Mr Chatterbox

I try my hardest to speak to Tommy when ever I go over to the chicken pen as he is quite the chatterbox. As I'm not really fluent in duck I'm not sure what either him or myself is saying.

Munchkin

Here's Princess Speedy with her little nub of a tail. She is the smallest chicken, Lucille 2 and the other 4 chicks are about twice the size of my little munchkin. Old Boy's eye is nearly puss free but it still looks a little swollen on the right side.

Dancin'

I've been so busy lately working on my interpretative dance and as it turns out Speedy has been the best coach a girl could ask for. She has great rhythm and gives me great advice -think Debbie Allen from Fame and you'll be on the right track. Here is one of the moves I do, inspired by one of the baby girls.

Needless to say I've been busy dancing and the rain is back. Tommy actually came out of the duck pen today, not far maybe a few steps but then I walked back and he went back inside. I can't wait to get more girls. I spend my down time looking at websites searching for adult females. Gee that could be taken the wrong way, I had a Tobias moment.

Sunday

No real news, everyone is alive and well and penned in the chicken pen, except for Old Boy who is still in the duck pen. Speedy is still malting and Tommy is king of the ducks (and chicken pen). Old Boy is still battling along and you can finally see his eye but he is still full of fluid and puss. We tipped him upside down (like what we did with Beaker) and so much liquid came out. No doubt he felt better after than, that and being the right way up again.
We've finally had three days of sun (and heat) and the mud in front of the duck pen is finally drying. There is still a strip of mud though, and I wont let Tommy out until that is all nice and dry. I'm looking forward to getting some more girls, if this weather keeps up, it may be even sooner than I think. YAY.
Also, I've been having camera issues. So when that gets sorted I'll post more pics.

Tuesday

Everyone has been sick here at the farm and its not just something a little shot of yoghurt can fix. As a result I've been away from the farm and the animals. I returned today to see everyone still penned up and muddy. Needless to say its still raining.
Old Boy is still penned in the duck pen and his eye is really looking better. While his eye is clearing up, the fluid hasn't. He still sounds really blocked up, I also noticed his tail feather was down a little. He had a day off the meds today, so tomorrow we'll get him back on them and on the road to recovery (again). I fed him some corn kernels which he liked, and he went straight to sleep after that. Tomorrow I'm going to let him out of the pen for a little walk around.
Tommy is still in with the chickens and Speedy is practically bald. I will take some photos of her malting.

To Katcsa

We have a black hen that is sitting on eggs at the moment. I managed to entice her off for a bit of banana the other day and checked how many eggs she had. I thought she'd be sitting on at least two but she was sitting on none, so we've coined a new term. To Katcsa - meaning to sit and nest on zero eggs.

I'm actually away from the farm today (and yesterday). I penned Tommy in with the chickens, gave Old Boy his meds and bid them farewell for the weekend. Someone is popping into the farm today to give Old Boy his pill and everything should be fine.

Rapunzel

You know I think today nothing has happened. No one is dying or at least I don't think anyone is currently sick. I thought Tommy would like to get off the verandah to go for a walk today and when we got him outside he made an escape straight for the mud. I made sure he didn't get to it and moved him down to the front pen and made it a fortress so he couldn't escape. I miss seeing him from my desk now, so I may move him back later.
Speedy my little princess came to the back door last night to get penned up in her box. I couldn't believe it, she's so smart.
This morning before (I'd let her out) I could hear her making little chicken noises to Young Boy who was crowing down below. I thought of Rapunzel and Speedy having long hair for him to climb up. It made me laugh.

Survivor: Hydrorancho

Here's Tommy with all his friends on the verandah. I moved a little bit of hay to where he was sitting to make him more comfortable. He's such a mumma's boy now. I think he likes sitting on the verandah as he gets to see whats going on below. Or maybe I just like having him there. Its great I don't have to move from my desk to see him.

I'm still worried about Speedy. I went to look for her before and found her standing underneath the shed. It was just that she was standing still. I know that sounds like nothing, but that is how she was the other day when I thought she was just sleepy.

