Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

And then there were 32.

Twirp has gone to join her bestie, Cuckoo, also due to reproduction issues. The last egg I saw from her was almost 2 years ago and was entirely shell-less....and hers were ALWAYS extra-large. Feeling blessed to have her as long as we did, but already missing my other primary banana lover and adventurous lady. First to breach the baby fence, first to go walk-about. Intolerant of hormonal idiots. Curious about everything. Rest in Peace independent lady.
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So sorry about your loss.
it broke my heart losing every one of mine.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

And then there were 32.

Twirp has gone to join her bestie, Cuckoo, also due to reproduction issues. The last egg I saw from her was almost 2 years ago and was entirely shell-less....and hers were ALWAYS extra-large. Feeling blessed to have her as long as we did, but already missing my other primary banana lover and adventurous lady. First to breach the baby fence, first to go walk-about. Intolerant of hormonal idiots. Curious about everything. Rest in Peace independent lady.
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So very sorry RM! She had a beautiful set of feathers and a wonderfully sleek body shape. A nice bold personality to boot. She was 3 or so? Whatever time they give us, short or long, it's so nice to have known them, and they will never be forgotten. RIP Twirp

 

[notabitail]

And then there were 32.

Twirp has gone to join her bestie, Cuckoo, also due to reproduction issues. The last egg I saw from her was almost 2 years ago and was entirely shell-less....and hers were ALWAYS extra-large. Feeling blessed to have her as long as we did, but already missing my other primary banana lover and adventurous lady. First to breach the baby fence, first to go walk-about. Intolerant of hormonal idiots. Curious about everything. Rest in Peace independent lady.
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[BY Bob]

And then there were 32.

Twirp has gone to join her bestie, Cuckoo, also due to reproduction issues. The last egg I saw from her was almost 2 years ago and was entirely shell-less....and hers were ALWAYS extra-large. Feeling blessed to have her as long as we did, but already missing my other primary banana lover and adventurous lady. First to breach the baby fence, first to go walk-about. Intolerant of hormonal idiots. Curious about everything. Rest in Peace independent lady.
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I'm so very sorry for your loss. She was a special lady.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Latest on Bird Flu

First Human Death
We have our first human death. The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) today announced that a patient previously hospitalized with a severe H5N1 avian flu infection has died. He was 65 with comorbidities.

There is also a teen from British Columbia who is recovering from a lengthy ICU stay caused by H5N1.

The new strain coming south with migrating birds seems to be more virulent.

More Identified in MI
In Michigan, the virus was found at two more turkey farms in Ottawa County.

Cats Continue to Contract It
APHIS today added about 30 more H5N1 detections in mammals, mostly in cat species. Some of the newly reported detections involved wild cats, including a bobcat from Colorado's Larimer County and a mountain lion near Carson City, Nevada.

Flu Tax
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Last summer after reading about the avian flu vaccine being used on California condors to save them (vaccinations have finished, now they are monitoring), I came to the conclusion that there isn't widespread use of an avian flu vaccine because -

1. Similar to Marek's, a vaccinated but uninfected bird will show antibodies upon testing, which makes it indistinguishable from a non-vaccinated infected bird, and vaccinated birds can get infected but be fine with it and appear otherwise healthy.

2. A vaccine at this point can't be really specific because it mutates so much, and people want a magic bullet. For instance the human infections that are causing severe illness is a different genotype than the more common one infecting wild and domestic birds (so far). (Also, I read that people fear a more virulent strain developing if the virus encounters the vaccination. I'm thinking on this last point, that boat has sailed, vaccination or no.)

3. Cost. Maybe that should be #1 on the list.

Isn't partial protection still useful when a vaccine isn't matched exactly? At this point, a vaccine may be beneficial against what can be a severe disease. And so buy us and our birds time - don't viruses usually evolve to cause less severe disease over time, in order to more efficiently spread (by not quickly killing everyone it infects)?

So there is a conflcit in lines of thinking - vaccination of all domestic poultry and monitoring, which I think China does - versus the places/countries (U.S., E.U. etc) that are still attempting to control the spread of avian flu through quarantine and culling.

Maybe I'm off-base here, and I'll not post further on it if this is too sensitive, let me know. Also please correct any errors. But I see this as the same as a discussion about Marek's, and I don't see how our situation is pointing toward any other solution than widespread vaccination efforts, for both people and birds.

The beautiful Buckeyes sharing a moment, Summer 2023

 

[BY Bob]

So sorry about your loss.
it broke my heart losing every one of mine.

 

[BY Bob]

Last summer after reading about the avian flu vaccine being used on California condors to save them (vaccinations have finished, now they are monitoring), I came to the conclusion that there isn't widespread use of an avian flu vaccine because -

1. Similar to Marek's, a vaccinated but uninfected bird will show antibodies upon testing, which makes it indistinguishable from a non-vaccinated infected bird, and vaccinated birds can get infected but be fine with it and appear otherwise healthy.

2. A vaccine at this point can't be really specific because it mutates so much, and people want a magic bullet. For instance the human infections that are causing severe illness is a different genotype than the more common one infecting wild and domestic birds (so far). (Also, I read that people fear a more virulent strain developing if the virus encounters the vaccination. I'm thinking on this last point, that boat has sailed, vaccination or no.)

3. Cost. Maybe that should be #1 on the list.

Isn't partial protection still useful when a vaccine isn't matched exactly? At this point, a vaccine may be beneficial against what can be a severe disease. And so buy us and our birds time - don't viruses usually evolve to cause less severe disease over time, in order to more efficiently spread (by not quickly killing everyone it infects)?

So there is a conflcit in lines of thinking - vaccination of all domestic poultry and monitoring, which I think China does - versus the places/countries (U.S., E.U. etc) that are still attempting to control the spread of avian flu through quarantine and culling.

Maybe I'm off-base here, and I'll not post further on it if this is too sensitive, let me know. Also please correct any errors. But I see this as the same as a discussion about Marek's, and I don't see how our situation is pointing toward any other solution than widespread vaccination efforts, for both people and birds.

The beautiful Buckeyes sharing a moment, Summer 2023
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I am trying to avoid discussions like this. I always wind up making someone angry.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I am trying to avoid discussions like this. I always wind up making someone angry.

Noted!

 

[rural mouse]

Very sad to hear this; it’s tough having our pets pass away. I always loved her colour, her feathers were just gorgeous.

Does she have any daughters?

No. And with the tiny size, huge eggs and shell problems, I'm honestly glad. Her canny smarts HAVE been shared with all, which I'm glad for. She also educated Hector very early in his idiocy, turning him into a good boy much earlier than most roos. (Squashed by his large body, squirmed out from under him and played Karate Kid to his face with a double kick, drawing blood down his wattles). He didn't try the grab and squish technique again. And I never saw Whiskey try it either...he may have seen it, also..

 

[notabitail]

I am trying to avoid discussions like this. I always wind up making someone angry.

I like to listen with a open mind, but sadly it's real easy for people to explode on the internet.

Tax: