Not again 😣

[BelovedBirds]

Ugh, sorry to get a bit off-topic, but I was at the feed store earlier and saw this applied to stuff like terramycin too. Now I'll need to go to the vet and get a prescription to treat minor cuts and abrasions around a duck's (any animal for that matter) eye. How ridiculous.

I actually have a blue heeler who was bit in the eye by another dog a few weeks back. The vet sent me home with a big bill and some eyedrops that made no discernable difference after several days. I break out the terramycin from my duck's first aid kit and her eye was cleared up within 24 hours. And that vet won't even see my ducks. So, yeah, I too am pretty desperate for a vet who I can trust to take care of my animals and not price gouge me in the process.

Not off topic at all!
The worst part is, the products themselves usually aren't super expensive. Add a vet consultation fee and whatever else they charge, and it makes it expensive. Healthcare would be so much easier if we could just access the proper stuff.

Last year, Dougie hurt her leg, I took her to the vet, who confirmed it was just a sprain. Gave me some pain relief for her.
£80 that costed. Just for a confirmation of the diagnosis. And pain relief.
I know vets deserve good wages. But jeez sometimes it's a lot.

 

[BelovedBirds]

There are no words for how much I love this girlie.
When I gave her some calcium, she was such a good girl. Even came to me willingly even though she knew it was for her pills.

Afterwards, I told her I'd get her a "cookie", and got up to grab her a treat (cookie is our silly word for her dried calci worms- sounds more tasty, lol!) And as soon as I said cookie (she knows what it means), she came running with that big smile she does. Usually this is in response to getting an egg (eggo).

She's so sweet, I could cry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are so sweet and special, people who haven't ever had poultry just have no idea how special they are and what a relationship we can have with them.

 

[BelovedBirds]

They are so sweet and special, people who haven't ever had poultry just have no idea how special they are and what a relationship we can have with them.

I have a closer bond with them than with my dogs

 

[Canadian Wind]

I have a closer bond with them than with my dogs

Same here.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I had a scare this morning.
Usually when Spry hears me coming, she stands at the door quacking.
Today it was silent.

I get to the door, only having heard Dougie squeak on the nest. I see through the vent, Sprightly isn't there waiting.
I think, oh no somethings happened to Spright.

I open the door, no one comes running. Really worried now. Look inside....
And Spright is cuddled up to Dougie on the nest, and they both stare at me blankly.
Neither would come outside for breakfast, I had to go around the back to poke them.
Then they came out and I was able to give Sprightly her calcium. She was very good. And get them their breakfast.

Im not going to jump to conclusions, she may have just wanted to be close to Dougie.... but...

 

[Maddcatter]

There are no words for how much I love this girlie.
When I gave her some calcium, she was such a good girl. Even came to me willingly even though she knew it was for her pills.

Afterwards, I told her I'd get her a "cookie", and got up to grab her a treat (cookie is our silly word for her dried calci worms- sounds more tasty, lol!) And as soon as I said cookie (she knows what it means), she came running with that big smile she does. Usually this is in response to getting an egg (eggo).
View attachment 3512694
She's so sweet, I could cry.

The hubs and I have been talking recently about this...

Animals never tell you to eff off, they're not working today. Animals are always trying their best to do their job. *Always*

It makes it truly heartbreaking when we (as humans) cant fix their ills, because they are doing whatever they can to do their thing.

Unfortunately, sometimes the best we can do is just love them for the time we have them, and know that their life was a little brighter for it.

I'm sorry you're going through a lot if ups and downs, and that their are no easy answers. Her life is obviously better for having you in it, and yours is obviously better for having her. I hope things get easier soon.

 

[BelovedBirds]

We might be having an egg issue
Noticed her tail down and she was acting a bit off. I ran her a bath. That was maybe 30 minutes ago.
She seems to be breathing heavily. And she is seeming to have contractions now. I could be wrong. But we'll see. I'm not taking any chances with the past two days eggs

 

[BelovedBirds]

I think it was a false alarm, we'll see. She's still behaving suspiciously.
Sometimes, she just seems to be really uncomfortable, for a while before bed. Like that time she was shaking and panting like crazy.
I don't know what is going on with her body. But I think it's something to do with the egg.
I think she'll lay it soon

 

[BelovedBirds]

Another soft shell

She was so tired. I took her out and just hugged her in the dark, she lay on my chest and nuzzled under my chin and slept a while.
She felt a bit better and ate and drank when she went back in the coop.

It just doesn't make sense. She had two whole calcium pills this morning. As well as a dose last night. As well as an egg shell.
Is she just not using the calcium anymore?
I think it's time to try force molting. I'm thinking leave water available, but remove food for a day or two and then mix oats in etc etc.
Or I could just change her feed brand and hopefully the sudden change will be enough, I've heard of that working unintentionally for people. Or would it be harmful to do that?