UPDATE: After yet another trip made out to check on Speedy I found her in the chicken pen with the other sluts. I picked her up and had a good look at her and noticed she is indeed malting as I could see all of the feathers starting to protude through her skin on her leg. So emergency aborted, Speedy will be fine. Phew.

Thursday

Ok here is the run down for today - I tell you I miss the quiet life. Speedy and Tommy spent yesterday on the verandah, I was so worried about Speedy as she is loosing her feathers pretty badly. Tommy also had diarrhea on our front verandah. Needless to say I'm going to give it a good wash and scrub down when this is all over. We moved Old Boy into the duck pen to recover from his vets appointment. So now this morning I wake up to Speedy feeling better, the sun's out and Tommy is doing firm shits. What a great day. However the sun came out only long enough to wake me up. Tommy is still on the verandah and Speedy jumped off to go and hang with the chickens.
I gave all of their water dishes a good scrub yesterday and everyone got fresh water. I think Speedy is just malting as Tommy and a few other chickens are as well. It is very cold today and has been all summer so it wouldn't surprise me if they think Winter is here early. Old Boy is eating, drinking water and crowing so we're happy with his progress. We're about to go and give him his medicine.
I will keep a close eye on Speedy today as I'm still a little worried about her.

Post vet

Ok so we've just returned from the vets and the prognosis is Old Boy still has his eye, he just has a severe respiratory problem and his eye has puffed up as a result of that. He also has conjuntivitis. The vet gave him a shot of amoxycillin and also some fluid. He basically said he'll probably die. I was thinking we should probably put him down. But since getting him home he's now in the duck pen and he's crowing like a young cock. I think that shot must have done the trick as I feel he'll make a full recovery. We've got 10 days worth of pills to give him. That will be interesting.
So now Tommy is in the front pen, all of the chickens are let out (Young Boy included) and Speedy is in the glass box on the verandah. I was worried about her this morning as she looks like she's loosing feathers and she didn't want to eat an egg shell, which is very unlike her. I just fed her some canned corn and she ate lots of that, so I'm happy about that.

Pirate rooster

Well it appears some time between this morning and now Old Boy lost his right eye. I noticed it was puffy so I came back to the house to get someone other than me to investigate. We held him down and got a something to flush it out if something was stuck in it, but afterlooking we couldn't see an eye in there. Poor guy, and it wasn't even Young Boy as he's penned up with Tommy and has been since Saturday.
I'm not sure what happened, I'm at a loss. I wonder if I should get him a patch?
When it rains it pours around here. I'm not sure how this is going to go for him or if we'll be saying good bye to him soon.

UPDATE: We've booked Old Boy into the vet's tomorrow at 9am. Hopefully they'll be able to shed some light on this situation. I'm not sure how he's going to go on the car ride, I'll be sure to take the camera.

Raining again

When I came home yesterday I went straight out and said hello to Tommy and my little princess Speedy. Everyone is still in lock down mode in the chicken and duck pens. It been raining again, and I think it will all week. Just when the puddle had almost dried up in front of the duck pen - the rain started again.

I've decided that I'm going to plant the watermelon on top of the ducks grave site to signify closure, that no more are going to die. Perhaps I should have done it straight after the girls died. I think we are going to get some female ducks. Probably about two, just to keep Tommy happy. I'd imagine we'll do this after the rain stops. I'd like to get some females that have different colouring and perhaps then I'll change the blog name back.

Beaker's death was hard on everyone yesterday, but he was just sick and his breathing was so difficult I was glad his suffering was over.

I purchased a $5 calendar of dogs wearing clothes yesterday... it made me feel so much better.

RIP Beaker

Beaker didn't make it through the night. I got a message at 2am that his health was declining and this morning I heard the news. Poor Beaker, his death was a long one and I was really hoping he'd make it. But I guess now he's with the baby girls and keeping Mandy in line. Its a sad day at the farm.

