Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Hi, Kelly this is what my weather app says right now. I don’t have a hygrometer so I’m not sure exactly what it is right here.
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Ah I figured as much Quite low humidity, mine here is 58% but it’s been running around 79 to over 80% which means the swamp cooler is ineffective. If the humidity stayed around 50% here it wouldn’t be too bad, but it’s usually steamy here.

But, I still use mine with the ice bottles and I keep the doors and windows open and use a fan to blow the air through the hen house.

 

[featherhead007]

Michelle, life has been a roller coaster ride for my emotional state. I lost my rooster Jaffar. (He died bravely, protecting his ladies from the roo next door)
I was devastated by the loss.
My pastor knew that I needed help, so he came out to my house and brought a box of baby chicks and 50 lbs of feed. I’m still at a loss for my little buddy Jaffar, but the littles keep me busy (and two of them are roosters too)

 

[Ponypoor]

Same thing here with Xzit. She spent a few hours out in the yard, but went back to the box.

Nutty hens - at least she is getting off the nest on her own that’s something.

 

[Ponypoor]

Michelle, life has been a roller coaster ride for my emotional state. I lost my rooster Jaffar. (He died bravely, protecting his ladies from the roo next door)
I was devastated by the loss.
My pastor knew that I needed help, so he came out to my house and brought a box of baby chicks and 50 lbs of feed. I’m still at a loss for my little buddy Jaffar, but the littles keep me busy (and two of them are roosters too)

Wee littl cute roosterlets

 

[bgmathteach]

I am glad that they are fine despite foot/leg issues.

I have been dealing with a lot of reproductive issues. One hen died almost a month ago but the rest seem fine for now. I posted it on other threads but I am going to copy/paste some details here.

All three hens are production birds and are now 3 years and 4 months old.

Honey (recovered but blind)
In late Aug 2023, Honey became very ill due to reproductive issue. She was first put on Amoxcilian with no success. As a last attempt we put her on Baytril and she recovered! She even laid eggs for a little while after that.

Early of this year, she was having trouble laying with soft shell issues or trying to lay without producing anything. Early February, she laid lash material. In March, she didn't feel like her complete self, but is coping. In April 4th, she went blind all of a sudden! Since then, she has become a house chicken. We are so baffled by Honey's case because ever since she moved into the human coop (or ever since she went blind), she has been doing great, and she has a monstrous appetite.

Light (90% recovered)
Light has no history of reproductive issues. She laid a perfect egg June 1st of this year, but a couple days later she got an egg stuck in her as she was internal laying. (An X-ray revealed this later when we took her to the vet on June 25th.) It wasn't until June 20th she started to be quite lethargic, so we started her on Baytril.

When we took her to the vet on 25th, she was already on Baytril for 5 days. Vet also subscribed metacam. Vet suggested surgery as well, but the cost may be close to 2000 USD. We are also worried about the risk of the surgery. At the end of the vet visit, the vet gave Light a hormone implant.

Today, Light had the best appetite since two weeks ago and she is well on her way to recovery, at least for now.

Poopy (seems recovered)
Poopy has been laying weak shelled eggs for a long time. More recently, within the half year, she does a lot of "going to the nest to lay but nothing comes out". She must have been internally laying but was able to wall the gunk off.

About 6 days ago she didn't seem to be at 100% capacity. Three days ago her crop was not empty, and she completely lost her voice! I think it is a secondary issue of her EYP. Two days ago her crop was still not cleared. She felt like crap and was drinking a lot of water. Two days ago she also pooped out soft shell-like material. We put her on antibiotics yesterday morning and she was already looking good by afternoon!

Today she behaved quite normal!

Oh, WOW have you and your girls been dealing with a lot! I am happy to hear everyone is doing better/on the mend.

Somehow, I suspect Honey is not at all upset with being a house chicken! Does she have DH wrapped around her foot yet???

 

[Ponypoor]

I am glad that they are fine despite foot/leg issues.

I have been dealing with a lot of reproductive issues. One hen died almost a month ago but the rest seem fine for now. I posted it on other threads but I am going to copy/paste some details here.

All three hens are production birds and are now 3 years and 4 months old.

Honey (recovered but blind)
In late Aug 2023, Honey became very ill due to reproductive issue. She was first put on Amoxcilian with no success. As a last attempt we put her on Baytril and she recovered! She even laid eggs for a little while after that.

Early of this year, she was having trouble laying with soft shell issues or trying to lay without producing anything. Early February, she laid lash material. In March, she didn't feel like her complete self, but is coping. In April 4th, she went blind all of a sudden! Since then, she has become a house chicken. We are so baffled by Honey's case because ever since she moved into the human coop (or ever since she went blind), she has been doing great, and she has a monstrous appetite.

Light (90% recovered)
Light has no history of reproductive issues. She laid a perfect egg June 1st of this year, but a couple days later she got an egg stuck in her as she was internal laying. (An X-ray revealed this later when we took her to the vet on June 25th.) It wasn't until June 20th she started to be quite lethargic, so we started her on Baytril.

When we took her to the vet on 25th, she was already on Baytril for 5 days. Vet also subscribed metacam. Vet suggested surgery as well, but the cost may be close to 2000 USD. We are also worried about the risk of the surgery. At the end of the vet visit, the vet gave Light a hormone implant.

Today, Light had the best appetite since two weeks ago and she is well on her way to recovery, at least for now.

Poopy (seems recovered)
Poopy has been laying weak shelled eggs for a long time. More recently, within the half year, she does a lot of "going to the nest to lay but nothing comes out". She must have been internally laying but was able to wall the gunk off.

About 6 days ago she didn't seem to be at 100% capacity. Three days ago her crop was not empty, and she completely lost her voice! I think it is a secondary issue of her EYP. Two days ago her crop was still not cleared. She felt like crap and was drinking a lot of water. Two days ago she also pooped out soft shell-like material. We put her on antibiotics yesterday morning and she was already looking good by afternoon!

Today she behaved quite normal!

Gosh that’s a lot of stress for you, I am so glad you have access to what sounds like a good vet.

 

[featherhead007]

“Roosterlets”:

 

[bgmathteach]

Hi! Thanks so much for asking. They are both doing great. I have been really working on slimming them down and everybody seems healthier. Little Mill’s been getting herself down from the roost more these days. I still help Bridge most day. That one foot just doesn’t work at all. But she copes just fine. How are you and yours?

Awww, glad to hear Lil Mill is doing better. Poor Bridgie! It looked like, in the video you posted a while ago - that she didn't seem to have any control of the foot at all. I hope that the toes don't curl in - she might be prone to sores on them if they do. Poor dear - glad she is doing well otherwise, and coping. Seems they manage to cope most of the time, though. For them (or at least - for them if they were in the wild/so jungle fowl roots "them") it would be manage or perish. That said, I'm glad she has a good home with you, as you treat your girls well and take good care of them, so I know Bridge is in capable and competent hands - and she will have the best possible life with you. While I like all of your flock, Bridge and Little Mill have always had special places in my heart

 

[Ponypoor]

“Roosterlets”:

View attachment 3880049View attachment 3880051

Gosh they are getting all grown up!

Have yours started to ‘change their voice’? Mine are starting to ‘honk’ as RC once called it.

 

[featherhead007]

Gosh they are getting all grown up!

Have yours started to ‘change their voice’? Mine are starting to ‘honk’ as RC once called it.

We have honkers here for sure!