Michigan

[Olive Hill]

I just can't drink that stuff, Opa. But I'm up and at 'em. Well, I'm up.

 

[snowflake]

Opa ,Your son thought he was being very funny I'm sure, Kids say the darnedest things, one of the guys at work said his daughter told him the other day, You don't look old at all for your age, Or my grand daughter that said when you die Gram can I have those ear rings.

Nova, a lot of people remove spurs on purpose google it there are some good videos,..Thought about doing it with one of my roos that has 3* long spurs, Took Opa's advice instead and used the dremel

Have a good day all, off to work

 

[NovaAman]

oh, cool. I will google it. I didn't know you could do it! I knew you could trim. His are about 2 inches...

 

[Opa]

One method that can be used for removing spurs is a hot potato. Securely bind the bird and place a small very hot potato on the spur. Allow it to set for a minute or two. Then grasp the spur with pliers, twist and pull, the spur comes right off. The heat from the potato cauterized the blood vessels so there should be no bleeding. The spur formed over a bony protrusion on the leg and this will remain. I would recommend applying anti-biotic salve to the area. New keratin will soon form over this bone.

Remember whether trimming or pull either method is only temporary and like finger nails the spurs will regrow and the process will need to be repeated. For a permanent solution spurs and the bony protrusion can be sawn or even sanded off, but I would not recommend this as the bleeding can be quite severe and cauterizing with a red hot iron would be necessary.

 

[M.sue]

Morning.....ever have one of those days when things are going well, you're caught up on everything that needed to be done and thinking how nice it would be to stay home & putter around and then reality hits......You Have To Go To Work! Well that's my morning.....I guess the puttering will have to wait til this weekend.

I need to dig up a old pair of jeans for this weekend. I might google and see if there's a video or something on trimming chickens nails. I told my aunt what I had planned for the weekend and burst out laughing! She said...."I don't remember your GF (her father) ever doing that."

 

[M.sue]

One method that can be used for removing spurs is a hot potato. Securely bind the bird and place a small very hot potato on the spur. Allow it to set for a minute or two. Then grasp the spur with pliers, twist and pull, the spur comes right off. The heat from the potato cauterized the blood vessels so there should be no bleeding. The spur formed over a bony protrusion on the leg and this will remain. I would recommend applying anti-biotic salve to the area. New keratin will soon form over this bone.

Remember whether trimming or pull either method is only temporary and like finger nails the spurs will regrow and the process will need to be repeated. For a permanent solution spurs and the bony protrusion can be sawn or even sanded off, but I would not recommend this as the bleeding can be quite severe and cauterizing with a red hot iron would be necessary.

OUCH!

 

[Mom 2em All]

For some dumb reason I've been up since 420. The second pot of coffee has just finished brewing, so for those of you who keep forgetting to buy coffee, come on over and help yourself.

I've got to go to pick up my 87 year old farmer friend and take him to buy two new toilets. He has decided that he would like to have comfort heighth toilets and I guess you know who will be installing them. With two elderly neighbors who call on me for help, my farmer friend, Hope's stepfather, and Granny, it seems my life has become a geriatric marathon. Then I look in the mirror and realize I'm real close behind them.

Sunday I've got to head for Kentucky Lake. I wish it was for crappie fishing. When my dad was alive I kept a boat in a marina there for his use. Several times each year I would go down to go fishing with him. The first time I fished there I was shocked to discover that there was a minimum size limit of 10" on crappie. Here that would be a decent fish. After just a day of fishing I learned that crappie school according to age. If you are catching small fish, quit and move to another spot. If we weren't catching fish 14-15" we would move.

This trip I must go visit a younger brother who had been living in Granny's house. He now must live in an assisted living home so I am going to see what if any of Granny's things are still there and bring them back and also get the place listed with a realtor. For a place that had once held so many great memories having to deal with this is going to be more than a little sad.

Sam, thats hard. Prayers for a safe trip for you, both actual and memory-wise. When my grandparents died, it was so hard to go through their house. It was harder yet when it was sold- and my dad bought the house across the street from them. It feels wrong every time I go down there, and look across the road at all my memories- and realize its off-limits now, and not a place I am free to roam. The new owners have changed everything, and they built a huge house where the old barn and pond used to be.

Thanks. But I expected it. Sad thing about it is she was one I had made into a pet. I could go out at anytime day or night and walk right up to her and pet her. Just goes along with farming. Not the first and I'm sure won't be the last. Sad though, none the less.

Im sorry for your loss- it is so sad to lose one that we have become close to.

RBahmer.....sorry about momma ewe.

Good luck with the upcoming arrivals! If your spirits & energy is up at the end of the day....post some pics. I would love to see them.

Opa...I've always felt it to be quite an honor when people (family/friends) entrust their personal matters in me even though it is a huge responsibility and sometimes can be stressful. Hoping things work out well.

Teeville.....so glad to hear & see that everyone is getting back to normal after the other day's incident.

Sillychicken......good idea about wrapping them in a towel before trimming! My DH suggested putting their leg in a vice to keep them from moving!! Of course he was only joking!! You say lay them on their backs.......what about on their side?

MOM2......I would not want to get my hair caught in the Dremel!! As a child I had it caught in a windup action car's wheel. My brother thought it would be funny to see how close he could get it to my head with the wheels spinning full force....stupid little brother!!

