A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[cjstanman]

I turned 50 in January. I find it's very liberating, ha ha! And yeah, mine started out with a friend who said "chickens are easier to take care of than dogs" - and she was right!!

I've got 2 dogs, 2 cats and 4 chickens. Had 6 - never in all my 50 years did I know I could process a couple. There are a lot of things that are just darn cool about living this long.

Here's looking at you and me, and all the other ffffff.f..... year olds, ha ha! May we have just as much fun, if not more, in the next 50!

P.S. Now we're thinking about a couple of goats. ha ha ha! ;-)

 

[ruth]

Here's something else to file under the "Never in a million years did I think I would ever be doing this..." category:

I have a RIR pullet, approx. 4-5 months old, just started laying. I passed her one morning and thought the feathers on her head looked a little puffy. Kind of wrote it off as "bad hair day". But, the next morning noticed she looked like she was trying to be a Polish - had a big head that looked like she had hidden a golf ball under her feathers. Knew it was time to examine her.

After examining her, I found a small "love bite" at back of neck that had scabbed over and seemed to be healing but I knew the huge golf ball head had to be from infection. I had to lance the back of her head from below crown to "love bite" spot and repeatedly soak and flush with warm water. Eventually, after about an hour of digging and probing, the "stuff" starting coming out. Warning - here's where it gets gross - I pulled out hunks of abcessed pus that looked like rubber or cooked meat. It kept coming out in big hunks and long shreds. When I was done, and did the final flushing, she had a huge gaping hole. After filling hole with Neosporing, I did a couple of stitches to close up the incision, gave her a shot of penicillin, sprayed with Furall, put her in tack room so that she wouldn't get pecked or eaten alive by flies and I've been cleaning it each day for the past three days and today she looks like she's just about good as new.

After doing some research I found out that chickens get abcesses - the pus does not stay liquid or squeeze out like in humans or other animals. It kind of turns into a "cottage cheese" "rubbery" glob of hardened junk that has to be dug out. Who knew????

And now you know the rest of the story. Don't I live the thrilling life? I'm sure Paul Harvey will be calling any minute.

 

[tomato lady]

I got my first chicks after I built my coop a couple of weeks ago. Following the advice of the man I bought them from, I put them directly into the coop in an enclosed area with a light. My coop has a dirt floor. After a few days I gave them the run of the coop. I have been amazed at how much they dig. They are doing very well and I plan on letting them out during the day as soon as I get my run finished and the rain stops. I don't plan on letting them free range because we live in the country and have lots of predators, including hawks. I am putting a top on my chicken yard to be safe.

 

[boxermom]

Quote:

Ruth, you are such an awsome teacher! Thanks.

 

[ruth]

Thought I'd share a pictorial update today. Here's some pics I snapped last night, just about roosting time, around my farm. My how the menagerie has grown.

Inside the coop - everyone was just coming in to roost - they all have their favorite spots.

Stadium seating:

Mile High Club:

Our own little spot:

Nursery (and yes they all free range and come home each evening and get in their hutch in coop that is always open - that is until I have the next batch using it)

Straglers - last to go in - the juvies:

A group of baby ducks (I have lots of hatching eggs to sell if anyone's interested):

A broody BCM and her chicks that hatched yesterday:

The geese:

And finally - the baby goats. The little guy isn't so little anymore.

Everyone says "hi".

 

[Reinbeau]

Everyone looks so nice and happy - do you have any roosters? My hens look awful from the roo's attentions (he's a randy one, 14 hens and only three have feathers on their backs anymore - he's history this weekend!). And the goats, they are adorable. A friend of ours has goats, they are the nicest, friendliest little things - I really want a couple myself!

 

[ruth]

Any roosters? Noooooo...unless you count the 30 or so running around here driving everyone crazy. I did sell 6 to a man at the feed store who processes them and has given us lots of help. We have processed 5. And there are another dozen on death row - or - waiting for their ticket to "Camp Cold".

I want to try and hang onto the best of each breed and build breeder pens. We are currently working on turning yet another old out building into chicken quarters.

So much to do, so little time.

 

[daisy_dukers]

Amazing journey...it has been a great read..

Cheers

 

[Slywoody]

Loved your Journal!!! Keep up the good work.. Woody

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks for the great new pictures, Monique. That cheesy gunk is what we have to deal with every time we treat bumblefoot here. Ick. We've also done lots of stuff we never expected to do.