Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Ya as long as it's not a big frost after its half way open like yours did...

Everything is about two weeks behind here, we should have green grass now, and crocus coming up.... Nothing so far!

But the frogs and toads are awake and croaking up a storm - always a sign of spring here!

Next it will be the barn swallows arriving - guess I will let them nest in the barn. I think risk is low, seems it's water fowl mostly carrying avian flu.

My geese are here, but no babies this year… usually they are knee high fluff balls by now, I’m not sure if all the flooding and massive changes to the area around their usual nesting site of the pond in our gulley have discouraged them from sitting this year.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi folks. Sorry I did not take photos this weekend, but the girls did enjoy free ranging all day Saturday and part of Sunday.

Remember the quilt I was working on? It’s finished!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you for these! You know I have a degree in Biology from the University of California at Berkeley and was a practicing Molecular biologist for over ten years, right?

I GREATLY appreciate the articles and fully understand your disclaimers. I miss having free access to scientific articles, too!

Just glancing at the references, I won’t be surprised if the majority of birds in the northern California study were sent into UC Davis, where I send mine.

Thank you so much for pulling this all together!

I did remember that you were a molecular biologist - it is why I mentioned that I didn’t provide sources in my original post, so you wouldn’t think I had just made up my summary!

 

[Ponypoor]

My geese are here, but no babies this year… usually they are knee high fluff balls by now, I’m not sure if all the flooding and massive changes to the area around their usual nesting site of the pond in our gulley have discouraged them from sitting this year.

Awwww ya likely, we normally have goslings now also but non so far, I think it's been too cold, or maybe mama is hiding her babies and we don't see them.

I would say your geese will find another nesting location soon, they will need to get them hatched sooner rather than later.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thank you for these! You know I have a degree in Biology from the University of California at Berkeley and was a practicing Molecular biologist for over ten years, right?

I GREATLY appreciate the articles and fully understand your disclaimers. I miss having free access to scientific articles, too!

Just glancing at the references, I won’t be surprised if the majority of birds in the northern California study were sent into UC Davis, where I send mine.

Thank you so much for pulling this all together!

That's awesome Michelle, do you still work in the biology field? Or like me did you branch out to something different and make a complete U-turn in your career?

 

[RoyalChick]

All great questions. I have to reread RC’s post re: dietary fat vs. carbs.
I always ASSumed % was by weight, but you know what happens when one ASSumes…

My understanding is that animal food labels are done on a percentage of dry weight basis. Human food is done on a percent of ‘RDA’ (recommended daily allowance).
The papers I summarized point to a higher % fat and protein being better than a lower % fat and protein. The remainder is carbohydrate and fillers.
The foods I have looked at so far range from 2.5% fat to 4% fat. Protein percents are far more variable from 16% in some layer feeds up to 24% in some starter feeds.

 

[Ponypoor]

Chickens are great at getting rid of foxtail! The only thing on the island that will eat it, and they love it. I’m pretty sure the seeds don’t survive the chicken processing either… I virtually eliminated all the foxtail near my trailer, without even really trying!

That's good to know! I don't have any growing around here that I can see, and after one year of the horrors of foxtail causing ulcers in my horse mouths I am very careful with my hay sources.

Can't wait for dandelions to start popping up the chickens love them!

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi folks. Sorry I did not take photos this weekend, but the girls did enjoy free ranging all day Saturday and part of Sunday.

Remember the quilt I was working on? It’s finished!
View attachment 3058471

FANTASTIC!!
It really is gorgeous.

 

[LozzyR]

Hi folks. Sorry I did not take photos this weekend, but the girls did enjoy free ranging all day Saturday and part of Sunday.

Remember the quilt I was working on? It’s finished!
View attachment 3058471

Beautiful! I hope it gave you some comfort during your grief.

 

[LozzyR]

Brilliant post!! Thanks for spending that time and writing it up RC!

It explains why Mark the vet was so keen on supplementing Peggy's diet with choline.

If anyone is interested, Peggy was diagnosed with FLHS surgically, as in the vet opened her up and took a look. There's no doubt at all that she has FLHS
That was 18 months ago. Today, she thrives (apart from moulting but that's unrelated).

Mark (the vet) prescribed pellets with high protein, which have adequate selenium too. To be supplemented with

• Choline
• Biotin
• DMG
• Milk thistle
• Cottage cheese
• Enzymes

I haven't missed a day of providing supplements, except when I let her try a hatch. It was not a wise decision in terms of her diet and I won't be allowing her to sit in future.

Anyway, if anyone's hens are confirmed as having FLHS, maybe try that supplement regime. There's no harm in the other hens having those supplements.

Cutting fat isn't always the right answer.

Would this be ok to give to hens if there isn’t a diagnosis of FLHS? Just to be extra healthy?