Consolidated Kansas

[Prairie Fleur]

It's still pouring out even after all this time. I ran out earlier just before dark and I've never seen anything like it. It was just like a river flowing through here. Water rushing through the pens and sitting 3 inches deep in many parts of the yard. I had one dead bird already but there was no where or way to gather them up. I may loose some breeders as well. Half of my turkey pen was in rushing water and two of my breeder chicken pens were in rushing water. I'm seriously guessing we've gotten at least 6 inches of rain this evening if not more.
I feel sick. I could potentially loose thousands of dollars worth or stock tonight. It makes me want to puke. I pray the Lord has mercy on me.
Sadly I saw the broody hens gathering their chicks into the old garage for safety earlier. The water is high enough it has flooded the garage and the babies would have no dry safe place to go. Also had that duck who incidentally hatched 14 babies yesterday and I don't know where she or her babies are. I have a group of ducklings free ranging as well and don't know if they are old enough to protect themselves.
The other problem will be my basement. I don't think the sump pump can keep up with this amount of water.

sending hugs and prayers!!!! That's really tough! Hope you don't loose too many birds!!!

 

[Prairie Fleur]

We had a thunderstorm come thru yesterday evening and suffered a devastating loss. In a freak turn of the storm a heavy piece of plywood, that we'd put in front of the goats' shelter to protect them from hail etc. from the south, fell on Elf, my only doeling ever born here, and killed her. It's a devastating blow to my breeding program as well as extremely painful as she was a very special pet to both DH and I. She was quite valuable as well and replacing her isn't an option really. I've cried and cried and haven't gotten a wink of sleep since I found out. I feel so bad and wonder why it had to be her. I'll repeat the breeding next year but it won't replace her.
Rest Peacefully my darling Elflette

 

[sharol]

I am so sorry for everyone's losses. We didn't get as much rain here, but a few miles south there was a train derailment (cause unknown right now) and some pretty serious wind damage that may have been a tornado. We only got a couple of inches of rain (all in about an hour) and the big rains missed us, so the huge amounts some of you got sounds terrible.

@Chicken Danz, I hope your losses aren't as serious as you feared last night. I tossed and turned all night thinking about you and the birds.

@Grain Gypsy, the story was entertaining, but I'm sure your trauma wasn't humorous at all. I'm so glad you found Gaga in time. Checking the water in the coop situation was a stroke of genius.

@Prairie Fleur I'm so sorry about your doeling. What a horrible loss for you.

 

[spree56]

I'm saddened by all your recent losses and the stresses you all are going through. You think you are doing the best thing for your animals and then somehow things go wrong. Those losses are hard to get over and you have my understanding & sympathy.

 

[chicken danz]

Grain Gypsy as usual your story telling was great. I haven't been out ye this morning. DH worked nights and did tell me there was water in the new building. I assume that is my fault because I had some windows open. I'm almost afraid to go assess the damage out there. I did see the broody hens with their chicks and they are okay. I have no idea where they managed to put them to keep them safe but I thank God that they were caring for them and not me. I am sure I would have put them in that flooding garage as well and then not been able to get out there and get them. I haven't seen the mama duck and her new ducklings yet this morning. When I wade out I'll see if I can find them. I'm anxious to see just how much rain we actually had. The dog food bowls are 4 inches deep and they were full of water with the first storm. We got a lot more rain after that.
Prairie, I am so sorry for your loss. As farm type people we tend to suffer so many more losses than most people. We just never think of all the mishaps that occur due to mother nature. It really doesn't seem fair that we work so hard only to suffer heart break.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

How heartbreaking. I am so sorry for everyone's losses.
@chicken danz Thoughts and prayers that your losses are not too devestating
@Grain Gypsy Loved the story and the video. Hopefully you guys can figure out how to keep that from happening everytime you get a big rain.
@Prairie Fleur I am so sorry about Elf. What a rotten week. Sometimes it is hard to rember why we do all we do. It is so hard when all of our hard work seems for naught.

I hope everyones luck turns around.

Here everyone is rejoicing the rain. We have been in a terrible drought and our farmers couldn't handle another bad harvest. It has made things difficult, I still don't have my garden in, although my seedlings are doing well. The birds were stuck in the coop yesterday, but did fine. I am very lucky to have such a large coop, plus an extra room I use for brooding. I went ahead and opened the brooding rooom yesterday to give them more space. The 5 week olds were a bit freaked out but I have lots of places for them to hide so they weren't in any danger. I spread scratch in different areas and put out some whole apples, cabbage, and cuccumbers to keep them busy (I manage the produce department in my local store so they get a steady supply of old veggies and fruit). My new Ameraucanas are still in the house so I didn't have to worry about them in this weather. I also caponized 2 males yesterday and plan to do four more today. My only disapointment was that a hawk got both of my full grown capons. Stupid hawks, of course I had planned to process the biggest one for dinner tonight

. I guess I will waiting another couple of months for capon meat......

 

[chicken danz]

I just walked around outside. You can sure tell the water rushed through here with piles of sticks and straw and stuff at every catch point. My new building was flooded and it is all from the East side. Our property slants to the east to a nearby creek. Obviously the water level got too high for the foundation and it just flowed under the walls. I can't do much to improve that situation either cause the garage door is on that side and it would be almost impossible to seal it off to prevent water running. I had Paid a guy to spread gravel around the building and grade it but all he did was push it around. Had he graded it away from the building I am sure we wouldn't have had nearly as much water. Grrrrr.
I didn't see any more dead birds but many are standing in water so it's not over yet. At least the wind is blowing insane out there so maybe there's a chance that some of this will dry. Of course all the feed I put out yesterday is ruined regardless of my efforts to put it where it would stay dry.

 

[Trish44]

I'm sorry for the losses, this amount of rain is crazy. It rained here 3 times yesterday, enough already. I can't even get into some of my pens they're so goopy, I would fall if I tried to even walk in there & then I would stink like the mud does. It smells so bad here, I can't wait for it to dry up some. The bad thing is we have several more days of rain forecast for next week. I'm waiting for the river to flood the fairgrounds here, it always floods at some point if we have a lot of rain. Then they have to work like mad to get it all cleaned up in this case before the county fair. I know my poor birds in the pens & the animals are tired of standing in goopy mud, ugh. I know we needed the moisture but now it has no place to go any more & it's just making a mess. The ponds are filled back up that used to be dry & some are overflowing.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

My heart goes out to all of you with your many losses. I didn't realize how fortunate I was to not have any water problems. It's just so sad and disheartening to hear, guys. From Danz's birds and the worry and concern she has been through, to Grain Gypsy's close call, Prairie Fleur's freak accident with their sweet little doeling and Tarabellas loss of the capons you worked so hard for.

Hang in there.

My pond is about 3/4 full, something it hasn't been on it's own for 2 or 3 years now. I can't even remember how long it's been. I guess we got something like 3 or 4 inches here. My flowers are all flattened in the front flower bed but I'm sure they will recover. The weeds are all very perky. Why is it we don't just grow weeds? We could learn to love them, surely.

The sun is out and the birds are all singing their little lunges out. We are braving the toxicity of allergen laden fresh air with our windows all open, so we can hear them quite well. Our chickens are enjoying themselves even though the yard is soaked but there won't be any dust bathing for awhile.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

A few pics in memory of the sweetest goat we've ever had. Elf wanted to be on my lap and she climbed on, slipping around a bit and then settled herself down for a nap. She was such a sweetie and we loved her very dearly. Maybe some child in heaven needed a little goat to keep them company....