Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Our 19 bubbies.

 

[satay]

Sad news. Got home today and hubby said "I saw one of the chickens had got outside their yard and was trying to get back in when I got home".

That was an hour before I got home and I asked if he had put it back in. His reply "No I didn't think to" had me flying out the door. I located the poor thing under a small tree and tried to dropper some water in its mouth but it was too late and it died in my arms.

I will be clipping wings soon so no one can fly out again.

 

[satay]

Hello again appps .... 

Interesting question you have asked.    I have heard of a few people installing bunkers on their properties, in bush fire prone areas, but Victoria is vehement when it comes to 'what to do and when' instructions.   It used to be that we could choose a fire plan - "stay or leave" ... but nowadays it is promoted to 'leave early'.   ....  I am not sure what happened to the choice we had. !!    

We are covered by text advice   - - and  computer / phone, to warn us of impending danger.    A few years back a policeman was running ( in highest heat ) knocking on everyones' door to yell " activate your fire plans".... and if anyone was home and answered the knocking so much the better for him.   We were home, and it was just awful to see his extreme sweating, gasping for air, discomfort, ( I offered him water, but he refused and ran on ).

Poor guy - he was already exhausted by the time he got to our home - and had several streets to go I would think - certainly the remainder of our street.   We stayed on that occasion, with two good hoses either side of the house - at the ready for drifting  fire embers from a fire about 1 mile away as the crow flies.   Lighted embers did get to us, but were quickly put out.    

Here is a link if you are interested ( I am guessing you are South Australian  ? ) .... for bunkers.   They are very expensive --- but would be a superb idea.   Perhaps they will come down in price, much the same as everything else does - eventually.    Also, roof sprinklers are popular here - again for those who can afford them.  

http://www.wildfiresafetybunkers.com.au/bunker.htm?gclid=CMStqd7R7MkCFY8kvQod-WUN9A

There is a theory that staying put, with doused water,  woollen blankets, wet nose coverings saves lives.   I can attest to that, as a house two doors from us went up in flames one Monday morning about 4 years back.   Full on fire, which caught next doors as well on fire.   I was out hosing our roof and guttering ( big shock to open the door and see all that happening ) ... and a fireman leapt over our side fence and said to me " go get yourself a wet washer or towel to cover your nose and face " ... and then left to continue to fight the fire.   I did as I was told, but drenched badly, the towel I put on my face, which ultimately kind of choked me with water ???     ... so I left it off, and continued to hose down the house..  .... At around 11 pm that night, I coughed up some sputum flecked with grey and black bits.   I had suffered ( unbeknown to me ) smoke inhalation, and probably should have been seen by a medic.  Got rid of it over the next couple of days.  

THAT was a most awful day, and not in bush fire season either.   ( mid September  it was, and mild ).  Started ( they believe ) by a PC or other electrical device, left on when the owner went shopping ??   4 entire blocks of houses were blocked off to traffic for that one.   About 9 fire crews and vehicles, attended.   It was --- nasty. 

The family are finally back in their rebuilt ( from the ground up - it was completely razed ) .... home.  

And that  - is fire.   Terrifying stuff.  

And yes, ( in answer to your question ) we are designated rural - in the hilly, forested areas east of Melbourne.    In fact, it is one of the closest of rain forest areas to a CBD, in the world. ( or so I have read ). Thick forest, thick undergrowth bush abounds.     


Cheers.........  

Gosh Anni that would have been scary. Personally I would not stay and fight only because of where i live. I live in an estate off the main highway which only has a few streets, granted they are long ones but still.If it got that close there is no way i could get out. Lucky for me we live 2 places up from the rural fire depo. In nearly nine years have only had one fire out here i would call close and they was the place behind us just over the gully. The rural fireys got it out pretty quick. There have been lots of big fires on the highway. I have plans in place as to what to do in a fire.. Whether i would actually remember them all if it happened i don't know.

 

[Teila]

Good morning Friends

Cue music … Don’t tell my body, my achy breaky body, I just don’t think she’ll understand.

Tee hee .. so, does everyone have a song worm now?

What we are not telling my achy body, after 9 hours in the garden yesterday .. today it is the housework!

sjturner79 how did you go at the Pet Store? I have not seen chicks at a Pet Store before, only the Feed Store.

satay beautiful gifts!