I've changed the name of my blog, after so much death I feel I need a change. Poor Tommy, my heart goes out to him. He's very upset still, I think it will take him a few weeks to recover and realise he's the last duck standing. I'm not sure if I'm going to get more ducks. Maybe, I'll see how Tommy goes. I don't think I'm ready for more ducks. Speedy really is a Miracle Chicken.

Beaker evening day three

Beaker's wheazing had gotten worse from the morning and I was really worried he wasn't going to make it. It was really distressing me watching and listening to him gasp. However papa came home and picked him up straight away and drained him of the fluid that was making it hard to breath. After papa left I gave Beaker some water and he responded by drinking it up. I was glad to see him drinking. BUT not long after that he started wheazing again, it progressively got worse over the afternoon. About half an hour ago on the third time of picking him up and hanging him upside down fluid finally came out. Turns out the first two times I wasn't letting him hang for long enough. So now Beaker is resting in the verandah, poor thing he must be exhausted. His first eyelid is closing (it goes right to left) but is outside one (it goes up) is still open.
I've got to go to Brisbane tomorrow so I hope he'll be ok alone. It would be great if I saw some improvement tomorrow, as I'm really not sure if he's going to make it through this. Not every animal is like our champion Speedy.
Speedy by the way loves sleeping in her box on the verandah, perhaps its the mozzie coils I burn to prevent them getting bitten or maybe she just likes to keep Beaker company.

Beaker update day three

I was surprised to see Beaker alive this morning. His breathing problems have worsened but now he's tired. He's fought this for two full days and entering his third and I'm yet to see him sleep. If I could just clear this fluid from his breath I think he'll make it, but I'm really not sure how. I guess with every day that he lives the more chance he has of surviving.
Tommy is still in with the chickens and shows no signs of Botulism. I'm thinking he would have come down with it by today if he had it. Speedy was walking a little funny at times with her right leg. I'm hoping that its nothing, perhaps an old injury or something. I saw her doing that a few weeks ago so who knows.
She was in the box out the front, but as the sun is out it was starting to heat up in there so I've moved her over with the chickens and Tommy. I will keep a close eye on her.

Beaker update

I'm beginning to think Beaker may not make it through the night. Breathing seems to be getting harder for him, just more strained really as he's breathing through his mouth. I'm really not sure why he isn't breathing through his nose. I can hear fluid bubbling when he breathes but I can't lift him up to drain it out. I tried three times but he just flapped his way out and went to the ground. He still has a lot of strength in him so I guess time will tell. I will ask my neighbour tomorrow to help me with him.
I've locked Tommy in with the chickens tonight, he looked like he was nesting before so perhaps he's getting comfortable.

Lunchtime

Beaker is still battling the Botuism, I tried to give him some mix but he wasn't really into it. So instead I put a spoonful of greek yogurt into his water bowl. He had a few sips of it before.
Tommy appears to be just sulking and not sick at all. Ducks are very emotional birds. I think people aren't really aware of this. I moved him out of his pen down to the front pen mainly to see if he could walk and because it maybe is something in the pen. He walked down there fine and even managed to fly out of the fortress I had built for him. He just rushed back to the suspect pond and was drinking from it. I've since ushered him and Speedy into the chicken pen. While parts of it is still muddy there is nothing rotting there or septic pond scum.
So basically I think Tommy was just missing Beaker, I have faith that Beaker will recover from this. If Speedy the miracle chicken can, anyone can.

Beaker update day two Tommy day one

Again, I'm over this. It seems that I have this ability to make up excuses as to why the ducks may be sick. This morning I went over to the chicken and duck penot find Tommy just sitting, he managed a few steps and some stretching but didn't want to walk out of the pen. This morning's excuse for that is "that maybe he's just upset over Beaker not being there" or he's coming down with the infection as well. He was fine yesterday and I kept him penned most of the day except for when he broke out, he was locked up all day. I'm going to go back in an hour or so and see his vibe and then give him a shot of the yogurt mix. Beaker had a few sips of water this morning so that's positive.
Beaker is still alive this morning, and holding his head up. I'm thinking that maybe the Botulism isn't as strong now as when it killed the baby girls and Mandy.
He's still out the front, just chilling on the verandah. So today is day second day he hasn't eaten, but lucky for him he has massive stores of food. Plus he is still drinking water.

