Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Pastel the Rooster]

I have a taker for Manny. They'll come get him tonight. Since they're driving 45 minutes, I have hope they just want a rooster, not dinner. I mean, who drives an hour and a half round trip at night for a rooster you'll have to butcher when you can buy one for $10 ready to cook? But I'm not asking.

Is one of the chicks that your hen hatched a cockerel? Why are you giving Manny away? Is it because he’s mean or is traumatizing the hens? I thought that you said something about him scaring the hens. Well, good luck with his new home. If they decide to send him to Freezer Camp, then that is out of your control. Roosters are jerks sometimes. I’ve thought about getting rid of Pastel multiple times. If I find that Gumbo, when he gets older, is suitable for my flock, with good manners to me and the hens, then I’ll keep him and figure out how to get rid of Pastel without making me cry for weeks.

The chicks are so big! I can’t stand it! They aren’t making as many chirp noises anymore. But Gumbo isn’t crowing yet. Could that be because he is around another rooster? He is pretty sweet so far. I think that he might avoid BBQ when he is older, because she relentlessly chases and attacks him. But she does that with all of the chicks, Willow, and poor Eli.
Eli chases the chicks though… I think that once she settles in, BBQ will grow to like her.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Fluffy Butt friends, I shall rejoin you all tomorrow. Chickens and grandma are all lined up and taken care of. In a hour we are leaving for the concert.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

View attachment 3680381I’m going up to the northern property today, and check out the airport close by. Hopefully there’s a hanger available for purchase there. I’m thinking to move from the valley into the foggy forest, northern property, and rent out my house, View attachment 3680380and rent out the front house too. The tenant up front has given me notice that they will be moving.
(MY CHOOKS ARE COMING WITH ME.)
Of course Sir Jaffar must approve of the idea first!
My plan tax:

Sounds great! A foggy forest, I wish!

 

[BY Bob]

I noticed yesterday I felt I was getting sprayed while checking Hazel's crop (and getting some stuck-on poop off one of her feet). Today she has terribly bubbly eyes, and her nares or lungs are rattling when she breathes. This morning I didn't see it, but in taking Mugs Monday shots this afternoon I saw she has been shaking and scratching the bubbles off, then they come back. So, I've started her on the Baytril 10%, for her weight of 5lbs 5oz, .25 ml 2x/day. I hope she responds as well as Anna did. Poor girl was trembling when I wrapped her and gave her the dose. I do handle them but she and Popcorn have always been the most nervous about it. Peanut and Butters were much more mellow. Despite her fear she was more compliant than fighting it.

Hazel
Her appetite is good, good crop before bed, but she did retire early
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The gang and any new chicks are doomed to this respiratory disease, whatever it is. I've read some people cull everyone, and that's just out of the question, beyond the pale to me.

Figuring this is a long-term issue, what do I do if/when the Baytril runs out? Go back to the vet? I also have Amoxy-Tyl powder, and that's it. The enrofloxacin is better?

Not sure what's triggered this for Hazel, the new pavers going down stressing her, or her molt, which isn't heavy and seems finishing, her feathers are looking great, or Popcorn's heavy molt and different behavior, or losing and really missing her close buddy Peanut, and then also her other companion and underling Butters?

Popcorn, her new feathers are coming in nicely (lower cozy panels are off)
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The Spuds preening on their upper level perch (btw the cozy panel up here is off too)
Diane-Ida
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Tedi
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Anna
Still smaller, maybe always will be, having lost at least a week-10 days of growth when she was sick and not able to eat on her own. She has a good appetite but tends to hang back a little timidly, so I make sure she gets a turn when I'm feeding everyone out of my hands
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Anna and Tedi and Diane-Ida's beak
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Those are classic symptoms of mycoplasma. You are right. Your birds will have it forever. It will occasionally reoccur in all of them. You need to treat when they are symptomatic as it can cause blindness if untreated.

There are limited drugs available to treat mycoplasma as antibiotics that attack the cell wall will not work. This means no penicillin derivatives like amoxicillin. This leaves you with tetracycline, erythromycin, and tylosin derivatives. Enrofloxacin is quite effective in my experience.

I suggest that you consider taking a sick hen to the vet in order to get antibiotics. You will not be able to support them for long with your meager store of enrofloxacin. Unless your state has mandated culling for some stupid reason.

Do not tell the vet you have them on enrofloxacin. Complete that therapy but get antibiotics for next time. I would not switch antibiotics mid-stream but that is me.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

I will pray for girls. I'm not going to lie, I am missing one of the 2 boys I placed yesterday. I had a inkling early on they were boys and I was right. I did everything in me to stay hands off and not get attached. They did everything in their power to ensure they had to be handled daily and really were good boys even if they were hitting their idiot stage. It was because of those 2 that I still had to carry some of them to the coop each night. They insisted they needed to roost on the porch and always had at least one of the girls in between them. Packing them to the coop they would snuggle in and coo sort of. Darn it boys, stop that, I could not keep you. Then they got handsome, especially the twig son who I was wanting to keep or at least find a good home for.
This one right here, he had me very close to trying 3 boys again even knowing it would not work.
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Now That is an amazing roo!

 

[BY Bob]

After an afternoon in the ER Saturday I am breathing much better. Still don't have my MOJO, Feel tired easily. Did manage to put up a nice roof over one of the pens though. Liking the white color roofing View attachment 3680039

Here's hoping you are continuing to improve.

 

[featherhead007]

Sir Jaffar, he Cocorico! He’s sounding good this morning. A nice healthy crow, and consistent in his own timing. I’m keeping my chooks locked up this morning, because I’m attending the town’s annual Veterans Day parade on Main Street. Bringing my neighbor with me, who has trouble getting around by herself. .

Open mouth, insert foot !
I was going to take my neighbor lady to the parade, but she decided she couldn’t go because of her knee and couldn’t get around easily. So I’m cleaning up her kitchen and going home to my chooks. She doing good for a 85 year old!

 

[BY Bob]

Poopy is so adorable!!
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And here is Wendy
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Adorable is the perfect descriptor.

 

[BY Bob]

Hazel has bubbles in her left eye this morning, so I am extending her treatment by another couple of days. I think Bob mentioned it could be ten days is needed in some cases, I will check. Drats!

Yup. It can take 10 days with mycoplasma.

 

[BY Bob]

Proof that I had hair once upon a time, cerca 1986-87 given the 2nd Armor Division patch on my shoulder. View attachment 3681078

Thank you for your service.