Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

Ever have one of those It seemed Like a Good Idea @ the Time moments? I get them @ Lincraft, which is where I buy my crochet supplies, & they happen because I rush so as not to keep the man waiting. I should not rush. I should stop & think about these things. There are consequences... I saw this:

I thought it was pretty. It has a shimmer to the yarn. I thought it would be perfect for the butterfly prayer shawl/scarf I was itching to try.

So I bought it.
​

It is 100% rayon. Which means it slips & slides every which way & is impossible to grip. It is killing my hands to work with it. @ least now I have got the hang of it so long as I don't drop any stitches ~ @ which point it promptly unravels rows & rows of hard earned work! If I can get it done in time this will be part of YD's Christmas present. At this point I am not holding out much hope. It is incredibly slow going...

On a completely different tack, the *stilts on legs* have arrived: 3 cute as a button plover chicks. Sadly the plover chicks aren't the brightest sparks around & the parents are dopey. These probably won't reach maturity. While mama plover was angrily shouting Danger! Danger! Here to me! Her offspring were running excitedly in the opposite direction.

 

[Ribh]

How is tuppence today Ribh?

Thanks for asking, MJ. I think she is doing well. She is much flightier & objecting to being held again. She had a good dust bath yesterday & was over the fence foraging in the deep leaf litter @ least twice & she ate up a storm last night as well so I think she must be feeling heaps better. Her comb looks miles better too. Can't think why Lottie hasn't got them as well as she & Tuppence cuddle on the roost but so far Tuppence has been the only one with any sign of lice. I will spray everyone again in a week just to be sure.

 

[MaryJanet]

If you've got time, I'd love to know all her symptoms. What should I be watching for? I can handle Janet and Sandy but not Mary.

 

[Ribh]

I'm no expert ~ which is why it took me a while to twig. It was more a process of it can't be this...or this...or this...so it might be this. Try & see.

Mostly it was a feeling Tuppence wasn't quite herself. Her comb started blackening [I was worried it was a heart or liver problem ] & then her face took on a greyish hue. She didn't seem unwell~ how I hate chickens do this!!! A little off her tucker. A little slower but nothing major. And she stopped laying. As I said I checked her several times: round the vent particularly but all the hot areas: under the wings & chin & tummy. I didn't see a single thing to cause me to think it might be lice. It was only when I sprayed her that I saw the first lice. They look a bit like pale white ants or head lice if you've ever seen either of those.

Is that helpful?

 

[MaryJanet]

Yes, thank you

 

[BY Bob]

I'm no expert ~ which is why it took me a while to twig. It was more a process of it can't be this...or this...or this...so it might be this. Try & see.

Mostly it was a feeling Tuppence wasn't quite herself. Her comb started blackening [I was worried it was a heart or liver problem ] & then her face took on a greyish hue. She didn't seem unwell~ how I hate chickens do this!!! A little off her tucker. A little slower but nothing major. And she stopped laying. As I said I checked her several times: round the vent particularly but all the hot areas: under the wings & chin & tummy. I didn't see a single thing to cause me to think it might be lice. It was only when I sprayed her that I saw the first lice. They look a bit like pale white ants or head lice if you've ever seen either of those.

Is that helpful?

That is extremely helpful. I will be able to better look for it in my flock as well. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Kris5902]

Our lice here are red colored, and I love how observant you are of all the little things that aren’t quite “right”. Lice and mites are one of those silent little killers that slowly wear down the poor chickens bit by bit. There’s no sudden dramatic symptoms, and they are often overlooked. They are another thing I was initially told is totally “normal” for chickens to be covered in, and that’s why you shouldn’t handle birds... much like I was told that that’s “just how chickens legs look when they are a bit older”. No, they are treatable parasites. Parasites are not “normal”

 

[Ribh]

All tuckered up & enjoying full tum~tums & the afternoon breeze.​

 

[Ribh]

Our lice here are red colored, and I love how observant you are of all the little things that aren’t quite “right”. Lice and mites are one of those silent little killers that slowly wear down the poor chickens bit by bit. There’s no sudden dramatic symptoms, and they are often overlooked. They are another thing I was initially told is totally “normal” for chickens to be covered in, and that’s why you shouldn’t handle birds... much like I was told that that’s “just how chickens legs look when they are a bit older”. No, they are treatable parasites. Parasites are not “normal”

I loathe parasites! I can handle most things [even spiders & I grew up with funnel webs!] but parasites do for me. I can't abide them.

 

[drumstick diva]

Soon as I hear the word, fleas, lice, ticks, etc. I am itching everywhere. Mind over matter.