Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

This is a crane ( just saying)View attachment 4071674

So is this

Common Crane from the Audubon Bird Guide https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-crane

 

[ValerieJ]

I found my CeeCee in the front yard again tonight. She can get over the fence somehow, but she can’t get back over to the coop yard. (Now I’m out of breath)

I have a rooster, Cooper, (my avatar pic), who has flown over the fence a couple times and there is no catching him, so he spent the night in the forest twice!!! That was definitely scary, and sleepless nights for me, and probably him. Next morning he was anxious to get back in, and all we could do is steer him to the gate. Ever tried to steer a chicken? Like herding cats!

So we extended the height of our fence by two feet to keep him in, and quite frankly to keep the deer out too. The chickens "free range" in the orchard and berry runs and there was one enterprising deer who would jump the fence and eat all the berries...and leaves and everything! She destroyed several boysenberry and raspberry bushes.

 

[Ponypoor]

He's so quiet and wasn't interested in wormies just a bit ago. I hope he settles in and perks up.
View attachment 4071727
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He's so beautiful. I will add some electrolytes and probiotics to his water bowl.

Surprisingly he lets me pick him up. Original owner said he was the bottom rooster that was getting picked on. He keeps an eye on the kid when she's nearby though, so he isn't blind.

He sure is eye candy, Mr P was very quiet and subdued for the longest time when I first got him.

After about a month and he was back in with the ladies he found his voice.

He also had a very quiet spell a while back where he didn’t crow for a couple months. We figured he was moulting so he was staying quiet.

Mr M will perk up - maybe you can bring the chicks out for some sunshine and hang out next to him.

 

[rural mouse]

He's so quiet and wasn't interested in wormies just a bit ago. I hope he settles in and perks up.
View attachment 4071727
View attachment 4071728
He's so beautiful. I will add some electrolytes and probiotics to his water bowl.

Surprisingly he lets me pick him up. Original owner said he was the bottom rooster that was getting picked on. He keeps an eye on the kid when she's nearby though, so he isn't blind.

I agree re: spur length. I also think having chicks to look after will help. He's definitely older than barely a year. See if he perks up with chicks next to him (other side of a fence). If he starts twittering and tidbitting and cooing to them, put them together.

 

[Sylvester017]

Yep my heart was racing - I figured she was toast if she was still outside. But she got very very lucky - my too!

These chooks are as much trouble as the horses.

That's because you have 38 more chickens than horses! If it was only 3 chickens they wouldn't be the same trouble at all.

Look who's talking...I worry over ALL 6 of our birds!
.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Well Clyde is still really rattly, so I asked my Vet to order me some Tylosin antibiotic, should get here Friday. He will be done the Sulphatrim doses tomorrow.

On the plus side he is active and breeding the hens, strutting about. So hopefully he is just having a mild issue with Mycoplasma G.

Sheesh these chooks are as stressful as the horses.

Sorry for poor Mr. Clyde! Behaviour -wise, I’m afraid that when they look poorly to us they feel really really bad, so I’ve been trying to spy on everyone here, to catch anything early. Like how fast does someone doze off when they’re all taking a break, compared to everyone else?

Hazel gets bubbly eyes and recently when she got stressed because I didn’t hold her tightly when I picked her up and she flapped, her breathing sounded a little wheezy. Otherwise normally I don’t hear any wheezes. Annie had a clear discharge and would blow and shake her head to clear her nares. Both appear to have a more labored breath at times, slightly pumping tail and a little heave of the body.

For one day Annie’s wattles were visibly moving and her beak opened a little each breath after she had been active, which was really worrying, and I was about to start either the Amoxy-Tyl or the Baytril I have, but she didn’t progress, seemed actually better several hours later. I was already waiting on Tiagard I had ordered (tiamulin hydrogen fumarate), which would be more specific for mycoplasma, if that’s what this is, and without an egg withdrawal time. Hopefully arrives today.

They have both gotten symptomatically better but I see Annie closing her eyes when at rest, even when nobody else is closing their eyes, and Hazel (coming up on five years old July 6) goes and sits down before anybody else. Today when I first checked in person she was having a vigorous dust bath, so she’s managing. Yesterday Tedi had clear discharge from her nares.

 

[ValerieJ]

Sorry for poor Mr. Clyde! Behaviour -wise, I’m afraid that when they look poorly to us they feel really really bad, so I’ve been trying to spy on everyone here, to catch anything early. Like how fast does someone doze off when they’re all taking a break, compared to everyone else?

Hazel gets bubbly eyes and recently when she got stressed because I didn’t hold her tightly when I picked her up and she flapped, her breathing sounded a little wheezy. Otherwise normally I don’t hear any wheezes. Annie had a clear discharge and would blow and shake her head to clear her nares. Both appear to have a more labored breath at times, slightly pumping tail and a little heave of the body.

For one day Annie’s wattles were visibly moving and her beak opened a little each breath after she had been active, which was really worrying, and I was about to start either the Amoxy-Tyl or the Baytril I have, but she didn’t progress, seemed actually better several hours later. I was already waiting on Tiagard I had ordered (tiamulin hydrogen fumarate), which would be more specific for mycoplasma, if that’s what this is, and without an egg withdrawal time. Hopefully arrives today.

They have both gotten symptomatically better but I see Annie closing her eyes when at rest, even when nobody else is closing their eyes, and Hazel (coming up on five years old July 6) goes and sits down before anybody else. Today when I first checked in person she was having a vigorous dust bath, so she’s managing. Yesterday Tedi had clear discharge from her nares.

That is some great chicken parenting!! And you seem to know all the meds to have on hand. I have a lot of meds, but if something goes wrong, I'm on the emergencies thread asking for help before I use any of them. Nice that you are so proficient at this.

 

[Sylvester017]

The secret to successful chickeneering, is the ability keep their water debris and poop free! I wish you luck in your endeavor. Please let us in on the secret, if you are successful.

Secret? ~ Nipple waterers or Brite Taps...both keep the water clean. Follow mfr instructions & they work brilliant ~ no birds sitting or pooping in water or feed.

Our chicks used the Rent-a-Coop nipple waterer & Port Feeder

Rent-a-Coop nipple waterers come in 1 or 2 quart sizes, mountable, come w/alternate nipple styles included

OR use a Brite Tap waterer screwed into 2-gal Rubbermaid or Igloo spigot

 

[SimpleJenn]

He sure is eye candy, Mr P was very quiet and subdued for the longest time when I first got him.

After about a month and he was back in with the ladies he found his voice.

He also had a very quiet spell a while back where he didn’t crow for a couple months. We figured he was moulting so he was staying quiet.

Mr M will perk up - maybe you can bring the chicks out for some sunshine and hang out next to him.

Hubby was just saying that! If it is dry tomorrow I will bring the oldest ones out to meet him and see if he takes to them.
He said maybe he is missing his friends. Even being the lowest rooster he must have had somebody...

 

[SimpleJenn]

I agree re: spur length. I also think having chicks to look after will help. He's definitely older than barely a year. See if he perks up with chicks next to him (other side of a fence). If he starts twittering and tidbitting and cooing to them, put them together.

That is a good idea. He did eat the wormies we left him and he's got healthy looking poops. Maybe having some chicks to look after would do him good...I would have to move them to the smaller coop so the chicks can have the brooder plate.