Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[goldenfingers]

Oh dear, what have I done? I'm not ready for this right now. What was I thinking? I clearly wasn't thinking clearly, that's what.

 

[Ponypoor]

She’s still resting comfortably. I’m trying to give her water. I check the kitchen, and remembered that I’m out of coconut butter. I guess it’s just a waiting game for me at this point. Poor Rocks-Anne. She’s the greatest hen, and has always been my best friend.

I am thinking good thoughts, and sending hugs to you and Rocks-Anne.

 

[featherhead007]

I am thinking good thoughts, and sending hugs to you and Rocks-Anne.

Thank you

 

[Ponypoor]

A trying day today. Some ups and some downs and I cannot account for what I did except trying to make sure all the new plants are watered.
I discovered someone pulled the plug on one of the rain barrels which I am very unhappy about as that is 50 gallons wasted and it was in the perfect spot for one of the shrubs.


Minnie is more perky but still sleeping a lot of the day and has chosen to roost away from the others which may be a sign of feeling poorly.
I did not see Minnie poop but both Maggie and Dotty still have diarrhea which is disappointing as I was hoping for instant cure from the deworming.
And Minnie decided she wanted to slip into the Hooligans’ HQ (she is so tiny she isn’t much bigger than Bella, so excluding her at this stage is hard). The good news is she showed zero aggression to any of the Hooligans even though they were in quite close quarters together. The bad news is she spent 20 minutes drinking their vitamin B-laced water which will negate the Corid treatment for her!


I need to see if the Hooligans can still fit through the tiny door into the hospital ward and if so I might try and feed them up there until the big Princesses have finished their medicine.
So I am exhausted but all I really did were chicken chores and haul hoses.

Well glad Minnie is at least taking fluids

 

[MaryJanet]

Sadly it is likely to be a cycle. That is why it is important to only treat when you have proof of their presence. It is usually only when the work load reaches a critical point that they start feeling poorly.

Over treatment leads to worm resistance just like bacteria.

Now in my experience it is worse during extremely wet periods of time. I have had to treat my tribe only twice in 9 years. Here it is ascaris worms. I thought I needed to treat about a month ago when I saw some pretty nasty black tear poops but the float test was negative. Therefore, I did not treat and everyone is doing well.

I don't think Bob will mind if I chip in.

I live on sandy soil, which is quite dessicating.

Each hen has a 6 monthly checkup with an excellent avian vet who keeps his own chickens. The check up always includes a fecal float test for parasites. Their burden has never been high enough to warrant treatment.

We've had detailed discussion on my thread about it, and the conclusion was that the sandy soil dessicates many worm eggs before the hens ingest them.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh dear, what have I done? I'm not ready for this right now. What was I thinking? I clearly wasn't thinking clearly, that's what.
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Sweet little ones! Quite a variety of colour and size

 

[Ponypoor]

Hens and nest boxes. Never enough.

I can't help but feel that they are laying eggs somewhere but I have searched high and low and no secret hiding spots. Not much places to hide anyways....

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh dear, what have I done? I'm not ready for this right now. What was I thinking? I clearly wasn't thinking clearly, that's what.
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Awww so sweet

 

[Ponypoor]

Thank you

You ok Alex?

 

[rural mouse]

Oh dear, what have I done? I'm not ready for this right now. What was I thinking? I clearly wasn't thinking clearly, that's what.
View attachment 3130127

The time was right!