Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

She was wormed in June when I got a positive fecal test (float test is just saying how they check the poop for worm eggs,).
Not sure if others know - but wouldn't it be odd to be so infested to get weak in such a short time?
But weak she certainly is.
I don't know if I did the right thing, but this evening she desperately wanted to join Bernie on the roost but she just wasn't strong enough to jump up on the tree stump. I don't know why she didn't use the ladder which would have involved much less jumping.
Anyway, it finally got dark and she was forced to hunker down on the step. I went in and offered her an elevator ride up which she happily took.
I have put lots of bedding both sides of the roost so if she falls off I don't think she will do herself any harm. She looks nice and comfy there for now at least.
I wish I knew why she was so weak. I could worm her just in case or I could persuade a vet to do a test for me which will likely take a couple of days to get results.
Any advice anyone?

What about a bit of Nutri-drench for calories too?

I really don't know about the worming idea. Is there a risk in worming in that it could be hard on a frail bird? I think a fecal test would not harm or stress her obviously, if you want to rule that out. De-worming if it is not a stress on a bird, would not be harmful. But does that mean popping pills? Which could be stressful. I also wonder as you do, that since a June de-worming how they or she could get so infested again, and so suddenly to such a weakened state? Well, it has been six months. But I have no idea if it is common to happen.

Another idea about her roosting there - from @micstrachan 's roost practices - I wonder if a towel tightly wrapped around the roost will give her extra grip? I used to use that under-rug stamped rubbery stuff for the Buckeyes when they were tiny. It has a lot of grip for the toes when the body is uncoordinated or off balance. I used electrical tape bound to itself to tie it on. (The chicks would fly up and not quite land it perfectly but could grab on.)

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The Roof is On
One of the reasons there is no Ask Aurora is that today was nice enough to finish the roof on the main coop. So i took my lunch and got the panels installed. It is barely warm enough to caulk but I managed to pull it off.

I started by putting the foam spacers in place. I caulked the top of them and the edge on the right.
View attachment 3379097

I then installed and screwed down the panel.

View attachment 3379098

I extended the foam with caulk and installed the second panel.
View attachment 3379099View attachment 3379100

I then installed the final panel.
View attachment 3379101

I then caulked and sealed the ridge line to the quarter round at the peak of the roof.

View attachment 3379102

Next I installed a piece of PVC edging to finish off the edge of the roof. This side is in the lee of the prevailing wind.

Edging
View attachment 3379110

Edging installed
View attachment 3379109

This end of the coop, above the porch, gets the strongest winds. So I did Extra to keep the wind from cashing the edge and pulling the roof off. I had an overhang of roofing and bent it down to create a flush edge.
View attachment 3379103

Once I had it bent down I installed the PVC edge.
View attachment 3379104

All finished!

View attachment 3379105

This looks really nice, great job!
I am not familiar with metal roofing and my only slight concern is that top edge, to keep an eye on the expansion or contraction it does with changes in temps and how well the caulking keeps a good seal between the roofing and the quarter-round. Seems the attachment screws right there ought to keep it from moving much at all though!
Does it have to be painted? It comes across as light blue in the pictures and looks pretty nice!

 

[RoyalChick]

This looks really nice, great job!
I am not familiar with metal roofing and my only slight concern is that top edge, to keep an eye on the expansion or contraction it does with changes in temps and how well the caulking keeps a good seal between the roofing and the quarter-round. Seems the attachment screws right there ought to keep it from moving much at all though!
Does it have to be painted? It comes across as light blue in the pictures and looks pretty nice!

I agree it looks lovely as it is - but Mrs BY Bob is in charge of color choices so I will wait patiently to see what she decides.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I agree it looks lovely as it is - but Mrs BY Bob is in charge of color choices so I will wait patiently to see what she decides.

Haha, I know, it's not up to us! I am always offering un-asked-for opinions....

 

[featherhead007]

I can’t help myself. I needed an afternoon cup of Coco, so I think she will be fine with me for the evening

 

[featherhead007]

I can’t help myself. I needed an afternoon cup of Coco, so I think she will be fine with me for the evening

 

[micstrachan]

She was wormed in June when I got a positive fecal test (float test is just saying how they check the poop for worm eggs,).
Not sure if others know - but wouldn't it be odd to be so infested to get weak in such a short time?
But weak she certainly is.
I don't know if I did the right thing, but this evening she desperately wanted to join Bernie on the roost but she just wasn't strong enough to jump up on the tree stump. I don't know why she didn't use the ladder which would have involved much less jumping.
Anyway, it finally got dark and she was forced to hunker down on the step. I went in and offered her an elevator ride up which she happily took.
I have put lots of bedding both sides of the roost so if she falls off I don't think she will do herself any harm. She looks nice and comfy there for now at least.
I wish I knew why she was so weak. I could worm her just in case or I could persuade a vet to do a test for me which will likely take a couple of days to get results.
Any advice anyone?

Are you checking her crop before and after bed? Is it possible she’s not eating?

 

[RoyalChick]

Are you checking her crop before and after bed? Is it possible she’s not eating?

She is eating when I bring her little treats but she is not eating from the feeder. She wasn't keen on egg and sardine or chicken food mash but she ate a lot of corn, blueberries, tomatoes, blackberries and kefir.

 

[rural mouse]

Siberian Pea tree?

Yes. Hedge along west edge of property is entirely the stuff, plus a few close to the house and wherever it chooses to sprout. Seeds are supposed to be something like 30% protein so the chickens love it and I love it due to the shelter it provides.

 

[micstrachan]

What about a bit of Nutri-drench for calories too?

I really don't know about the worming idea. Is there a risk in worming in that it could be hard on a frail bird? I think a fecal test would not harm or stress her obviously, if you want to rule that out. De-worming if it is not a stress on a bird, would not be harmful. But does that mean popping pills? Which could be stressful. I also wonder as you do, that since a June de-worming how they or she could get so infested again, and so suddenly to such a weakened state? Well, it has been six months. But I have no idea if it is common to happen.

Another idea about her roosting there - from @micstrachan 's roost practices - I wonder if a towel tightly wrapped around the roost will give her extra grip? I used to use that under-rug stamped rubbery stuff for the Buckeyes when they were tiny. It has a lot of grip for the toes when the body is uncoordinated or off balance. I used electrical tape bound to itself to tie it on. (The chicks would fly up and not quite land it perfectly but could grab on.)

When I first started using towels, it was for this very reason.

You could also buy a cheap yoga matt at a discount store and use that for grip.