Are you opposed to skinnless chicken for eating/cooking? That is an easy way to avoid the whole issue of plucking. I find with the right breading you don't even really miss the skin for things like frying, etc.
Some girls are just that sneaky, nary a sign to be seen and then you look away for 30 seconds and BAM, there's a baby.
Good vets are SO few and far between, they are worth their weight in gold and are sorely missed when they aren't there anymore.......especially good vets with reasonable rates! I about choked when I took Z to the vet that the in-laws recommended out here ----- nice enough people, but the prices!!!! Now I know how they were able to afford to build their fancy, new "state of the art" clinic/hospital and staff of 20+ --- found a nice place here in town, looks like a little hole in the wall, and think that is where we'll be going from here on out......really liked the receptionist and vet when I stopped in to chat with them
I hear you on that, Twist, went through some major insecurity when we had first moved because I left all my stockpile of food and my extra freezer with DD/her DF --- finally starting to feel a bit better now as I got a freezer that I am in the process of filling and I have been able to start getting a good fill on the pantry shelves, REALLY looking forward to next year when I can get some canning and home-frozen veggies put up, plus DH is talking about going hunting with his cousin for elk and deer!
SO glad to read this - have been thinking of and worrying about him (and you).
LOL, call him your "service turkey"......maybe "emotional support turkey"?