Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Tweens (3) - 2 Roos (Rico and Martin) one Pullet (Tippy)

Silkies and Penne (4) - 1 Roo and 3 Silkie Pullets

School Chicks (10) - 3 Roos, and 7 Pullets

17 Chicks - 6 Roos, and 11 Pullets

Rico is being very evil - he has poor Curly hiding in terror, Dorothy just beat the crap out of him - he is not afraid to fight the others, he has picked a fight with his Dada yet. If he doesn't get an attitude adjustment soon from the others in a big way, I am going to have to get rid of him with the rest - it's just like the other time when I had the Roos, my poor Silkies and weaker hens hiding in terror.

I'm so sorry that Rico is such a brat. The ratio is very good for you.

Understand that Mr. Pompeii may not be a teacher. Not all Roos are good at teaching new boys. Hopefully he will step up to protect his ladies but there is no guarantee.

 

[ManueB]

Peanut's very ill
I think she is not long for this world, I'm afraid. Maybe ascites from tumors, or internal laying, but her belly is tight and she is not breathing well. This development was very quick, but was probably brewing for some days, and I missed it. The vet I thought she could see (but I didn't establish with them) is not in business anymore, and I've been calling around without success - but just got a call back by a traveling vet outfit that goes to farms and works out of trucks, River Valley Veterinary Services, and should know if someone can come here (or maybe we can go to them) . I don't see how this situation for her can be improved but I'd like a consult. Maybe they can give her pain meds. Any chance antibiotics could help?

I was away Sunday and back Monday evening, but she seemed active and talkative that evening, I didn't think to feel her, I thought she might be beginning molting as I think that's what is up with Butters, and now Hazel, they are both molting, and she held her tail a little down like they did in the beginning. Same Tuesday morning. But yesterday (Tuesday) late afternoon she began standing around and not foraging, her tail down, and went to roost very early. I thought she might have to lay, this didn't look too out of place but she didn't call about it like they normally might.

I should have felt her, because checking in on them late after the auto-door closed I saw she was breathing quickly, making a little noise with each exhale, her tail pumping with her breathing. I didn't think there was anything I could do late at night, so I woke up early this morning and saw she was still alive. I went and felt her, her belly is full and tight. I put a glove on and some KY and checked her vent, in about an inch and a half, I didn't feel anything. She left the coop and drank water

She is drinking, and ate a little, and is now resting in the shade of the lilac bush. She was alone for a couple of hours because the others were hanging out in the Winter run, but now she has company.
@BY Bob
@RoyalChick
@bgmathteach

I'm sorry for Peanut.
@ChicoryBlue when Caramel had EYP the only symptom I first noticed was trouble breathing. The vet explained to me that a mass in the abdomen can have that effect, whether it turns out to be internal laying or a tumor.
I hope it's not either of those, but I'm not sure the mobile vet could diagnose those without doing a radio. Antibiotics would be recommended for EYP, amoxicillin or enrofloxacin.

 

[RoyalChick]

Peanut's very ill
I think she is not long for this world, I'm afraid. Maybe ascites from tumors, or internal laying, but her belly is tight and she is not breathing well. This development was very quick, but was probably brewing for some days, and I missed it. The vet I thought she could see (but I didn't establish with them) is not in business anymore, and I've been calling around without success - but just got a call back by a traveling vet outfit that goes to farms and works out of trucks, River Valley Veterinary Services, and should know if someone can come here (or maybe we can go to them) . I don't see how this situation for her can be improved but I'd like a consult. Maybe they can give her pain meds. Any chance antibiotics could help?

I was away Sunday and back Monday evening, but she seemed active and talkative that evening, I didn't think to feel her, I thought she might be beginning molting as I think that's what is up with Butters, and now Hazel, they are both molting, and she held her tail a little down like they did in the beginning. Same Tuesday morning. But yesterday (Tuesday) late afternoon she began standing around and not foraging, her tail down, and went to roost very early. I thought she might have to lay, this didn't look too out of place but she didn't call about it like they normally might.

I should have felt her, because checking in on them late after the auto-door closed I saw she was breathing quickly, making a little noise with each exhale, her tail pumping with her breathing. I didn't think there was anything I could do late at night, so I woke up early this morning and saw she was still alive. I went and felt her, her belly is full and tight. I put a glove on and some KY and checked her vent, in about an inch and a half, I didn't feel anything. She left the coop and drank water

She is drinking, and ate a little, and is now resting in the shade of the lilac bush. She was alone for a couple of hours because the others were hanging out in the Winter run, but now she has company.
@BY Bob
@RoyalChick
@bgmathteach

Oh no, I am so sorry.
There may be nothing much you can do apart from keep her as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Hugs for you and Peanut.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow these are stunning views and pictures. Maybe big city is not all that bad

Well I was glad to get back home to the peace and quiet - but I am very glad I went to see it and it was fun catching up with friends as well.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you for such detailed description. I really appreciate it.

