South Carolina

[Joycats]

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Oh Susanne, the damage is overwhelming. I am so sorry for your loss and grateful that you and your daughter are okay. I agree with Amy, I think I would go ahead and move the chicken coops downhill. It doesn't make sense to keep putting them there and watching them take damage from the weather. And if you decide one day to build a house there on top of that hill, just make sure you put a basement in it so you'll have a safe place to wait out the storms. I think I would go ahead and plant some trees wherever I thought I might like to have a house. Give them a head start on growth and one day you'll have a windbreak up there. Just a thought. I sure hope your kitty comes back. I am so sad about your beautiful birds. Hope you didn't lose any goats.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

They're not really on a hill. They're just not down in a valley. They're on the middle part of the farm which is the only flat space. And that has electricity and water access. There are much higher points on the farm in the front and back. I considered running down to the pond behind the house last night but I'm glad I didn't. Two trees were snapped down there! I think if I asked Cole to move everything, he would shoot me. All the runs are cemented into the ground. I would probably be leaving the chicken business!

Turns out I only lost two seramas and my blue Marans hen.... and about 15 babies. I had 10 babies survive. I looked at them today and wondered how they lived through the coop flying through the air and smashing. They were all over the place in the pasture, soaking wet and crying. I had two die that we saved but the rest look fine. And some are less than two weeks old and silkies! It's mostly just infrastructure repair but we managed to get everyone somewhere today with fresh food, water and shelter. All that time it took putting those runs together! ARGH! We had just spent two weeks putting netting over the pasture so the hawk couldn't get the layers. Of course, that's all gone. I'm still amazed that all the chickens managed to stay put while the huge coops were flying around. Cole said maybe the covers on the runs stopped them from flying out but no one seems hurt or even bothered by it all.

My kitty finally showed back up! It could have been much worse. I'm at my big, brick house in town tonight. No more trailers for me! Of course the kids are happy because we lived in a nice gated neighborhood with a pool and tennis. I think they've been missing their friends. Guess everything works out for a reason!

Was it a full moon last night? I can't believe all the drama that was going on with us. Yikes!

Amy, I referred a customer to you. She wants some hens. She's somewhere in Greenville and decided it was too far to drive down here.

Everyone stay cool and safe tonight!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

So glad you all feel better today, Susanne. Things do look better the next day. I am sorry for the loss of your birds but it could have been so much worse. That is the way I look at things. God does have a purpose for everything even though we may not see it.

No doubt you all are glad to be back in a big house. Mobile homes are okay and I have spent the last 31 years in one or another but I would feel safer with a basement. Even in houses I think I would feel safer with a basement. Lucky Kimberly and Joy! Even a half basement is safer than the closet of a double wide.

Susanne, could you feel the single wide shuttering or moving with the wind yesterday? I did when the wind shear came thorough in my single wide but in this double wide I seldom even know the wind is blowing.

Thank you for the referral. I am pretty well sold out except for "novelty" chickens but I will certainly talk to them.

 

[NellaBean]

Amy, I saw this and thought of you.

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/grd/2469890657.html

 

[huckleberryfarm]

The singlewide was definitely shaking. All the skirting is gone. Last time we had a storm, all the roof shingles came off. Thankfully we're just renting it from the guy we bought the farm from so we don't have to fix it! Definitely things could have been worse. I'm still amazed that any chickens are still here and I'm happy they're dumb enough (or smart enough) to stay with the coops and runs even when the run walls are gone. I didn't have any get loose and almost all could have if they wanted to! Chickens certainly are creatures of habits.

Amy Nadine... you have 700 chickens and no hens.... what on earth do you have? I really need to come for a visit! What's a novelty chicken? A silkie? She saw my silkies on the website and now wants one. She homeschools 6 children, bless her heart!

 

[gavinandallison]

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If you need any help, just ask.......................

 

[NellaBean]

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I sold a few bantam cochin hens to a family with 6 homeschooled children also. A couple weeks later they came back and bought the remaining dozen hens. They had layers for eggs and the bantams were pets for the kids. I gave them a little "dwarf" pullet I had and when the lady checked in a few weeks later she said that between the 6 kids, the pullet's feet never touched the ground. It was just carried around constantly.

 

[Joycats]

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She has a lot of pets!

 

[Billyj]

Ok everybody. Got a question. Does anyone in the upstate breed OEGB's. I know it is a silly question, but I just got some I think (reason 1 for the post - to verify they are), and also how to get into showing them (reason 2). I would appreciate any help someone could give. I kind of need a mentor if you will. thanks

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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OMG! That is just what I need, Janelle! Okay, maybe not! I could fill that up so easily and then pull my hair out trying to care for them all after they were old enough to leave it. But that thing is awesome! Look at the height and length of it! How totally amazing! Great price, too.

The man that fixed our AC unit used to fight chickens back in the 70's and 80's and said he had a huge incubator that would hatch the chicks out and later roll them out into their brooder cages. He said he sold it for $2000 but it cost him about $8000 new. He said it had all the bells and whistles and sounded like something from the future to me!

This reminds me of that. Look at all the stuff with it!

Unfortunately I have to go get my car today and it is going to cost me about $250 because of towing and storage fees. Yup, I married one of the great ones. He didn't get paid for last week since it was the 4th and he is with a temp service so this gets to come out of MY savings. And he doesn't understand why we still have mine and his after 31 years of marriage.