Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I've got 5 Silkies...they're squating ALL the time!
Some of our Broody Bunch

I have demon silkies! That Holly is ferocious! She takes her mama duties very seriously!

 

[Ponypoor]

Only three months and now they are full size. Not yet going through the idiot phase. Only my closest neighbors are in perpetual idiot phase, but not worth a bullet

Well those chicks are lovely, hopefully they don’t get too idiotic!

Will you rehome the Roos? They are gorgeous I bet they would be true eye candy for any flock.

 

[janiedoe]

Same dryness in SoCalif... especially w/ water restrictions by the district. Instead of a rock pebble lawn I used paver stones for front & back yards w/ water-saving succulent flowering plants in the front yard & backyard w/ hardy citrus trees & only two raised garden beds for veggies that need water.
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I love it. I keep a small succulent fairy garden by the back porch.
My hubs loves planting things so we have a 2 acre lawn, a very small back yard, and a large chicken yard fenced off. The rest of our property is made up of water and trees.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

The chickens that died? Were they just about laying age? If so the possibility of avian leukosis or mereks there. It is pretty common for them both because the tumors start growing and can cause death at around 20 to 24 weeks. Not trying to scare you but thats how it started here.
About 3 years ago I brought in 3 bantam hens. They showed no symptoms after a few weeks so were introduced to the flock. When I let them hatch, I lost almost 85% of the chicks before they were 6 months old. I was afraid it was avian leukosis but it turned out to be mereks. As bad as that seems, its still better than AL because AL can be passed through the eggs and mereks is not.
I have a closed flock now. I do not bring any in or let any leave. I do not let my hens hatch any longer because I hate seeing the chicks dying. I'm okay with letting this flock age out and die natural deaths. They are all pets so while its devastating to lose one, I am enjoying them while I can. Most of my hens and roosters are from 6 to 8 years old now. I do not have any under the age of 3 years old now.

I guess either one is a possibility. My initial flock of 10 was vaccinated for Marek’s, but since then all the rest have been purchased from one of the local feed stores at between 1-4 days old and are not vaccinated. But I thought with Marek’s I would see other symptoms.
I’m not familiar at all with AL. I will have to look it up.

 

[janiedoe]

Oh great just great! Now that song is in my mind!

I knew it would be

 

[janiedoe]

I guess either one is a possibility. My initial flock of 10 was vaccinated for Marek’s, but since then all the rest have been purchased from one of the local feed stores at between 1-4 days old and are not vaccinated. But I thought with Marek’s I would see other symptoms.
I’m not familiar at all with AL. I will have to look it up.

Its unlikely to come in from a feed store but I guess it could if someone had it on their closthes or shoes. If you have any neighbors who have chickens it can be airborne. I always wear different shoes to the feedstore because I don't want to pass anything along or bring anything home.

 

[Ponypoor]

We have a few poisonous weeds but are careful to make sure none grow where they can reach. Definitely have snakes, as well as scorpions, spiders, etc. No obvious signs of anything but could have been a small bite Heat is also a possibility, but we have had hotter/more humid days this year.
This is the third young chicken I have lost this year. Spangle was 8 months old, Jet was just under 2 years (and lost her only three weeks ago), and now Snowball. Makes me worry I am doing something wrong.



You’re in Texas @janiedoe? So am I.
@Ponypoor, that means even more chooks between the three of us. But no more horses for me?


Thank you. I try to do that for each of the ones I lose. Sometimes I post them as some times I don’t.


“I see you shiver with antici…………….pation.”
Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

I don’t think you are doing anything wrong. The more pets we have the more chance we will have ones that die.

I would say your have a lovely home for them, and I would be more inclined to think of something they ate, or some infection that got a foothold. You know chooks are good at hiding their illness.


Re: horses - yep no more for me either; to hard on the body these days. And too expensive!

 

[Ponypoor]

That's on my imaginary island. Do you remember?
This pretend island has temperatures between 55 f overnight and daytime highs of 75f. It rains 3 or 4 times a week but only between midnight and 5 a.m. and the humidity is never below 40% or above 45%. There's always a nice tropical breeze and there no mosquitoes, flies, or gnats.
One exception: It snows every year on Christmas eve and continues thru Christmas day but the temperature is still nice and the roads are clear.
And of course, there's all brotherhood & love, no conflict. And no Morlocks either.

Morlocks .



I need it at least 28C (82f), but I can handle 55F (13C) at night - not so sure of the snow…..

 

[Ponypoor]

I love Kentucky. What time is lunch?

I too have a fondness - many times have drove down there for horse shows. And then did the tourist thing ‘Ooooo and Awwwww’ at the stately homes and farms

 

[Ponypoor]

I guess either one is a possibility. My initial flock of 10 was vaccinated for Marek’s, but since then all the rest have been purchased from one of the local feed stores at between 1-4 days old and are not vaccinated. But I thought with Marek’s I would see other symptoms.
I’m not familiar at all with AL. I will have to look it up.

If you had AI your flock would be decimated within a day or two - SimpleJenn can tell you more on this

Mareks maybe, but it’s all speculation. I would say if you get another death in the next couple months send it for a necropsy. I think there is an independent Lab there in TX if I remember correctly from past conversations.