Rocky

Beaker is hanging in there. We just gave him another 20 mls or so of the yoghut mix. His breathing got deaper after we did that, I think maybe we got some down his wind pipe again. We ended up putting the remainging stuff into his water bowl for him to drink should he feel like a sip. We moved him on to the verandah and he drank quite a bit. When we moved him from his pen around lunch he was vomiting up the bile (it drips out of his mouth is more like it) but he was at that stage. Since moving him to the house and giving him water we have't seen any more of the bile. He's still holding his neck up and thats a good sign. I think if there ever was a duck to get though this is will be Beaker. He wanted to be top duck for so long, he won't give up his spot without a fight.
Speedy is out in her snake box in the ICU with Beaker. I told her to watch over him tonight as he's feeling a little sick. I really hope Beaker makes it, if only for Tommy. Tommy would be lost without Beaker. I'm going to go and check on Tommy now, poor thing, he's all alone in the duck pen.

Beaker update

Beaker's still alive. We gave him about 30mls of my yoghurt mix (thanks easy yo). We gave him a good pat and unblocked the liquid that was in his airway by lifting him upside down. It just dripped out and he was much better. We're going to move him to the ICU (our verandah) in just a few minutes. I told Beaker he couldn't die as Tommy needs someone to keep him in line. His breathing is quite deep and he can still hold his head up, but his wings are no longer tucked up on his back. I told Beaker it's going to get worse before it can get better. Tommy however is showing no signs of the infection and is currently residing with the chickens who are in lock-down. Have I mentioned that I'm over all this death and sickness?
As a side note, Lucille 2 is alive and well and is the spitting image of her mother (except I have a feeling she wont be as small).

Again

Here we go again. I just went out to let the ducks out and noticed Beaker being very slow to stand up. This is unlike him, Tommy appears to be fine though. It may be in early stages. He can still hold his head up, he's talking like normal, he just doesn't want to stand.
I'm going to give him some yoghurt/water mix when there is someone else here to hold him.

Chicken love

Speedy vanished twice from the verandah today. The first time I looked everywhere only to find her sitting on the couch (inside). The next time I found her sitting with Old Boy under a tree. I crouched down and had a chat to old Boy "she's a beautiful looking chicken isn't she? now you take care of her mate, she obviously wants to be with you and keep her out of the mud". I'm not sure how much her heard as he looked like he was taking a nap.

Tuesday

Here I was thinking Speedy was at 90%. I went out to do some work today and came home to find Speedy had jumped off our verandah and was out hanging with the other chickens. I wet out there whisked her away back to the safety of the verandah as I don't want her getting sick again. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep her on the verandah for but for the time being its her new home.
I've renamed the blog (temporarily) in honor of Speedy and her fighting spirit. Oh, here comes the rain.

Inside Chicken

I think Speedy is at about 90% today. She no longer sleeps and hangs out down the end of the verandah. As I write this she is standing at the door looking at me, making chicken noises. I think she wants to come in.
Its raining again, but we managed to stop our house from flooding so that is a bonus.

Speedy evening update day five

I just put Speedy to bed in her hutch and noticed her eyes are fully open. Another milestone. She ate lots of normal seed this afternoon and walked all over our verandah. We want to keep her out there for a while as we don't want her getting sick again.
I didn't really mention how close to death Speedy was on the blog becuase it was too hard to even think that she was going to die let alone write about it. On the evening of the first day and even into the second she had bile running out of her mouth, her head was leaning over and to the side so much she looked lifeless. Her breathing was so short I couldn't barely see her feathers moving with her breath. But she didn't die and I'm so pleased. January was filled with so much death and rain at the ranch, while the rain has stayed, February seems to be full of life. Well so far.

