The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[getaclue]

How did the concoction work on Betsy? I hope she's better.

 

[speckledhen]

How did the concoction work on Betsy? I hope she's better.

The dough ball may be slightly smaller today. There were three areas of poop that were more solid (though not truly solid, just dark green sludge) than we've seen for a week. So, more got through her system than previously. I am afraid of what is still in the crop just rotting and poisoning her system, but we're working it multiple times each day. I think her chest is plain sore now, poor sweet girl.

 

[getaclue]

Improvement is good, even if it's not a lot at first.

 

[speckledhen]

Improvement is good, even if it's not a lot at first.

It is, but she is a skeleton with feathers, since this happened in her first big molt. It's a race to see if we can resolve it before she's too far down. If her systems really begin shutting down, I'm afraid we'll lose her. This has been going on over a week now with her. I really don't want to lose Betsy. It would be easier if it was an old hen who'd had a long life already. She's such a sweet hen.

 

[getaclue]

I totally understand. Hopefully, being younger will be the advantage she needs to pull through, and live a long, productive life.

 

[speckledhen]

I totally understand. Hopefully, being younger will be the advantage she needs to pull through, and live a long, productive life.

That's what I'm hoping, Cheryl. We've probably all had chickens we had pretty much decided were goners and had them pull through and I'm just hoping she's one of them.

 

[speckledhen]

I finished the mandala throw. I think I have an extra stitch or cluster of stitches on one row, which continued as I went outward, of course, making it a tad more "ruffly" than it's supposed to be, but as a throw, not a huge deal. Will watch that closer next time. I didn't do the last eight rows as the pattern called for, but changed it up to finish off sooner and use less yarn. Measures about 45" in diameter.

Betsy is going backward. Her crop is souring again. I cannot fix this. The monistat seemed to help for a bit, but the crop will not completely empty. She moans/whines when we massage it now, probably very, very sore. I've even tried the lemon juice/baking soda to move it along and she had more poop in the cage this a.m., but I just am out of ideas. I've tried probably everything under the sun and now, I've had to remove all food again from a bird who is skin and bones as it is. Maybe there is something wrong inside her that only reared its ugly head when she went into her first molt and the crop is just waving a flag, so to speak. But, there is no way of knowing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The throw is gorgeous. You work fast.

Sorry about your hen. I have never had any luck saving a chicken once it starts going downhill. I was hoping you had better luck than me.

 

[robhuncor]

Cyn, you must crochet at the speed of light! It takes me forever to get my projects done. And that pattern is amazing!

I'm so sorry about Betsy - you've tried so hard. It's completely discouraging when there is no improvement after all that work. But you can feel good about the effort you put in to try to save her. You did all you could.

 

[speckledhen]

The throw is gorgeous. You work fast.

Sorry about your hen. I have never had any luck saving a chicken once it starts going downhill. I was hoping you had better luck than me.

I think that's because they are advanced in whatever their condition is most of the time by the time we discover something is wrong. Feathers hide a multitude of issues. Thanks on the throw. I might do another one day like this.

Cyn, you must crochet at the speed of light! It takes me forever to get my projects done. And that pattern is amazing!

I'm so sorry about Betsy - you've tried so hard. It's completely discouraging when there is no improvement after all that work. But you can feel good about the effort you put in to try to save her. You did all you could.

Thanks, Robin. I like the pattern, too. Maybe I'll do it in a different color combination.

We did try our best and we're still trying. She went out with the flock for a bit this evening and she's back in her cage with only water..and she is drinking quite a bit, too. If she can't flush this mess out by guzzling water, I have my doubts that this will end well at all. Poor sweet beautiful Betsy. I was very close to just letting her go back in with her peeps, but they may keep her away from the water and I want her to be able to drink in peace whenever she likes.