Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

Just once yesterday and then I tried again today, but she is not acting well, in fact my guess now is her heart is failing. She did seem to be eating a bit more when foraging today this afternoon, but I mean a tiny bit. She took a little greens - baby's breath - from me, but she alternated between looking fine and trotting with Popcorn a few times to looking tired, and when she stopped to rest she half-closed her eyes. I know she dust-bathed earlier today, because when I checked her at noon she was wonderfully full of dirt. Between 4:30 and 7pm out and about, she just was closing her eyes every time the group stopped to hang and preen. Twice she hung out by me and napped briefly. So when I tried the feeding at 7pm or so what happened there was not good, and really made me think for sure her heart is failing, and the stress of the procedure exacerbated it. Or she's just so skinny she's too weak?

I stopped after about 10-15 ml because she really gave a good wriggle, and with that effort her eyes half-closed, so I immediately got the tube out and it seemed to me her legs failed, she was passing out. I let her down keeping her head and front part supported a little to not push anything in her crop up, she lay sort of on her side, then in 2-3 seconds she was awake and quickly got her feet under her, stayed that way a couple seconds, then stood up. I'm calling the vets tomorrow to see what they think. I hate to travel with her but maybe they can come here on Friday, if she lasts that long.

She pooped a tiny watery poop waiting while I got the tube food ready, so I collected it and got it dissolved in a test tube and got a slide on it before starting the tube feeding. I didn't see anything remarkable.

I can't believe this is happening to you CB. I feel awful. I am sending millions of hugs and prayers for you and Butters.
Are Buckeyes (that's their breed, correct?) Known for having problems?
Oh my God, I feel awful. Between losing Peanut, and now (NOT) losing (hopefully for a long time) Butters, this is awful.
I'm tempted to just leave BYC for a while just because of all if the loss and death going on.
@TX Noob Chick lost her beloved Ms. Z (correct?) @RoyalChick lost Eli, @BY Bob lost Betty, @ChicoryBlue lost Peanut and now poor Butters is ill. And @Ponypoor's bird Tuff is sick.
And of course my BBQ is losing all of her feathers, and she is extremely underweight and skinny.
Being a poultry keeper stinks. We love our birds, but they live such shirt, sad lives. And the poor production birds live short and miserable lives. Us humans have ruined the health of poultry.
-Sigh- Yet there is nothing we can do about it. We can talk to people about how much of an outrage it is, but most people who don't own beloved chooks won't care.

I wish the world was a bigger and better place. Hundreds of animals lose their homes and lives every day. Poaching, hunting, logging, Global warming, pollution, cities growing etc.
Humans lose their lives every day. Cold, warmth, murder, kidnapping, abuse. It is a slightly brutal world we live in unfortunately.

I do realise that I got off topic, so tax is coming

 

[Ponypoor]

NO NO NO NO NO.
I am already trying to break up Goose, Karen and Ducky with this broody nonsense. Guess who turned into a shrieking biting demon who wanted to sleep in the porch nest box tonight? Grackle that is who. That is now 4 girls who need to be broken up, 2 currently raising chicks and Perdita who is due to hatch this weekend. I am ready to raise the white flag. HELP. That is it, I am sick of spring and summer, I am ready for winter.......NOW.

I am right there with you girl

I am telling my tut tut tutting twits to get real! No more kids!

 

[Ponypoor]

he wanted to mate with you, I am thinking.

Yep that is what I thought also

Or the worst date I have been on…

At least he’s handsome

 

[Ponypoor]

Thanks! This is my first time being here, I kept on seeing it and I decided that I just HAD to look at it! Here are some pictures of my chickens. And I’ll take a pic of my cockerels later. View attachment 3574124View attachment 3574125View attachment 3574127View attachment 3574126View attachment 3574128View attachment 3574129View attachment 3574128View attachment 3574130View attachment 3574131View attachment 3574132

Awww so lovely

Thanks for sharing!

Are you in Canada?

 

[bgmathteach]

Happy Twofer Tuesday everyone.
This is Tassels and Pooh. Is it the right angle on Tassels to give an opinion on whether she is a cockerel?

View attachment 3573495

It is for the saddle feathers, which look pretty rounded, not pointy like a roo.

@rural mouse do you concur? @RebeccaBoyd ?

