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.

I cannot comment on the appearance of Nuthatches in the Chicago area, but here in Youngstown, Ohio there certainly is an abundance of them. I just went out to fill my bird feeders and I observed 5 Nuthatches on the suet feeder, two on my hopper type seed feeder, two on the ground under the seed feeder and at least 3 more higher up in the Maple tree. The Nuthatches, Chicadees and Titmouse have become so accustomed to me that I can generally stand about 6ft from the hopper feeder, camera in hand, and they continue to come and go to the feeder. When he weather is milder I often set up my camera on a tripod about 10 to 20 feet from the feeder, attach a remote shutter release, then I sit motionless in a lawn chair and watch the activity, all the while tripping the shutter with the remote cord concealed in my pocket. Frequently I am buzzed by the Chicadees as they come for a closer look at what i am doing, and on one occasion I actually had a Chickadee land on the camera and sit their looking at me from about 3 feet away. On the other hand, I have yet to see the first finch appear this year.

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.

It's on or near the University campus, I think. It was small, but packed with butterflies and flowers. They had a big research dept. that you can walk past, they are mounting and breeding butterflies. We also found (online) a butterfly farm, haven't been there yet. Here is their website. http://www.greathousebutterflyfarm.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: Butterfly house