California - Northern

[chiqita]

I am so thankful to God for my chickens tonight.  We left the house early this afternoon and went to the inlaws for a visit.  My FIL invited us to stay for dinner but we declined because we needed to get home to shut the chickens up.  We drove home and when I opened the front door, smoke poured out of the house.  I rushed into the kitchen and found one of the back burners turned on and a bag of flour burning on it!  We had a new refrigerator delivered this morning and had cleaned out the old one.  We left a few partial bags of bread and a bag of flour sitting on the stove top.  All we can figure is that our psycho cat got up on the stove top and turned the burner on.  We had been away from home for over 3 hours and I really think that another 10 or 15 min. and we would have had a major fire going. We are dealing with smoke damage but at least no fire damage.  I am so glad that I have chickens that needed to be cared for! 

Holy crap! I had to tell mario this story.
This is the third (ok fourth But who is counting) story from this thread I've had to tell him today.

You are interesting people! This is good I need to be entertained since mario work canceled his vacation.

 

[Kikwi]

I am just sick. No livid. Sick and livid! My house sitters didn't do their job! They didn't take care of the chickens! I came home to 5 dead

The grow out pen was bone dry. No food or water in sight. The birds are desperate. It had also not been shut up the entire time. Kids say they found hawk carcass so maybe 7 dead. I can't look. I am so angry.

You poor thing. I'm so sorry to hear about this. We're about to leave on a 3 week international trip, and despite arranging for a farm-girl type to take care of things, this experience has me worried! I hope your cousins come to understand the full consequences of their actions. Is there another family member in charge of them (or who they rely on financially) you can talk to?

The Silicon Valley Chickens group on Yahoo (svchickens) keeps a database of members willing to trade chicken sitting with each other. People exchange poultry sitting for each other, or for garden produce, and things like that. No people who expect monetary compensation are supposed to be in it.

That's a fabulous idea. If my neighbors didn't seem so much like the hipster-type chicken owners (the ones who gave me a "rescue" bird they didn't know what to do with), I'd set up a babysitting exchange with them.

I am so thankful to God for my chickens tonight. We left the house early this afternoon and went to the inlaws for a visit. My FIL invited us to stay for dinner but we declined because we needed to get home to shut the chickens up. We drove home and when I opened the front door, smoke poured out of the house. I rushed into the kitchen and found one of the back burners turned on and a bag of flour burning on it! We had a new refrigerator delivered this morning and had cleaned out the old one. We left a few partial bags of bread and a bag of flour sitting on the stove top. All we can figure is that our psycho cat got up on the stove top and turned the burner on. We had been away from home for over 3 hours and I really think that another 10 or 15 min. and we would have had a major fire going. We are dealing with smoke damage but at least no fire damage. I am so glad that I have chickens that needed to be cared for!

That must've used up all your good luck for the last year.

 

[ronott1]

You poor thing. I'm so sorry to hear about this. We're about to leave on a 3 week international trip, and despite arranging for a farm-girl type to take care of things, this experience has me worried! I hope your cousins come to understand the full consequences of their actions. Is there another family member in charge of them (or who they rely on financially) you can talk to?


That's a fabulous idea. If my neighbors didn't seem so much like the hipster-type chicken owners (the ones who gave me a "rescue" bird they didn't know what to do with), I'd set up a babysitting exchange with them.

That must've used up all your good luck for the last year.

Maybe @PetRock could go check on them for you a couple of times(If she lives close enough to you). Let the sitter know someone will be checking up on them.

Have a great trip!

 

[PetRock]

Maybe @PetRock could go check on them for you a couple of times(If she lives close enough to you). Let the sitter know someone will be checking up on them.

Have a great trip!

Where do you live? I would be more than willing to check on your chooks for you!

 

[Kikwi]

Where do you live? I would be more than willing to check on your chooks for you!

Oh, thanks for asking (and Ron for the introduction)! I'm in Oakland near the Ashby bart station. If it's not close to you, I do have a couple friends who I know can reliably check on the food/water situation. If you are close and willing, PM me! Thanks so much either way. You guys are great; I just love this forum.

 

[Laurieks]

Hoping those Basques didn't suffer too long. How awful for them & you!

Debi yay for Chooks saving the house!

 

[chrissyr]

I am so thankful to God for my chickens tonight. We left the house early this afternoon and went to the inlaws for a visit. My FIL invited us to stay for dinner but we declined because we needed to get home to shut the chickens up. We drove home and when I opened the front door, smoke poured out of the house. I rushed into the kitchen and found one of the back burners turned on and a bag of flour burning on it! We had a new refrigerator delivered this morning and had cleaned out the old one. We left a few partial bags of bread and a bag of flour sitting on the stove top. All we can figure is that our psycho cat got up on the stove top and turned the burner on. We had been away from home for over 3 hours and I really think that another 10 or 15 min. and we would have had a major fire going. We are dealing with smoke damage but at least no fire damage. I am so glad that I have chickens that needed to be cared for!

Oh PetRock, what an awesome story! Thank God it turned out so well.

I am just sick. No livid. Sick and livid! My house sitters didn't do their job! They didn't take care of the chickens! I came home to 5 dead

The grow out pen was bone dry. No food or water in sight. The birds are desperate. It had also not been shut up the entire time. Kids say they found hawk carcass so maybe 7 dead. I can't look. I am so angry.

So sorry to hear this CackleJoy. It's just unbelievable. How hard is food and water??? We have great neighbors that take care of our animals, but I still worry. He's great at taking care of everything, but it's not his routine. Your sitters are horrible to let all that happen. I think finding someone trustworthy in the area would be best. Either BYCers or great neighbors. Wondering what your sitters reaction was when you told them 5-7 birds were dead. Did they even have an idea? Who sees that and shrugs it off?? Our neighbor doesn't take money for taking care of our animals….. my husband pays him because I annoy him with my calls wondering how everything is going

 

[juststruttin]

I am just sick. No livid. Sick and livid! My house sitters didn't do their job! They didn't take care of the chickens! I came home to 5 dead

The grow out pen was bone dry. No food or water in sight. The birds are desperate. It had also not been shut up the entire time. Kids say they found hawk carcass so maybe 7 dead. I can't look. I am so angry.

Oh Rebecca, so sorry to hear about your chickens. I am sick thinking about it.

 

[member 142084]

Hey my norcal chicken friends.. FYI news that not on the news. -_-

http://www.occupycorporatism.com/tepco-quietly-admits-reactor-3-melting-now/

 

[member 142084]

I am just sick. No livid. Sick and livid! My house sitters didn't do their job! They didn't take care of the chickens! I came home to 5 dead

The grow out pen was bone dry. No food or water in sight. The birds are desperate. It had also not been shut up the entire time. Kids say they found hawk carcass so maybe 7 dead. I can't look. I am so angry.

SO sorry!