Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob, I am so sorry to hear about Glynda. I have no words. Just hugs for you.


Fly high and free, lovely Glynda. Join the rest of the FBA flock across the Rainbow Bridge.

Very sweet. Thank you.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Only 1 Mum Left

It pains me greatly to have to share this news. Just after midnight on 8/30, Glynda passed away.

It was something respiratory that seemed to move lightning fast. The first sign of symptoms was some panting on 8/28. Unfortunately for me and her, it was way over 90F, 32C, extremely humid, and everyone except the littles was in some form of distress. Therefore I attributed it to the heat. Yesterday morning I really knew something was up. Here she was at that time.

I determined that I was going to try some Baytril to help her out and waited for nightfall. When I went to treat her I could tell I was too late. She was laboring so hard to breathe that I figured she was more likely to aspirate than for the antibiotic to have any effect.

And then she was gone.

Here she was when I went to treat her. This will be difficult to watch so I will put it behind a spoiler.

Spoiler: Glynda Towards the end

Less than 48 from presentation of symptoms to death tells me this was likely not bacterial. She has not laid an egg since she went broody so that should rule out any reproductive breakdown. That mostly leaves viral and of course my greatest fear, bird flu.

If it is bird flu I will likely lose them all in short order and there will be nothing I can do about it. They say within 7 days.

She stayed away from the tribe yesterday but her children kept checking on her. Versace even slept with her last night. They are the most likely to have been exposed and I will have to watch them closely for symptoms.

Here is Aster with her mum yesterday.

View attachment 3932444View attachment 3932445

I've lost my beautiful white lady who laid the blue eggs. The chicken that would climb up onto me and visit. I am heartbroken and I am in serious fear that we will lose them all.

My sweet Glynda. Taken from us far too soon. You will never be forgotten.

View attachment 3932443

I am so sorry about Glynda. I'm praying it was a isolated heat related incident and the rest of the flock remain healthy. Thank you for allowing her to full fill her desires to be a mom. Not many people get the chance to witness co-broodies truly working together.

 

[Ponypoor]

Curly needs a diet. And Fluffy also, those two are hefty lard butts, I guess being cooped up in the Summer House is making them fat. I plan on having them outside for the long weekend, let them dig in the dirt, eat bugs.

I was shocked at how much Curly weighed when I lifted her up tonight.

 

[featherhead007]

I had all 12 chooks out around the porch a while ago. The rooster was pecking on my security screen door, to get my attention. The whole gang was lined up according to rank of pecking order.
All except for CeeCee, she’s too sophisticated to bother with that! She was on the porch railing (right at food level, ready to strike)
Kinda fun having everyone in the same place at the same time.

 

[Lilion]

Pretty egg colors!
Hi ~ I don't hatch eggs (& don't intend) but I got to wondering about hatching chicks from "torpedo" shape eggs. Seems like rounder eggs would give a forming embryo more room for movement & less growth deformities than torpedo eggs? Any thoughts or articles on the subject?

I didn't see anyone answer you. It is my understanding it doesn't work well because they don't "fit". As I don't have a roo, it's moot here. But I wish I'd have tried when I had a Mr. and she was laying normal eggs.

Only 1 Mum Left

It pains me greatly to have to share this news. Just after midnight on 8/30, Glynda passed away.

It was something respiratory that seemed to move lightning fast. The first sign of symptoms was some panting on 8/28. Unfortunately for me and her, it was way over 90F, 32C, extremely humid, and everyone except the littles was in some form of distress. Therefore I attributed it to the heat. Yesterday morning I really knew something was up. Here she was at that time.

I determined that I was going to try some Baytril to help her out and waited for nightfall. When I went to treat her I could tell I was too late. She was laboring so hard to breathe that I figured she was more likely to aspirate than for the antibiotic to have any effect.

And then she was gone.

Here she was when I went to treat her. This will be difficult to watch so I will put it behind a spoiler.

Spoiler: Glynda Towards the end

Less than 48 from presentation of symptoms to death tells me this was likely not bacterial. She has not laid an egg since she went broody so that should rule out any reproductive breakdown. That mostly leaves viral and of course my greatest fear, bird flu.

If it is bird flu I will likely lose them all in short order and there will be nothing I can do about it. They say within 7 days.

She stayed away from the tribe yesterday but her children kept checking on her. Versace even slept with her last night. They are the most likely to have been exposed and I will have to watch them closely for symptoms.

Here is Aster with her mum yesterday.

View attachment 3932444View attachment 3932445

I've lost my beautiful white lady who laid the blue eggs. The chicken that would climb up onto me and visit. I am heartbroken and I am in serious fear that we will lose them all.

My sweet Glynda. Taken from us far too soon. You will never be forgotten.

View attachment 3932443

Oh Bob, I'm so very, very sorry. My heart goes out to you and I will keep praying it's not the flu.

 

[BY Bob]

Bedtime

Glynda had started teaching the littles to roost at night last weekend. Lady Featherington had been roosting on her own with Sydney.

I was worried what might happen tonight as we all know Aurora does not leave others alone at roosting time.

Would Aurora chase them around?

Would they wind up in the Cluckle Hut with Hattie?

Here is how roosting played out tonight.

Lady Featherington is roosting with them. Looks like she stepped up to help them out.

 

[BY Bob]

I am so sorry about Glynda. I'm praying it was a isolated heat related incident and the rest of the flock remain healthy. Thank you for allowing her to full fill her desires to be a mom. Not many people get the chance to witness co-broodies truly working together.

It was not heat related. It was not hot yesterday. The heat had broken overnight.

 

[BY Bob]

I had all 12 chooks out around the porch a while ago. The rooster was pecking on my security screen door, to get my attention. The whole gang was lined up according to rank of pecking order.
All except for CeeCee, she’s too sophisticated to bother with that! She was on the porch railing (right at food level, ready to strike)
Kinda fun having everyone in the same place at the same time.

How sweet. Would have been a great photo.

 

[notabitail]

Yep and the paint on the barn door. Yum!

There is paint on the floor in my office. I had to cover it since Agathae believed it was the best thing ever.

 

[BY Bob]

I didn't see anyone answer you. It is my understanding it doesn't work well because they don't "fit". As I don't have a roo, it's moot here. But I wish I'd have tried when I had a Mr. and she was laying normal eggs.


Oh Bob, I'm so very, very sorry. My heart goes out to you and I will keep praying it's not the flu.

Thank you.