Thanks C3D, It sounds like an interesting option. Yes, her fluid is totally clear. I did ask the vet if she could have a cardiovascular collapse after removing too much, and she said it could happen, but probably wouldn't. I have taken out tons at a time, and she was fine with it. Although I realize that might not always be the case. I hadn't thought about the need for high protein. She seems to be eating her Layena well. Maybe I should supplement her with some dry cat food? I think its higher protein. When we drain her, I've been using an angiocath. It works great because I can withdraw the needle, and leave a more flexible tube in there, while I draw out the fluid. I've been reusing them, after soaking them in a 15% bleach solution. I usually give her 2 days of Baytril after the procedure. She has never gotten infected. Too bad we can't drain her from on top of her! I can't even pick her up without her comb darkening. When I first brought her in from the coop, when she was having more problems, she would appear to just about arrest if we held her, but would revive if we quickly put her down. It just seems that, over the course of last year, I'm getting less and less fluid out. And it feels like something is displacing what was open areas in her abdomen with solid mass..........so maybe she's got several things going on. Hubby didn't think he had anymore angiocaths, but did find an 18 gauge....which would be good. It takes about10-15 minutes at least, to draw off the fluid. I was thinking, since she can't tolerate being held, maybe I could quickly make 3-4 punctures in her, and things could drain by gravity? She used to drain alot afterwards too....which was good. But in the last year, she doesn't drain like that anymore. I suppose scratch isn't good for her, right? She loves it so much. I give her a little every day, just to let her satisfy that need to find things on the floor! I had another buff orp, Floppsie, who had a big firm abdomen too. I drained her, but it was bright green. Not a good sign. She died shortly after that. What would the green mean? I was thinking it had something to do with sepsis from maybe internal egg laying?? Too bad most vets know so little about chickens. I'm lucky to be so close to the only Avian vet in the state. I do spend time on a chicken forum, which is very helpful too. But I sort of decided awhile back, after spending hundreds of dollars on them, that I would make them comfortable, but would pretty much try to take care of them myself. I'm okay with that position........but its still not an easy one. I had 17 hens to start with, and now I'm down to 11. Each and every death is so hard on me. I think I lost a couple to maybe broken necks from falling off the roost. Whitney had some problem I never figured out, but she survived. She was in her own cage for a long time, and when she seemed quite strong again, I put her with the others for a very short time, while I was right there. Of course, they all jumped on her, and I quickly removed her and put her back in her own cage. I went out a couple hours later, and she was dead. I was so mad at myself. That was a hard one to get over. They're all hard to get over! I'm not looking forward to the next 11! I love those girls. Thanks for your help Chickadee.

Squirrels don't miss many chances for a meal of seed. Mine are so picky now that some won't eat bread unless it's crunchy and whole grain is their favorite. I put this out along with seeds in birdfeeders and cracked corn on ground for birds who can't make it to feeders. One of two young ones keeps digging in one particular Lobelia holding pot. Everytime I see it dug up I check to see what delectable item he's buried. Little num-nuts is burying Black Oiled Sunflower Seed. Try to tell him it won't carry him through winter. This will be his first winter so he'll find out there will be plenty of food to go around when the White Throated Sparrows return from their summer in Canada. They get fed a couple times a day on the driveway, under "their" bush and various familiar places. The Finches haven't touched any seedheads on all the flowers they're supposed to. Coneflowers, Agastache, Liatris, Joe Pye Weed, Ehcinops...nada with the finches. They'd rather take up residence inside the Sunflower Seed feeder and are completely immune to the rantings and protestations of all the other birds waiting to swoop in, take their seed and fly to a branch to eat it. I love my little bird and squirrel yardigans...on the other hand I wouldn't mind getting rid of the deer, rabbits, groundhogs and chipmunks at least by half the damage they've done. Squirrels haven't even touched tomato or pepper plants. The one hanging upside down with a Hosta leaf dangling from his mouth must have been hysterical. Hopefully he didn't make a season long habit of it! My young ones jump on low forsythia branches near birdfeeders/water baths and swing from them when they're in a frisky, playful mood. These 2 little guys will be making their first winter nests which should be interesting. I've watched others collect things and take the same path innumerable times up and down a tree with their treasures making their nests. Northerner, that squirrel must have a tough mouth to chew apart the coneflower seedhead. I tied netting over some seed pods on my tropical milkweed since the Monarch cats were eating them all. Hope you get some seeds from your precious Echinacea 'Jade'...the green cones really add a great dimension to a group of plants from photos I saw.

It took a little while for my goldfinches to get used to the metal feeder but they did. Sept. 28, 2013 In the summer I don't see many goldfinches at all; only singly or in pairs. I think they're breeding now and there's plenty of wild seed to eat. Maybe you should try hanging a nyjer sock next to the metal mesh feeder to get them used to it. I think that's what I did. It will also tell you whether the goldfinches are still around now. I just found these two old pictures: March 30, 2009 - side by side February 10, 2010 - looks like I put a sock inside the mesh feeder Claire

Padded bras have been in the girls area of department stores for years. Right next to the bikini panties and other inappropriate attire. Don't think A&F should be singled out. Lily..... DD didn't own jeans until she was in the fifth grade. She wore cords with an elastic waist and twill sport pants with preppy knit tops through the fourth grade. DD was tall and leggy and it was hard to even buy shorts for her that didn't make her look like Daisy Duke. LOL We have a lot of crazy memories of trying to find clothes that fit her long legs at that time.