Light (impacted crop) is on day 4 of treatment. He massages regularly. Yes we do see some poop every day which is encouraging. Out of coop this morning Light still had a big crop. However we noticed she is eating more than yesterday. My husband started to treat her with stool softeners today, as many have suggested (should be in linked article or comments too)

Light is molting (the bald girl is finally getting some feathers!) which is why we did not notice her crop issue right away.

RC or anyone else, when you treated an impacted crop in the past, do you remember how long it took to clear?

Thanks again!!!

That sounds promising.
I remember it took about a week treating one of mine until her crop was empty in the morning (which was my definition of 'cure'). And then a few days later she had long strings of grass coming out the other end - which I assume was the cause of the problems.

 

[BY Bob]

My nieces hen Tuff isn’t well, she has not been well for a while, her comb is all limp and flopped over and she doesn’t seem to be eating well, hasn’t laid any eggs (though who knows what she lays as they all lay brown eggs there and they don’t keep track), she had a poop when o was there mostly white (urates??).

I want to treat her with amoxicillin- would 250mg BID be adequate for her?

I feel like I should bring her down here, she is going to end up down here anyways… it’s cooler here and I can keep an eye on her. I don’t feel she has anything that anyone can catch, like my flock my nieces chickens are a closed flock.

If anything my flock is less secure with my getting chicks from my friend and now the hatchery chicks….

What do you think?

I would not knowingly bring any sick chicken to my tribe. You just never know and biosecurity is super difficult to maintain. It is one thing when it is a member of your tribe already. It is another thing to knowingly put your group at any level of risk.

I have responded with generic dosing info for you. I would like to know more about what the illness is before settling on any particular dosage.

 

[BY Bob]

I just want to say my Marshmallows are causing mayhem at the moment. Enclosed the Pepper plants in a cage so they would stop being trampled on. Every chicken on the place respects the cage and leaves the peppers alone. EXCEPT the Marshmallows. Rules are not meant for them. They fly up, land gracefully on top of the wire and then with their svelte bodies drop down onto the peppers. There is something in the potting soil they are determined is delicious and that they must eat.

They are so smart. It can be stunning to watch them figure things out. Clever clever birdies!

 

[bgmathteach]

Keeping Cool

I have tried the following 2 hacks:

Fan with a wet towel (done in one of the horse stalls):
- Starting temperature 23C no wet towel
- Ending temperature 23C with a wet towel hanging in front of the fan

Jug of ice water in front of fan (done in the Hen House):
- Starting temperature 25C no fan or ice this morning around 9am
- Ending temperature 27C with fan and frozen jug of water (noon now)

The fan being on moves the air around and helps with keeping the birds cool (and me and the horses in their stalls - they have fans), but the use of the wet towel and the ice didn't make any difference.

Maybe I am not using the ice properly??

View attachment 3566770

FYI there is a gap behind the fan for air flow

2 things to consider in this:

1) I'm sure the air temp was increasing as the day wore on - did it maybe keep it from increasing as much?

2) Laws of physics here: There is a TON ( cubic feet) of air, one fan and one frozen jug would probably not be enough to decrease the energy of all that air! (and hence the temperature)- maybe multiple fans & jugs strategically placed to create an area with a cooler 'micro climate'? Someplace the chickens can literally go to 'chill out'?

 

[bgmathteach]

Tweens (3) - 2 Roos (Rico and Martin) one Pullet (Tippy)

Silkies and Penne (4) - 1 Roo and 3 Silkie Pullets

School Chicks (10) - 3 Roos, and 7 Pullets

17 Chicks - 6 Roos, and 11 Pullets

Rico is being very evil - he has poor Curly hiding in terror, Dorothy just beat the crap out of him - he is not afraid to fight the others, he has picked a fight with his Dada yet. If he doesn't get an attitude adjustment soon from the others in a big way, I am going to have to get rid of him with the rest - it's just like the other time when I had the Roos, my poor Silkies and weaker hens hiding in terror.

Didn't you sell/give away a couple of the school pullets already? Or am I remembering incorrectly? Either way, that isn't even 2 hens per Roo - way to many in modern keeping conditions! Granted, they are still young...but they are definitely starting into the hormonal stage - at least the older couple are! And, yes, the teen Roos need a good wake-up call by the hens AND Mr. P. Hopefully he will rise to the occasion - then you will be able to see who learns their lesson and who continues to be an idiot. Keep the smart one that learns!!!!

 

[featherhead007]

I can't tell that the ac unit in the dog room effects are light bill much. I am anxious to see the cost difference now that I have a new hvac unit in our home.

So, you bought a whole new complete package? Evap coil, blower, condenser unit?