Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Dreamzchaser]

Dream, the first one of course is the hardest. I shed many tears with quite a few when I started. It's always sad, but it does get a bit easier. Just think that I gave them a good life while they were here. Think with Phoebe laying such large eggs caused her to prolapse. I had a hen that had trouble laying from the start. She passed before she was a year old. Always hard to lose the young ones. We make them pets. Give them names and enjoy their antics. I had one hen that developed curled toes and couldn't walk. I put her in a brooder in our heated garage. I had fencing under a tree and she loved being out there where the other hens would lay all around and keep her company. She loved her dust baths. (her legs were fine) She even laid. Gosh, had her for years. She was happpy. What we do for our pets. Most people told me it was just a chicken, put her in a pot. She was my pet. So, I know it's hard for you. Phoebe was special to you. Don't ever worry about calling me.

Thank you Rose. My sister last night told me exactly that. Why didn't I cooked her? Well, I told her that it was not easy. Just becasue we do not eat dog, but if we did she would not eat her puppy even if there was nothing else around. We would die instead of eating our faithful companion. Anyways, Yuesday i talked to my doctor and went to Bible group. Came to realize that I am not eating, sleeping nor going out because she was in the trash bin next to the garage. lights would stay on until 3pm and I would not go to turn them on at night either. the hub had to do it before going to bed at 6pm. So, when he came back from work onTuesday, I told him what I had learned in the Bible group. I know it has nothing to do with Phoebe nor chickens but we do as Christians need to live a life of repentance. I could have done more for her, I could have saved her from her ordeal, even if for a bit longer. I think of her as God's creation for me to care for her. I grew up with chickens and ducks and we ate them all the time. However, i started this journey at this age for eggs only. Never came to mind soup. So, I sat down while Hub dug a hole in front of teh rose bush that she loved, and I wrote her a note. Telling her how much she meant to me and that I was sorry that I did not know how to help her. That I was glad she gave me such wonderful big eggs and all the sassyness she did to give me joy and laughter. That she helped me understand humans in a way and taught me how to study and learn more about chickens so that I can help her sisters and be a better mom to them. He palced her in a box, I put the note inside and he put her in the hole. He then gave me the shovel and I put the dirt on top while closing with sentences of what she meant to me. Yes, it is bizarre but I thank you for so much help. I still cry but I have some closure. I see her place every morning and I am not afraid to go by it to see the others and I cleaned teh rose bush which I never wated it because I do not like roses but now I will take care of that bush. So, I am learning other things in the process.

This group has taught me incredible things. I still have much to learn but there is so much information here that it is impossible to end. I found a nice black box, like to hold a car battery in it, with lid and all. So, I am planning to begin a first aid box for my girls. The next girls will be different. Maybe for meat but not these ones. I willpost pictures later on. I have many things going on and still have stuff to finish before winter. I cannot find tree services that I can get wood chips or mulch that is not walnut nor pine nor that has chemicals. But will keep looking. I guess I will wait a bit for the hay bales for around the coop bottom. They will tear them up before winter is here,lol

 

[Folly's place]

Burying her was the right thing for you to do, so glad you found a way to start healing.
We have pets buried here, and some aren't, and it's what feels right at the time, and so necessary.
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

Dreamz, I'm glad you feel a little better, and have a little closure. Everyone and everything can teach us something, if we will take the time to listen and learn. You are doing that.

I still think this is one of the best phrases I've ever read, when it comes to endings:

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

 

[Sally PB]

Today, we got the DNA results back for Freya. She is 30-40% Lab (we could guess that), 30-40% Shepherd, and 20-30% Boxer!

All of which are listed as growing to 50+ pounds. Right now, she's at 43 pounds, so maybe she will get bigger.

She is 1000% loveable, and loved.

 

[1muttsfan]

While we keep animals for production purposes, that does not mean they aren't endlessly fascinating, entertaining, sociable, warm living beings that can give so much more than eggs, meat or milk. There is nothing wrong with enjoying and even loving their sometimes quirky, sweet, sassy, grumpy selves.

It was Mahatma Ghandi who said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

And Chief Seattle:
"If all the beasts were gone,
we would die from a great loneliness of spirit,
for whatever happens to the beasts, happens to us all."

 

[Folly's place]

At least in southern Michigan, several nasty mosquito borne illnesses have turned up. Eastern and West Nile encephalitis, and Jamestown Valley encephalitis. Not good!
In fact i know one person afflicted with both West Nile and Jamestown viruses, in and out of the hospital, right now. Keep those mosquitoes off your body!!!
Mary

 

[chickflick]

I want to see sun! So tired of this gloomy weather. Can't get anything done outside.

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[Dreamzchaser]

You guys are amazing! Thank you. Sally I understand your phrase. Cannot smile that it happenned yet but maybe one day I will.
But anyways, there are a few things I stopped by and I do not want t o forget. I mentioned about the corrugated PVC for the roof and mentioned how different it was from the one you have used. Here is the picture. I have 2 that are clear to finish the end of one part and then the beige ones for the remaining of the roof.



Also here is the picture I took onTuesdat after I buried Phoebe. It is the first one and I am going to make it look nice with stones.



But mored importantly is the fact that his little tiny maget pigeon (Tia-Seabright) has been laying first one every morning.


But since yesterday, after she lays instead of doing the chicken egg song, she is crowing like a small rooster. Should I think she is becoming a trans? I know it is not what it can happen. But I am questioning it because I can get in trouble if neighbor decides to report me as having a rooster. Not that they can do anything because she is a hen and lays eggs but would like to know regarding of your expertise.

Thank you so much. I am going back to bed. Not being able to sleep is driving me insane.

~Hugs~and~Kisses~

 

[Dreamzchaser]

I want to see sun! So tired of this gloomy weather. Can't get anything done outside.

Hope you all have a great day!

Sorry Rose, I am going back to bed for that same reason and becasue I did not sleep well last night, so weather is the least of my worries right now. Feed is out, water is out, girls are out, they are laying and I can just forget it for a few hours.

I do not have a farm nor a big property with lots of animals but I do understand how never ending chores become because we need to care for our animals and land.
Love ya!

 

[Dreamzchaser]

@RaZ What is up with you? Getting better? I know it is hard to have to do so much especially when our bodies are getting the feeling of all that shipping and handling,
I am there with you man! I am only 39.99 but my shipping and handling is double the rate for international shipment,

We start so fresh in life and drive like a corvette must of the time. But then we beging downsizing and end up driving a pretty banged up chevy,lol