Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

I had mine removed. Glad to see the back of it!
I had it done as an emergency during a major storm the hospital was working in generator power.
It was all high drama as the ambulance couldn’t find a road clear of fallen trees to get me to the hospital.
I remember a cop helping me climb over a fallen tree while I was in agony. And I remember being wheeled into a linen closet and pumped full of drugs. The hospital was like a war zone because all other hospitals had closed and shipped their patients there so I am guessing the linen closet was the only space.
I remember the nice clean white linen neatly stacked on shelves and being afraid I would be forgotten about in there.
That is all I remember!

Oh, my gosh, that was a 'made for TV' event! I wanted to both laugh AND reach out an hug you! Glad you 'got rid of the thing' and came out the other side no worse for wear! That would be a great 'war story' to tell when you get old! (kind of like 'walked up hill both ways to school, and liked it!" type of thing)

Chicken tax: (I'm running out of new pictures to pay tax with - I'm either goign to have to curb my chattiness, or get some more picture pretty soon!!)

My ducks are just LOVING all the moisture we have gotten lately! The Geese can actually SWIM in a bit of a basin in the small 'stream. Normally the center is only deep enough for the ducks to swim...the geese can usually walk through the center. I know this sounds silly, but it was really fun watching the geese swim!

 

[rural mouse]

Went out to close the coop last night. Indigo has a bare belly. She's still roosting. Still thinking about going broody.

Went to open the coop this morning. Heard birdsong haven't heard in quite a while. The redwing blackbirds are back.

Noticed this the other day (before the last round of snow)

28f with a strong wind (had high wind warnings yesterday). Clear skies for the first time in a week. EVERYONE came out for breakfast, Silver and Pear included. Those 2 have been avoiding the weather and Idiots. Will take pics later when the coffee has kicked in

 

[lightm]

Booked flight to China, paid $3000 for roundtrip, considered "cheap" because the route is going around the world: Wilmington NC -> Dallas -> Doha, Qatar -> China. Takes 33 hours to complete one way... I am going to love it...

Tax: A video of Light chirping before laying an egg. You want to turn up volume and listen. Does your chicken do this?

@ChicoryBlue This time I made the video private. Thanks for the information. I hope it's viewable.

 

[Ponypoor]

Egg Colour Genetics

Have been reading this interesting article on egg colour, trying to get a handle on what egg colour my baby pullets from Mr P and my various hens, will produce.

Apparently blue is a dominant colour, and the presence of a pea-comb can predict if they pullet will be a blue egg layer.

https://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/gms1-genetics-of-egg-color/

 

[Ponypoor]

Booked flight to China, paid $3000 for roundtrip, considered "cheap" because the route is going around the world: Wilmington NC -> Dallas -> Doha, Qatar -> China. Takes 33 hours to complete one way... I am going to love it...

Tax: A video of Light chirping before laying an egg. You want to turn up volume and listen. Does your chicken do this?

@ChicoryBlue This time I made the video private. Thanks for the information. I hope it's viewable.

Awwww yea my hens will do that also I think it’s the same sound they make when “talking” to their eggs just before they hatch, and talking to the chicks. Such a lovely sound

Have a safe journey

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh, my gosh, that was a 'made for TV' event! I wanted to both laugh AND reach out an hug you! Glad you 'got rid of the thing' and came out the other side no worse for wear! That would be a great 'war story' to tell when you get old! (kind of like 'walked up hill both ways to school, and liked it!" type of thing)

Chicken tax: (I'm running out of new pictures to pay tax with - I'm either goign to have to curb my chattiness, or get some more picture pretty soon!!)
View attachment 3452534View attachment 3452533
My ducks are just LOVING all the moisture we have gotten lately! The Geese can actually SWIM in a bit of a basin in the small 'stream. Normally the center is only deep enough for the ducks to swim...the geese can usually walk through the center. I know this sounds silly, but it was really fun watching the geese swim!

Quack quack quack… quack?

Translation: you look like you’re having fun, are you laying eggs?

 

[micstrachan]

Terrifying News

I have a respiratory outbreak.

So far 3 of my 7 are showing symptoms. Lady Featherington is the worst with a mucous-style rattle in her throat. Her lungs are clear at the moment. Aurora has a raspy voice, and Sydney is sneezing. In fact all three are sneezing. The three of them spend most of the day together and roost together along with Glynda. So far Glynda is showing no symptoms.

Hattie, Betty and Phyllis are not showing symptoms.

I first noticed symptoms on Thursday. If this is bird flu then they will likely be showing serious symptoms today. So far they are acting like normal chickens.

So what have I done. Because Hattie, Phyllis and Betty don't sleep with the core 4, I have decided to separate them. It's probably too late but I want to at least give them a chance. I have the space and ability to do it so why not.

Glynda remains with the 3 sick hens. There is no way she has not been exposed and I am not going to risk her being a carrier and exposing the other 3 if they have not already been exposed.

On the chance that this is bacterial, say mycoplasma, I am treating the symptomatic chickens with enrofloxacin (Baytril).

I have decided to not test for viral pathogens because if it is viral, there is nothing I can do anyway. Once I have started treating with antibiotics I need to complete the course anyway.

Today will be day 3. If it is bird flu there should be significant symptoms. If not, it does not mean they do not have bird flu but their odds improve. There is very little knowledge on what happens to chickens if you do not cull immediately upon symptoms.

I have not taken anyone to the vet because she would immediately test for bird flu. If it is bird flu they would cull them all on me even if they have no symptoms. Also there is little she can do besides test and treat with antibiotics like I am.

Needless to say I am very worried. It is strange to wish a bacterial infection upon your chickens but that would be the absolutely best outcome at this point.

I am sharing this so you know what is happening and why I might be distracted or unavailable. I am very fearful that I am about to lose them all.

Please know that I believe I am plotting the best course possible for my ladies. It may all be for naught but I am doing all I can do with the resources at hand and knowledge I have.

Obviously I will update as I can but if I am not on BYC much you know why.

Bob, my fingers, toes, arms and legs are crossed in hopes this has a positive outcome and resolves quickly.

 

[ValarieF]

Outside with the chooks. Isis was holding one foot up and has a bump on top of the toes

 

[GregnLety]

I'm sure she would love that.

Hope to get her outside today. Had a chaotic evening yesterday. Cut grass until 7 then I see that some of the Sebrights had flown over the fence and couldn't figure out how to get back in. That took a while to round them up. I had let one of the mamas and her babies free range in the yard and when it came time to roost she wanted to go roost with her tribe. I caught her first then the chicks one at a time. Later I realized that had I let her and the babies in the pen with the tribe I could have caught them easier. Live and learn!

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Chicken tax: (I'm running out of new pictures to pay tax with - I'm either going to have to curb my chattiness, or get some more picture pretty soon!!)

I feel like you haven't talked enough.
Speak up tax: