Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I still would feel much better having an experienced person show me the first time - you can seriously hurt them/kill them if you screw up!

Interesting that the 'cleaning' is just soaking in cold water until it looks clean - no 'sanitizing' of equipment, Was it the time and the lack of understanding of sterilization (it was printed in 1922!) - or lack of them feeling a 'need' to for just 'livestock/poultry' that would become dinner anyways?

In 1922 sterilization was a thing. It was probably lack of concern for the poultry.

 

[BY Bob]

Well they do say to use some weak antiseptic at the incision.
It suggests you practice on a dead bird first.
It is also interesting that the assumption is you are working solo - hence using the half bricks to hold the bird down.

Fascinating as this is I think I can safely say that I am not going to be doing that any time soon!

That is a good thing!

 

[Ponypoor]

Very good. He will make new friends.

Hahahaha

Funny thing, he hangs around with the school chicks during the day, I think because they are more his size.

 

[Sally PB]

If those Bielefelders turn to be Bielefelders I think I will keep them, they are known winter layers. I think they lay about 5 times a week I read.

Oh, that is music to my ears! I've read that they start around 6 months, which would put mine starting around mid-November.

 

[rural mouse]

Mr Penne the little brat….

This morning he actually came into my office/feed room and decided the latch onto my foot/ankle and wouldn’t let go!

He did that last night also to Misty when I was trying to get everyone to bed, he hopped down off the roosting ledge and grabbed her by the back and wouldn’t let go, I needed the broom to get him to stop!

He is a devil compared to Mr Rico and Mr P hasn’t done anything with him yet.

He will.....when she's screaming and/or when Penne goes for his favorite ladies.

 

[rural mouse]

Oh, that is music to my ears! I've read that they start around 6 months, which would put mine starting around mid-November.

Most pullets lay through the winter their first year. Subsequent years they have their 1st adult moult usually going into the fall (some start in July, some wait until January). Many hens stop laying for part, if not all, of their moult. That's when the big egg companies cull their birds (and why production breeds can start having health problems after that). Some birds start laying again immediately, others wait for days to start getting longer. Brahmas (as an example) are reputed to lay through the winter and take some breaks during the heat of the summer. Mine were pullets last winter, so laid like the rest. We haven't had the extreme summer heat here yet, so I don't know yet how they'll do with 90+ temps.

 

[rural mouse]

2 broodies

Hector and Havoc

Mera and 2 chicks (Havoc and Enigma)

Tuff and Havoc

Unusual friends: Lark and Nellie

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you. I’ve read your post about your friends horse and am sending good thoughts of the best for him!

Thank you, BG, you have been a comfort and great help!

Spellcheck mixed up things but I think I get your sense. Thank you, Michelle! Yes, they knew she wasn’t feeling well before all this, and bringing everyone was the best with four birds. When we got home I put her in her favorite hole/depression in the run while I dug her grave. They all hung out there too, so were with her at home for awhile. Hazel came over and picked a bit of dust off her back. Butters, though, stepped on her beak at one point…

Butters meanwhile has really gone off eating, though she forages and hunts and finds things, just doesn’t actually eat them. She earned a 1.5 on the OCS (overall condition score) when she was seen on Wednesday. She is feathers and bones. That score’s between emaciated and under-conditioned. She got a tube feeding Sunday, and the vet explained and trained me while she did it, if I wanted to try, as the “flock check” I’ve scheduled isn’t until next week. This was interesting, as she did not want to train me on draining ascites when I asked her on the phone prior. I don’t know which is potentially riskier, they both are I think. The hoped-for result is that a few feedings will jump-start her eating again.

Important information was her tip of going from the birds left side to the right with the tube angle, and using a strong light to try to see the placement (she herself found that difficult), but more important was the physical training of feeling her trachea and the tube next to it when it’s placed correctly. I knew if I couldn’t replicate that when / if I tried I would not continue.

I want you to know I was remembering your video and tips too. Today I was successful in giving Butters 8 grams of Exact baby bird formula (one tablespoon of Exact mixed with five tablespoons of hot water, which became a (measured) 93 degrees or less when she got it, though I was shooting for 100 degrees. At least it wasn’t cold.

Thank you, Lozzy!

Thank you so much. Those things were blessings.

Thank you, Bob. It was so very, very sad, but felt like the right decision deep down.

Kudos to you on the tube feeding. That is something I have not had to do and hope I never have to. Although Mrs BY Bob has trached many a human.

I keep hearing more stories of hens starving themselves while molting. What I don't get is how the hens would survive in the wild? How has it developed such that they would starve themselves while molting? There must be something else we are not providing that they want. Whatever could it be?

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh, that is music to my ears! I've read that they start around 6 months, which would put mine starting around mid-November.

They are a dual purpose bird so any cockerels you can process likely around 4.5lbs. I think that is the target weight - others might have more info on that.

 

[BY Bob]

That is interesting that it is against the law - where many, many other animals are routinely castrated. Granted, most of the other animals have external testicles. But, castrating a slightly older bull is not a nice procedure!. (It they are too old for the elastrator, the vet literally crushes the 'tubes'. Or at least they did when I was a kid and we bought a 6 month old male 'calf'.

And how often are dogs and cats 'taken care of' in a not dissimilar fashion (though, under anesthesia and by a vet.)

I agree. I can't imagine that we can keep laying hens in crates and do awful things to their brother chicks but castrating a rooster is unacceptable. We humans are odd.