Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

We get to see it from the other side when they think high 20s C is "hot"

True, oh sage!. Though I'm complaining too if it goes over 25. I like my temperatures moderate.

 

[drstratton]

We get to see it from the other side when they think high 20s C is "hot"

We had temps of 42c this year...high 20's c is actually a good temp!

 

[Ribh]

We had temps of 42c this year...high 20's c is actually a good temp!

Nope. I don't like extremes of anything. Was that with or without humidity? I can't stand humidity!

 

[drstratton]

Nope. I don't like extremes of anything. Was that with or without humidity? I can't stand humidity!

Without, thank goodness! Our humidity stays fairly low...usually in the teens sometimes it will get up into the 50's!

 

[Ribh]

Without, thank goodness! Our humidity stays fairly low...usually in the teens sometimes it will get up into the 50's!

In summer ours hovers around 80% constantly. It's the pits.

 

[drstratton]

In summer ours hovers around 80% constantly. It's the pits.

Yeah, that can be pretty miserable!

 

[BY Bob]

Putting weight on and putting on fat are rather different.
It used to worry me when I did thos keel bone tests and compared the weight of the hens here to similar, mostly in the USA. Having felt a few local hens now and compared weights with keepers in other countries I came to the conclusion that the chicken here are a good wieght and dare I write, the chickens in the USA are in general overweight judging from what I've read on BYC.

Chickens get fat because they get fed too much of the wrong stuff.
Chickens put on weight if they are fed the right stuff and get the excercise necessary to develope muscle. Much like people.

Yes, but physiologically, when a human or an animal is recovering from an illness that has drained their weight it is important to put weight back on quickly or there may be no reserves to deal with a subsequent illness.

I would try to put a little weight on her quickly. I don't care what kind. Then work on long term rebuilding of her muscle mass through proper nutrition and excercise. She will lean back up. If she is all skin and bones right now she is very susceptible to any illness, even a mild one.

I will submit that USA chickens may be "well insulated" because we feed too much of the wrong stuff. This is not about that. It is about quickly building a reserve of energy to be accessed in an emergency.

 

[Ribh]

Yes, but physiologically, when a human or an animal is recovering from an illness that has drained their weight it is important to put weight back on quickly or there may be no reserves to deal with a subsequent illness.

I would try to put a little weight on her quickly. I don't care what kind. Then work on long term rebuilding of her muscle mass through proper nutrition and excercise. She will lean back up. If she is all skin and bones right now she is very susceptible to any illness, even a mild one.

I will submit that USA chickens may be "well insulated" because we feed too much of the wrong stuff. This is not about that. It is about quickly building a reserve of energy to be accessed in an emergency.

That was my thinking, Bob. I take Shad's point but she has no reserves just now & that is worrying.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm doing pretty good, thank you. Our weather is starting to turn on us and they're calling for snow this weekend. Sadly, I've got some porcupines running around the yard looking completely pitiful. Like my Goldie girl:
View attachment 2371985
Hopefully those feathers start popping soon!

Oh no and snow around the corner. I've been freaking out that my Hattie won't have but feathers before it goes below freezing. Do you provide supplemental heat when it gets that cold and they still look like this?

 

[BY Bob]

Yes! Because gradually we've taken responsibility for building more robust and egalitarian social systems. Still a long way to go and guilt doesn't do a great job of supporting us in carrying that work forward. So while I don't feel guilty for the pasts of others, I do feel compassion for past and present wrongs and I take responsibility for my part shaping the future.

I really should stay focused on chicken talk, but I couldn't help myself it's such an interesting topic

I was wondering how long it would take before you had to weigh in.