NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

I dont know know if there is a course or not but i want to be a chicken vet. I love chickens and dont mind alittle blood. I talked to my vet about my chicken and they looked at me like a was wearing the dang thing on my head or something. From what i know i think i still have a few years on my GI bill to help pay for stuff but atm dont know what to go for or where to go. I dont thinkg i would mind the animal sitting job but finding enough people who are going out of town often enough to pay your bills would probaly be hard to do. Not to mention the cost of gas and if something goes wrong they hold you accountable wich i wouldnt mind but lets face it freak things happen with animals that we cant control but you know someone out there will blame you then try to sue you. If i did the sitting think i would have to walk around with a video cam strapped to my head so i can show what i did or didnt do lol. I love animal and wouldnt mind learning more maybe i should see what it takes to be a farm vet.

FYI Vet school is longer than med school for people. Much more to learn.

I don't think that anyone could make a living being a farm animal sitter....but it would be something you could do to suppliment your income. Might have to start your day at 5 am when you have a job so you can get to your day job on time....but it would be worth it. As far as gas, charge 25 cents a mile on top of your daily rate. Draw up a contract that says what you will and won't do and that you are not responsible for death of animals from predators, thieft of said animals, animals breaking out of fencing, nor responsible for replacement of any animal left in your care, etc....and require the name of their vet in case an animal becomes sick. You would probably be giving them an hour for free in getting to know the situation, where things were kept and exactly what had to be done for each species. And your income from this side job would totally depend on where you live. Around me, here in Feura Bush? There are so many animals on small farms I would probably have one or two cases a week in vacation season. If you lived in the middle of some big city suburban sprawl? Not so much demand. But it is a totally under served population.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Taking Equine Courses is not like regular college classes, there is much more involved physically. Like spending days and nights at the barn, which is fine when your a full time student. I got my Associate in Stable Management at Caz, then stayed an extra year for a certificate in Equine Reproduction. I really enjoyed it and should have transferred to Mo'ville to complete a BA in Equine Reproduction. But, equine industry is down, at least in some places. I was a trainer for a couple years after college, then end up with a broken collarbone and the farm discontinued training at that point. I miss the equine life, but have 3 horse pasture pets to fill the void. And if it wasn't for getting out of training, I would never have applied for the job I have had for 10 years now. Horse jobs are hard work, little pay or benefits, high risk, but oh so rewarding for the soul. Check around your local stables and network through equine friends. I know I have seen a couple working student opportunities show up through Facebook. Degree not required. Just brush up your skills and you may find something.

Lap, I also got my Stable and farm management degree from Caz.(long before it was coed and 4 years). I never recommend for anyone (unless you are independently wealthy) to get a degree in Equine studies. Major in something else, minor in equine studies. For the amount one pays for a degree, how physically hard the work is and substandard wages one receives for farm work is degrading. As for the rewarding part I agree, but that is why I have my own horses. And why I went back to school to afford to not only keep them but to actually do anything with them. Imho, a degree in Equine studies is simply not worth it.

I apologize if anyone finds my opinion grating or in anyway offensive, but it is my opinion.

 

[rancher hicks]

FYI Vet school is longer than med school for people. Much more to learn.

I don't think that anyone could make a living being a farm animal sitter....but it would be something you could do to suppliment your income. Might have to start your day at 5 am when you have a job so you can get to your day job on time....but it would be worth it. As far as gas, charge 25 cents a mile on top of your daily rate. Draw up a contract that says what you will and won't do and that you are not responsible for death of animals from predators, thieft of said animals, animals breaking out of fencing, nor responsible for replacement of any animal left in your care, etc....and require the name of their vet in case an animal becomes sick. You would probably be giving them an hour for free in getting to know the situation, where things were kept and exactly what had to be done for each species. And your income from this side job would totally depend on where you live. Around me, here in Feura Bush? There are so many animals on small farms I would probably have one or two cases a week in vacation season. If you lived in the middle of some big city suburban sprawl? Not so much demand. But it is a totally under served population.

Nothing surprises me these days. I once read a question in the Car Talk article where a girl wanted to know what vehicle would be good for her traveling Vet hospital.

The guy who fixed my lawnmower came to the house. $35 house call plus. Not bad for the 20 - 30 mins he was here. Think about it. $70 hr. Not to bad.

I paid to have someone come and take care of my chickens and house sit. He was a friend of course but still I paid. Diversity is the key.

Look how I was willing to pay to have a hive set on my property and then receive a share of the honey. Honey is what $14 lb. ? or more.

Then too, I talked of getting some sheeps, but I would have to pay a vet to come and have a look at them from time to time. Imagine being a traveling vet doing dog or cat check ups?

