I'm Thinkin' About Giving Them All Up

[claud]

Downsizing a bit might be a good thing for you.
Life gets really crazy sometimes and you can still enjoy the birds but just on a smaller scale. It really does make a difference in caretaking. You can always add more at time that is better for you. I've had luck with craigslist. If you give just a few away at a time they are more likely to go to homes instead of freezers.

 

[wildorchid053]

i took in my mother in law a few years ago.. she had alzheimers.. it is a very hard thing to care for and i can see where you are over whelmed....talk to a social worker to see if you can get some help... we got a lady 3x a week to shampoo and bathe her for a day.. it gave me a much needed break.. and when you can't stand it anymore.. remind yourself you are human and can only do so much.. the chickens will wait.. and i would imagine when you need a break.. take it and go sit with them.. they will certainly make you smile and relax.. all they need is a little food and water.. maybe you can even get a neighbor girl or boy to come and help for a little allowance each week?. if you ever need to talk about what is going on please feel free to contact me.. i took care of mom in law till she passed in my home...

 

[the Old Rebel]

Again I must say you all are the GREATEST!!! Thank you! Thank you!! A thousand times thank you!!!

I FINALLY slept fairly well last night. Thank God we've had 5 uneventful nights, but we are moving half of our 75 birds to safer quarters every night still. We have to move them back in the morning to keep from overcrowding. My DH has worked all day every day trying to fortify our coops and pens. He made doors for the duck condos, so we screw doors on every night on five condos. He made a door for the chicken tractor nest box, so we close them up every night as well. We put the peacocks in their house and close the door. They don't like it, because they don't have a roost in there, but it is better than getting killed by a weasel. We've tried to cover with 1/2" hardware cloth any place where the sun shines in. I bring the injured roo, my golden pheasant, and my Tiny Tina Rosalita (now Tiny Tim, we think), our OEGB bantam hen/roo?? that I found on the side of a very busy road, into the house. But still, my two old turkeys, Tom and Susan, and 6 roosters are in cages in buildings that are not entirely weasel/mink proof yet. IF the creature gets into the buildings, it can get into the cages, so the nightmare isn't over yet. But my attitude is changing..... thanks, in part, to the loving support of all you BYC'ers.

I'm sorry that I got so discouraged. Normally, I would NEVER have posted something like this on here. But it was just a combination of a LOT of things at once. We've had a TERRIBLE year of losses. I haven't had time to grieve one before something else happens. My birds are family to me, so losing one is like losing a member of the family. It really has been awful. Add everything else to that and I did just get overwhelmed.

But you all have given me sooooooooo much encouragement. Chickensioux even got in her car and came over to encourage me in person. WOW!!!

So, again, I just say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hope you all have a GREAT EVENING!!
the Old Rebel

P.S. I am VERY INTERESTED in finding out more about that cougar scream machine.

 

[Goat_Walker]

We understand that you want to give your birds the best.

It just breaks my heart though thinking of you having to seperate with your birds

 

[debilorrah]

Ms. Rebel, you will find that a lot of us go through periods of loss. I myself lost my ducks to my no-longer-here dogs. It was absolutely heartwrenching to see headless bodies and feathers EVERYWHERE. My poor ducks

But then, I saw a BYC'er was giving away baby ducklings. So now I have more than I did. I still miss them terribly, but being bird lovers that we are, we have to pick up and move on.

 

[wildorchid053]

sometimes you just need a good cry and a rant to relieve all the stress your feeling.. sort of like a child and a tempertantrum.. then it is easier to think and get it together again.. i am glad your feeling better...gl with what ever you decided to do.. and relax. everyone understands you can't be a miracle worker even though your trying.