Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[drstratton]

Some sad news

I took some time off before I was ready to post but I lost 4 of the 5 bantams I got from Myers. I only have Elma left and the two Silkies from Red Barn. All of SFH’s are just fine.

I believe it was a dog or maybe a fox. I left them free ranging for maybe a half hr. because the kids needed me and when I came back out they were not alive and all the others had hidden.

Fly high Gemma, Gia, Maple, and Oakley.

I do not think I will be getting anymore Bantams. Pebble, Nyx, and Elma will be it I think. Maybe next spring I will look at some smaller breeds like the Shetland’s to cross the divide without risking more bantams.

 

[RoyalChick]

Re: roost tree. Most difficult part would be securing the vertical. I'd been thinking a nice long 4x4 or railroad tie sort of thing but just had the thought of one of those round wooden fence posts. It's already designed to be partially set in the ground and treated to withstand weather. Could be done with a post hole digger/auger and set in cement for added durability. I would still want the top secured as well, so one long enough to reach the ceiling above ground would be ideal....unless 1 or 2 of the branches were anchored to a couple of walls (set out from a corner).....then the top could have a branch or star or platform or be just the top of the post and one (or more) could play "vulture" and sit on the top of the tree.

I need to look in my scrap collection as I think I have some left over 4x4.
I was thinking something like this for the vertical.
‘A’ is the structural vertical holding up the Chicken Palace roof. I could fit a couple of 2x4s to it horizontally using joist hangers, and use those to stabilize my vertical tree trunk labeled ‘B’.
The top horizontal brace can extend out to create more perching space. And then of course I can attach branches at different heights.

 

[drstratton]

The baytril is what saved Niamh. The baytril dose is 0.1 ml / kg. So Niamh was 1.5 kg so she got 0.15 ml of baytril twice daily delivered orally.

Remind me what you think her issue is. Baytril is broad spectrum and treats most things. The amoxicillin is more targeted. It would treat bacterial pneumonia for example but maybe not a Gastrointestinal infection.

I can dose the fish mox but I want to know what you think the problem is first.

My son was able to help me catch her, she has slowed way down. Her abdomen does not seem swollen. I think it might be a crop issue. The last time I checked her she had food in her crop. It was soft and pliable. Today, it was the same and I'm pretty sure she hasn't been eating. I don't know if it's sour crop or impacted. It's good that it's not rock hard. In the 35 years I've had chickens, I've been fortunate to have not had any crop issues until this poor girl. I will do some research, but would appreciate any advice on where to start from my friends here.
Thank you!

 

[featherhead007]

I don’t know what is happening with that neighbor next door. (The crazy one) but Nacho’s kids keep coming over (Queso, and Jalapeño) but no Frejole. Queso is laying eggs in my nesting boxes, good girl! I think Jalapeno is too
None of my birds care to lay any recently.

 

[featherhead007]

I need to look in my scrap collection as I think I have some left over 4x4.
I was thinking something like this for the vertical.
‘A’ is the structural vertical holding up the Chicken Palace roof. I could fit a couple of 2x4s to it horizontally using joist hangers, and use those to stabilize my vertical tree trunk labeled ‘B’.
The top horizontal brace can extend out to create more perching space. And then of course I can attach branches at different heights.
View attachment 4241485

Thanks a lot, it only reminds me that I have fourteen 2x4x8 I have to pull the nails out of to repurpose the wood. I have been procrastinating

 

[SimpleJenn]

HEROES

BlackJack, Screamer, Dotty, and Ghast were facing off with a hawk. As soon as I stepped onto the porch it took off.

The other boys hid the rest of the birds in safety. Owl...tried. I will put a hawk shelter over there.

 

[drstratton]

I watched a video.

Edit to add: She weighs 3lbs. 11oz.

I turned her upside down, and started to massage her crop and immediately got some sandy liquid out. It did not smell foul and her crop really isn't hard. I did that quite a few times giving her breaks. Then I administered 10ml of olive oil, the Vet tech on the video made it look much easier. There was oil on her, me, the floor and the wall...lol Anyway, I refilled the syringe and got some more down her. Massaged a little in the upright position. Set her down and dipped her beak into the water a few times to help keep her hydrated. I will withhold food. She hasn't pooped since I brought her inside, hopefully things will start to move. I will go through the massage process again tonight, hopefully she will vomit. Then let her rest overnight to see if she has pooped and check if her crop has improved. If not, I will go through the process again to see if I can get her to vomit.

I have her in my laundry room.

Another edit.
She did poop, nothing solid in it. No worms that I can see either.

 

[Candiru09]

The Noirans look hilarious when they run, it’s like they are waddling like a duck! Henny is the same way.

This morning I stepped on Virginie’s foot feathers and she couldn’t walk - I heard this squawking, looked down and realized what happened. Sorry girl! I need to get a photo of them again, they are growing!

I own a black Maran with feet feathers.
She looks like an iridescent crow!

 

[SimpleJenn]

The hawk was small and weaving through the trees, so likely a Coopers hawk instead of the Redtailed.

 

[Candiru09]

HEROES
View attachment 4241558
BlackJack, Screamer, Dotty, and Ghast were facing off with a hawk. As soon as I stepped onto the porch it took off.
View attachment 4241559
The other boys hid the rest of the birds in safety. Owl...tried. I will put a hawk shelter over there.

Is that a white guinea you own?
I've never seen one of those before.
That's a really magnificent roo as well!

My neighbors have a problem with hawks.
They sit either on the fence or the telephone pole near the fence and attempt to swoop down on their chickens.
Luckily they haven't lost a chicken yet.