Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Why can’t I find another rooster to take care of my ladies? I’m searching a 500 mile radius and have found nothing yet. I’m not trying to replace Sir Jaffar (that would be impossible) but I’m tired of the ladies bickering with each other and no peace in the tribe. I have a strong suspicion that the little ones are all girls, and I’m still heartbroken . So my search goes on.

If you're serious about it -- Check out BYC's threads (California-Southern) or (California - Northern) to ask for a rooster. Lots of owners have surplus cockerels/roo's that are too nice for dinner plates and want them to go to good flocks.

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor what has worked for me in the past when I had a splayed leg chick was this:

Get a short tumbler/glass that is a bit narrower on the bottom/base than the chick....think maybe a whiskey glass or short water glass. Put the chick in it for 10-15 minute intervals (as it gets stronger, up to 30 min.) a couple times a day. Within a few days (or up to a week if it has it really bad) it should then be okay. The 'tight bottom' of the glass 'holds' the feet in proper position and the slightly sloped sides that are slippery will give the leg a workout (PT) as it tries to hop/climb it's way out of the glass.

I have had to do this with 3 chicks (2 mine, one was a friends - all at different times). 2 of the 3, within 2 days (did do it a 3rd for good measure, though, and 3X a day) the two were running around normal - you would never know!
the third was older when the friend asked for help - and the splayed leg was quite bad - couldn't stand up even if you manually set the feet correctly on a paper towel. That one it took the full week. I wasn't sure it would work on her, as I didn't see any improvement at all the first 3 days, but at the end of the 4th, she could stand (still splayed - but had the strength to actually hold herself up. Walking still not so good at that point...but by the end of the week, she could walk on her own - and a few more days of PT in the glass did the trick!

I wish I had known this sooner, as the 'bandaid strapped to the two legs' really doesn't work great - they are always pecking it off themselves - or 'with help from a friend'!

Neither of these were the actual video I watched - but you get the idea.

I have seen that first one.

The big issue with my chick is the fact the legs go up towards her head. I am not sure that can be corrected.

 

[PTR]

I have seen that first one.

The big issue with my chick is the fact the legs go up towards her head. I am not sure that can be corrected.

Oh, poor baby. I’ve never dealt with something like this so I can’t do anything but send hugs is she one of the silkies?

 

[knoturavggrl]

Him looking after them is a VERY distinct possibility. When mama abandons the babies, papa steps in, will spend time talking to them guiding, and hence forth, they are HIS responsibility. Putting them in the coop makes them HIS.

Something else to consider: how are you, and more specifically is your daughter, petting the ladies? Are you (is she) giving treats to Lore and Storey(?) to tidbit for the girls first? Are you trying to get the boys to eat out of your hands?

If the answers are:

Stroking their backs

No

Yes

Read Shadrach's Understanding Your Rooster article and

1. Do not touch a hen's back, even when you think the boys aren't watching. They are.

2. Give the boys the treats first. Wait until they're calling the girls AND the girls are going to them. Then give the boys another treat to call a girl. Once at least 2 girls have taken treats from 1 or both boys, then you can start spreading them around. At this point DON'T try to hand feed the girls. Focus the spread of treats around the boys (toss near). Any girl hanging back can then have treats tossed her direction, but keep the treats primarily towards the boys.

3. Do NOT try to hand feed the boys especially in front of the girls. If you've pulled one of the boys out to check him over for something (taken into the house/garage or similar), then treats can be put in front of him. He isn't on his dignity as much.

Thank you for this post. Very helpful information.

I think the babies may well have something to do with the behavior change. Why he has choosing to target my daughter specifically, I am not sure except that she spends less time with them then I do and is smaller and therefore an easier target and more of an unknown to him as far as a threat.

Generally, we do not pet any of them unless they jump up on our laps. BY Bob and I are similar in this as we tend to let the chickens decide how much or how little they want to interact with us. Mostly we just sit and watch them be chickens. The only exception to this is when they are little, we do handle them frequently at that stage. Another exception is for emergencies or treatment in which case I would pull them off the roost at night if at all possible.

We do not do a ton of treats but when we do, I try and give them to the roosters first. Sometimes they swarm us but I do try and so does she.

The plan right now is for Es to give any and all treats to Lore first from the bridge which is at the end of what he seems to consider his territory when free ranging. We will then work our way closer to the coop.

 

[Ponypoor]

Oh, poor baby. I’ve never dealt with something like this so I can’t do anything but send hugs is she one of the silkies?

Yes the last one to hatch - I am thinking that the delayed hatching is the issue.
I currently still have the two last silkies to hatch in the brooder, the spraddle chick is still not able to stand - I have been syringe feeding honey water which she takes fine, and she will pick at crumbs a bit now.

I have tried the glass method but her issue is that her legs swing forward, so she is not ‘pushing down’ on the bottom of the glass but rather on the sides of the glass. I have tried to put her feet downwards but they just flip back up.

If her legs went straight down the glass would work I am sure.

I’ll have to take a video when next I go and do her ‘physio’ and feed her.

The other chick is very rambunctious - getting into everything - this morning I shoved her in my pocket to keep her from getting in the way, she crawled out of my pocket and thud fell on the bathroom floor!


I think I was more freaked out than she was!

 

[Sylvester017]

Cool. We had thick cloud and rain. Is it going for several days?

Cosmic storm tax: Bernie surveying her kingdom
View attachment 3828347

That photo is fantastic! I love it. I hope you enter it in the POW.

I THOUGHT THE SAME THING -- IT'S A WOW FOR POW!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Updates:
I have not been on for a while. Hello everyone and here is some Tax:

Videos:

I've been having some very busy days finishing up school, tending to hot days in the Chicken yard and garden, so there wasn't lots of time. Just take a look at these heat extremes!

Well, now that school is over, I should have more time to be on here.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Cool. We had thick cloud and rain. Is it going for several days?

Cosmic storm tax: Bernie surveying her kingdom
View attachment 3828347

Send it all here. Lovely photo!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

BFTP Twofer Tuesday:

 

[Ponypoor]

Updates:
I have not been on for a while. Hello everyone and here is some Tax:
View attachment 3853382
View attachment 3853383
View attachment 3853384
Videos:

I've been having some very busy days finishing up school, tending to hot days in the Chicken yard and garden, so there wasn't lots of time. Just take a look at these heat extremes!
View attachment 3853385
Well, now that school is over, I should have more time to be on here

Wow that’s very warm indeed!

Be careful and try to stay cool.