Illinois...

[Molpet]

Cookie's one of my favs and getting on in years. (5 1/2 yrs) I'm sad to say that she's been laying thin shelled eggs this spring. I'm very grateful she's broody now b/c I won't have to worry about eggs from her for a couple months. When this happened to DS's former leghorn, we put her down to prevent flock egg eating. Not sure if I could do it to Cookie. She's a great mama & I'd be fine if she stopped laying. I just wish for no more nasty egg mess in the nest boxes or the tragedy of a flock of egg eaters.

Has anyone else had this issue with an older hen? I'm thinking about giving her extra snacks laced with calcium supplements. It's possible she's eating mostly chicks feed (in the small, low to ground feeder) rather than than the layer feed in the big community feeder.

I have Isa brown that lays disassemble eggy. The flock eats them and any cracked eggs. But they don't eat good eggs. I think if they get enough protein and calcium they just clean up the bad eggs so it doesn't draw predators.

 

[chickendreams24]

Everyone please be praying for my family and most especially my brother, Eric and his wife, Liz.

He developed a pretty severe infection post a minor outpatient procedure nearly two weeks ago and it has spread to his pelvis and possibly abdomen. Initial draining, cleaning and packing was unsuccessful and he was admitted a couple days ago.

He is on iv antibiotics and pain meds but continues to spike fevers. Today around noon they will be doing another surgery.

He is also the only one working in the family and his wife and him have three little boys including their youngest born in December.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.



In other news DH2B and I continue to work on wedding plans but it has been slow going as we look for a venue.

We also a couple days ago received the rootstock for the apple tree scions so we were up past 2 am grafting apple trees. They were stored in the fridge before but I admit to having a hard time feeling hopeful. If they fail it will feel like losing the tree all over again. That took up all of Wednesday.

I have 20 turkey eggs in the incubator due May 16th-ish(I'd have to check my notebook to be certain of the date)

Our breeding groups or at least the first set are all separate for right now. Hopefully in a few more days we can begin collecting eggs from all of them.

I have already been contacted by the school that hatches our eggs every year and the teacher will be picking up turkey eggs this Monday and chicken eggs the week after.

Mostly my mind is consumed with my brother and the last two days I've had a hard time thinking of anything else.

 

[chickendreams24]

I just spoke with my Mother and my brother has gone into surgery. They are reopening the original incision to clean and pack that again. Then they are opening up his pelvis and abdomen looking for pus pockets as the infection has spread to his body cavity. He's been running a fever of 103 and is in a pretty bad way.

 

[Molpet]

I just spoke with my Mother and my brother has gone into surgery. They are reopening the original incision to clean and pack that again. Then they are opening up his pelvis and abdomen looking for pus pockets as the infection has spread to his body cavity. He's been running a fever of 103 and is in a pretty bad way.

You all have my prayers

 

[Faraday40]

I just spoke with my Mother and my brother has gone into surgery. They are reopening the original incision to clean and pack that again. Then they are opening up his pelvis and abdomen looking for pus pockets as the infection has spread to his body cavity. He's been running a fever of 103 and is in a pretty bad way.

Our prayers are with you and your family.

 

[chickendreams24]

You all have my prayers

Our prayers are with you and your family.

Thank you guys.

No update yet and my Aunt just called me nervous that we haven't heard anything.

 

[chickendreams24]

My brother is out of surgery. The infection has spread to the tissue over his hip and the pelvis. He will be staying in the hospital for now getting iv meds and getting dressing changes via surgery.

Continued prayers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cavemanrich]

My brother is out of surgery. The infection has spread to the tissue over his hip and the pelvis. He will be staying in the hospital for now getting iv meds and getting dressing changes via surgery.

Continued prayers would be greatly appreciated.

My prayers are with your brother and all that are with him.
I just have a feeling that he will recover from all this soon

 

[chickendreams24]

Thank you again everyone for the prayers and support!

 

[homeschoolin momma]

To all my new Illinois BYC friends. A little over a week ago, Faraday40 mentioned she was chick sitting for me due to a family emergency. My mum, who has been battling a liver disease known as PSC for 23 years developed cancer in her liver last year. Doctors tried to aggressively treat it. But this cancer, this horrible thing which claims so many lives every year couldn't be stopped. My mum lost her battle this morning. Prayers requested that I can get through this and be there for my dad.