Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Four hours today. Thankfully it was cooler than yesterday at 25C with night time temperatures of around 17C; much more comfortable for me and the chickens.
It wasn't a good day for Fret. There is something going on here we need to know about. Fret had two fits today, exactly the same as Barking Bracket in appearance. In the first fit she made all sorts of contortions ending up on her side as you can see in the picture. The second fit was when I put her in the coop. She showed no sign of moving from under my chair even after the others had gone to roost. As a wild chicken that would probably be it, a predator would get them during the night.
After her second fit I put her on the roost bar like I did with Barking Bracket but Fret wobbled for a second or two and then locked on and was still settled on the roost bar when I left the field at 11pm.

First fit.

Second fit.

She could stand and walk when I let them out but didn't eat anything then or for the rest of the day.

I placed for on my plot for an hour or so, wondering if she might have a bath. She didn't. I moved her close to my chair after that.

Some very interesting behaviour from both Sylph and Tull. Sylph walked up close to Fret head to head and dropped her head and stared at Fret for a few seconds much as roosters do when imprinting chicks. Sylph jumped on to my lap after.
Tull gently pecked Fret once and moved away.

Sylph got in the nesting box when Fret had her fit in the coop.

 

[Shadrach]

Damn- that sucks. Any course of action to remedy all that?

None of it's life threatening. It's part and parcel of getting old for most. If it's not one thing it's another.
I've had to work harder on my diet and try to increase my exercise load. The doctors mostly just want to give people drugs, many of which give side effects worse than the problem.

 

[no fly zone]

None of it's life threatening. It's part and parcel of getting old for most. If it's not one thing it's another.
I've had to work harder on my diet and try to increase my exercise load. The doctors mostly just want to give people drugs, many of which give side effects worse than the problem.

Check out "The Longevity Paradox" by Dr. Steven Gundry.

And I fear Fret doesn't have much longer.

 

[Shadrach]

Check out "The Longevity Paradox" by Dr. Steven Gundry.

And I fear Fret doesn't have much longer.

I've read some of it. Interesting but an over simplification in my opinion. I didn't finish the book. One needs a lot of things to live a healthy life in ones senior years, genetics will get you a long way, a simple lifestyle eating real food will get you a bit further, exercise daily has a major impact. Much like chickens, we weren't designed to sit on our arses all day, or (a point often overlooked by the fitness crowd) pushing ones body to flat out day after day, a point I am currently trying to drive home to my eldest.

Mental health is the current killer and it's not at all obvious the impact it has in the physical side. It's a very complicated topic.

 

[thistlewick]

I've noticed that people respond differently with reactions on posts.

I put a heart, Love, when I want to give a hug of commiseration, a gentle hand on the shoulder of camaraderie, a warm smile of acknowledgement and also appreciation of whatever is shared, it is more than just 'oh I love this, this is *positive*'. To me, it can mean a LOT of things.

Sometimes, I respond with a heart because I don't like the 'sad' emoji and to me, the heart reaction is me wanting to send a feeling of sitting *with* someone, instead of pity or aww you poor thing.

Never much had use for pity.

"like" is pretty much just an acknowledgement that I read something.

I always over explain myself /shrug

To be honest, I find the reactions limiting in the extreme and I wish there were a ton more heh

Shadrach, I am sorry for Fret

it hurts.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My health? I'll try not to be too facetious.
For someone with Shingles, yes it's still there,COPD and now Parkinson's Disease, apparently, I'm the picture of health according to the doctors.

Oof, sorry to hear. Welcome to this stage in life.

I have far too many names on my phone contacts whose professions end in “-ologist”, or sometimes just “guy.” Retina Guy, Arrhythmia Guy, Knee Guy… Thank God my primary care doc is a woman.

 

[Perris]

and now Parkinson's Disease

that sucks. Real bummer.

 

[Perris]

Fret had two fits today, exactly the same as Barking Bracket in appearance.

She showed no sign of moving from under my chair even after the others had gone to roost

Could it be catatonia?

Fret wobbled for a second or two and then locked on

'Locking on' is something passerines have the appropriate anatomy to do. Galliformes don't and can't. Again suggests maybe she's catatonic?

 

[Perris]

this seems doubly appropriate in the circumstances And might lift the mood

edited to add, we don't want to turn this into a typical old-people-comparing-their-ailments type round table do we?

 

[BDutch]

My health? I'll try not to be too facetious.
For someone with Shingles, yes it's still there,COPD and now Parkinson's Disease, apparently, I'm the picture of health according to the doctors.

I have far too many names on my phone contacts whose professions end in “-

Sorry to hear about these multiple health problems. As said this sucks. Aging obviously has its downsides. Wishing all the best for both of you.

I give up my hopes on Fret after the last post. At least 2 fits in one day, the way you describe what happened is probably a sign she won’t live much longer.
Nice to hear about the social behaviour from the other chickens.