What did you do with your flock today?

[MaeM]

Today I will be taking one of my Golden comets to the vet. I'm nervous. She got surgery for a very bad prolapse (oviduct AND rectum) on Monday, and the vet will be removing her stitches today.

It is a bit too soon and I'm worried that she could prolapse again. But according to the vet, if she produces an egg and her vent is still stitched, it is a death sentence. So in that sense, it's preferable that she gets another prolapse.

Best case scenario, the tissues will be held in place without the stitches and her body will be wise enough to stop production. We don't have hormones for that so I'm basically just keeping her in the dark and praying. She needs to heal and I'm afraid that her high rate of egg production won't let her.

Please do not ever let me have layers again, lol

Thank you everyone for the support and the advices. Here's an update on Ruby's case.

On Wednesday, the vet checked that she didn't have an egg and took the risk of leaving the sutures until Thursday.

On Thursday, as soon as her stitches were removed, she released a lash egg and prolapsed. So the vet stitched her again. I went back home and she prolapsed - even with stitches. I went back to the vet and he added more stitches.

She didn't prolapse again after that, but if she needs to lay an egg, well... it won't fit through that hole.

Now, Ruby seems to be feeling great, but if she can't keep her insides in, if she prolapses every time she gets the stitches removed.... Or if an egg comes (no, there's no Suprelorin available here, otherwise this wouldn't be a worry)
before she can fully heal... You can imagine how that'd go.

There's still necrotic tissue inside of her, the vet hopes that she can release it by herself or else she may need debridement....

So, a lot of things to take into account... I can barely sleep.

Today I took her out for a little while (she's mostly in a dark space to discourage egg laying) so she could sunbathe and forage for a bit... And I stayed with her all the time, thinking that maybe these are out last moments together... I mean, she is feeling good now, but there's a chance that she won't recover in time. Then I'd have to cull her...

 

[kurby22]

Thank you everyone for the support and the advices. Here's an update on Ruby's case.

On Wednesday, the vet checked that she didn't have an egg and took the risk of leaving the sutures until Thursday.

On Thursday, as soon as her stitches were removed, she released a lash egg and prolapsed. So the vet stitched her again. I went back home and she prolapsed - even with stitches. I went back to the vet and he added more stitches.

She didn't prolapse again after that, but if she needs to lay an egg, well... it won't fit through that hole.

Now, Ruby seems to be feeling great, but if she can't keep her insides in, if she prolapses every time she gets the stitches removed.... Or if an egg comes (no, there's no Suprelorin available here, otherwise this wouldn't be a worry)
before she can fully heal... You can imagine how that'd go.

There's still necrotic tissue inside of her, the vet hopes that she can release it by herself or else she may need debridement....

So, a lot of things to take into account... I can barely sleep.

Today I took her out for a little while (she's mostly in a dark space to discourage egg laying) so she could sunbathe and forage for a bit... And I stayed with her all the time, thinking that maybe these are out last moments together... I mean, she is feeling good now, but there's a chance that she won't recover in time. Then I'd have to cull her...

View attachment 3669852

Oh dear, poor sweet girl It sounds like you are doing everything you can and more than many would. She has known the best kind of love and that is all any of us want in life! I hope she is able to make it through

 

[kurby22]

Today I took on a big task while my mom is visiting and could help keep me company

I decided that the run that goes on the Omlet Go Up is just not sufficient. It does the job, but several things about it don’t work for me. 1) you have to be a tiny person to get inside the run—which I can make a child do if needed but in winter when it’s a big pile of mud that really sucks! 2) it does NOT keep out rats, so why bother having a run I can’t get into if it’s not even keeping our the critters, 3) the rats are using it as a safe haven from the fox and created tunnels everywhere and piles and piles of dirt inside the run, which has 4) created a scenario where the inside of the run is rising in elevation more and more and the rain only moves more dirt in their run and it turns into a stinky mud bog in winter. SO in order to avoid this a second winter, I decided to take the run off and use no dig fence panels and bird netting like all my other runs. This involved 3.5 hours of hands and knees work disconnecting panels buried in at least 6-8 inches of dirt, nearly rolling my ankles stepping on ground the rats have made tunnels in, using The Claw garden tool to break it all up, shovels and rakes to redistribute dirt, moving pavers, installing the fence, and then adding the bird netting. I am in a lot of pain tonight, but I’m so happy that’s done. I can now enter their run, access their water, visit them, and clean things…plus they have more space to roam.

The bachelor pad is now a bit less miserable and I’m hoping they will enjoy this set up much better And now I must head to bed…after taking Vitamin I and a muscle relaxer SO sore!

 

[PopoMyers]

Stealing eggs?

There is nothing overnight to steal. Weird. Also noticed their tunnels have reappeared in the run, near the feeders, which only offers anything the chooks may have flicked out. No free access since they're treadle feeders. I may have to roll up the turf in the garden paths, as that what they tunnel under part way toward the run fence, then under my 2 storage sheds into the run.

 

[Nomadicus]

Thank you everyone for the support and the advices. Here's an update on Ruby's case.

