oh wow!! SO NEAT that you are an artist, too! Yes, these murals are not what I would be putting in my own home, etc.. But they are what is requested. This mural I was working on today is for a Tuscan themed kitchen that has just been remodeled in a private home. It is in the dinning room that adjoins the kitchen. It's really well done, and beautiful. I really like the country kitchen style with apron sinks, so someday that is what I want to do. (maybe I can do my own chicken mural at that point!) But I can sure appreciate what they are doing and how well put together it looks. I haven't done a painting or drawing for myself in YEARS! I keep telling myself some day I need to paint a mural on my OWN wall! Wouldn't that be crazy?? Do something for myself. hehe! I would love to see what kind of work you do. I do all of my faux work in oil, but when I work on walls, I use acrylic. I have done a lot of faux furniture and all of that is in oil because I can prep it correctly. I did this really cute tortoise shell medicine cabinet for someone. When I was done with it, it really looked like inlayed tortoise. Anyway, acrylic is pretty much my favorite medium, though.
When someone posts and suggests to me to find a new owner since I may not be able to care for or afford to provide care for my dog - that is a very mean comment - especially from someone who rarely posts or comments - that was completely uncalled for and where she got the idea that I wasn't going to get Fern's leg fixed shows me she hasn't read ALL the posts and decided to hop on a soap box without knowing more - so... if this continues, I'm gone from this group. I will miss the discussions for sure, but right now - this is more than I can emotionally take as I am aching more than you now and missing my dog - so - F OFF (how is that for expression.)I should let dead dogs lie, but I don't think anyone has posted anything to scold any one. It's all in how you read it. We all learn from experience,often which includes a lot of our own heartbreak. No one here has any intent of being mean or heartless when some one is upset, nor do they mean to sound that way. Everyone is free to express their feelings, tell their stories and woes. And normally this works really well. We bounce opinions off of each other and all is good. Yes I remember a few times I felt I'd been picked on a little in the past, but I just decided that was a difference in personalities and the way people express themselves. I remember one person who disagreed and argued with anything and every thing I said in recent months. (Not currently posting on here.) I was starting to feel infuriated. But then I decided that was that person's nature to debate. I got over it after laying on the floor kicking and screaming and saying bad words!
Okay, regurgitating a chicken: Lay chicken on its right side in your lap with head angled down. Massage gently in an upward motion (toward its beak) for 3 to 5 seconds max. (You don't want the chicken to inhale while doing this) Sour crop is when hard to digest grasses ferment in the crop and a fungal infection ensues. The crop will feel very soft and spongy like a water balloon. Some birds are just very prone to it and don't do well free ranging at all. They just have to eat regular pellet feed. My poor birdie was so bad, I only noticed it because she was huge on her crop side and I knew that wasn't right. She was still up and around and didn't seem sick. Sour crop smells, well, sour. It's noticeable if you're up close and personal. Since it is a fungal infection you actually give them monistat or lotrimin after helping the bird regurgitate the fermented grass and liquids which are toxic. My poor birdie had approx a pint of liquid in her crop! It was really awful and I felt terrible that I hadn't noticed anything wrong beforehand. She didn't make it through the night. Heartbreaking. I just couldn't believe she was gone so fast. Now I'm watching all the birds for signs of crop problems in the morning when I let them out for the day. Their crops should be empty at that point so it should be pretty easy to spot, now that I'm aware of it.I hate being ignorant.
An impacted crop is a different thing and if it doesn't clear up after giving it mineral oil, they generally need to have their crops cut into and cleaned out. There's more info on BYC about that. Thankfully I haven't had that yet.