RodneyRooster summed it up beautifully “funny, gorgeous and touching” … I would be honoured to share a name with such a beautiful little frizzy … fingers crossed on girl also

If she does turn out to be a he, people may want to hold off on using Teila, it could be a jinx

RodneyRooster lol at Scarlett and silly you for thinking that was YOUR apple .. tut

My princesses do not eat apple

Anniebee the fire stuff was interesting [and scary] reading. Many, many years ago, I worked in the Burns Unit at a major hospital; if I can, in my opinion it is worse than ER. So sad, so awful .. fire is not to be taken lightly.

While I am not at risk of bush fires, I do have an emergency plan and carriers ready to get the cats and chickens out.

locknest4 I am so very sorry to hear about your gal

Please do not think of this as a ‘you should have’ as it is not meant to be; just in case it happens again, or to anyone else …. I have a water container strategically placed in the garden, under a shady tree which they use when free ranging [saves going back to run]. I refresh it along with the ones in the run so it always has fresh water and they know where it is.

I also have a large water container in the back run and a smaller back up one in the front run, just in case one should get knocked over.

 

[chicken-clucky]

Wow. Lucky it didn't get you guys

Last summer my in-laws that back onto our place set their back paddock on fire.... We had two unhaddled young horses in the paddocks near him and our fire fighters helped as move our fire pump and get ready to fight.

Fire fighters as heros!! And should be named as so.

 

[sjturner79]

Good morning Friends 

Cue music … Don’t tell my body, my achy breaky body, I just don’t think she’ll understand.

Tee hee .. so, does everyone have a song worm now? 

What we are not telling my achy body, after 9 hours in the garden yesterday .. today it is the housework!

sjturner79 how did you go at the Pet Store?  I have not seen chicks at a Pet Store before, only the Feed Store.

satay beautiful gifts!

RodneyRooster summed it up beautifully “funny, gorgeous and touching” … I would be honoured to share a name with such a beautiful little frizzy … fingers crossed on girl also 

If she does turn out to be a he, people may want to hold off on using Teila, it could be a jinx 

RodneyRooster lol at Scarlett and silly you for thinking that was YOUR apple .. tut 

My princesses do not eat apple 

Anniebee the fire stuff was interesting [and scary] reading.  Many, many years ago, I worked in the Burns Unit at a major hospital; if I can, in my opinion it is worse than ER.  So sad, so awful .. fire is not to be taken lightly.

While I am not at risk of bush fires, I do have an emergency plan and carriers ready to get the cats and chickens out.

locknest4 I am so very sorry to hear about your gal 

Please do not think of this as a ‘you should have’ as it is not meant to be; just in case it happens again, or to anyone else …. I have a water container strategically placed in the garden, under a shady tree which they use when free ranging [saves going back to run].   I refresh it along with the ones in the run so it always has fresh water and they know where it is.

I also have a large water container in the back run and a smaller back up one in the front run, just in case one should get knocked over.

The pet store took the 14 babies, but I suspect it is as reptile food not to sell as chicks.

 

[sjturner79]

Wow. Lucky it didn't get you guys

Last summer my in-laws that back onto our place set their back paddock on fire.... We had two unhaddled young horses in the paddocks near him and our fire fighters helped as move our fire pump and get ready to fight.

Fire fighters as heros!! And should be named as so.

I also have water bowls scattered around the place, although the only one that is self filling is the one in the coop.

 

[sjturner79]

I also have water bowls scattered around the place, although the only one that is self filling is the one in the coop.

Sorry replied to wrong post their

 

[satay]

Wow. Lucky it didn't get you guys

Last summer my in-laws that back onto our place set their back paddock on fire.... We had two unhaddled young horses in the paddocks near him and our fire fighters helped as move our fire pump and get ready to fight.

Fire fighters as heros!! And should be named as so.

They sure are.

 

[Ashburnham]

Oops pressed reply before i replied! Thanks for ur ovation words AB

Well i guess its much cheaper than rebuilding ur house or belongings if ur in a prone area. Only recommended to provide shelter for 1 hr tho?! Bushfire aint gonna be over in an hr so in that case it isnt worth it.. be better getting out before the fires there than half way through it when ur hrs up!

Scary stuff AB thanks for sharing

An hour in the bunker is all you need. On Black Saturday the firefront passed through in half an hour. The rest of the time until 1 am was spent looking for spot fires and smouldering fence posts.