So I'm Crazy...So What?!

[Oaknim]

I've always been a worrier - about the most bizarre things in the world, that have nothing to do with me, that are completely out of my control. I can't really help it, it's something ingrained in me that's always been there.

Anyways, Kansas has been hit hard by a lot of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the past few days, which led to me to hatch a plan to get every single animal into the basement, minus the horses and donkeys for the very reason that I have neither the strength nor the stamina to pull a donkey or a 600 pound horse down a flight of stairs. My family thinks I'm insane since I calculated it would take me about 27 minutes to get all the chickens/ducks/geese/guineas into the basement, willing they cooperate. My question is: is there anyone else as insane as I am? Will I be the only casualty as a result of running to and fro between a barn and a house, my arm full of fowl? I'm doing it anyways!

~ Oaknim

p.s. - Pray for Greensburg, KS.

 

[merryreader]

Oh, I have thought the very same thing. But, living in Maine, it's not the tornados, but an occasional hurricane. If I was in a tornado area, I would have a plan in place. 27 minutes seems like a long time. Any way you can shorten it? How much warning do you get ahead of time. Isn't there ANY plan for the horses and donleys, or will they get a safe place on their own? Merry

 

[Oaknim]

We live out in the middle of fields, so we don't have any sirens, but we watch the weather on t.v. and also have an alert on the computer. It takes 27 minutes because the barn is about 50 yards from the house, with a fence in between that keeps all the horses, goats and donkeys in. They have the barn (that has a concrete foundation and good construction) and a large grain silo to take shelter in (also with a concrete foundation and bolted into the ground), but if a giant tornado rips through here, there's really nothing anyone can do for any of us. Plus, we have over 60 birds to move and I'm usually the only one home, so I'd be doing it myself after I crammed the kids, the dogs, the cats, and the rabbit into the basement. So I did a test run carrying a cage that holds about 7 birds (nicely packed in there) and with opening and closing the gate, it was a little under half an hour.

My in-laws live in MD and PA and they don't understand how we can live in Kansas (though they used to). My FIL's wife call us up and screams at us to pack our stuff and get the heck out of here.

With the high winds we've had lately, a lot of birds have lost their nests and eggs - I found a bunch of them scattered throughout the yard yesterday. A lot of them take refuge in the loft of the barn and the swallows get very upset at all the "strangers" invading their nesting area. There's a lot of shrill screaming going on at night.

~ Oaknim

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

We're in hurricane country. Ever hear of anyone at a shelter with oh, about 37 chickens or so in tow? Hahhahaha!

Seriously, I have no idea what I will do if a hurricane comes (I was here for Hugo). This is a good thread idea. Can anybody offer up their advice on what to do "in case of" plans?
You know, how to get them rounded up quickly, what to put them in for transport, or where to put them if you have to leave them? would anyone recommend letting them free range in case of storms, in order to let them naturally seek their own shelter?

 

[Oaknim]

My goats will follow me anywhere, so getting them into the basement is no problem. When the weather gets bad, the chickens usually go into the coop and wait it out, so they're easy to catch. I've been thinking about hounding DH to make a bigger, sturdier cage that I can place onto the garden wagon and that way, be able to pull them along - which is faster than lugging that cage at a tilt. They'd probably be okay, but I get severe paranoia when it comes to my animals. A lot of my extended family says, "They're just chickens, they're not that important, it's not like you couldn't get more." un Feel my wrath! lol I love all of my chickens just like I love all of my other animals. We do have a storm celler beneath the cat house (where the feral cats eat and sleep), so I'm sure I could stuff a few birds in there at the last minute. And, I always have at least 5 gallons of distilled water and non-perishable food in the house, as well as chicken feed and other grains/seeds.

Does anyone have a chicken storm shelter at their place?

Fowlweather - I would love to see someone walk into a shelter with 37 chickens - I'd be the first one trying to schmooze up to your birds.

~ Oaknim

 

[SpottedCrow]

Not any crazier than the rest of us...
I've seen some pics on the news of Greensberg...It was lucky that only 10 were killed...the town in flattened...

If they weren't going to take my pets to the shelter, I wouldn't go either. That happened in NO during Katrina. Some guy smuggled his parrot in his sweatshirt onto a bus and they booted him when they found it!

 

[kstaven]

Funny you should ask about a chicken storm shelter. We do have one under part of our coop and barn area. About 550 square feet worth. We are the second owners of this property. Original owner didn't put it in for that though. He was into more recreational herb gardening.

 

[bobbieguyette]

I wont go to a shelter without my critters so thats out.I had a tornado warning last summer and hubbys mom and sister drove down the road to us and told us we had to go down to uncles basment (just down the street) I told em if my dogs or critters aint allowed (tho theyre little dog was) i aint going they got mad but too darn bad i stay with my babies

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

We are in Hurrican country Northern Florida We have tied down our chicken coop and have to hope for the best. they don't allow pets in the shelter here either. Last time we had to go to a hotel they took our dog but I doult they would take all our other critters. Micki

 

[skeeter9]

I guess I should feel lucky - we only have to worry about earthquakes here in central California!!! If we have a bad one, there's not really anything we can do but ride it out. It's not like we can see one coming or anything! I guess my chickens would just get one heck of a ride???

Lori