The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[Peanutsmomma]

You didn't happen to test your soil before you planted did you? I would love to know the composition because your soil is beautiful. Compost is an amazing thing but all of Mother's Natures methods are.

Have you ever researched "grounding" to help alleviate Tom's back pain? I used to sleep grounded (I need to buy or make a new grounding mat) and it made a big difference in reducing inflammation. Earthing.com has some good info but you don't have to buy their products as there are plenty of Youtube videos that show you how to make grounding mats.

Hope you get to moving around better too my dear.

 

[speckledhen]

You didn't happen to test your soil before you planted did you? I would love to know the composition because your soil is beautiful. Compost is an amazing thing but all of Mother's Natures methods are.

Have you ever researched "grounding" to help alleviate Tom's back pain? I used to sleep grounded (I need to buy or make a new grounding mat) and it made a big difference in reducing inflammation. