Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lilion]

Eenie is giving an awfully good impression of a broody hen...

...for a hen who's STILL laying eggs!!!

Yep...3 eggs from 3 hens today! I swear, these hens are defective.

Sheba looks much more horizontal tonight! Her tail is still down, but she's less penguin.

I'm still going to keep a close eye on her and in the next few days we'll see.

It's supposed to be 100+ degrees in the next three days. I got electrolytes to give them, especially Eenie, and I'm freezing water bottles and jugs to put near her if it gets too hot in the nest box.

 

[Lilion]

Darnit, I didn't bookmark it. Several days ago we were discussing keeping chickens cool. Did anyone bookmark it?

 

[knoturavggrl]

Darnit, I didn't bookmark it. Several days ago we were discussing keeping chickens cool. Did anyone bookmark it?

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26848304

There was this one hopefully that puts you in the neighborhood of the discussion.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Thanks for the heads up. I couldn't see anything wrong with what @knoturavggrl posted, but I redid it anyway and it seems to work now.

Thank you for correcting it, no idea what went wrong.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I've been super busy and not on BYC for various reasons, some of that is tending to Butters I've been worried about. She's not been right, she has not wanted to eat pellets and she's lost weight (by feel, I haven't weighed her), and last week was resting a lot, not standing or acting normally, standing away from the other three often, and not wanting to be in any food or treats scrum especially. She's had normal-looking but very loose poops, no blood, but the last couple of days I have not seen her poop. I trimmed her fluff in the back and damp-washed with a rag last week because it had really collected on her fluff. Her abdomen / belly feels empty, no bulging or tightness. Lots of keel bone toward the front. Crop is soft and barely there. No one has laid any eggs for over a week.

She's drinking bowl water and wild water regularly but become very picky in eating, in tiny, tiny bits - putting it down and looking at it and biting off a bit is her normal way, but this is extreme; it kind of looks like she's chewing her food before swallowing it. Often she is not actually hiking it back, just chomping on it in her beak before letting it drop. I've been separating her a little, like on one side of the wire gate with the other three on the other side, in order to give her anything I'm trying to tempt her with, because she will eat a couple small bites and then walk away, but then come back. Got her to eat some soupy baby bird formula the last two+1/2 days, which may be helping her. But she's not been eating nearly enough. She does respond to the others eating so I'm trying to keep them together while protecting food for her (Popcorn and Peanut have been big hogs, the first day I put out baby bird formula Popcorn had a baseball-sized crop by the end of the day).

She'll be interested in a novel thing to eat and eat some, then later turn her beak up at it. She'll take a collard leaf piece from me but let the next one drop from her beak. She is very keen on foraging and exploring, often far away from the others, and three days ago she went way back in the yard where she's never gone before, just strolling around. I discovered following her walk-abouts (for her safety) that, like when pecking at pellets in my hand, she was often not actually eating, even though she's pecking a lot and picking things up and mashing them around. I observed a few injured worms and an upside-down pill bug she left in her wake. But sometimes she does eat. Today she ate something white that she nabbed from a green plant today, either a moth or a piece of blossom.

Frankly she's behaving as if she is molting, but I don't see any evidence that is happening. I think of Bob's Lilly and her suspected metabolism problem, because Butters has this shredded feathers situation going on with her back half. Also she's been sporting a feather sticking out like an outboard paddle since her last molt last fall, which was not a very complete molt and left her with these shredded feathers.

Today she has had more interest in actually eating and she has been more alert and spending much less time resting and hunched. Earlier this morning she ate some soft-boiled egg. Later a half a walnut in tiny bits I broke up, eating them all in one session before she didn't want any more. Then a couple tiny wild strawberries tossed in front of her. The third one she rejected.

Then this afternoon she actually expressed some zeal for raw no-shell sunflower seeds, actually going at them with relative gusto, a little bit of sewing-machine eating which I haven't seen from her in over two weeks. She even made a sound that may have been a growl at Popcorn who was trying to shoulder in to get some too. That's been the most I've seen her eat (at once) in over two weeks, about a tablespoon and a half of seeds. I didn't want to ration anything she's willing to eat.

Sorry this picture is kind of dark, it was dusk. There's Butters front left, hunched again tonight. Hazel next to her, Peanut in the dustbath pool in back, Popcorn at the waterer.

 

[bgmathteach]

Darnit, I didn't bookmark it. Several days ago we were discussing keeping chickens cool. Did anyone bookmark it?

Here are a few. Most are recent, one from last year. The bottom one - you can use the 'trail' to work backwards to multiple suggestions. I know there were more, but this is what I could find. Unlike RC, I'm pretty crappy at the search function here. I can't use the 'advanced' as I can never seem to find FBA to limit it to that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26955759

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26952481

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26953162

 

[knoturavggrl]

I've been super busy and not on BYC for various reasons, some of that is tending to Butters I've been worried about. She's not been right, she has not wanted to eat pellets and she's lost weight (by feel, I haven't weighed her), and last week was resting a lot, not standing or acting normally, standing away from the other three often, and not wanting to be in any food or treats scrum especially. She's had normal-looking but very loose poops, no blood, but the last couple of days I have not seen her poop. I trimmed her fluff in the back and damp-washed with a rag last week because it had really collected on her fluff. Her abdomen / belly feels empty, no bulging or tightness. Lots of keel bone toward the front. Crop is soft and barely there. No one has laid any eggs for over a week.

She's drinking bowl water and wild water regularly but become very picky in eating, in tiny, tiny bits - putting it down and looking at it and biting off a bit is her normal way, but this is extreme; it kind of looks like she's chewing her food before swallowing it. Often she is not actually hiking it back, just chomping on it in her beak before letting it drop. I've been separating her a little, like on one side of the wire gate with the other three on the other side, in order to give her anything I'm trying to tempt her with, because she will eat a couple small bites and then walk away, but then come back. Got her to eat some soupy baby bird formula the last two+1/2 days, which may be helping her. But she's not been eating nearly enough. She does respond to the others eating so I'm trying to keep them together while protecting food for her (Popcorn and Peanut have been big hogs, the first day I put out baby bird formula Popcorn had a baseball-sized crop by the end of the day).

She'll be interested in a novel thing to eat and eat some, then later turn her beak up at it. She'll take a collard leaf piece from me but let the next one drop from her beak. She is very keen on foraging and exploring, often far away from the others, and three days ago she went way back in the yard where she's never gone before, just strolling around. I discovered following her walk-abouts (for her safety) that, like when pecking at pellets in my hand, she was often not actually eating, even though she's pecking a lot and picking things up and mashing them around. I observed a few injured worms and an upside-down pill bug she left in her wake. But sometimes she does eat. Today she ate something white that she nabbed from a green plant today, either a moth or a piece of blossom.

Frankly she's behaving as if she is molting, but I don't see any evidence that is happening. I think of Bob's Lilly and her suspected metabolism problem, because Butters has this shredded feathers situation going on with her back half. Also she's been sporting a feather sticking out like an outboard paddle since her last molt last fall, which was not a very complete molt and left her with these shredded feathers.

Today she has had more interest in actually eating and she has been more alert and spending much less time resting and hunched. Earlier this morning she ate some soft-boiled egg. Later a half a walnut in tiny bits I broke up, eating them all in one session before she didn't want any more. Then a couple tiny wild strawberries tossed in front of her. The third one she rejected.

Then this afternoon she actually expressed some zeal for raw no-shell sunflower seeds, actually going at them with relative gusto, a little bit of sewing-machine eating which I haven't seen from her in over two weeks. She even made a sound that may have been a growl at Popcorn who was trying to shoulder in to get some too. That's been the most I've seen her eat (at once) in over two weeks, about a tablespoon and a half of seeds. I didn't want to ration anything she's willing to eat.

Sorry this picture is kind of dark, it was dusk. There's Butters front left, hunched again tonight. Hazel next to her, Peanut in the dustbath pool in back, Popcorn at the waterer.
View attachment 3557200

I am sorry to hear of Butters illness, you care for her deeply and she is in the best hands, its clear. I don't have answers (I wish I did) but wanted to offer

 

[bgmathteach]

I've been super busy and not on BYC for various reasons, some of that is tending to Butters I've been worried about. She's not been right, she has not wanted to eat pellets and she's lost weight (by feel, I haven't weighed her), and last week was resting a lot, not standing or acting normally, standing away from the other three often, and not wanting to be in any food or treats scrum especially. She's had normal-looking but very loose poops, no blood, but the last couple of days I have not seen her poop. I trimmed her fluff in the back and damp-washed with a rag last week because it had really collected on her fluff. Her abdomen / belly feels empty, no bulging or tightness. Lots of keel bone toward the front. Crop is soft and barely there. No one has laid any eggs for over a week.

She's drinking bowl water and wild water regularly but become very picky in eating, in tiny, tiny bits - putting it down and looking at it and biting off a bit is her normal way, but this is extreme; it kind of looks like she's chewing her food before swallowing it. Often she is not actually hiking it back, just chomping on it in her beak before letting it drop. I've been separating her a little, like on one side of the wire gate with the other three on the other side, in order to give her anything I'm trying to tempt her with, because she will eat a couple small bites and then walk away, but then come back. Got her to eat some soupy baby bird formula the last two+1/2 days, which may be helping her. But she's not been eating nearly enough. She does respond to the others eating so I'm trying to keep them together while protecting food for her (Popcorn and Peanut have been big hogs, the first day I put out baby bird formula Popcorn had a baseball-sized crop by the end of the day).

She'll be interested in a novel thing to eat and eat some, then later turn her beak up at it. She'll take a collard leaf piece from me but let the next one drop from her beak. She is very keen on foraging and exploring, often far away from the others, and three days ago she went way back in the yard where she's never gone before, just strolling around. I discovered following her walk-abouts (for her safety) that, like when pecking at pellets in my hand, she was often not actually eating, even though she's pecking a lot and picking things up and mashing them around. I observed a few injured worms and an upside-down pill bug she left in her wake. But sometimes she does eat. Today she ate something white that she nabbed from a green plant today, either a moth or a piece of blossom.

Frankly she's behaving as if she is molting, but I don't see any evidence that is happening. I think of Bob's Lilly and her suspected metabolism problem, because Butters has this shredded feathers situation going on with her back half. Also she's been sporting a feather sticking out like an outboard paddle since her last molt last fall, which was not a very complete molt and left her with these shredded feathers.

Today she has had more interest in actually eating and she has been more alert and spending much less time resting and hunched. Earlier this morning she ate some soft-boiled egg. Later a half a walnut in tiny bits I broke up, eating them all in one session before she didn't want any more. Then a couple tiny wild strawberries tossed in front of her. The third one she rejected.

Then this afternoon she actually expressed some zeal for raw no-shell sunflower seeds, actually going at them with relative gusto, a little bit of sewing-machine eating which I haven't seen from her in over two weeks. She even made a sound that may have been a growl at Popcorn who was trying to shoulder in to get some too. That's been the most I've seen her eat (at once) in over two weeks, about a tablespoon and a half of seeds. I didn't want to ration anything she's willing to eat.

Sorry this picture is kind of dark, it was dusk. There's Butters front left, hunched again tonight. Hazel next to her, Peanut in the dustbath pool in back, Popcorn at the waterer.
.View attachment 3557200

It certainly can be quite frustrating when we have no idea what is wrong, so don't really know what to do to help other than trying to make sure they eat something and stay hydrated. I do hope she recovers!

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Butters the enforcer? Or is it Hazel?





Oh, is that the treadle feeder in the back? That looks really big (bigger than I thought!) You did say you got the medium, correct? I am going to have to get on the schtick and get a couple! I will have to build a platform/base with a supported back for them, so they are up off the bedding and on solid/level ground. yours doesn't look like it is screwed in to a wall - I thought the directions said it should be. Does bungie cording it work okay? If so, maybe just a pallet and a bungie will work.

 

[Ponypoor]

I've been super busy and not on BYC for various reasons, some of that is tending to Butters I've been worried about. She's not been right, she has not wanted to eat pellets and she's lost weight (by feel, I haven't weighed her), and last week was resting a lot, not standing or acting normally, standing away from the other three often, and not wanting to be in any food or treats scrum especially. She's had normal-looking but very loose poops, no blood, but the last couple of days I have not seen her poop. I trimmed her fluff in the back and damp-washed with a rag last week because it had really collected on her fluff. Her abdomen / belly feels empty, no bulging or tightness. Lots of keel bone toward the front. Crop is soft and barely there. No one has laid any eggs for over a week.

She's drinking bowl water and wild water regularly but become very picky in eating, in tiny, tiny bits - putting it down and looking at it and biting off a bit is her normal way, but this is extreme; it kind of looks like she's chewing her food before swallowing it. Often she is not actually hiking it back, just chomping on it in her beak before letting it drop. I've been separating her a little, like on one side of the wire gate with the other three on the other side, in order to give her anything I'm trying to tempt her with, because she will eat a couple small bites and then walk away, but then come back. Got her to eat some soupy baby bird formula the last two+1/2 days, which may be helping her. But she's not been eating nearly enough. She does respond to the others eating so I'm trying to keep them together while protecting food for her (Popcorn and Peanut have been big hogs, the first day I put out baby bird formula Popcorn had a baseball-sized crop by the end of the day).

She'll be interested in a novel thing to eat and eat some, then later turn her beak up at it. She'll take a collard leaf piece from me but let the next one drop from her beak. She is very keen on foraging and exploring, often far away from the others, and three days ago she went way back in the yard where she's never gone before, just strolling around. I discovered following her walk-abouts (for her safety) that, like when pecking at pellets in my hand, she was often not actually eating, even though she's pecking a lot and picking things up and mashing them around. I observed a few injured worms and an upside-down pill bug she left in her wake. But sometimes she does eat. Today she ate something white that she nabbed from a green plant today, either a moth or a piece of blossom.

Frankly she's behaving as if she is molting, but I don't see any evidence that is happening. I think of Bob's Lilly and her suspected metabolism problem, because Butters has this shredded feathers situation going on with her back half. Also she's been sporting a feather sticking out like an outboard paddle since her last molt last fall, which was not a very complete molt and left her with these shredded feathers.

Today she has had more interest in actually eating and she has been more alert and spending much less time resting and hunched. Earlier this morning she ate some soft-boiled egg. Later a half a walnut in tiny bits I broke up, eating them all in one session before she didn't want any more. Then a couple tiny wild strawberries tossed in front of her. The third one she rejected.

Then this afternoon she actually expressed some zeal for raw no-shell sunflower seeds, actually going at them with relative gusto, a little bit of sewing-machine eating which I haven't seen from her in over two weeks. She even made a sound that may have been a growl at Popcorn who was trying to shoulder in to get some too. That's been the most I've seen her eat (at once) in over two weeks, about a tablespoon and a half of seeds. I didn't want to ration anything she's willing to eat.

Sorry this picture is kind of dark, it was dusk. There's Butters front left, hunched again tonight. Hazel next to her, Peanut in the dustbath pool in back, Popcorn at the waterer.
View attachment 3557200

Oh no that’s very hard to deal with when you don’t have answers. I too was going to suggest a molt. Maybe even thinking of being broody.

Sending hugs your way for both you, and Butters

 

[Lilion]

Here are a few. Most are recent, one from last year. The bottom one - you can use the 'trail' to work backwards to multiple suggestions. I know there were more, but this is what I could find. Unlike RC, I'm pretty crappy at the search function here. I can't use the 'advanced' as I can never seem to find FBA to limit it to that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26955759

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26952481

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26953162

That was them! Thank you. You too @knoturavggrl .

I've got two battery operated fans and water jugs being frozen. Hopefully it'll be okay for her.