Speedy watch day five

I woke up this morning and checked on Speedy and to my surprise I found her standing up pecking at some mixed grain. I went and got the stuff I'd been soaking for her and some canned corn. She pecked at the corn and ate quite a bit of it. Today's the first day where I think I can now safely say she's going to make it through it. Speedy - Botulism survivor.

The house flooded last night, not to mention the chicken and duck pens. Last night I put Tommy and Beaker up on the top bunk where Mandy used to sleep as I really wanted them to stay dry (and Botulism free). I tell you they are not trained like Mandy was. The both scratched the shit out of my arms when I tried to pick them up. I had Mandy trained so well, I would just tap his feet and he'd stand on my arm. I think I may have to hang up my 'Duck Whisperer' title.

Speedy evening update

Speedy drank about 40mls of the fluid today, I'm hoping tomorrow she'll attempt solids.
Speedy is starting to take small steps, using her wings as crutches. But her eyes remain shut most of the day. Her strength has just amazed me, for such a small chicken I thought she would have died ages ago. She even sat on my leg today when I fed her some liquid.
With all this new water I'm on alert with all other ducks and chickens contracting the infection.

Speedy watch day 4

Well it appears that Speedy is going to recover. She can now hold her head up and her eyes were even open a little this morning. She responds to my voice and even turns her head.
We fed her 20mls of the yoghurt/water/sugar mix and she drank it all up and didn't fight it at all. We're going to fed her again around lunch time. She looks like she's more in control of her body now, even managing a small step or two; so no more convulsing - which is great.
In other news, we're flooded in again. We received so much rain last night, the road into town is covered with about a metre of water. I've moved the boys down to the front pen again so they don't spend their days in the pond out the front of their house.

Speedy watch

Speedy is still gracing us with her presence but still in her coma like state. This afternoon she managed to open her mouth a little, this was great as her beak has been somewhat locked together. Tomorrow (if she lives through the night) we're going to focus on giving her more of the yoghurt/water/sugar. She'll really need to start making more of an improvement if she's going to make it. I've got some seed soaking for her in the hope that she'll be on solids by tomorrow.
I keep expecting her to just pop up, shake all her feathers and be well again, but I think I may be dreaming.

Speedy (the Wonder Chicken) update day three

Well Speedy (the Wonder Chicken) survived the night and appears to be more responsive today. The problem we're faced with now is that she's used up all of her food stores. We syringed some more yoghurt/water/sugar into her beak this morning and she's took about 10mls of it. So fingers crossed, we're going to give her some more in a few hours. She is definitely more responsive, but more responsive I mean, her eyes are still closed but she is flapping around a bit more.

Candle in the wind

Speedy is still hanging in there. Earlier today we played vet and syringed some yoghurt/water into her mouth. She is losing feathers, but seams to be a little more responsive.
If she recovers from this she will not be the same Speedy, obviously she'll be a different chicken but I'd be happy to have her around. Speedy has already proven that she's strong so fingers crossed. I went out and gave a bit of a pep talk to Lucielle 2, I'm glad Speedy has a daughter. The gene has been passed on.

UPDATE: It's 8.45pm and we went out to check on Speedy and she laid an egg! She is still very much lifeless but still managed to punch out an egg. She is such a miracle chicken.
Speedy is now to be known as Speedy the Wonder Chicken or Speedy the Miracle Chicken, which you prefer. Maybe she just needed to get the egg out before she passed on who knows, or maybe it's a sign she's getter better.

Princess Speedy

Speedy is very, very sick. The Botulism has struck again, but Princess Speedy, being the fighter that she is - is refusing to give up. I noticed that she wasn't just tired yesterday after I blogged. I thought she would die during the night but now at 11am, she is still holding on. I hope that she'll recover, but mortality is high. I've contacted the vet and there is sadly nothing I can do. I think if there ever was an animal to recover it maybe Speedy. But I could just be in denial

I've told her she needs to go and be with the baby girls to keep the ducks in line. She always did think she was part duck. No one else is showing signs of the infection. Everyone is penned up, including the boys.

I'll keep you updated....