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We talked about getting something like that, but the problem is filling the pond. It's behind the big house which doesn't have water or heat. We have to put up the hoses and wrap up the spigot for the winter so that would mean we'd have to drag buckets of water from the small house. In a month I won't be in any condition to help and my daughter isn't very strong. I think we'll just close it up and hope they won't get too upset when they can't swim for a few months.

That is true. They will be fine without it, mine were until we added the float. We do have to use our hose for the winter though, do to so many animals so this is what we do, in case you or someone else needs it. We keep the hose in the basement. We used to haul it out once a week through the house, but now use the basement window, fill up the goats big water tank, the geese and ducks, and the water tank in the barn, which I also keep heated and then use to scoop water out of all week for the chickens and rabbits so I don't have to haul water out in jugs or buckets. It is so much easier! Then we simply hold the hose up as we walk it back to the house and drain it and shove it back down the basement window, sticking the end in the sump pump to catch any dribbles and we are done for the week. Another good heater for smaller water tanks like a couple of ducks, call ducks, chickens etc, besides heated dog bowls are bird bath heaters. We have several of those also. I also use heated waterers for my bunnies, family farm and home has them cheapest. Since I started all of this, winter has become much more bearable.
 
Quote:
We talked about getting something like that, but the problem is filling the pond. It's behind the big house which doesn't have water or heat. We have to put up the hoses and wrap up the spigot for the winter so that would mean we'd have to drag buckets of water from the small house. In a month I won't be in any condition to help and my daughter isn't very strong. I think we'll just close it up and hope they won't get too upset when they can't swim for a few months.

That is true. They will be fine without it, mine were until we added the float. We do have to use our hose for the winter though, do to so many animals so this is what we do, in case you or someone else needs it. We keep the hose in the basement. We used to haul it out once a week through the house, but now use the basement window, fill up the goats big water tank, the geese and ducks, and the water tank in the barn, which I also keep heated and then use to scoop water out of all week for the chickens and rabbits so I don't have to haul water out in jugs or buckets. It is so much easier! Then we simply hold the hose up as we walk it back to the house and drain it and shove it back down the basement window, sticking the end in the sump pump to catch any dribbles and we are done for the week. Another good heater for smaller water tanks like a couple of ducks, call ducks, chickens etc, besides heated dog bowls are bird bath heaters. We have several of those also. I also use heated waterers for my bunnies, family farm and home has them cheapest. Since I started all of this, winter has become much more bearable.

That would be nice, but like I said, only one house has water. The house that has water doesn't have a basement and all the windows are covered (it's a very old house with very old windows so it gets very drafty) for the winter which wouldn't allow a hose to go through. But, we also don't have bigger animals like you do, just the chickens, ducks and rabbits. We were hoping to have the money to get supplies to get water going into the other house, but it didn't happen this year. Between the 3 of us (not counting the time I will be down after surgery) it's not hard to get everyone watered. It just would be for a pond.

I was just talking to Aric about this and what I might do (if I can considering it's not the season) is find a kiddie pool or something that we can fill every now and then. Something not as big as the pond. That way it's easier to drain and it doesn't have to be drained, cleaned and re-filled as often as the pond. Hope that makes sense lol.

I was hoping to get my photography work going this month, but I can't do it full on like i had planned with surgery looming. In the spring a lot will change like the style of the pond which will make it easier for everyone. Hopefully we can get water coming from the big house too. But for now we have to do things the hard way!

Thanks for the advice though!
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Looks like I'm not the only one who has been overly busy lately and not getting on to post.
We lost our first chicken on Saturday, one of the original 6 that got us started with chickens - a buff orpington. I'm not sure what happened to her - my son locked the chickens up for the night, but she was left outside. When I went out to open the coop the next morning, she was huddled up next to the "people" door. I picked her up, she looked ok, but was very cold. I put her in the coop under the light, gave her water and food. Long story short, she never got better, and in 2 days she was dead.
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All the other chickens and roosters are well though, so I'm thinking she just got chilled or scared to death.
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Hi Everyone!

