been on a soy protein feed. Remember I used to have them on soy-corn free, but the milling company switched to sesame meal and it gave my girls poopy bums? They still have poopy bums, but now I think it’s probably from having fat a$$es.

Thay are on Modesto Milling layer, 17% protein, minimum 3% fat. I sometimes mix in some starter-grower to increase the protein (22%). I’ll have to check the fat content on that.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi everyone I thought of this thread and all of you when we made this new contest:

Fluffy Butt Photo Contest​

Come check it out!

Hi, Kathy! I’ll check it out.

 

[MaryJanet]

Let me know what you find! Yes, mine have been on a soy protein feed. Remember I used to have them on soy-corn free, but the milling company switched to sesame meal and it gave my girls poopy bums? They still have poopy bums, but now I think it’s probably from having fat a$$es.

Thay are on Modesto Milling layer, 17% protein, minimum 3% fat. I sometimes mix in some starter-grower to increase the protein (22%). I’ll have to check the fat content on that.

Are they fat? Or are they struggling to digest fats?

 

[micstrachan]

Are they fat? Or are they struggling to digest fats?

Yes, they are fat. I can’t tell by looking at them or feeling them, but there have been four necropsies revealing excess body fat, two of which resulted in fatty liver hemorrhage.