 

[bgmathteach]

4 out of 5 is a success rate to be proud of. That was great work on your part.

3 out of 4???

 

[Ponypoor]

I need to clean the coop out first thing anyway tomorrow. It is time to enact tough love. Karen and Goose especially are not taking the hint even as we remove hay bales to feed out to the horses. The are just scooting over to a different one. I am cleaning up the coop and locking 4 angry clucky hens in it during the day. I will have to open it back up in the evening so everyone can get in it to roost but they can be rounded back up off their nests for the next few days. I will win this battle with the girls.

Beat of luck!

The past few days Henny Penny and Fluffy have laid eggs in the hay wheelbarrow (better than the manure I guess!), and then yesterday Fluffy made this lovely gorgeous nest between two hay bales I have stacked fo feeding, and laid a lovely egg there I almost stepped on that egg!

Heaven only knows where the Grey Ladies are laying their eggs, or maybe they are at that stage were they are going to go full on broody.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Just once yesterday and then I tried again today, but she is not acting well, in fact my guess now is her heart is failing. She did seem to be eating a bit more when foraging today this afternoon, but I mean a tiny bit. She took a little greens - baby's breath - from me, but she alternated between looking fine and trotting with Popcorn a few times to looking tired, and when she stopped to rest she half-closed her eyes. I know she dust-bathed earlier today, because when I checked her at noon she was wonderfully full of dirt. Between 4:30 and 7pm out and about, she just was closing her eyes every time the group stopped to hang and preen. Twice she hung out by me and napped briefly. So when I tried the feeding at 7pm or so what happened there was not good, and really made me think for sure her heart is failing, and the stress of the procedure exacerbated it. Or she's just so skinny she's too weak?

I stopped after about 10-15 ml because she really gave a good wriggle, and with that effort her eyes half-closed, so I immediately got the tube out and it seemed to me her legs failed, she was passing out. I let her down keeping her head and front part supported a little to not push anything in her crop up, she lay sort of on her side, then in 2-3 seconds she was awake and quickly got her feet under her, stayed that way a couple seconds, then stood up. I'm calling the vets tomorrow to see what they think. I hate to travel with her but maybe they can come here on Friday, if she lasts that long.

She pooped a tiny watery poop waiting while I got the tube food ready, so I collected it and got it dissolved in a test tube and got a slide on it before starting the tube feeding. I didn't see anything remarkable.

I am so sorry, I don’t have any words of wisdom but sending good thoughts for you both.

 

[knoturavggrl]

@BY Bob I was wondering there are multiple people here dealing with way way to many and/or to often broody hens.

Would you mind gently requesting that Queen Aurora could perhaps issue a beak-book statement explaining that remaining chick free is a valid option and not to be so hasty about hatching out more of the adorable troublemakers.

I am certain myself, @Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd , @bgmathteach and probably a few other folks I missed would be so grateful and willing to send cheeseballs and/or meal worms to seal the deal .

Thank you and Queen Aurora for considering the request .

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

@BY Bob I was wondering there are multiple people here dealing with way way to many and/or to often broody hens.

Would you mind gently requesting that Queen Aurora could perhaps issue a beak-book statement explaining that remaining chick free is a valid option and not to be so hasty about hatching out more of the adorable troublemakers.

I am certain myself, @Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd , @bgmathteach and probably a few other folks I missed would be so grateful and willing to send cheeseballs and/or meal worms to seal the deal .

Thank you and Queen Aurora for considering the request .

I second this. I also request that Queen Aurora sends out another royal decree to my lot through beakbook. Please tell her that if they must hatch chicks, *looking at you Momma Hen*, then please for the love of all things holy, pullets please. I really cannot wait for that bat to hit henopause and stop laying entirely. Momma Hen is worrying me. She is spending a awful lot of time on the hillside. She should be back to laying since I sold her chicks 5 almost 6 weeks ago. Holly was within a week. Not a single egg of hers has been found. I do not trust that bat. All it takes is for her to hide away and lay 3 eggs in a single spot for them not to be disturbed and it triggers her. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, that or just laying for 2 weeks in general before she starts thinking about chicks again.

*edited to add*
If you can convince Aurora to get through to my lot I will pay her with blueberries. Lots of Blueberries and overripe cherry tomato's that she does not have to share.