Anyone???
INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!
- Thread starter Chaneys Ranch
- Start date
ChickCrazed~ I am so sorry!Well, when it rains it pours. After owing thousands in taxes last month, 6 sick animals in the last three weeks, 2 emergency vet visits and a paralyzed rooster, my guest bathroom has sprung a serious leak at 9:30 at night. No shut off valve. I'm already nearing the bottom of my poor abused bank account and still have a follow up vet visit for the swollen faced dog. Now I am going to have a $300 plumbing visit to pay for.I'm really freaking stressed and depressed and definitely in tears. When will life get easier and better?
Disclaimer: The following is my personal philosophy and is not meant to instruct or imply a "one size fits all" approach to dealing with issues. This is my way of thinking of "The Big Picture" that helps me through tough times: When I was younger, I often thought, "If only (this) would happen, everything would be great and I'd be happy." Then, the next situation would arise and I'd once again think, "If only this would happen . . ." I finally realized and accepted the fact that things continually change in life, so there will always be ups and downs. I try to put things in perspective when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I half-jokingly, but seriously say, "I could be in a refugee camp." All you have to do is look at the news to see the millions of people who are in truly hopeless situations. Why I am I not them? Luck. It's not that I deserved a better life, but I was born into a better life by the luck of having good, hard working, educated, and loving parents. This is my life and I am lucky to have the opportunity to do good things while I am here. Just go to a public event and look around. Can you imagine having to go through life the way that some people do who were born in poverty or never were properly educated, etc.? Or visit someone in a hospital and see all of patients who are going through difficulties. As I said, I put things in perspective when individual problems add up and the total situation seems out of control and hopeless.
I am not saying that you shouldn't be upset about individual problems because it's normal to show your emotions, and it's good that you're venting to us! Plus, I am not walking in your shoes. No one truly knows what another's situation is. And believe me, I have been through ups and downs and have felt angry and depressed. But things do get better! They always have a way of working out. Also, if you need financial help or emotional help or whatever-- There is help available. There are all kinds of social services to help people. Do you have family members/friends as a nearby support group? A group of our Indiana Thread members were very generous in helping out a brand new member with her coop project. I am sure we can get some volunteers to go help you --hopefully we have a plumbing expert! Or there may be other ways to help and do simple acts of kindness.
On another note, I know you recently asked about Things to Help Chickens & Other Animals during Summer Heat and Humidity:
FANS!! I've already been using several for my chickens. Box fans and other portable fans are inexpensive and do not use much electricity, so there's no reason not to use fans. If you need to use an extension cord, be sure it's for outdoor use and is in good shape. Read instructions. If it's going to rain, make sure they're unplugged and/or moved. Also, my scientific DS sets the fans up for correct air flow. I have a box fan ($15) that is slanted downward at one end of the coop/run. I use a couple of clip-on fans ($10) -- I clip them on the roof and the fan part is under the roof and blows through the top ventilation area. During the day, I point the fans to help air flow where the chickens hang out. When it gets really hot, we have a water mister (Misty Mate patio mister $33 and up at Sam's/Walmart) that we attached to tree branches and a patio umbrella. It's not that the chickens go under the mister-- the water vapor cools the air in a large area. They are even more effective when used with fans. I did a "Search This Thread" and found some other tips that I posted last summer . . .
Be Proactive ~ IMPORTANT TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FLOCK COOL DURING A HEATWAVE
Buckets of Cold Drinking Water/Hydrating Treats
Use several plastic buckets of cold water placed in shady areas. Buckets are easy to pick up and replace with cold water during the day. You can place a large rock next to the bucket for easier access. If you have a hose in a handy location, use it to refill large plastic (not metal) bowls. Other treats to help hydrate: watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, cucumber, grapes. These can also be frozen in bags so they’re ready when the chickens need a cool treat. Freeze plastic bottles of water to put in water buckets, nesting boxes, and in front of fans. Electrolyte packets are available from farm stores or you can use 50% Gatorade with 50% water.
Keep Coop Well-Ventilated
Use fan(s) to keep air flowing in the coop especially near nesting boxes during the day and perch areas at nighttime.
Fans Combined with Cold Water
As water evaporates it cools the air, so keep a bucket or two of cold water near a fan. Or direct a fan toward misters, sprinklers, or a hosed-down area. Keep the area by the fan shaded. If there isn’t any shade, make some. A patio umbrella, golf umbrella, shade cloth, or lattice all work nicely. Avoid tarps, solid wood panels, or anything that will inhibit air movement.
Cool Off Ground Litter
Pine shavings and hay hold in the heat. Rake everything up, especially chicken droppings which also contributes to an elevated ground temperature. Bare ground is a little extra work for you to keep clean, but a once over with a rake everyday is a small price to pay if it means saving your birds. Construction (coarse, mixed with gravel) sand makes a good, cool ground litter, but depending on conditions, it may need to be hosed down from time to time if it becomes too dry and dusty.
Dust Bath and Cool Dirt Bath
Besides a dust bath area, offer a cool bath area. Dig up a few inches of dirt to create a tub area in the shade. When you refresh the chickens’ drinking water, pour what’s left in the buckets into the dirt tub. Chickens will play in the water then lay in the mud holes to stay cool. Wet conditions are great for finding worms, a chicken favorite.
Heat Exhaustion: What to Do!
A chicken that is suffering heat exhaustion will be lying down, panting, and is lethargic or unable to stand. They lack color and are unresponsive to their surroundings. If you don’t act quickly they will die. Heavy birds such as Orphingtons, Rocks, etc. are the first to show signs of intolerance to extreme heat.
Be Proactive and Act Fast!
Grab one of those buckets of water in the yard, this time find one that is not freshly filled with cold water and place the bird in the bucket of water until it is soaked. Remove the bird from the yard [the others will pick on a distressed bird] and place it under tree or a shady spot, preferably on grass. If it’s not a breezy day, get a fan on the bird, a low setting is best. Stay with the bird and hold the wings away from the body helping it to cool quicker. Keep a plastic baby pool handy near the chicken yard; after the bird begins to show signs of relief usually about 10 minutes, place it in the baby pool with about three inches of cold water. Within 15 minutes the bird should be standing on its own, and most likely looking for the way out! Then return the bird to the shady area near a fan or mister, but under keep it under observation until the sun goes down.
Leahs Mom ~ I like your "foot bath" idea, but it seems like you'd have to constantly change the water because of contaminating it not only with poop, but whatever might be lurking on their feet or legs. It would be great to train them to know the difference between a foot bath and drinking water! You might not like this idea, but I suppose the water sanitizing method of adding 1/8 teaspoon of Bleach (adjust if Bleach is concentrated) to one Gallon of Water would be a good idea.
Buckets of Cold Drinking Water/Hydrating Treats
Use several plastic buckets of cold water placed in shady areas. Buckets are easy to pick up and replace with cold water during the day. You can place a large rock next to the bucket for easier access. If you have a hose in a handy location, use it to refill large plastic (not metal) bowls. Other treats to help hydrate: watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, cucumber, grapes. These can also be frozen in bags so they’re ready when the chickens need a cool treat. Freeze plastic bottles of water to put in water buckets, nesting boxes, and in front of fans. Electrolyte packets are available from farm stores or you can use 50% Gatorade with 50% water.
Keep Coop Well-Ventilated
Use fan(s) to keep air flowing in the coop especially near nesting boxes during the day and perch areas at nighttime.
Fans Combined with Cold Water
As water evaporates it cools the air, so keep a bucket or two of cold water near a fan. Or direct a fan toward misters, sprinklers, or a hosed-down area. Keep the area by the fan shaded. If there isn’t any shade, make some. A patio umbrella, golf umbrella, shade cloth, or lattice all work nicely. Avoid tarps, solid wood panels, or anything that will inhibit air movement.
Cool Off Ground Litter
Pine shavings and hay hold in the heat. Rake everything up, especially chicken droppings which also contributes to an elevated ground temperature. Bare ground is a little extra work for you to keep clean, but a once over with a rake everyday is a small price to pay if it means saving your birds. Construction (coarse, mixed with gravel) sand makes a good, cool ground litter, but depending on conditions, it may need to be hosed down from time to time if it becomes too dry and dusty.
Dust Bath and Cool Dirt Bath
Besides a dust bath area, offer a cool bath area. Dig up a few inches of dirt to create a tub area in the shade. When you refresh the chickens’ drinking water, pour what’s left in the buckets into the dirt tub. Chickens will play in the water then lay in the mud holes to stay cool. Wet conditions are great for finding worms, a chicken favorite.
Heat Exhaustion: What to Do!
A chicken that is suffering heat exhaustion will be lying down, panting, and is lethargic or unable to stand. They lack color and are unresponsive to their surroundings. If you don’t act quickly they will die. Heavy birds such as Orphingtons, Rocks, etc. are the first to show signs of intolerance to extreme heat.
Be Proactive and Act Fast!
