Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I do think that 5 months is a bit early. I'm hoping that she hasn't laid internally. Maybe a warm soak will help her relax and feel better, even if there is no egg near the 'exit'

I"m so hoping for you that she is okay and pulls through. Do you have any idea what Minnie and Dotty passed from? I'm hoping Lulu doesn't have that....not feeling well, tail down, 'hiding/isolating' were all symptoms.

Oh, gosh...I'm not sure if i should post this thought or not. I know you will worry needlessly if it isn't....but what if it is? Okay, I'm posting. Please forgive me if I cause you needless worry, but I'm afraid that something might be in the environment that is going round. Hoping it isn't Sending you hugs and prayers

I have thought of the environment and the weird pink feed. But they are sick in different ways and nothing seems to fit.
The Roadrunners were sick in the same way as each other, but Bella clearly had respiratory symptoms and a confirmed respiratory virus.
Lulu really looks like reproductive issues.
And apart from the feed really nothing makes much sense from a poison point of view. Before the Chicken Palace it was just a meadow. The chicken Palace didn’t use any toxic stuff - no pressure treated lumber etc.

 

[Ponypoor]

That is very distressing - I know nothing about horses but that certainly didn't look good.

Not sure what happened, I was in the barn heard a crack/crash and thundering hooves - running screaming chickens…. I ran out of the barn, jumping over chickens running into the barn expecting someone (um Truly…) had crashed through the fence.

Fencing up? Looks like it… count chickens - ok 13 including the 2 broodies, 4 horses - 4 legs each…. What the heck?!

I took a closer look at everyone, horses, chickies all look ok.

Walk the fence - aha! The bottom ground boards to hold the chicken wire down on the horse fence side of the run, on two sections were completely popped off. I have no idea how on earth that happened or who did it.

I know one thing though, these critters are gonna drive me nuts

 

[Ponypoor]

I can hardly put this into words, but little Lulu is in trouble.
She went into the nest boxes this morning and stayed about 4 hours. No egg. She came out on her own and wandered around but looked bad (tail down, not moving fast). I gave her some calcium pills and had a feel around but I cannot feel an egg, so if one is stuck it is stuck higher up in the system.
She went back into the nest boxes this afternon for another couple of hours.
Still no egg.
She is out now but not looking great.
I managed to get some more calcium into her but I have a horrible feeling of impending doom.

If I lose Lulu I think I really need to rethink keeping chickens. I just don't seem to be very good at keeping them alive. Or maybe I keep a much larger number and care more about the flock than the individual and accept losses as just one of those things that goes with keeping chickens.

Poor little Lulu - I knew she was too young and too small to be laying eggs (albeit very small ones).

My silkie started laying at around 5 months, I don’t think her age is a factor, but I do wonder if she is having a painful ‘ovulation’, I imagine chickens are similar to humans, horses, cattle… I have had my gals show signs of pain when first starting to lay eggs. It can’t be a pleasant thing for a hen to lay an egg daily. Which is why I have no problems with them going broody.

Oh I sure hope she is ok, please keep us updated.

 

[Ponypoor]

I have thought of the environment and the weird pink feed. But they are sick in different ways and nothing seems to fit.
The Roadrunners were sick in the same way as each other, but Bella clearly had respiratory symptoms and a confirmed respiratory virus.
Lulu really looks like reproductive issues.
And apart from the feed really nothing makes much sense from a poison point of view. Before the Chicken Palace it was just a meadow. The chicken Palace didn’t use any toxic stuff - no pressure treated lumber etc.

Just to be safe I would change feed immediately. Also keep the feed in a cool dry place to prevent mildew.

Just want to point out that poisonous molds can cause seemingly different symptoms in individuals.

Did the tests come back - I can’t remember if I read of it or not.

Oh I so hope she is ok, she is such a lovely gal. Please keep us updated.

 

[RoyalChick]

Just to be safe I would change feed immediately. Also keep the feed in a cool dry place to prevent mildew.

Just want to point out that poisonous molds can cause seemingly different symptoms in individuals.

Did the tests come back - I can’t remember if I read of it or not.

Oh I so hope she is ok, she is such a lovely gal. Please keep us updated.

I changed the feed as soon as I saw the weird pink stuff.
I don't know where to get the feed tested - the new feed looks perfect and I do store it in a good place.

 

[Ponypoor]

Twice now today I've went to the barn to feed and water the pup Gloria. I even felt bad for her and have taken her on a leash walk each time. If under different circumstances I could really like this dog she is so friendly. I feel though she was set up for failure here. I now know her breeding, Feist x German Shepherd mix. Both high prey drive breeds, especially the feist part. Seeing as how I love Squirrel hunting if I did not have chickens I would want to have her as a future squirrel dog. She is not a mix that can be left alone all day and turned loose without getting into trouble. I am a dog lover, really I am. I also believe though in responsible dog ownership for any breed which I see lacking here.

Poor wee gal, I agree - responsible dog ownership is seriously lacking.

I always said if you want to know how one’s kids will be, look at how they handle their dog!

My neighbour across the road has three huge dogs! She walks them while pushing the stroller with her granddaughter in it they never pull at the leash, walk and behave calmly.

Meanwhile up the road they have 4 crazy little terriors (terrors I call them) they can’t hardly walk them, they pull at the leashes, jump around - crazy dogs!

They also have a wild flock of chickens hahaha and a randy rooster

 

[Ponypoor]

I changed the feed as soon as I saw the weird pink stuff.
I don't know where to get the feed tested - the new feed looks perfect and I do store it in a good place.

That’s good! Ok so we can work on how Lu is feeling now. What’s up with her at the moment?

 

[ValarieF]

A couple of breakthroughs! Dottie came out of the coop down the ramp to the water feeder to the food feeder flew to my arm and crawled up my shoulder. None of them have sat on my shoulder yet, and only 3 come out to the top of the ramp. I put a little table there by the ramp they sometimes jump on. But get scared and run bak in. Anyway Dottie sat on my shoulder and played with my red hair tie. She pecked my ears a couple of times but I let her know that wasnt ok. I kept my eye closed because I wasnt sure if she would go for it. She didnt poop! She even let me pet her without screaming like she was dying lol.
Im so happy right now! OH I will get you guys pictures tomorrow!

 

[Ponypoor]

Can horses be safely given sleeping pills???? Maybe give them to her once or twice a week so she gets some good sleep...if there is such a thing as sleeping pills for horses???

Yes horses can have sedation like humans take, but the issue with sleeping pills is that they still don’t give a proper sleep with REM sleep, which is what she is lacking. Horses only need REM sleep about 3 times a week.

But it is an option I am thinking of trying. Just to get her off her feet a bit.

I am beginning to suspect it was her stumbling and falling and knocking the ground boards off the fence earlier.

Bob has crazy hawks, I have a crazy horse…

 

[Ponypoor]

A couple of breakthroughs! Dottie came out of the coop down the ramp to the water feeder to the food feeder flew to my arm and crawled up my shoulder. None of them have sat on my shoulder yet, and only 3 come out to the top of the ramp. I put a little table there by the ramp they sometimes jump on. But get scared and run bak in. Anyway Dottie sat on my shoulder and played with my red hair tie. She pecked my ears a couple of times but I let her know that wasnt ok. I kept my eye closed because I wasnt sure if she would go for it. She didnt poop! She even let me pet her without screaming like she was dying lol.
Im so happy right now! OH I will get you guys pictures tomorrow!

That’s great! It’s a wonderful feeling isn’t it