Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

@Ponypoor, @RoyalChick, @BY Bob, and anyone else who gave me information or instructions on BBQ's bumblefoot.
I talked to my dad about taking her to the vet. He immediately said no.
"But, I don't think that I can do it. I would feel so bad."
"Figure it out, Pastel. Your better at this stuff than anyone else in the family."
He is right though. I do well with blood.
That's how I was able to kill meat birds, de-gut them, and not cry, or vomit.
I'm going to need to get tools. I am going to bring her onto my porch tomorrow, if possible.
I need lists of stuff I need. Please.
Oh, I put ACTUAL Pastel back with the girls. He was so happy. He has been in his own pen for about three weeks now. He could still see the girls, don't worry.

Here is a bumblefoot video. It's not too bad. You will need someone to help. Before you do anything I would love to see a clear photo of the injured foot.

I don't agree with using hydrogen peroxide as it kills healthy skin cells well as bacteria. But that's quibbling. If you do what she does here you will be fine. She does not show how to vet wrap the wounded foot but maybe RC could help with that. I think she has experience.

Treated early bumblefoot does not require oral antibiotics. Based upon your photo of the foot we can decide on if oral antibiotics are needed.

I will get a photo tomorrow. I may need to soak her foot before photos, as we got rain today, so it is a bit muddy.
I am pretty good a bandaging, but I would like some instructions RC, if possible.

 

[rural mouse]

@Ponypoor

You're gonna freak!

Spoiler: Kelly is gonna freak out!

Found this when going to close the coop (about 6 FEET up)

Right between Whiskey and Twirp.

Look, Ma! We're all grow'd up!

 

[BY Bob]

@Ponypoor

You're gonna freak!

Spoiler: Kelly is gonna freak out!

View attachment 3548863Found this when going to close the coop

View attachment 3548864Right between Whiskey and Twirp.

View attachment 3548865Look, Ma! We're all grow'd up!

They can really fly! I love it!

 

[Lexicon]

It is odd she seems to be living in there, but she came zipping out a second ago when I took in some cauliflower, nabbing it right out of my hand. My husband was giving it to the others in the run. As soon as Manny came in though, she let out a cackle and rushed back into the box. Is that normal? Could it be she's just tired of his attention and hiding? Her back is pretty ragged.

This is not the way my broodies behave. They go into a sort of trance on the nest and if I pick them up and set them on the ground, they stay there like a statue for a minute or two.

They will not get up off the nest for treats or food, no matter how delicious it is. They're in another total zone when broody.

They may get up on their own to eat, but it doesn't seem to be triggered by seeing or hearing me bring treats. Normally these same hens will rush off the nest for "special breakfast," if they are just hanging out waiting for their egg, but as broodies, no.

I don't have a rooster, so can't comment on the rooster avoidance.

 

[rural mouse]

They can really fly! I love it!

The one they've been on is about 4.5 feet up. They have a ladder (the pallet), so only needed another 18 inches or so up....and 2-3 feet out....but they've been flying from my shoulder to the ground so...
The "Grups" are definitely keeping an eye on (and teaching) them. Whiskey was watching me closely when I was taking pics.

The littles like to follow Twirp (as long as she stays fairly close to the coop). I caught Tuff walking along beside her yesterday looking at what she was pecking at, then up at her face. There is also no fear. The littles go scampering around under the adults' feet.

 

[featherhead007]

I'm so glad you made it. I hope your hip does not hurt too much tonight.

I bet it’s quite painful now.

 

[RoyalChick]

I will get a photo tomorrow. I may need to soak her foot before photos, as we got rain today, so it is a bit muddy.
I am pretty good a bandaging, but I would like some instructions RC, if possible.

I like the video and agree with Bob that hydrogen peroxide is not great to use.
Bandaging for bumblefoot should help the chicken keep weight off the infected area. So you need to create a ring/donut with the abscess in the hole in the middle.
Then the bandaging is to keep the ring in place and to cover the open area of the foot to keep it clean.
I am attaching a link to the first post in a thread that has some good pictures of the ring/donut approach. Look at post #3 and #8 and I think you will get the idea.
The creator of that thread used a slice of pipe insulation which I think is genius!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-cure.915880/

In full transparency my foot bandaging experience is not actually bumblefoot but was similar in that I had to bandage a 'prosthesis' in the form of a boot onto Bernadette's foot when she was tiny. Instead of a boot you will be using a pipe insulation donut.

A few general words about bandaging - you are probably already familiar as you say you are good with bandaging. But just in case:
- Vet wrap is great but it does come off so keep a close eye
- Don't use red vet wrap - like in the video blue is great on chickens
- Cut many strips ahead of time - some narrower than the roll of vet wrap
- Don't try to achieve too much with one strip - my guess is you will need a couple of strips to keep the donut attached to the bottom of the foot and another to cover it over
- Try and make sure the toes are in a more-or-less natural position - particularly the back toe is easy to overlook
- Always check the foot in the bandage an hour or so after to check that the toes are still warm because your biggest danger is cutting off circulation by wrapping too tight.
- Change out the bandaging daily if you can - you will need to do that anyway as you should be soaking and using the drawing salve every day. Patience is key!

Good luck!

 

[featherhead007]

I like the video and agree with Bob that hydrogen peroxide is not great to use.
Bandaging for bumblefoot should help the chicken keep weight off the infected area. So you need to create a ring/donut with the abscess in the hole in the middle.
Then the bandaging is to keep the ring in place and to cover the open area of the foot to keep it clean.
I am attaching a link to the first post in a thread that has some good pictures of the ring/donut approach. Look at post #3 and #8 and I think you will get the idea.
The creator of that thread used a slice of pipe insulation which I think is genius!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-cure.915880/

In full transparency my foot bandaging experience is not actually bumblefoot but was similar in that I had to bandage a 'prosthesis' in the form of a boot onto Bernadette's foot when she was tiny. Instead of a boot you will be using a pipe insulation donut.

A few general words about bandaging - you are probably already familiar as you say you are good with bandaging. But just in case:
- Vet wrap is great but it does come off so keep a close eye
- Don't use red vet wrap - like in the video blue is great on chickens
- Cut many strips ahead of time - some narrower than the roll of vet wrap
- Don't try to achieve too much with one strip - my guess is you will need a couple of strips to keep the donut attached to the bottom of the foot and another to cover it over
- Try and make sure the toes are in a more-or-less natural position - particularly the back toe is easy to overlook
- Always check the foot in the bandage an hour or so after to check that the toes are still warm because your biggest danger is cutting off circulation by wrapping too tight.
- Change out the bandaging daily if you can - you will need to do that anyway as you should be soaking and using the drawing salve every day. Patience is key!

Good luck!

This is very good advice

 

[Ponypoor]

Tassels and Calypso are now too big or almost so. But the other three still walk through. And of course they don’t yet have combs so they don’t notice they got zapped!

Mine isn’t powered up - I should plug the sucker in hahaha give the rabbits something to think about!

 

[Ponypoor]

I am getting plagued by little black flying things that are making me itch all over.
I want to close up the Chicken Palace, make some dinner and clean up the kitchen.
Will the Pentagonists come in for the night? Will they hell!
They are playing some sort of game where they frighten each other by leaping out from behind some tall weeds.
There is much shrieking and flapping and running going on. And all I can do is sit here and scratch!

Itching tax: Jungle fowl
View attachment 3548750

Yep that was my experience this evening - brats! And then Fluffy decides she would peck at anyone who came into the hen house - brat!

Oi boy chiiiiickens!