Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I think we have some similar to the rice hills Herrera as horse feed, I will
Check it out.

Well that's what happens when you try to type at midnight without glasses on hahaha:

I meant - 'similar to the rice hulls here as horse feed'...

 

[Ponypoor]

Caturday Saturday

Wish now I had saved the Lynx photos for today

Here is Missy sleeping on the dresser, she must be related to Mr P!

 

[bgmathteach]

When one of our cats had a deep puncture wound from a bite or claw on her spine, the vet didn’t stitch it, instead had me daily squirt deeply into it a cleansing, (maybe antibiotic) blue clear liquid we mixed up each day from a concentrate. Then to jam a general antibiotic ointment in it. The idea was to keep it clean and moist and for it to heal from the inside out and that’s what it did, the “cone” shape of the wound became slowly more shallow. A “plug/core” came out after several days, and healing was more rapid after that. Could this work with poultry?

Not everyone is sleeping right now
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Yes, it could work with poultry if you are able to flush deep enough into the would. With the duck, she had one tear and a coupleof puncture wounds. I stitched the tear.

Honestly, I don't think I was able to flush deep enough into the puncture wound - and it was the first puncture wound I had dealt with. I later had a sort of abscess/puncture wound that was slightly bigger that I could sort of stuff with thin strips of gauze ( soaked in betadine and then coated with honey. Flushed & repacked daily) That worked quite well! But the tiny (diameter) wound on the duck - plus the thick abundance of feathers making ot more difficult - just wasn't possible.. If something like that happens again, I would probably cut/pluck feathers surrounding the wound, and possibly even cut the wound itself open a bit for better flushing..though I hate cutting them - so not sure I could do that WELL...especially given my assistant (hubby is not really the best at holding them - but he tries!)

They are all so nerve-wracking! I just do the best I can, and, hopefully, learn more each time. Do wish there was access to an avian vet - if for nothing else but suggestions and possibly anti-biotics!!

You know, @BY Bob - you said you like teaching. Maybe you (?with help of vet or something?) could develop the equivalent of EMT training - but for chickens and backyard pets. I would certainly pay to take that - especially if you were teaching it!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

Is metal hotter in summer?

Yes, in theory. but it could be painted white or a very light color...it would still block direct sun, and with teh sides completely open (and the 'roof' high enough) it would create a fairly strong convection curret...so in theory given all the conditions, it would probably be same or slightly cooler underneath than surrounding area.

Material science isn't a strength of mine ( conduction/heat transfer, effect of light versus dark coloring - all effects this, but to the exact extent, not positive)...but that is what I would go with. Now, if the sides were enclosed at all with solid material (tarp, plastic roofing panels, etc.) then my answer would change!

 

[bgmathteach]

I admit nothing. I hate them.

Well, @BY Bob they do fill an important niche in the ecosystem. Just NOT with OUR beloved flock! (Yes, there goes that old NIMBY attitude!! )

 

[RoyalChick]

Breaking it down so RC can understand the quantum physics of chicken genetics isn't easy. At the very core, red and black are it. All the other stuff: lacing, penciling, spangles, buff, mahogany, blue, splash, barring, lemon, crele, pyle, etc is extra. Learning how they're defined is another language and can take time to process.

@RoyalChick behind the spoiler is a link to a detailed break down of chicken genetics. Open at the risk of mental overload. Bookmark for when you feel you can handle it.

Spoiler: RC, don't read this

https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-anatomy/poultry-genetics-an-introduction/

I will look forward to this. I am actually no slouch at basic genetics - I have training in biology and physiology so I have a start with very basic genetics.
I suspect I will find chicken genetics more complicated though because the language of the color and feather pattern phenotypes is not actually the language of genetics but sounds more like poultry show language.
Isabelle/Lavender/Opal let alone Blue vs Self-Blue.
I may never emerge from this if I dive in.
But as you have sent me an article it is only a matter of time before I dive in.
Bookmarked!

Tax: an opal not Isabelle but maybe lavender and certainly cute chicken. Rest in peace my lovely Lulu - you were simply too beautiful to stay in this world.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, it could work with poultry if you are able to flush deep enough into the would. With the duck, she had one tear and a coupleof puncture wounds. I stitched the tear.

Honestly, I don't think I was able to flush deep enough into the puncture wound - and it was the first puncture wound I had dealt with. I later had a sort of abscess/puncture wound that was slightly bigger that I could sort of stuff with thin strips of gauze ( soaked in betadine and then coated with honey. Flushed & repacked daily) That worked quite well! But the tiny (diameter) wound on the duck - plus the thick abundance of feathers making ot more difficult - just wasn't possible.. If something like that happens again, I would probably cut/pluck feathers surrounding the wound, and possibly even cut the wound itself open a bit for better flushing..though I hate cutting them - so not sure I could do that WELL...especially given my assistant (hubby is not really the best at holding them - but he tries!)

They are all so nerve-wracking! I just do the best I can, and, hopefully, learn more each time. Do wish there was access to an avian vet - if for nothing else but suggestions and possibly anti-biotics!!

You know, @BY Bob - you said you like teaching. Maybe you (?with help of vet or something?) could develop the equivalent of EMT training - but for chickens and backyard pets. I would certainly pay to take that - especially if you were teaching it!!!

What a genius idea!

 

[ValarieF]

I will look forward to this. I am actually no slouch at basic genetics - I have training in biology and physiology so I have a start with very basic genetics.
I suspect I will find chicken genetics more complicated though because the language of the color and feather pattern phenotypes is not actually the language of genetics but sounds more like poultry show language.
Isabelle/Lavender/Opal let alone Blue vs Self-Blue.
I may never emerge from this if I dive in.
But as you have sent me an article it is only a matter of time before I dive in.
Bookmarked!

Tax: an opal not Isabelle but maybe lavender and certainly cute chicken. Rest in peace my lovely Lulu - you were simply too beautiful to stay in this world.

View attachment 3408749

Chicken genetics confuses me.

 

[bgmathteach]

The buckets definitely get poop on them. Usually it is dry enough I can just shake it off the lid, but sometimes it requires a little more cleaning.

I ordered some “chicken toys” from Amazon tonight. Hopefully it will help.

Do you have a 'leave something/take something' area at your local dump/transfer station? ( We have a small area where still good/usable items may be placed) I got a wooden coffee table from there once. Put 2x4 runners under legs ( to both raise it a teeny bit and give the legs more stability), then draped an opened up feed bag over the top (so the long sides were 'loosely enclosed'), put 1x2 s along the top on each side to hold bag in place & give 'lift' for 2 roosts I added. It has becoem a chunnel (chicken tunnel). My hens will bolt through it to escape boys. I will toss a bit of scratch grain (when I give it) for the lower girls to be able to get some, and sometimes a hen oor two will lay there when they are thinking about being broody. PLUS, though just a small amount, it doubles that usable space as they go both on top of and underneath!. An end table, coffee table, kids table - all would work equally well. Plus, chickens always like to hop up higher....and if you have any scrap wood around, plus a branch or two (for the roosts)...it is a win-win!

 

[bgmathteach]

Breaking it down so RC can understand the quantum physics of chicken genetics isn't easy. At the very core, red and black are it. All the other stuff: lacing, penciling, spangles, buff, mahogany, blue, splash, barring, lemon, crele, pyle, etc is extra. Learning how they're defined is another language and can take time to process.

@RoyalChick behind the spoiler is a link to a detailed break down of chicken genetics. Open at the risk of mental overload. Bookmark for when you feel you can handle it.

Spoiler: RC, don't read this

https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-anatomy/poultry-genetics-an-introduction/

Thank you for this link! I have quite a bit of respect for this author - have read a number of things she has written!!! TY for this