Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Maybe horses?

Someone stole 2 mares from a horse show here many years ago, one was in foal, they found them a year later in horrible shape, with the foal born

Curly and Fluffy getting down and dirty

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor how are the Twisted girls doing after their first full day there?

They have decided I am not an axe murderer

I could walk in the pen without them freaking out, and Fluffy the beast got in there again, I didn’t see her run in there my eye is really bad and I am having issues keeping both my eyes open so she bolted in there - anyways she did try to clobber them and in fact just ignored them scratching in the shavings.

 

[RoyalChick]

And now I’ll post again because I need some help... again ! . I just noticed this morning that at least five of my chickens have bumblefoot. Only one is pretty severe, Cannelle, but I would like to address the issue. I’m really worried as it's the first time i’m dealing with this, and of course just when i’m leaving for two days next week which I haven't done in a year. There has been a lot of great info on this thread that I read again carefully, but I still have a ton of questions, and I really hope some of you may help.

Cannelle is the only one whose foot is swollen. Looks bad but she isn't limping so I guess it doesn't hurt her so much.
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My first practical question is that I have some Epsom salt that's been around for two years and it's gone liquid. My partner is going in town tomorrow and will get some, and all the supplies we need. Do you think I should still use the old Epsom salt today, or just soak them in plain water, or maybe add betaine today to the soak and switch to Epsom salt tomorrow? And do I need to make a different bath for each chicken, since we're dealing with a bacteria or can the same bath be used for all ?

My second question is whether we need to make daily bandages for all the light cases, or is it possible to do just the soaking ? Some of these chickens are very skittish and I think it won't go well. Or maybe do it a bandage for all the chickens but only every two day ?
I will use human corn dressings for Cannelle as I unfortunately have a bunch of those for my own bumblefoot . Any opinion as to whether it would be useful to try drawing salve for her since she’s so swollen ? She’s one of the skittish so if we can avoid having to open the scab it would be best by all means.

My fourth question is about the cause of the problem. We were really glad to have changed the roost and added a ramp three months ago but now I feel dreadful that obviously the new setting caused this problem. I really can't imagine that it comes from the roosts as they are made of old wood and very round and big. So it must be the ramp. I took several pictures to ask if you can see what's wrong. I was thinking maybe they hurt their foot rubbing the screws ? I’m not sure if we should just give up on the ramp idea, or if we can improve it. I have a mite problem in the coop so I can't add soft material on it as it would allow the mites to crawl under.

I was thinking of maybe putting a chair so they can hop on the roost instead of using the ramp.

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Thank you all so much for any help you could give. I’m inclined to cancel my get away as i’m pretty sure my partner is not going to spend two hours bathing and bandaging unwilling chickens if he’s alone.

Here’s a picture of Piou-piou for some cheers. Her feet are so dirty from scratching around that I can't even tell if she has it or not .
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I will tackle some of your questions that I feel I know the answer to.
Old epsom salts should be fine. It is just a mineral (magnesium sulphate). Check you didn’t get some fancy stuff with weird extras added in that might be an issue.
Yes just soaking is OK - sometimes even for bad cases. You could skip bandaging until you are back.
The key is repeated soaking to soften everything up. As often as you can for as long as you can.
While your partner is in town make sure he gets something that can create the ring to take the pressure off the bumble once you start bandaging. @bgmathteach uses corn rings from the foot care part of the pharmacy. That foam that is used to insulate plumbing pipes is also good (you cut off slices).
Also he should get whatever drawing salve is available in France. The gold standard would be anything containing ichthammol.
And lots of vetwrap bandage because it sticks to itself.

 

[RoyalChick]

They have decided I am not an axe murderer

I could walk in the pen without them freaking out, and Fluffy the beast got in there again, I didn’t see her run in there my eye is really bad and I am having issues keeping both my eyes open so she bolted in there - anyways she did try to clobber them and in fact just ignored them scratching in the shavings.

Ummm. At the risk of being told to mind my own business, I think you should get someone to look at that eye of yours. Emergency room? Eye doctor?

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

It is pouring rain, has been all morning. Branch has already made sure he is soaking wet doing rooster things this morning. I do not care, I need to bring my therapy chicken inside for a bit.

I am just going to leave this here.

It takes a special kind of person to wait until Rosie is ready to go out the door and wait for the bus on picture day to inform her that her new haircut looks terrible. Instant meltdown from Rosie and I let grandma have it with both barrels. Thankfully the bus was late so I was able to calm Rosie down and not have her get on the bus in tears. The 2nd day back to school and she has started the same crap again.

 

[rural mouse]

The Azurs are more settled this morning they let me walk into the pen without trying to fly through a window. I guess they have figured out I am not an axe murderer!

Fluffy ran through my legs in there again this morning, this time she didn’t try to clobber them. Drats that hen - I have been trying to keep everyone separate, and feeding them last and she goes and upsets the apple cart.

Should I have just kept here in there and have her also quarantined? I feel like I should have, but feel she would have been very upset. Darn her for making me worry

Meanwhile I got a look at beaks last night and it loooks like their beaks were cut back and they are growing in wrong. Topsy needs the top right side filed and the bottom left side.

Same with the other two, Turvy isn’t so bad.

Next week I will see about filing them down -once they have settled in, one thing - Topsy bites hard even with her odd beak which is extremely sharp!!!

Can’t wait to see them next year when their feathers molt and their jaunty tails grow back, right now those tails are all shredded and ratty looking. I feel horrible I couldn’t get the other 3 Azurs

Also @RebeccaBoyd and/or @BY Bob or anyone else, I note that their comb and wattles are very pale, I don’t have any experience with such prominent combs and wattles - I seem to recall someone saying they will redden up when they get ready to lay… ?? I thought it might be from stress but they are still very pale, when will it get nice and bright? They are supposed POL ???

POL means they're OLD enough to lay. Doesn't mean they're READY to lay. They will turn "nice and bright" over the next month or so (probably sooner than you realize) and eggs will start appearing. Give them a week to settle in and see how they're doing then.....and they may surprise you with their own work on their beaks.

 

[rural mouse]

They have decided I am not an axe murderer

I could walk in the pen without them freaking out, and Fluffy the beast got in there again, I didn’t see her run in there my eye is really bad and I am having issues keeping both my eyes open so she bolted in there - anyways she did try to clobber them and in fact just ignored them scratching in the shavings.

Leav her with them then. She'll help intro them to the rest

 

[rural mouse]

Ummm. At the risk of being told to mind my own business, I think you should get someone to look at that eye of yours. Emergency room? Eye doctor?

@Ponypoor yes! 2nd the motion!

 

[rural mouse]

It is pouring rain, has been all morning. Branch has already made sure he is soaking wet doing rooster things this morning. I do not care, I need to bring my therapy chicken inside for a bit.

I am just going to leave this here.

It takes a special kind of person to wait until Rosie is ready to go out the door and wait for the bus on picture day to inform her that her new haircut looks terrible. Instant meltdown from Rosie and I let grandma have it with both barrels. Thankfully the bus was late so I was able to calm Rosie down and not have her get on the bus in tears. The 2nd day back to school and she has started the same crap again.

Therapy chicken very much needed. Good job on firing both barrels. Glad you got Rosie calmed down.

 

[Ponypoor]

They have decided I am not an axe murderer

I could walk in the pen without them freaking out, and Fluffy the beast got in there again, I didn’t see her run in there my eye is really bad and I am having issues keeping both my eyes open so she bolted in there - anyways she did try to clobber them and in fact just ignored them scratching in the shavings.

That was supposed to say 'didn't try to clobber them'... sheesh auto correct