Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Those of you who are following my thread in the emergencies forum will know that things are a bit touch and go with Bernadette.
Seeing this just before bed therefore really tugged at my heartstrings. She is trying to scratch with her bad leg!

I think Lulu is responsible for the big hole in the bedding. But whatever she found down there is obviously of interest to everyone.

 

[RoyalChick]

My roo, Darl, died last night. I found him on the floor of the coop this morning. His comb was a bit purple-ish, so maybe he had a heart attack...? He head was at an odd angle, and it could be the he broke his neck when he fell off the roost.

He was a bit of a butthead to me; that was his nickname a lot of the time. But he was good with the girls. They are very subdued today. I took them bread for their snack this afternoon. They get that only very rarely, but I figured today the nutrition rules weren't important.

Oh so sorry. I don’t think we have seen pictures of him. I am sure all of you will miss him.

 

[Ponypoor]

Those of you who are following my thread in the emergencies forum will know that things are a bit touch and go with Bernadette.
Seeing this just before bed therefore really rugged at my heartstrings. She is trying to scratch with her bad leg!

I think Lulu is responsible for the big hole in the bedding. But whatever she found down there is obviously of interest to everyone.

View attachment 3065948

Is she eating drinking and pooping ok?

 

[bgmathteach]

I knew I could not do it. I do not know what is recommended for a restricted diet, but I thought of it this way. From the time they get off the roost until they get back on, if they are not laying or dust bathing mine are eating. They work for their food, will forage and dig for stuff and ignore the feeder's most times, but they are still eating. I would feel guilty of intentionally starving them, which I would never do to a animal to try to extend their lives. They have a purpose, I don't agree with how they were created and bred to serve that purpose, and I will never bash someone raising them to feed their family. There may come a day when I will have to start raising chickens for meat for my family, but it is not yet. For now they are pets and egg layers. I remember when I was little my grandparents raised everything, and told me to not make pets out of the livestock as they would eventually be food. I still did, cried many times when the day came. I also know that until that day came they were treated very well and had good lives. The way the economy is going, and inflation my area could see that time coming again very soon.

Okay....FYI...I can be opinionated, but I can also respect others' opinions.. If you don't want to read the whole post, this sums it up!

Yes, I know others that raise them. I just won't, I don't think that they have a real chicken life/are content (do I know for sure? No!), and it isn't natural, so I refuse to raise them for myself. If someone else wants to, it is fine..but we bred them to be so fast growing that many start dying at 10-12 weeks. Right now, I eat my 'extra' roosters and some older hens...and am trying to create my own meat bird where the roos are more than 'just drumsticks' as my husband says, yet are still active, healthy chickens, can breed naturally, forage, etc. Something I am okay with raising and eating.(per my personal ethics) Plus, the cornishX - the one time I raised them, the meat was less flavorful and a mushier texture than our chickens. Note that I haven't bought chicken in the stores for years...so I am used to ours...but I do think foraging & free ranging makes the meat more flavorful.
Again, I don't condemn anyone for raising them...just like I don't for anyone raising the high production breeds. I'm just ashamed that someone somewhere felt that pushing the animal's genetic limits so as to make them unhealthy and suffer is just not right. But it is done, and won't be undone unless everyone thinks the same....which is virtually impossible since we all have different needs and opinions and values. Since I don't want to live in a dictator ship where other's values and decrees are shoved down my throat....I can feel strongly...but I can't and won't force my opinion on someone else. (Note, I sometimes won't shut upso you DO know where I stand...but I generally can live with other's opinions okay. )

 

[Ponypoor]

My roo, Darl, died last night. I found him on the floor of the coop this morning. His comb was a bit purple-ish, so maybe he had a heart attack...? He head was at an odd angle, and it could be the he broke his neck when he fell off the roost.

He was a bit of a butthead to me; that was his nickname a lot of the time. But he was good with the girls. They are very subdued today. I took them bread for their snack this afternoon. They get that only very rarely, but I figured today the nutrition rules weren't important.

Oh no so sorry to hear - sorry for your loss. Hard to lose a good Roo.

 

[bgmathteach]

My roo, Darl, died last night. I found him on the floor of the coop this morning. His comb was a bit purple-ish, so maybe he had a heart attack...? He head was at an odd angle, and it could be the he broke his neck when he fell off the roost.

He was a bit of a butthead to me; that was his nickname a lot of the time. But he was good with the girls. They are very subdued today. I took them bread for their snack this afternoon. They get that only very rarely, but I figured today the nutrition rules weren't important.

I'm sorry about Daryl. Somehow, the buttheads steal our hearts too (as well as frustrate us!) Chickens don't live by human rules, even though we wish they did....and when we see them being real chickens (Roos) with their girls, it brings pride for them,,,and some admiration. More hugs for you and the girls.

 

[RoyalChick]

Is she eating drinking and pooping ok?

Oh yes. Like a champion! Her only issue is paralysis of her left leg.

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh yes. Like a champion! Her only issue is paralysis of her left leg.

Have you been using the sling? I would say as long as she is eating etc then she seems to be thriving.

 

[rural mouse]

@RoyalChick : clearly @rural mouse is your 'secretary'....perfectly concise and thorough 'catch-up!' for michelle!

On a one off, sure. For 2 weeks....life....

 

[RoyalChick]

Have you been using the sling? I would say as long as she is eating etc then she seems to be thriving.

She wasn't a big fan of the sling. So I am strapping her into a boot.
Here is the latest progress I posted over on her thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/post-25607902