Sunflowerparrot, I am so sorry you're having a very hard time over Fern and I don't doubt for a second you love her dearly, but if you can't afford to have her leg set, what's going to happen with her? Surely, if you can't afford it you could find someone who could so that she could go on to have a productive life. Even if you get her fixed up this time, what happens the next time she runs out in the road? I understand being short on money, I have 8 kids, 4 dogs, 2 cats, 2 bunnies, 7 ducks, and lots of chickens. Still, I feel that when you assume responsibility for an animal, you are all they have to either pay for their quality of life, or advocate on their behalf to see that it gets done. You have to be prepared for expenses because it is part of owning an animal. Animals get hurt, they get sick, they need shots, surgery, etc., and on and on it goes. Thank goodness they don't require glasses, orthodontics, or name brand clothing! Dogs are a huge expense to keep by the time you keep them fed, immunized, protected against heartworms and other parasites. I had a cat that unexpectedly developed epilepsy while I had 3 girls in cloth diapers. I was not thrilled to be poking a pill down the cats throat every evening, against the cat's wishes on top of everything else, but the cat had only me to depend on for its health. When I was a kid my parents didn't have much money but they were determined that we children have a pet. We went through dog after dog because they couldn't afford this, that, or the other thing that the animal needed to maintain its health. I decided, as a very heartbroken child, that if I couldn't afford an animal's total care, I simply wouldn't own it. I'm not scolding you, I'm just asking you to take a long look at the reality of owning Fern. I know there are times when an animal doesn't work out within it's particular family setting and for the good of all concerned needs to be rehomed. It's a very, very hard thing to accept but it's also a very loving choice. I'm not saying you must do this, I'm just saying within the framework of what you can commit to Fern, is it something you may want to consider? There's no shame in reconsidering what's best for an animal at a crisis point such as this. What happens if Fern gets bit by a coyote? Or develops heartworms -- that's a hugely expensive treatment if you don't pay for the expensive monthly preventative and they still may not survive. Again, I'm not angry with you or trying to embarrass you. I'm trying to support you in the realistic care of your dog, since you are a novice dog owner. They are expensive creatures. However, it all turns out, I wish you the very best and I know you are having a very rough time under the circumstances. I'm really very sorry but I think if you step back and objectively take a look at a different point of view, it is at least something to consider. It's okay for us to agree to disagree also. I can't stress enough that I'm only trying to offer you information and am not judging, scolding or criticizing. That's the thing I love most about this group, we care deeply about one another and support each other in our own individual way, in particularly by offering information from different perspectives.
HEChicken, would you pm me your Yoder connection for beef? I've been meaning to find a good source this fall but have been craZY busy and haven't even begun to look.
Gotta run, kids are out of school today for the holiday weekend. Craziness!
Lovely Job Hawkeye! I used to actually paint pictures to make some money on the side. I did what I was requested, not necessarily what I would have chosen. I made most of my money painting dog portraits but my favorites were always snow scenes and flowers. After 3 wrist surgeries it is very hard on me to paint. I just recently bought some new oils because my SIL asked me to paint her a picture. She loves one my sister has in her front room I painted and one my mother had hanging in their front room.
So sorry to hear about your mare. I know you take excellent care of her. Maybe not being able to get a farrier out on time contributed to this.
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You can use Baytril on a duck. I just completed a round of shots on one 2 weeks ago. But the first thing I would try is using some VetRX on them. Just squirt some in their nostrils.
Oh so am I! That is so sad! Darn birds anyway! Wish they had more sense about what to eat and what not to.
I should let dead dogs lie, but I don't think anyone has posted anything to scold any one. It's all in how you read it. We all learn from experience,often which includes a lot of our own heartbreak. No one here has any intent of being mean or heartless when some one is upset, nor do they mean to sound that way. Everyone is free to express their feelings, tell their stories and woes. And normally this works really well. We bounce opinions off of each other and all is good. Yes I remember a few times I felt I'd been picked on a little in the past, but I just decided that was a difference in personalities and the way people express themselves. I remember one person who disagreed and argued with anything and every thing I said in recent months. (Not currently posting on here.) I was starting to feel infuriated. But then I decided that was that person's nature to debate. I got over it after laying on the floor kicking and screaming and saying bad words!
I've not known anyone on here that intended to be mean other than the one evil person who had a remarkable chicken that could cross counties all by herself.
I believe we are all friends here and have been and will be here for each other. Otherwise, I would spend my time elsewhere. In example, I have learned tons of things about chickens from Ivy and Checoukan I never knew. I have learned gobs about treatment and geese from Josie. I've learned gobs about horses from Hawkeye, hechicken, and several others of you. I've learned about genetics in chickens from many. I've learned a lot about rabbits from Trish. I like to think I've shared some experience with all my birds,my dogs and what have you with some of you. Sunflower has taught us that those invasive cattails can be put to a many good uses. And many of us with dogs have tried to help her learn about owning a dog.
That is simply all it boils down to. No one is scolding any one or saying they aren't doing the right thing. We are just trying to do what we always do....discuss and try to help.
Please try to take what is said in the spirit in which it is intended. Don't try to read more into it.
Our hearts all go out to Sunflower and her dog, and Karen and her hen, and Trish and her sick chicks, etc etc.
Where do I find Baytril and VetRX? It sounds like they'd probably be good things to consider having on hand.
I am actually butchering 3 birds tomorrow. The one bird is one I got from my DH's grandmother and is a touch-me-not and is scared of humans. I'm going to have fun catching her... The two drakes that I'm going to butcher are ones that I've raised since they were 1 week old. When I originally got them, I intended to keep them until they died of old age. Then, I got the birds from my DH's grandmother and ended up with 3 drakes and 4 ducks, too high of a ratio and too many mouths to feed that weren't going to work for their food (especially this year with the drought). So, I made the VERY tough decision to butcher the drakes. I know it needs to be done, but they are PETS, and I'm having a hard time with it.
