Hooray for Buttercup!

[RainbowBirds_of_a_Feather]

Aloha,

I love when the old gurls show their status when they are aged it is great. Congrats!

 

[Rockin' Reds]

Aww....Buttercup sounds like a sweetheart. Very sweet story. I believe pics are in order.

 

[Tina D]

Thanks for all of the sweet comments! My Big Mama is a special lady, indeed. I enjoy spoiling her.

Here she is:

This is her, in her "ice nest". When it gets very hot, she pants terribly. She is such a big, fluffy girl. So, I'll take a couple of small frozen water bottles, and lay them on the ground with a wet, thin towel over top. Then, I settle her in the middle, and bring the frozen bottles closer into her body. She stops panting almost immediately every time! She'll actually rest like that for quite a while before getting up. Last week, we had days when the thermometer was reading 119 in the shade! Those days, I pushed her feathers back every few inches, and put a small ice cube close to her body (but not on her skin). When I let go of the feathers, they sprang back to hold the ice cube close to her body! She loved that, too! Let me tell you, when you push the feathers back on days like that, you can actually feel the trapped body heat escaping. Even though the ladies have shade and cool water, they still suffer with that kind of heat.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Quote:
I understand. It is kind of bittersweet... Please know that Buttercup is a content girl! She is very alert and sharp. She can't move around as fast as the others, and some days are tougher than other days. Some days she actually walks around very well! It's almost as if the legs are weak, not so much that she is in pain? When she has been laying still for a while, it takes her a little while to get moving. I definitely baby her. But, believe me, if she appeared to be suffering, I'd take the proper action. I would never want that for her.

Oh no, I don't think you're doing anything wrong. I commend you for taking the extra care. I can tell by your post just how much you DO care. I'm just sad that she's an old lady and so loving.

 

[pawsplus]

Good for you for doing right by Buttercup! She's ADORABLE!!

I am a little confused though. She's not old at 5! My Clarice is 8 and still going strong (and laying 3-4X a week!), and a recent BYC poll had many folks reporting chickens living well into their TEENS. There must be something going on other than arthritis--which doesn't seem as if it would be a big factor for birds. ??? Do you have x-rays diagnosing arthritis?

 

[cleoandtheo]

Oh, how sweet! Chicken love is so precious!!!

 

[Tina D]

Quote:
I understand. It is kind of bittersweet... Please know that Buttercup is a content girl! She is very alert and sharp. She can't move around as fast as the others, and some days are tougher than other days. Some days she actually walks around very well! It's almost as if the legs are weak, not so much that she is in pain? When she has been laying still for a while, it takes her a little while to get moving. I definitely baby her. But, believe me, if she appeared to be suffering, I'd take the proper action. I would never want that for her.

Oh no, I don't think you're doing anything wrong. I commend you for taking the extra care. I can tell by your post just how much you DO care. I'm just sad that she's an old lady and so loving.

 

[Tina D]

Quote:
Well, I was told she's at least 5. Maybe more?? I do know she was molting when she came to live with me in May. So, I know that affects egg production as well. I believe the lady at the farm had Buttercup diagnosed with arthritis. Apparently, she used to be in a pen of some sort with a large turkey. That turkey used to barrell around and fall on Buttercup a lot, causing the trouble with her legs. I know she requires a low intensity heat lamp at night in the winter for it.

Maybe it's just me, comparing her to my other chickens. They are so much younger than she is. So, maybe I'm just thinking of her as an "old lady" prematurely?

She has very wise eyes, if that makes any sense. LOL

 

[GardenGal]

Awww, what a wonderful girl, and what a special relationship you two have. Thank you for sharing.