Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[TOMTE]

Not sure - they were all scrapping last night and this morning. I put them to bed early, and I was late letting them out.

Have you posted in the emergencies forum? I'm sorry, poor Laverne that can't feel good.

 

[featherhead007]

I decided to bring Mr Wyandottey to the house and yes, first thing he wanted to do was snuggle up with me. Then he starts his crowing practice. And boy does he need his practice! Of course, he has been vocal all his life.

 

[featherhead007]

I decided to bring Mr Wyandottey to the house and yes, first thing he wanted to do was snuggle up with me. Then he starts his crowing practice. And boy does he need his practice! Of course, he has been vocal all his life.

He’s a sweet guy, not aggressive at all, but I still miss Sir Jaffar and Rudy the rougarou

 

[Sylvester017]

They are small, maybe 6” long and yep bones and all.

Sounds tastier than sardines!

 

[featherhead007]

No matter how tough the rooster acts, the secret to total control is rubbing his ears and wattles. Call him by name (not the cuss words you want to say) he will respond back with love and affection

 

[featherhead007]

Sounds tastier than sardines!

Knock yourself out!

 

[Sylvester017]

Laverne

Seems to have torn her middle toe end almost completely off. Has anyone had this problem? Should I just snip the part hanging off - I am sure it will bleed like a son of a turnip. That’s how I noticed something was up. The blood I found on the roosting ledge. I had to go and check all the chooks to try to see who it was.

I finally noticed Laverne quietly standing with one foot tucked up, I checked her and sure enough she has the almost completely severed toe at the first knuckle it seems.

Anyone deal with this before? I don’t want to leave the part hanging and it will not heal - I fear I will need to trim it off, but worry about the exposed bony end. If I had a surgical kit I would snip the bone back and suture up the end of the toe.

Our Silkie "Mini" would scratch so hard in a wooden nestbox she tore off toenails, a toe, & another partial toe ~ blood everywhere both feet. Rushed her to the vet. He wasn't concerned that the outer toes were affected but honestly it was over 10 yrs ago & I was so traumatized I don't remember what he did. But I do remember he was calming in telling me that after she healed the outer missing toe & partial missing other toe & a missing toenail would not hurt her walking. For a couple weeks we had to clean w/peroxide cotton balls & triple antibiotic ointment & vet wrap & put infant socks taped down to her legs to keep the feet/toes clean while we kept her inhouse. But w/ feathered legs the socks did not stay on so she was just vet wrapped. Ever try to vet wrap a feather footed chicken daily? Not easy.

Mini w/ outer missing toe if you magnify to see it under all her fluff. One whole outer toe missing & half the other foot outer toe missing & one nail missing can't remember which toe. I remember one dangling toenail but it must've come off during our bandaging treatments. Honestly don't remember

 

[featherhead007]

A missing toe or two, never stopped this little man from doing his rooster duties:
Sir Jaffar, the brave, the magnificent!

 

[Ponypoor]

Our Silkie "Mini" would scratch so hard in a wooden nestbox she tore off toenails, a toe, & another partial toe ~ blood everywhere both feet. Rushed her to the vet. He wasn't concerned that the outer toes were affected but honestly it was over 10 yrs ago & I was so traumatized I don't remember what he did. But I do remember he was calming in telling me that after she healed the outer missing toe & partial missing other toe & a missing toenail would not hurt her walking. For a couple weeks we had to clean w/peroxide cotton balls & triple antibiotic ointment & vet wrap & put infant socks taped down to her legs to keep the feet/toes clean while we kept her inhouse. But w/ feathered legs the socks did not stay on so she was just vet wrapped. Ever try to vet wrap a feather footed chicken daily? Not easy.
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Mini w/ outer missing toe if you magnify to see it under all her fluff. One whole outer toe missing & half the other foot outer toe missing & one nail missing can't remember which toe. I remember one dangling toenail but it must've come off during our bandaging treatments. Honestly don't remember

I had a look again at her toe and I will just snip the piece of skin holding it on, it will just dry up and hang there if I left it. Better to deal with it now and get it done with.

Thankfully being an Orp she has clean feet and legs - no feathers. But still I expect her to not be to thrilled with having a bandage on the foot. Might need to put one of those cone-collars on her that dogs wear hahaha. Just kidding.

OK well just popped in the house for some lunch, have been clearing snow - again, waiting for my niece to arrive to do the big stuff. I am so spent... just pooped. Too much snow.

BFTP

December 2022
Snow birds

The original gang

 

[TOMTE]

Now that winter is coming up to its end (even if it doesnt feel like it ) dad and I are starting to think more seriously about plans for our flock going forward.

The other day chicks were mentioned. Dad said another 5 to make an nice round 10 would be perfect. So I've been researching breeds to look out for (CCL would be amazing but those huge single combs would be a frostbite nightmare).

Most important though, we've been throwing ideas back and forth regarding the coop/run situation. I mentioned the safety concern about the gas meter (plus other things). Since I'm the one caring for them, he wants everything to be as easy as possible, which I appreciate but safety is more important than how far I have to walk.

So I thought, why not just convert this old playhouse (something we've discussed before but then shelved it) into a coop and attached run?

It's old, but very sturdy, and with some alterations it would be perfect. And I think it would be relatively easy to convert compared to other ideas we've had, like digging up the run's foundation posts, somehow getting it up and on wheels, and moving it...