How about a new thread for those of us in wheelchairs?

[chickisoup]

Hi Chicksoup,
please do continue your story. As for me, being handicapped I get frustrated with some of my family saying we can't do it, we don't have the $$, and it is me, the one that can't make my body do what it should, who has to figure it out......
My partner has farming in his history, but more with horses than mixed farming, and I am lucky to have both in my past. It is a real challenge as our little farm has lain fallow and unworked for decades, and just getting in the infra-structure is a long hard haul.....didn't feel like a farm until we got the first coop up and running and the 20 Ladies settled in.....poor city folks don't get to enjoy the simple pleasures, like looking out a barn door on the coldest night of the year, 54 horse behind you, just finished night feeds, and the warmth of them, and the smell of a clean barn, the contented shuffling and munching hay, full moon on the snow and everything has a blue light to it....heaven......

Oh, your words just took me so far back, so long ago. I can smell the hay, hear the sounds, feel the soft breath of all the life behind me,,,,,,
Sometimes, oddly, in a way my poor city born sweet hubby can never understand, I miss my old barn the most at just the same time and for so very much just the reasons you described. I am able to reclaim a bit of it tho as I spread out the fresh hay in my coop and watch my little flock attack it with glee or get to see the sky before it lets go of the last stars of morning as I trudge thru the snow to check on how the girls spent their night and help them start their day. I still get a little of that same feeling of connection and purpose. It's not the same as a barn full with smells and sounds, but it helps. (I still miss my horse and my barn tho)

 

[sumi]

This thread is a wonderful idea. Thank you so much for starting it. My father was wheelchair bound for 16 years before he passed away and I remember so clearly the challenges he faced in a world designed for able bodied people. He didn't let those challenges slow him down though. One of my fondest memories is of him being interviewed by his favourite radio station one day and him telling them "I can do anything... except climb stairs!"

Kudos to you for living life to the full and having the determination to dream and build up your farm. Through my dad being handicapped I got to meet and know many other handicapped people and it saddened me to see how many of them simply gave up on living a full life. You are an inspiration and I'm going to follow your adventures and this thread. Best of luck!

 

[LadyCedar]

Hi Sumi,
Your Dad sounds like the inspiration! TY so very much for sharing your memories of him.
Advanced warning in my next words:
I DO get depressed,
I DO feel like this world has too many barriers And so many of them wouldn't be there if more people understood life from our perspective.
So be forewarned, I do get down-hearted....
This little farm, and the awesome people here, give me hope that what life I have left to live, will include friendship, accomplishments and contentment! Among other things....

 

[sumi]

 

[ChickenCurt]

I operate a small farm of turkeys and chickens for meat and eggs and it's been from a chair. Key is good help and family and friends you can rely on when help fails you. My coops are all visible and/or accessible so that I know their welfare and can be sure they're healthy and happy. To think it started as a backyard hobby.

 

[Wheels]

How guys. I am a 100 percent service connected DAV. I have been raising chickens for the last three years. I found my calling raising chickens. lol . I never raised chickens before I started three years ago.Nor had I ever been on a farm that raise chickens. I was a die heart city boy. Thirtythree years ago I purchase 5 acers of land in the country about three years after getting medical dicharge form the army.
I started out with 33 Barred Rock chickens and 2 ducks.I later pick up 12 BUFF ORPINGTON CHICKENS. I used these 2 for meat eggs. I also have 25 Production Red Chickens I raise those for eggs. My son and I built my first coop. I am using 4and a half acers for them to farge on.
I have a power wheelchair to get around. I have been blessed to be able to pave a lot of my land where I need to go.I can get in my coop. and pasture also with no problems.
I have purchase a chicken plucker cc only and I and going to go in bussiness next spring. I will be selling chickens, turkeys and eggs fertile and non fertile. I will start to sell meaties and get a way from using the two I mention above.
One last thing My wife say I am more country then her and she grew up raising all I am raising plus they had hogs and cows.

 

[Mary Scoggins]

Hi LadyCedar,
My name is Mary and I had a stroke about 10 years ago ,I went to rehab for 6 weeks after a hospital stay,,and finally I could walk with the use of a walker. As the years and Age snuck up on me I felt the same way that you do . I wanted to be "normal " .I got an electric wheel chair and my attitude changed. I have to figure out a way I can do the same thing using my chair as my legs. For instance I live alone sweep and mop, make my bed ,cook for myself and my two chihuahuas. Now I do feel Normal. My son and Daughter in Law live about a block total from me and they help me with grocery shopping. He wanted to get Chickens so we all pitched in and Made us a coop, and run and are now waiting on our first egg.I let the chickens out of their house in the morning and
we gather at the hen house for visiting ,sometimes the neighbors join us, in the evening to put them up. I love life Mary

 

[drumstick diva]

Wheels - thank you sincerely for your years in service.

 

[Wheels]

Wheels - thank you sincerely for your years in service.

I did my duty. I am pride and honor to have serve my country. No thanks needed but, thank you.

 

[silkies08]

Hi I have been using a scooter to enable me to continue looking after my chickens for over 4 years now. I have two sites with helpful hints on them for people who also have need for assistance to get around like myself. http://www.flickr.com/photos/silkies and http://www.flickr.com/photos/mygogotraveller as I also have a damaged shoulder that dislocates easily I also have to use very light equipment. I use a plastic scoop I bought from Bunnings and a very light plastic rake that I have cut with a jigsaw to only 6 " wide , this makes the job of raking up litter very easy from the scooter seat. To save having to go out as much to collect greens for the hens I have built wicking bed gardens in containers up off the ground to grow greens for the hens also. Hope my sites can be of assistance for other people with similar needs. If any of you have been put off getting a scooter because they are too expensive, I bought mine from the Ebay all for under $500. Centerlink will give you an instant advance on your pension every 6 months to buy what ever you want. They just take out approx. $85/fortnight for 13 weeks to pay it back. With the $1100 they give you, you can buy a good new portable scooter or a second hand medium size one from Ebay. All scooters dismantle for transport and I have invented light weight lifting equipment that I can use with out assistance to put my portable scooters on my small Daewoo car when I need to go away any distance from my property. I have servier lumber damage so I am broken in the middle and cant lift any weights, certainly not the 10-16 kg the scooter batteries weigh. But my lifting equipment does it all for me. Three wheel scooters are the most suitable for an active person. to go over dirt you need pump up tyres if you have back problems as solid tyres are too harsh to ride around on all day. A portable with solid tyres are all right on hard path ground or concrete, but you wouldn't ride into town on them, solid tyres shake you to pieces over long distance along footpath joins. Hope my sites are helpful for all who read them.