Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Oh, Phyllis is a production breed. A movie production breed! Just ask her. I've heard rumors over Beakbook she was in a movie that she made herself. Not sure how true it is. That hairdo has a lot of gossip following it.

Maybe she partied like she did on New Year's and something happened then.

Those Hollywood starlets do burn bright and end tragically.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Concerns About Phyllis

Something is up with Phyllis. She had not laid an egg in well over a week so I was looking for a secret nest in the yard. I could tell something was off with her on Saturday as I watched her hoping she would reveal her nest. I was very concerned when I saw her walking like this on Sunday.

Obviously the first thought was ascites. I checked for a stuck egg and there was nothing I could feel. So I made a vet appointment, the first available slot being on Tuesday, today.

So today we took Phyllis to the vet and the news is mixed.

• Phyllis' temp was slightly raised but the vet is associating that with the stress of the visit.
• She is not retaining fluid.
• She does not have an egg stuck anywhere.
• She was bright eyed and alert.
• Most importantly, she is not in visible pain.

So if there is no fluid and no stuck egg, why the body tilt? The vet believes that the most likely cause of her posture change is that something internally is injured, herniated, pulled, somehow injured, likely from egg laying. I explained that there have been no eggs for more than a week. The vet is thinking that Phyllis has been adjusting her stance over time to avoid pain from whatever is damaged. The vet does not believe that she can repair whatever is not right. (I believe we have reached the limit of her skills)

The suggested course of action is to give Phyllis time to work through it herself. She is not in pain and as long as she is eating normally and does not start losing weight, we are going to let her try and work through it.

I am to watch for other changes in behavior, poop, swelling, or anything that might indicate she is in pain and contact the vet if I do.

While Phyllis is surprisingly active despite her body posture, she has taken up Hattie's occasional resting position.

View attachment 3860262

I am sorry.

Story walked very oddly after his hip/back injury and it reminds me very much of the gait Phyllis is displaying.

I think there is reason to hope it is as the vet says and that in time she will recover.

 

[notabitail]

Those Hollywood starlets do burn bright and end tragically.

Agathae says Phyllis isn't a Hollywood starlet. She says she is a "Philadelphia moon" or something like that. Claims the low power usage allows for better everything.

 

[notabitail]

Beat her up!
Well, that's what Gaby says. And I am DONE with that, Gaby. Who is she beating up? In Albis. The last couple days, In Albis has been scared of going into the coop. Gaby has turned around and scared her out with her beak, and I caught them fighting again. I get the feeling In Albis started it, but Gaby is merciless, and I have told her to stop.

On a similar note, Cockerel hates Brahms since she refuses to mate, and really likes my sister. I saw him beat her up as well. I did run in there and stop him. It was too much to stand by and watch.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.

 

[notabitail]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.
View attachment 3860529

 

[rural mouse]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.
View attachment 3860529

 

[Ponypoor]

Phyllis is like a leghorn. She only weighs 3 lbs. She can fly like a helicopter. Straight up.

I should weigh Betty, she weighs nothing when I pick her up! Just pure fluff, and for a frizzle can fly fairly well!

Check bout those cute wattles

 

[notabitail]

I should weigh Betty, she weighs nothing when I pick her up! Just pure fluff, and for a frizzle can fly fairly well!

Check bout those cute wattles
View attachment 3860596

That look on her face .

 

[Ponypoor]

I cut the apron strings and released the chicks from their tent “prison”.
I did keep them all in the coop and run though, I am not at all sure I could find or catch them if they didn’t go in at night.

The good news:
All of them were tolerated by the flock, harassing occurred of course but it is the way of the chicken. All three of the Ameraucanas were allowed up on the roost. Two all the way up and one on the stairs up to the roost. Ryka was in the tent by herself but safe.

The bad news: I couldn’t find the other Jubilee anywhere. Out to run to check there and I found him. A rat or some tunneling critter killed him and tried to drag him under the run fence.

I will sure up the area first thing in the morning. It looks like the big chickens have made a trench along the wall of the run in the back while dust bathing in the corner that I can’t see very well. Which of course is where he was.

Fly high sweet boy.
View attachment 3860529

Oh no! I am saddened to hear this, wonder if a weasel or mink was to blame.