On Wednesday, the vet checked that she didn't have an egg and took the risk of leaving the sutures until Thursday.

On Thursday, as soon as her stitches were removed, she released a lash egg and prolapsed. So the vet stitched her again. I went back home and she prolapsed - even with stitches. I went back to the vet and he added more stitches.

She didn't prolapse again after that, but if she needs to lay an egg, well... it won't fit through that hole.

Now, Ruby seems to be feeling great, but if she can't keep her insides in, if she prolapses every time she gets the stitches removed.... Or if an egg comes (no, there's no Suprelorin available here, otherwise this wouldn't be a worry)
before she can fully heal... You can imagine how that'd go.

There's still necrotic tissue inside of her, the vet hopes that she can release it by herself or else she may need debridement....

So, a lot of things to take into account... I can barely sleep.

Today I took her out for a little while (she's mostly in a dark space to discourage egg laying) so she could sunbathe and forage for a bit... And I stayed with her all the time, thinking that maybe these are out last moments together... I mean, she is feeling good now, but there's a chance that she won't recover in time. Then I'd have to cull her...

View attachment 3669852

Wishing the best for your lovely little girl. She looks right at home in your arm.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Thank you everyone for the support and the advices. Here's an update on Ruby's case.

On Wednesday, the vet checked that she didn't have an egg and took the risk of leaving the sutures until Thursday.

On Thursday, as soon as her stitches were removed, she released a lash egg and prolapsed. So the vet stitched her again. I went back home and she prolapsed - even with stitches. I went back to the vet and he added more stitches.

She didn't prolapse again after that, but if she needs to lay an egg, well... it won't fit through that hole.

Now, Ruby seems to be feeling great, but if she can't keep her insides in, if she prolapses every time she gets the stitches removed.... Or if an egg comes (no, there's no Suprelorin available here, otherwise this wouldn't be a worry)
before she can fully heal... You can imagine how that'd go.

There's still necrotic tissue inside of her, the vet hopes that she can release it by herself or else she may need debridement....

So, a lot of things to take into account... I can barely sleep.

Today I took her out for a little while (she's mostly in a dark space to discourage egg laying) so she could sunbathe and forage for a bit... And I stayed with her all the time, thinking that maybe these are out last moments together... I mean, she is feeling good now, but there's a chance that she won't recover in time. Then I'd have to cull her...

View attachment 3669852

Your poor darling . She's a very lucky lady to have you for a mom though. I'm sending all my best wishes for both of you.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Today I took on a big task while my mom is visiting and could help keep me company

I decided that the run that goes on the Omlet Go Up is just not sufficient. It does the job, but several things about it don’t work for me. 1) you have to be a tiny person to get inside the run—which I can make a child do if needed but in winter when it’s a big pile of mud that really sucks! 2) it does NOT keep out rats, so why bother having a run I can’t get into if it’s not even keeping our the critters, 3) the rats are using it as a safe haven from the fox and created tunnels everywhere and piles and piles of dirt inside the run, which has 4) created a scenario where the inside of the run is rising in elevation more and more and the rain only moves more dirt in their run and it turns into a stinky mud bog in winter. SO in order to avoid this a second winter, I decided to take the run off and use no dig fence panels and bird netting like all my other runs. This involved 3.5 hours of hands and knees work disconnecting panels buried in at least 6-8 inches of dirt, nearly rolling my ankles stepping on ground the rats have made tunnels in, using The Claw garden tool to break it all up, shovels and rakes to redistribute dirt, moving pavers, installing the fence, and then adding the bird netting. I am in a lot of pain tonight, but I’m so happy that’s done. I can now enter their run, access their water, visit them, and clean things…plus they have more space to roam.

View attachment 3669862
View attachment 3669863
The bachelor pad is now a bit less miserable and I’m hoping they will enjoy this set up much better And now I must head to bed…after taking Vitamin I and a muscle relaxer SO sore!

What a lot of work! Great reasons to do it though and looks like you did a great job on it! Hope you're feeling great after a good night's sleep and get to enjoy the fruit of your labor today...I can see your chickens will!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Yesterday had to do some errands on the Southside. My DS and I picked up lunch and found a table to enjoy it on. Thought you get a kick outta the view.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I picked up the last 2 BB's from the mountain plus a Jellybeans ♡

Back to doing full.on chicken chores and kitties chores in the morning. Life is good.

Escapees.
Got 3 vaxxs yesterday. Kinda sore today, so having a slow morning and will do minimum.

Nice job on the batchelor coop @kurby22 !

@MaeM , I'm so sorry. You are working so hard to make things good. my good thoughts are with you ♡

@ChicksnMore awesome mirror, awesome birds ♡

 

[kurby22]

What a lot of work! Great reasons to do it though and looks like you did a great job on it! Hope you're feeling great after a good night's sleep and get to enjoy the fruit of your labor today...I can see your chickens will!

It feels good to have that off my plate! But I still can’t find the hole in the other run that the white baby d’Anver keeps using to escape. We got home from soccer and she was in the front yard! She’s now been named Dora the Explorer