Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

The Spuds in the sun on the veranda today
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Later in the day when we returned from a walk I found Popcorn and two Spuds all piled into the nestbox, on alert. I looked there with the camera because at first all I could find was one Spud alone, hunkered down in the run litter under a low corner roost, and Hazel standing still under the coop. Something frightened them?
(Only thing I could find was the (just emptied) poo bucket, tipped over. If someone had jumped on it and knocked it over it would have made a startling sound because it had had a lid and a stone on it.)
I think they're all getting nicely integrated...yes Popcorn still chases every now and then, but it's once in a while. Other times when she and Hazel forage that's the Spuds' cue to get out there with them and forage nearby too. And when it matters they'll pile into the nestbox together no problem!
No roosting shenanigans tonight, everybody's in
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Anything can set them off, I find their eyesight is far superior to mine, they can spot things way before I can; and once the alarm is sounded it’s a long time before they will settle down and come out of hiding.

I am sooooo very glad your crew is getting along so welll, and I am eggstatic that they are doing well; for a while there I was holding my breath wanting to make sure everyone was ok before saying anything, didn’t want to tempt the Fates.

 

[Ponypoor]

Red Hen update

I attempted a draining of her abdomen but was unable to drain any fluid. At this point I am assuming she is in heart failure, I am just keeping her on pain meds and hopefully she is comfortable. She had a good day outside in the nice warm sunshine, but slept a lot.

She sure does love her grub, and treats and such. As long as she continues to eat then I will leave well enough alone. My hope is that she passes quietly in her sleep, she has had a great life and at 5 she is old for a production breed. I am quite cognizant of the Azurs and their laying eggs every day, my hope is that they will slow down or even stop over the winter, to give their wee bodies a break from laying. I am really happy with their energetic happy friendly personalities, and hope to have many many years with them

 

[featherhead007]

I have a problem. (Yes, besides the obvious) ! BoPeeps no longer likes her name, and wants to change it to “lasagna” instead! Gezz can’t they just leave well enough alone??

I was having some lasagna and happened to mention that name. Bobo was right there and squawked at me. I said it was lasagna and she squawked again. To test this hypothesis, I said lasagna once again and she Squawked!
I like the name BoPeeps. But she likes lasagna!

 

[Ponypoor]

Now they've segregated themselves
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I see you are like me with those cams watching chooks and horses sleep is a great past time!

 

[featherhead007]

I see you are like me with those cams watching chooks and horses sleep is a great past time!

 

[featherhead007]

Here’s the bird in question. Lasagna, aka BoPeeps:
She’s finishing up her molting.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I was having some lasagna and happened to mention that name. Bobo was right there and squawked at me. I said it was lasagna and she squawked again. To test this hypothesis, I said lasagna once again and she Squawked!
I like the name BoPeeps. But she likes lasagna!

I'd say she doesn't want the name, she wants the lasagna!

 

[featherhead007]

I'd say she doesn't want the name, she wants the lasagna!

She got some lasagna! She ate it right off my plate. ( but I hid some in the fridge for later)

 

[lightm]

I noticed I became a premium feather member!!

Pretty sure this only started tonight... werid.

Whoever gifted me this membership, can you let me know? Thank you.

Edited to add: my account says I have 6 month PFM expiring April 17, 2023, which means I had it since October 17th!! But I am pretty sure this only started today... anyway...

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Anything can set them off, I find their eyesight is far superior to mine, they can spot things way before I can; and once the alarm is sounded it’s a long time before they will settle down and come out of hiding.

I am sooooo very glad your crew is getting along so welll, and I am eggstatic that they are doing well; for a while there I was holding my breath wanting to make sure everyone was ok before saying anything, didn’t want to tempt the Fates.

There was a Ruffed Grouse that flew in and went to the apple tree right near the run, and when it flew a brief alarm went out, so if it' had been hanging around earlier maybe that was it before. And the bucket got knocked over in the rush to get to safety.

Well - I am still concerned for the Spuds' health and watch them closely. I have been thinking about asking everyone's opinion: they appear to be acting well, eating a lot, not sleeping abnormally as far as I can tell, though they need more naps than the adults.

Anna's voice after the antibiotic treatment became more like it was before she got sick, clear and cheepy, but Tedi and Ida Diane both still have deep chesty peeps and boks, Ida Diane's in particular is very hoarse and rough sounding. Today Anna sneezed and Ida Diane did too. But other than how their voices sound they seem to be okay. Their nares are dirty, but no visible mucus or discharge, and no bubbles in the eyes.

I have been going by what I thought was the conventional wisdom in the case of respiratory illness, that they can live with it and have it the rest of their lives, it may wax and wane depending on stress and condition, but not to treat unless it interferes with them living their lives and they start behaving sickly.

I think it is also possible that the horrible exposure to mold in their first brooder shavings, which I think killed their two chick sisters, could have been the entrance for the bacterial infection Anna got, and maybe Ida Diane and Tedi are suffering from that mold exposure? But those two developed the chesty sounds and sneezes later, after Anna, so I'm not sure about this idea.

I hope that not treating unless sickly is the correct thing to do, and that their air sacs aren't all scarred and cause problems for them down the line. Or maybe all that is in the cards at this point anyway so I ought to look at it as battle scars and nothing to do about it now? If I were to give those two a course of antibiotics, what would be the goal? Would it help them, or maybe it is too late to treat now? If it is fungal- related, there would be no point (I think?). If I know they're okay as is, then when I note the way their voices sound I won't wonder, but since I'm unsure I keep thinking about it and doubting this path.