Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

If I want my lawn mown I am going to need more chickens. Just saying.
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I would love to be in a position of needing more chickens.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi friends. Most of you know we are renters (in the Great Recession, we lost a luxury home we built because the market crashed before we could get certificate of occupancy to sell, but that’s another story.) I have fully embraced the humble life. I grew up in a very comfortable family in a wealthy town, I’m educated... I never imagined myself in this position. However, I am grateful. I can survive on very little, and I really feel I have my priorities straight. I love this rustic setting with chicken poop everywhere, overgrown pasture and putting my dirty bare feet right on the earth.

However, renting has its drawbacks. The woman who owned this property passed away recently. I’ve been dreading this day, as I LOVE living here. Her nephew, the primary beneficiary, would like for things to stay the same, but there are multiple parties on the trust, and they may eventually have to sell. I will continue on embracing every moment. We have every local predator, and the place is ridden with termites and sometimes rats. But I love it and wish I could buy it.

I want my beloved birds to live out their days here. And my doggo. She’s a border collie... total country dog. Most importantly... my kids, especially my daughter. This has been home for twelve years, and she is seventeen. Please send your thoughts and prayers that we get to stay here a long time to come.

 

[micstrachan]

Never mind. No spinach for me. You ruined it. Blech.

Really? I love spinach! What a California girl I must be... sautéed spinach, creamed spinach, spinach in salad... when my son was little (long before fresh eggs!) he didn’t know eggs came any other way besides scrambled with spinach in them. (He also didn’t know grilled cheese came with fake cheese, on white bread without broccoli, as his were sharp cheddar on whole wheat WITH broccoli! )

 

[micstrachan]

It was an excellent burger. Two all beef patties, sliced bacon, avocado, Swiss cheese and cottage cheese with pineapple on the side. Yum!

Cottage cheese on a burger! Interesting! Oh!!!! Or is the cottage cheese with pineapple on the side?

 

[fuentemoon]

Hi friends. Most of you know we are renters (in the Great Recession, we lost a luxury home we built because the market crashed before we could get certificate of occupancy to sell, but that’s another story.) I have fully embraced the humble life. I grew up in a very comfortable family in a wealthy town, I’m educated... I never imagined myself in this position. However, I am grateful. I can survive on very little, and I really feel I have my priorities straight. I love this rustic setting with chicken poop everywhere, overgrown pasture and putting my dirty bare feet right on the earth.

However, renting has its drawbacks. The woman who owned this property passed away recently. I’ve been dreading this day, as I LOVE living here. Her nephew, the primary beneficiary, would like for things to stay the same, but there are multiple parties on the trust, and they may eventually have to sell. I will continue on embracing every moment. We have every local predator, and the place is ridden with termites and sometimes rats. But I love it and wish I could buy it.

I want my beloved birds to live out their days here. And my doggo. She’s a border collie... total country dog. Most importantly... my kids, especially my daughter. This has been home for twelve years, and she is seventeen. Please send your thoughts and prayers that we get to stay here a long time to come.

I know this situation well. We lived in a house we loved despite its flaws for 16 years. Stable rent, huge yard, big house. Then the landlords passed. Three months later we were given 90 days notice. The rental market here is nuts and we have animals, so we ended up in a much smaller house.
It was a rough transition, but at least we got rid of a lot of stuff!

I will be sending happy home thoughts your way!

 

[micstrachan]

I know this situation well. We lived in a house we loved despite its flaws for 16 years. Stable rent, huge yard, big house. Then the landlords passed. Three months later we were given 90 days notice. The rental market here is nuts and we have animals, so we ended up in a much smaller house.
It was a rough transition, but at least we got rid of a lot of stuff!

I will be sending happy home thoughts your way!

Rental market is nuts here, too.

Tax (compliments of Ruby)

 

[micstrachan]

@CrazyChookChookLady, I need to catch up and hope to find good news about Rich. Hugs to you!

 

[micstrachan]

Rich is doing well. His testing showed that his entire GI track is very angry and irritated but no significant changes.

The colonoscopy showed everything looks good no tissue death from the aneurysm, which is wonderful! That means no surgery on his bowel.

He is back to a full diet and as long as every thing says the same he'll be home tomorrow.

Here it is! Fantastic update! So they don’t know what’s irritating his system?

Ok, this may sound crazy to compare, but last summer I had a chicken with black poop, anemia and bloated, gassy intestines. X-ray for hardware disease was negative. Avian vet was a bit perplexed and we treated with antibiotics and barium sulfate. (I also gave her beef liver for iron). The only thing I could think of was that I had changed their feed. I went back to their old feed and she completely recovered. Coincidence? We’ll probably never know.

My point is... have their been any dietary changes Rich could be sensitive to?

 

[cfonts]

When it rains it pours...

I have been in the hospital since Thursday afternoon. Not for myself, I'm fine, but for Rich.

For the past week he has not been feeling well. He had diarrhea, fatigue, chills and shakes. His family doctor ordered some blood work and sent us home. Thursday morning he started vomiting. Vomiting for him is usual from his GERD and once he startes he can't stop without fluids and meds from the hospital.

When Thursday afternoon came and he couldn't even keep a sip of water down, I finally said enough is enough and got him ready to go to the ER.

On the way down to the hospital he was almost unresponsive and extremely pale. That is not normal for him. Hospital security had to get him a wheelchair and get him out of the car to get into the hospital. Once inside a nurse came out, took one look at him, and took him straight back. He keep saying he was in so much pain and freezing cold.

He had about 6 or 8 people all over him. Every one thought he was having a heart attack. Thankfully that was not the case. What did happen is they found a disection of his mesenteric artery. We were quickly told that a surgeon would be in to talk with us soon. We were told that rich would need to be transferred to a different hospital because they don't do that surgery at our local hospital.

About a hour later the surgeon was back and said that they were going to treat him with blood thinners instead of surgery because the tare in the artery is on the inside and very small.

He's been on IV heparin since last night and now they are switching him to Coumadin. He'll be in the hospital another night at least until they can get his levels shorted out.

He was still pretty unstable an in a lot of pain so I refused to leave him. I spent the night "sleeping" in a very uncomfortable chair. We finally were moved into a room and I have a lovely recliner to sit in but I can't stay all night today. They are making me leave at 9pm and that's probably not a bad thing, I am exhausted.



Chicken tax
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Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about Rich! I hope that he gets well soon

 

[cfonts]

Happy FBF!
Compliments of... RUBY!
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She’s doing so well, I’m just tickled!

How funny! I have a Ruby that looks a little similar to your Ruby! She started visiting my yard a few months ago and have stuck around since.