Unless of course your dog looked like this.

or your cat looked like this.

Now if it was a happy cat like this, that would be okay.

But you'd definitely would'nt want to lift your cat if it was this heavy. Lord have mercy you'd kill yourself just trying to get it onto the exam table.

And you might need to call the Priest instead of a vet , if you cat looked like this.

Yes I agree you must cover your butt. Good garden o' peas, I've seen some hatching eggs that folks paid for and no way they were fresh, yet egg sellers always cover their butt by blaming the PO or you, but that's another story.

You've really got to use your imagination.

 

[Glasshen]

Just was out to give the girls breakfast, and we have a heavy dusting of snow, which revealed the flock had a nocturnal visitor. It squeezed under the gate, where there is a gap of perhaps four inches, and toured the whole pen, completely circled the coop, and went to the fence in a few places, but left as it entered. There was enough s ow on the tracks that I can't see them clearly, but I think I saw indications of claws and Each side uses the same spot for front and back paw placement. The entire double print was about the length of my index finger, almost three inches. Any ideas?

 

[Lapeerian]

Lap, I also got my Stable and farm management degree from Caz.(long before it was coed and 4 years). I never recommend for anyone (unless you are independently wealthy) to get a degree in Equine studies. Major in something else, minor in equine studies. For the amount one pays for a degree, how physically hard the work is and substandard wages one receives for farm work is degrading. As for the rewarding part I agree, but that is why I have my own horses. And why I went back to school to afford to not only keep them but to actually do anything with them. Imho, a degree in Equine studies is simply not worth it.

I apologize if anyone finds my opinion grating or in anyway offensive, but it is my opinion.

I went for the 2 year degree, before it was only 4 year. Thankfully my dairy farm upbringing and the required Accounting classes in college are what got me in my current job. Very few of us actually go on to stick with an Equine job. My one friend works as a secretary at St Joes Hospital, but does show her horse in hunters and dressage as a hobby. My roomie and husband, both equine majors, just moved from Long Island to Texas this fall, no equine jobs there either. Long Island was too expensive to survive, but she had a successful pet sitting job on the side (in the Hamptons). I know of others that have become successful trainers/instructors, but they also had the "in" before college. Or the wealthy family.
My dad wanted me to go to Vet School, because then he could have a free vet for the cows. I don't have the stomach for it. College Biology and Equine Anatomy/Physiology when we were cutting through animals was enough for me!

 

[rancher hicks]

Just was out to give the girls breakfast, and we have a heavy dusting of snow, which revealed the flock had a nocturnal visitor. It squeezed under the gate, where there is a gap of perhaps four inches, and toured the whole pen, completely circled the coop, and went to the fence in a few places, but left as it entered. There was enough s ow on the tracks that I can't see them clearly, but I think I saw indications of claws and Each side uses the same spot for front and back paw placement. The entire double print was about the length of my index finger, almost three inches. Any ideas?

Depends on the pattern of the print too. One foot in front of the other.? Alternating foot pattern ? Did they look like anything you've seen before? Did you check a foot print page? Got pics ?

 

[ke5hde]

Gramma Chick - this one.....

Like Ke said, it's a Silver Barnevelder, not too popular yet because only a few people are working on them. I like them a lot. Would probably even consider getting one in the future....

They're around, local too. I had a chance at a silver roo last spring but my girls were too young.

 

[Lynzi777]

They're around, local too. I had a chance at a silver roo last spring but my girls were too young.

I looked up that Green Fire Farms, they didn't have a price under this color because they didn't have any available but under the other Blue Barnies it said $89.00 for a day old chick??? Who in their right mind pays that for 1 single chick? Unless I'm missing something....

 

[Overhill Flocks]

I looked up that Green Fire Farms, they didn't have a price under this color because they didn't have any available but under the other Blue Barnies it said $89.00 for a day old chick??? Who in their right mind pays that for 1 single chick? Unless I'm missing something....

Hah! I covet some of the Green Fire breeds -- $89.00 per chick isn't even the most expensive chick on that site! If you're not going to seriously breed and sell the stock, I can't see how Green Fire would be a reasonable option for anyone. They do occasionally offer chicks, pairs, and trios on Rare Breed Auctions, however.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. A dusting of snow here this morning along with a sprinkling of rain. Terrorists blame me for the white stuff. I opened one of the jars of chicken I canned a couple of months ago and boy was it good! Tasty and tender but not mushy. I restrained myself from eating the whole jar but I really wanted to! I will definately be canning more chicken in the future. Still only getting 2 to 3 eggs a day from 19 hens. Slackers.

Have a good day everyone.