CountryGirl1120
In the Brooder
Recently I have had predator problems with my chickens. I actually have one girl in the house right now who was partially scalped and is lucky she kept her one eye. So the decision was made to get a LGD.
Now before I go any further here is a little back ground on my living situation. I live with my parents as I am a divorced mother and cannot possibly afford to live on my own. They have allowed me in the past two years to have my chickens and ducks and are more than willing to let me venture into some meat birds and turkeys next year. Unfortunately living with my parents means living with my brother and his girlfriend as well.
Now mind you they dont help out around the house, barely paying anything towards any bills, food, or even doing household chores. They have a cat that they cant even financially afford by themselves and the only reason the cat eats everyday is because I have a cat as well and cant let an innocent animal starve.
So back to the main point of this rant. I get home from work last night and start listening to a conversation my mom is having with my brother and his girlfriend. She's telling them about getting the dog and that it is going to help guard the chickens and ducks (because honestly building a predator proof run big enough for all of them can't be done where my chicken coop is located, it came with the house). Their responses have me so frustrated. As Im sitting downstairs I hear my brother saying that I dont realize how much work goes into a dog and that its not worth it (mind you I have had dogs before and I know how much work goes into them). I hear his girlfriend saying that we dont need all the chickens and ducks that I have that we already have more eggs than we know what to do with.
Now mind you, while I probably do have more than what I need for the family size we are my main thought when getting all of them this year was the holiday baking. Last year I had to buy store bought eggs because my girls couldnt keep up with how much I did.
And as Im listening to my mom trying to reason with them and explain it they are just complaining that I always get everything I want meanwhile they "cant" have anything. Now mind you, I have a job, I buy all the feed for my animals, I clean the coops when needed and I feed and water them daily without asking for help from anyone else in the house. The only one that does help me is my dad and thats because well, he likes the chickens and ducks.
So not once have I asked my brother and girlfriend for any sort of help with them or to help buy them feed or whatever. And yet they will gladly use the eggs when they want to to eat, the girlfriend never complains when I suggest taking some to her parents, nor do either of them complain when a tasty treat has been baked and gladly help themselves.
They dont realize how much money I have put into these animals and that by investing in a LGD not only can I keep my chickens and ducks free ranging but hopefully I can be outside as well without having to worry what may come out of our woods (we have had a mountain lion sighting at a neighbors house not even a mile down the road).
So here I sight this morning feeling defeated wondering why I'm bothering. Feeling like I'm wasting my time and money trying to provide good food for people who dont care.
Not to mention I bought us a new washer and dryer a couple months ago and not once have they said thank you or offered any money to help pay for it despite now they save about 20 bucks a month not having to go to the laundry mat. I just dont understand how some people can be so ungrateful and not realize the time and effort people put into things.
And whats worse is I am so passionate about my chickens and ducks and eventually raising my own food. My boyfriend said to me yesterday we need to figure out something for the predator because he doesnt want to see me lose that passion. And I dont want to lose it. But this has been a constant ongoing battle with them that is slowly draining me of it. My brother complained that the injured chicken is in the house (shes in a dog crate its not like I let her free roam). I dont understand what his problem is. Maybe I should tell them when they need eggs to buy the store bought ones? Maybe I have to be the harder hand and stand up for myself?
To anyone that read this all the way through thank you for your time. To anyone that may reply, please don't leave me a nasty one. Im sure everyone has dealt with something like this at one time or another.
Now before I go any further here is a little back ground on my living situation. I live with my parents as I am a divorced mother and cannot possibly afford to live on my own. They have allowed me in the past two years to have my chickens and ducks and are more than willing to let me venture into some meat birds and turkeys next year. Unfortunately living with my parents means living with my brother and his girlfriend as well.
Now mind you they dont help out around the house, barely paying anything towards any bills, food, or even doing household chores. They have a cat that they cant even financially afford by themselves and the only reason the cat eats everyday is because I have a cat as well and cant let an innocent animal starve.
So back to the main point of this rant. I get home from work last night and start listening to a conversation my mom is having with my brother and his girlfriend. She's telling them about getting the dog and that it is going to help guard the chickens and ducks (because honestly building a predator proof run big enough for all of them can't be done where my chicken coop is located, it came with the house). Their responses have me so frustrated. As Im sitting downstairs I hear my brother saying that I dont realize how much work goes into a dog and that its not worth it (mind you I have had dogs before and I know how much work goes into them). I hear his girlfriend saying that we dont need all the chickens and ducks that I have that we already have more eggs than we know what to do with.
Now mind you, while I probably do have more than what I need for the family size we are my main thought when getting all of them this year was the holiday baking. Last year I had to buy store bought eggs because my girls couldnt keep up with how much I did.
And as Im listening to my mom trying to reason with them and explain it they are just complaining that I always get everything I want meanwhile they "cant" have anything. Now mind you, I have a job, I buy all the feed for my animals, I clean the coops when needed and I feed and water them daily without asking for help from anyone else in the house. The only one that does help me is my dad and thats because well, he likes the chickens and ducks.
So not once have I asked my brother and girlfriend for any sort of help with them or to help buy them feed or whatever. And yet they will gladly use the eggs when they want to to eat, the girlfriend never complains when I suggest taking some to her parents, nor do either of them complain when a tasty treat has been baked and gladly help themselves.
They dont realize how much money I have put into these animals and that by investing in a LGD not only can I keep my chickens and ducks free ranging but hopefully I can be outside as well without having to worry what may come out of our woods (we have had a mountain lion sighting at a neighbors house not even a mile down the road).
So here I sight this morning feeling defeated wondering why I'm bothering. Feeling like I'm wasting my time and money trying to provide good food for people who dont care.
Not to mention I bought us a new washer and dryer a couple months ago and not once have they said thank you or offered any money to help pay for it despite now they save about 20 bucks a month not having to go to the laundry mat. I just dont understand how some people can be so ungrateful and not realize the time and effort people put into things.
And whats worse is I am so passionate about my chickens and ducks and eventually raising my own food. My boyfriend said to me yesterday we need to figure out something for the predator because he doesnt want to see me lose that passion. And I dont want to lose it. But this has been a constant ongoing battle with them that is slowly draining me of it. My brother complained that the injured chicken is in the house (shes in a dog crate its not like I let her free roam). I dont understand what his problem is. Maybe I should tell them when they need eggs to buy the store bought ones? Maybe I have to be the harder hand and stand up for myself?
To anyone that read this all the way through thank you for your time. To anyone that may reply, please don't leave me a nasty one. Im sure everyone has dealt with something like this at one time or another.
