The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[maryhysong]

Wow Bee that sure is a lot of fat on that girl! I've never seen that much fat either and while I probably haven't butchered out as many birds as you have I have done a fair number.

 

[aoxa]

Wow Bee that sure is a lot of fat on that girl! I've never seen that much fat either and while I probably haven't butchered out as many birds as you have I have done a fair number.

What would cause all that fat?

 

[Beekissed]

Now...the question is, what to make of it?

• Either I am feeding too many carbs and proteins, which is a possibility because both culls had WAY too much fat around their vents~ OR~
• These two birds were prone to overeat and accumulate fat, which is also a possibility due to their fat stores and the placement of them~ OR~
• It's the time of year when they are supposed to be accumulating fat of this nature and I don't get to see this level of fat because I never cull at this time of the year~ OR~
• A combination of all these factors~which I'm inclined to believe is the logical answer.
  

 

[aoxa]

Now...the question is, what to make of it? 

• Either I am feeding too many carbs and proteins, which is a possibility because both culls had WAY too much fat around their vents~ OR~
• These two birds were prone to overeat and accumulate fat, which is also a possibility due to their fat stores and the placement of them~ OR~
• It's the time of year when they are supposed to be accumulating fat of this nature and I don't get to see this level of fat because I never cull at this time of the year~ OR~
• A combination of all these factors~which I'm inclined to believe is the logical answer.
  
   

All of those reasons makes perfect sense.

 

[Beekissed]

Now, what to do about it? I'm cutting back on ration amounts. I can't un-mix my feed ration..what is done is done. I could cut it by mixing in some lower protein grains but I'm just not going to right now. I'm going to cut back on total amounts fed. It works for the dog when he gets fluffy and it would sure work on me if someone would cut me back, forcibly...if only!

I'm also erecting a temporary fence guard around the bird feeders....any dropped seed is disappearing down the gullets of the fat gals. NOT my vision for a treat or supplement...too high protein. They are working those feeders several times a day and the Bat is going through enormous amounts of feed because dropped feed is usually picked up and utilized by the birds~NOT the neighborhood girl thugs and their big, mama's boy rooster man.

These birds needed fat to go into the winter and they got it....plenty of it. Now it's time to cut back because I think they just might be warm enough...something just tells me....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh chickmamma, so sorry to hear about your birds; aloe vera is also very good for burns as is vitamin E oil. But if I didn't have those I'd certainly try the nustock.

Oh happy day here at my place. with the dog attack and what not going on I hadn't been out to really look at those old Welsummers in awhile. So I hung out today and picked up Vinnie the roo; Well, NOT A NIT OR MITE OR LOUSE ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN! He does still have dried up Nustock on his neck and around his butt. But there are no nits or anything on him anywhere! I think he's gained a little weight too, seems a little heavier than he did before. He's still growing in a new set of clothes, but starting to look real good.

So then I got that hen with the bad foot gland and checked her out; nope, no nits or bugs anywhere on her. And she seems pretty much done with her molt, nice soft shiney feathers. I did bring her in to scrub her feet and picked out another wad of impacted crud not quite as big as the first one, filled the hole up with Nustock this time.

She was a little fiestier today than the other times I"ve brought her in though.


Then she noticed that mirror chicken and was pecking and even raised her hackles at it!


Here are some before pics of her



Even her comb and wattles are starting to perk up a little.

She is looking so good.

 

[aoxa]

Now, what to do about it?  I'm cutting back on ration amounts.  I can't un-mix my feed ration..what is done is done.  I could cut it by mixing in some lower protein grains but I'm just not going to right now.  I'm going to cut back on total amounts fed.  It works for the dog when he gets fluffy and it would sure work on me if someone would cut me back, forcibly...if only! [/SIZE]

I'm also erecting a temporary fence guard around the bird feeders....any dropped seed is disappearing down the gullets of the fat gals.  NOT my vision for a treat or supplement...too high protein. They are working those feeders several times a day and the Bat is going through enormous amounts of feed because dropped feed is usually picked up and utilized by the birds~NOT the neighborhood girl thugs and their big, mama's boy rooster man. 

These birds needed fat to go into the winter and they got it....plenty of it. Now it's time to cut back because I think they just might be warm enough...something just tells me.... 

 

If anyone tried to cut back my food rations, I'd be one grumpy person.

 

[maryhysong]

She is looking so good.

Thanks! Yes they are looking better; the other Wellie girl is very hard to catch unless I wait for her to roost so it will be a few days before I get to her. But with the other two being clear of bugs I'm pretty sure she will be too. So glad; will try and catch up the hurt birds and give them a looking over too as soon as I get a chance. They are still very very skittish even just around me and I move real slow with them. I just want to check out their wounds and see if they have new skin yet or need another coat of nustock.

 

[maryhysong]

Now...the question is, what to make of it?

• Either I am feeding too many carbs and proteins, which is a possibility because both culls had WAY too much fat around their vents~ OR~
• These two birds were prone to overeat and accumulate fat, which is also a possibility due to their fat stores and the placement of them~ OR~
• It's the time of year when they are supposed to be accumulating fat of this nature and I don't get to see this level of fat because I never cull at this time of the year~ OR~
• A combination of all these factors~which I'm inclined to believe is the logical answer.
  

All of which makes sense. Could also be the percentage of fat in the feed? Maybe check out that as well as protein content. Also perhaps the FF has done *too* good of a job? ;-)

 

[aoxa]

Now...the question is, what to make of it? 

• Either I am feeding too many carbs and proteins, which is a possibility because both culls had WAY too much fat around their vents~ OR~
• These two birds were prone to overeat and accumulate fat, which is also a possibility due to their fat stores and the placement of them~ OR~
• It's the time of year when they are supposed to be accumulating fat of this nature and I don't get to see this level of fat because I never cull at this time of the year~ OR~
• A combination of all these factors~which I'm inclined to believe is the logical answer.
  
   

All of which makes sense. Could also be the percentage of fat in the feed? Maybe check out that as well as protein content. Also perhaps the FF has done *too* good of a job? ;-)

Since we are talking protein..

Is 15% too low?

Especially when I'm adding scratch where the protein is that much lower... Tips?