I had a stupid little brother who ran a truck in my hair when I was sixteen. I wanted to kill him, but my dad wouldnt let me. I still would have, if I could have caught him.

House chickens?
Bra chickens?
Chickens with nail polish?

And yet I get grief for groping. It just ain't fair.

I was thinking the turken babies would look cute with pink bows on their naked necks....

DH told me about a guy whose dad raised pigs and chickens. Could never figure out why the chickens kept disappearing until one day he saw a pig reach through the fencing and bite down on a chicken that had got too close to the pen. Pig was getting itself some free chicken dinners.

my brother in laws pigs ate the turkeys. One by one the turkeys commited suicide by jumping in the pig pen. I understand the first one didnt know any better...but the other two watched what happened, and then they took turns jumping in there.

I did not know that a pig would eat a live chicken!

That is probably why my uncle who raised pigs never had any and left the chicken raising to my grandfather.

Question: If a chicken has a bald spot from an old wound will the feathers eventually grow back in?

Carmen was my pet chicken...okay, fine, she was my daughters chicken...but my weiner dog ripped off her back when she was little. Its what brought me here originally. I nursed her back to health. She had a huge scar on her back- most of her back. As she grew, the scar did not, so it appeared smaller but she never grew any feathers there.

100% agreed. One almost ate my grandfather because he was getting a piglet out of the fence. His Collie stepped in and that was all that saved him. I was little and was watching. I'm scared to death of pigs. Grandpa always told us kids " Stay away from the pig pen. Them pigs will eat you ". I learned well and am scared to death of a pig.

My mom loves to tell me stories of growing up with her granpas hogs. They had her and her sister pinned on the top of their shed for hours before someone heard their screams and came to their rescue. They had ignored his warning to stay away from the hogs, and Mom still recalls feeling their breath on her legs as she ran for her life.
She says the whippin she received after she was safely retrieved from the shed was worse than being eaten by a hog.

Not long ago I was talking with my oldest son and he was telling me how many people are surprised by the variety of things he knows about and he answer to them was "my dad taught me". He continued with how he wished he lived closer as there are many more things he wishes to know about. So there I sat feeling quite proud and happy when he then tells me "I guess I need to call more often and ask questions before you start forgetting what you know". So if any of you that are new to chickens, or farming, or anything else I am more than happy to share from my experience, but you might want to do it quick while I still can remember.

I had an experience of feeling very confused yesterday- and I think I let my family down. My daughter had a seizure again, a real bad one that left her unconscious for quite some time. She ended up in Childrens Hospital by ambulance. We first went to Oakwood- and they transferred her. When she came to, she had some amnesia- and had no idea that she has a brother and sisters, etc.
Talking to the doctor about her history I couldnt recall names of meds, last seizure, etc..and I hesitated with my answers. I never ever do that- have great recall. My oldest stepdaughter chastised me once the doctor left. She said, "you froze up when the doctor was talking to you!" "If I hadnt been here, they wouldnt know anything"."It's like you don't even live with her". Her words hurt. It more than frustrated me. Ive noticed the rustiness in my brain getting worse..sometimes it terrifies me, sometimes it frustrates me.

oh, cool. I will google it. I didn't know you could do it! I knew you could trim. His are about 2 inches...

I no longer remember what I was going to add to this. lol. So in reading it- two inches..hmm. Okay. I have no clue. I think I was going to add something about toenail trimming. In my practicum, I had to collect a blood sample from one of our chickens- my brother-in-laws chickens. I had a hematocrit tube, and nail clippers. I had to cut the nail too short on purpose, and collect blood. That bird bled like crazy, and of course the flopping and flapping around made it worse. I do believe that Sam has given great advice in the past about removing spurs- I planned on doing it before with my brother in laws rooster because he tears the hens up. I never got brave enough to do it.
ETA- look he did it again, in the time that it took me to reply to all of this. lol. Great work, Sam!

 

[taprock]

I was thinking the turken babies would look cute with pink bows on their naked necks....

Aww ....Raz give 'em some pretty bows!

This one is from my DH. who finds all these "Cute" chicken pictures for me.


I have had to run into town every day this week. I feel like I have gotten nothing done. Today the hope is after school this morning to get taxes done, seeds ordered and maybe get some sewing done. The local PTO which my sister is part of, is having me make bags, totes, purses in the school colors to sell. I have to have a supply ready by the 14th. The ones they like the best are the feed sacks, inside out so that the kids can sign them with sharpies. They want as much reused, recycled as possible. My sister heads up their Terra cycle program to earn money.

 

[antlolli80]

mom 2em all
Stress and anxiety could play a part in your forgetfulness, also a cause for your stepdaughters harsh words. You need to agknowledge your feelings, tell yourself its okay, then write down the important information, (example) last seizure, and meds. Place this in your wallet, and up date it when things change. You will have the information at your fingertips for the next time. You are not the only one this happens to I see it everyday, and its okay.

 

[Bianca67]

Mom, don't be so hard on yourself, we all have those moments of "brain freeze" and they usually happen at the absolute wrong moment. Your DD was in the hospital and that puts you at automatic overload anyway. As we age we all have those moments more and more.