Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[LittleLakePhil]

Hi

 

[Shadrach]

@orrpeople.
Right, everyone has gone to bed so I’ll explain what little I know.
All the chickens here free range. There are 4 seperate groups I call tribes. Each tribe comprises related individuals. Each tribe has it’s own coop and territory. Mostly they sleep in their tribe coops.
Tackle is a pullet about 7 months old belonging to Tribe 1. She is well established in the tribes hierarchy and had two brothers from the same clutch. Her father is Cillin who is a Maran and (most likely Old English Game cross breed) cross two generations. Tribe 1 also has a cockerel who is now interested in mating but hasn’t yet learnt the finer points of courtship. Currently he’s in love with my boots but does try it on with the hens in the tribe from time to time. The elder hens bash him and the senior rooster (Cillin) will drive him off any attempted mating.
Tackle is normally fit, pest free and hasn’t yet laid her first egg. (it looks as if she’s ready to lay now) She is also the lowest hen in the tribe’s hierarchy and the cockerel (Treacle) has shown some interest in her.
Mel (hen) is Tackles sister and bullies her remorselessly.
Two days ago all Tribe 1 visited me in my house as usual on their morning rounds. Tackle was fine then.
I went to check on them a couple of hours later and found Tackle limping along behind the tribe. Cillin (dad) moved between the main group and Tackle keeping an eye on her but eventaully Tackle was no longer able to keep up and sat down. This is when I intervened.
I brouht Tackle into the house and checked her over. I couldn’t find a break in the leg that is giving her problems. I couldn’t feel any dislocation either. The problem leg felt slightly swollen at the hip/shoulder joint and was slightly warmer than the other side. She can move the bad leg and it will support her, even when fully straightened. At the moment it is held back compared to the good leg and when she hobbles the leg doesn’t move forward past the good leg as it would making a full step. The toes on her bad foot close when she sits while the other side is spread as normal.
She is eating well, comb bright, eyes clear and alert,
She is still talkative and responsive.
I’ve given her 0.2mg of Metacam each morning and 0.1mg each night.
I’ve also given her a vitamin supplement twice a day with her medication.
My intention is to take her to the vet here, probably tomorrow.
Any ideas?

 

[Alaskan]

Did you enjoy the movie, what you saw of it in between pee breaks?

I only had to pee once during the movie... but the first hour was hard to enjoy since I had to pee so badly.

HOWEVER, it was a good movie.

 

[Alaskan]

Hello, Pond, nary a ripple in sight.



At your age ? What do you plan on doing when you get old like me ? Depends-----

I had had a bucket of coffee pre-movie.

That was the problem.

 

[sourland]

I had had a bucket of coffee pre-movie.

That was the problem.

It's okay, 'Al'. It's just part of the aging process. Excuses are not needed. I understand.
You'll soon be noting other related issues.

 

[WVduckchick]

@orrpeople.
Right, everyone has gone to bed so I’ll explain what little I know.
All the chickens here free range. There are 4 seperate groups I call tribes. Each tribe comprises related individuals. Each tribe has it’s own coop and territory. Mostly they sleep in their tribe coops.
Tackle is a pullet about 7 months old belonging to Tribe 1. She is well established in the tribes hierarchy and had two brothers from the same clutch. Her father is Cillin who is a Maran and (most likely Old English Game cross breed) cross two generations. Tribe 1 also has a cockerel who is now interested in mating but hasn’t yet learnt the finer points of courtship. Currently he’s in love with my boots but does try it on with the hens in the tribe from time to time. The elder hens bash him and the senior rooster (Cillin) will drive him off any attempted mating.
Tackle is normally fit, pest free and hasn’t yet laid her first egg. (it looks as if she’s ready to lay now) She is also the lowest hen in the tribe’s hierarchy and the cockerel (Treacle) has shown some interest in her.
Mel (hen) is Tackles sister and bullies her remorselessly.
Two days ago all Tribe 1 visited me in my house as usual on their morning rounds. Tackle was fine then.
I went to check on them a couple of hours later and found Tackle limping along behind the tribe. Cillin (dad) moved between the main group and Tackle keeping an eye on her but eventaully Tackle was no longer able to keep up and sat down. This is when I intervened.
I brouht Tackle into the house and checked her over. I couldn’t find a break in the leg that is giving her problems. I couldn’t feel any dislocation either. The problem leg felt slightly swollen at the hip/shoulder joint and was slightly warmer than the other side. She can move the bad leg and it will support her, even when fully straightened. At the moment it is held back compared to the good leg and when she hobbles the leg doesn’t move forward past the good leg as it would making a full step. The toes on her bad foot close when she sits while the other side is spread as normal.
She is eating well, comb bright, eyes clear and alert,
She is still talkative and responsive.
I’ve given her 0.2mg of Metacam each morning and 0.1mg each night.
I’ve also given her a vitamin supplement twice a day with her medication.
My intention is to take her to the vet here, probably tomorrow.
Any ideas?

I hope the vet can figure it out or someone else here has something to suggest.
My only suggestion is to weigh her if you can, and keep monitor on it. Hens have such a way of hiding everything. They can be so close to death before we realize any problem, but if she is eating well, at least that’s a good sign.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

Doing any catching?





That’s OK - I have plenty of extra cold weather clothes. We’ll find something to fit you!

How old is the daughter?

I had one flag that night.... But didn't know it cuz my tip up flag spring was broken..... Throwing that tip up away......I really think I'm buying new ones this year... With a new ice fishing carrying case... To hold all my tackle.
Making a effort to really organize my stuff this year.....

 

[LittleLakePhil]

I had had a bucket of coffee pre-movie.

That was the problem.

Yeah I won't drink before a movie.... And I don't like ice.... So I get a big drink and popcorn.... And just sip the drink.
But we usually go to real long movies.... Seen all the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies in theater.....

 

[LittleLakePhil]

I should actually change what I said....I was always frugal when kids were at home.
Last time I had a car payment was in 1985..... When I paid off my 1979 Dodge Power Wagon.
I own a house where a double payment is around $400 a month.....
The current truck I own is the most expensive truck I've owned in years.... And it was $2000.
I never got a contractor to do anything.... Although I might hire someone to install my internet antenna higher and better... But only cuz I'm super afraid of heights.....
It's just that I'm not afraid to spend money on some things....I like nice things.... Sometimes expensive things.... As I get older and have no kids...I like to buy more name brand stuff....
But yeah I live cheaply so I can spend money on other things I suppose.
I spend most of my spare money on tools....

 

[Alaskan]

Yeah I won't drink before a movie.... And I don't like ice.... So I get a big drink and popcorn.... And just sip the drink.
But we usually go to real long movies.... Seen all the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies in theater.....

Yeah, supposedly eating salt helps reduce the need to pee.