Things are so busy here-as usual! I had a minute to check in...took awhile to catch up on the posts!

Hope everyone is keeping warm and I am hoping that spring comes real quick!

Sarah
 
Sorry about all the lossing of poultry. If I could get rid of one thing it would be the predators!

There is a vet in Williamston or Webberville that treats poultry. It cost us a few years ago, $40 to be seen. Not really cost effective
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Cannot remember the name, they were by I-96.
 
Oh and I was able to talk to the owner of Fowlerville Poultry. They lost their lease and cannot get a loan to relocate and build. I haven't been successfull in finding the mobile processor. I have heard through the grapevine that there is one for large animal too...

Kristine said that the processor by Owosso, that was mentioned during that discussion, is a good one to go to.

Sarah
 
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I'm sorry I got so upset. I just get very defensive when people act like they know me. Just like you said, we all have our opinions. My opinions have already been stated. I hate the holidays not just because of my biological family, but because of how fake so many people are around this time of year! People treat each other like junk until this time! Also the statement about if I was happier I would stay out of the ER.
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That has absolutely nothing to do with it! First of all, I am happier than I have ever been. I even stated that this Thanksgiving was the best yet because the only family member I had here was my daughter. She gets treated like junk by our family too.

I don't have to over-decorate my home, light it up with a bunch of stupid lights or play a bunch of sappy xmas music to be happy. I'm not a fake person by any means.

There. That's all I'm going to say on the issue and I'd appreciate it if anyone has an objection, take it privately. This forum is not the place for this to keep going on!! This is NOT high school!!

I have an objection and have a right to post it on this thread just as you did.
You are right that this is not high school. Everbody has a right to give their opinion. You gave yours and other folks gave theirs. Thats what grown-ups do.
And in my opinion most people who decorate their homes are not fake, they just enjoy Christmas. They even enjoy those sappy songs that started on the radio after Halloween.
Good luck with your surgery.

edited for typo!!
 
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I definitely notice a difference in how folks act during the holidays. True some a grumpy but the majority seem to put forth a little extra effort to practice the holiday spirit, and I am grateful for any day that folks trying to be nice to each other.
 
Quote:
I'm sorry I got so upset. I just get very defensive when people act like they know me. Just like you said, we all have our opinions. My opinions have already been stated. I hate the holidays not just because of my biological family, but because of how fake so many people are around this time of year! People treat each other like junk until this time! Also the statement about if I was happier I would stay out of the ER.
gig.gif
lau.gif
That has absolutely nothing to do with it! First of all, I am happier than I have ever been. I even stated that this Thanksgiving was the best yet because the only family member I had here was my daughter. She gets treated like junk by our family too.

I don't have to over-decorate my home, light it up with a bunch of stupid lights or play a bunch of sappy xmas music to be happy. I'm not a fake person by any means.

There. That's all I'm going to say on the issue and I'd appreciate it if anyone has an objection, take it privately. This forum is not the place for this to keep going on!! This is NOT high school!!

I have an objection and have a right to post it on this thread just as you did.
You are right that this is not high school. Everbody has a right to give their opinion. You gave yours and other folks gave theirs. Thats what grown-ups do.
And in my opinion most people who decorate their homes are not fake, they just enjoy Christmas. They even enjoy those sappy songs that started on the radio after Halloween.
Good luck with your surgery.

edited for typo!!

Thanks Krisrose for defending my "stupid lights" that we put up for the grandkids and neighborhood kids to enjoy and I love the "sappy" X-mas music. It's just so happy sounding and makes me happy. Christmas lives in the heart, and if one wants to let it out...so be it!
Glad to see the MIA's are back to post again!! Hi Sam and Sarah! Hope your Thanksgiving was fantastic!
 
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