Grab one of those buckets of water in the yard, this time find one that is not freshly filled with cold water and place the bird in the bucket of water until it is soaked. Remove the bird from the yard [the others will pick on a distressed bird] and place it under tree or a shady spot, preferably on grass. If it’s not a breezy day, get a fan on the bird, a low setting is best. Stay with the bird and hold the wings away from the body helping it to cool quicker. Keep a plastic baby pool handy near the chicken yard; after the bird begins to show signs of relief usually about 10 minutes, place it in the baby pool with about three inches of cold water. Within 15 minutes the bird should be standing on its own, and most likely looking for the way out! Then return the bird to the shady area near a fan or mister, but under keep it under observation until the sun goes down.
Leahs Mom ~ I like your "foot bath" idea, but it seems like you'd have to constantly change the water because of contaminating it not only with poop, but whatever might be lurking on their feet or legs. It would be great to train them to know the difference between a foot bath and drinking water! You might not like this idea, but I suppose the water sanitizing method of adding 1/8 teaspoon of Bleach (adjust if Bleach is concentrated) to one Gallon of Water would be a good idea.
I am behind again on reading the thread posts. A sad thing happened last evening (Tuesday). My female Blue Splash Silkie died (would’ve been 5 months old this weekend). I have no idea what happened. I got home at 6:30 pm from running errands, and I was in the front and heard “The Egg Song” sung extra loudly. I thought that was unusual at that time of day, so I walked through the garage to see who it was. I saw that Eliza, my Splash Orp was the one. I thought that was even more odd since she doesn’t lay yet. Then Adeline and Nene start making a racket. They were lined up with the other two silkies like they were afraid to go in the coop. I looked in and saw Bixley, my beautiful female Blue Silkie who had the fluffiest feet you’ve ever seen. She was laying in the area where they dust bathe. At first I thought she was dust bathing, but I didn’t see her move. I picked her up and she was limp and had no life left. I checked her over carefully and she was so clean and perfect. I just can’t imagine what happened. The other chickens were lined up watching. I laid her down so they all could see her while I ran and dug a deep hole in the front landscaping (near Violet and Jersey). It didn't occur to me until later that I could have sent her off for a necropsy. It all happened so fast and my thought was that it’s warm and humid, so I’d better bury her right away. I wish I had been thinking.
Before I left to run errands, I fed them some cut-up grapes, blueberries, and watermelon. I put the fruit in six bowls scattered around the patio, and I watched to make sure everyone got some. The Silkies all seemed fine, and were eating. I had plenty of food and fresh water out in several locations.
Before I left to run errands, I fed them some cut-up grapes, blueberries, and watermelon. I put the fruit in six bowls scattered around the patio, and I watched to make sure everyone got some. The Silkies all seemed fine, and were eating. I had plenty of food and fresh water out in several locations.
I meant to add that I've felt really upset and in shock. I feel so bad for that sweet little baby. I’m just glad that whatever happened, happened quickly so she didn’t suffer.
Everyone seemed fine today, so hopefully it was just a weird, random thing.
Everyone seemed fine today, so hopefully it was just a weird, random thing.
Thanks for the support everyone! I am feeling better this morning after some sleep. The leak has slowed down to a drip, which seems a lot more manageable in my head. I'm going to make some calls today and see if I can get the parts myself to save money on those. I will get through this and it will be fine! I just need my animals to rally and get freaking healthy! I know I have been relatively lucky with the chickens, I have had a super healthy flock and in the grand scheme what I am dealing with now is nowhere near as bad as some have had to deal with. It is just one more straw on the proverbial camels back though! Gregor remains the same this morning but is being more stubborn and won't just lay where I put him. He keeps flopping himself away from his food/water. I dosed him with poly-vi-sol again this morning and he fought that. I am hoping him being a bit of a butt is a good sign, but I think I'm just looking for them everywhere!
My antigen arrived yesterday! In good shape too
Morning all Cockadoodledooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
It's sad to hear about Phyllis and Bixley and the ones that are sick like Gregor, unnamed allergy boy et al. I'm thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way.
When I talk about my birds with my co-workers, they don't seem to 'get' it.
Even the folks on here who raise birds to eat seem to have a better understanding of what we pet chicken owners go through with their sickness and losses. The rough patches remind me how appreciative I am of the BYC'ers support.
When I talk about my birds with my co-workers, they don't seem to 'get' it.
Even the folks on here who raise birds to eat seem to have a better understanding of what we pet chicken owners go through with their sickness and losses. The rough patches remind me how appreciative I am of the BYC'ers support.
Here are a couple of my SLW cockerels, a Black Australorp pullet, a Jersey Giant pullet, and a White Leghorn pullet. By the way I know it seems like there are a million SLW cockerels for sale right now. But I would like to rehome a few of mine
Thanks for sharing the pics - how old are they? If you can ever get a close up of your Jersey Giant and Black Australorp I would love to see them up close. I think I have one of each (they are 4 weeks old). The store thought they were Barred Rocks (not quite! I figured that out quickly!)
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