MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

Erica and I had a bonding moment.

I was in two minds about sharing this video. For one thing, it's in portrait and for another the baby talk is awful it didn't feel awful at the time, I swear!

She ended up taking a nap and not pooping! So I was extremely lucky.

She is delightful!

 

[MaryJanet]

She is delightful!

I can't believe how trusting she is. It's wonderful. Her friends keep their distance now. The Vulture hasn't sat on my lap for two weeks, which is just as well because I doubt he would fit comfortably.

 

[BY Bob]

The news from the flock is that Mary had her implant yesterday. So far I haven't noticed any changes but really it's too early. The vet felt a lump in Mary's vent, which I think may have been her repaired hernia, but no doubt the vet will advise images etc in due course. My experience with Edie has taught me to push back at excessive veterinary intervention. Pain relief, yes. Antibiotics as necessary, yes. Timely euthanasia, yes. No surgeries. No running back and forth to the vet. No diagnostic certainty. It helps that I'm more experienced now and can begin to trust my observations.

I used chopped straw as bedding in the roosting box after its big clean out, mainly because I had it to hand and wanted to use it up. The chooks are having a great time kicking it all around and eating it.

The youngsters are doing well. From wattle and comb development, I'm almost certain the tomboy Australorp is a cockerel. The Vulture is still here, having not made any adult crows yet, only fairly quiet ooooo noises at sunrise, which the neighbours wouldn't even hear. However, he is sneaking up on Erica and mounting her, which makes her scream out. Other than this, Erica is doing very well although she doesn't sit on my lap as much as she used to Melissa is doing very well, although she has the least energy of the youngsters so I'm keeping watch over her.

Ivy's thriving. Peggy is quietly enjoying her retirement. I'm a little worried about Katie who is obviously missing Edie. She's not herself. She's rattled. And from feather loss, I think she may have a heavier lice burden than the others. I used a permethrin spray on them a couple of nights ago but it had gone past its date, so I'm going to get a fresh batch and go again.

This is a very nice update. It is nice to hear how everyone is.

I'm glad Mary got her implant successfully. That makes her and Peggy in the officially retired group, correct?

It warms my hear to here that my girl Ivy is doing well. I'm sure with time Katie adjust to the loss of her bestie. I've seen this in my group before. They can be out of sorts for some time after a loss.

I'm sorry you have lost your lap chicken. It's tough when children push us away. The good news is they usually come back once they are grown.

 

[BY Bob]

If I find a bird with lice they go on the watchlist. I have found that the lice are symptomatic of other health problems rather than being the problem.

I agree with this. Lice are usually symptomatic of something else going on.

 

[BY Bob]

I have genuinely done my best, but I almost always fail to intervene on time. I now realise chickens are better at hiding sickness than I am at observing it.

So it's come down to managing end of life so that the bird is supported and free from pain as she dies. Unless I've caught something soon enough for interventions to be effective.

Thanks for seeing that I try.

You do anything amazing job, better than me I'm certain. I am consistently impressed by you.

 

[BY Bob]

I think that's my issue; I can't find that degree of detachment.

Detachment is not for everybody. I'm not certain that your personality will permit you to be able to step away like that. Please know that is not a fault. It is part of what makes you such an amazing person. Yes, it may be harder on you but please don't blame yourself or spend a lot of time trying to change. Not everyone can achieve detachment like that. That is not a bad thing.

It is important to understand this about yourself and build a support system that recognizes this about you and can help when this happens.

 

[BY Bob]

And we are all different people, coping differently.

I try to remember that it doesn't make any difference for the chicken whether we are very emotional or more peaceful about it's illness and eventual death. What's important is keeping a sufficiently clear mind when needed to take the more appropriate steps of action.

I agree that giving it careful thought before and after an issue comes up, helps to deal better when one is in the midst of it.

I'm always grateful about these discussions because they have been and still are very helpful for me.

Well said.

 

[BY Bob]

I love all my girls (and boys!) When Angel goes, I'm going to have live vicariously through my chicken friends.

We are here for you.

 

[MaryJanet]

This is a very nice update. It is nice to hear how everyone is.

I'm glad Mary got her implant successfully. That makes her and Peggy in the officially retired group, correct?

Not quite yet, the hormones haven't halted ovulation yet. But she will be very soon, assuming she does well on the implant and it doesn't have to be removed.

It warms my hear to here that my girl Ivy is doing well.

Ivy has never had a sick day. She's amazing. I'm not counting Peggy pulling her tail feathers out when she was tiny.

I'm sure with time Katie adjust to the loss of her bestie. I've seen this in my group before. They can be out of sorts for some time after a loss.

She's feeling it but yesterday she asserted herself over the youngsters so she's beginning to feel a little better.

Yesterday I ordered a fresh mite and lice spray which I'll use the day ut arrives so she should feel even better after that.

Btw, her comb was much redder after the first spraying even though the spray was beyond its use by date. So that's nice for her.

I'm sorry you have lost your lap chicken. It's tough when children push us away. The good news is they usually come back once they are grown.

She came back the very next day but it's good for her to be an independent little one who thrives as a chicken, so I can't begrudge her moving away.

 

[MaryJanet]

You do anything amazing job, better than me I'm certain. I am consistently impressed by you.

I'm sure that's not true, but thanks Bob. I genuinely put time, effort, thinking and money into it.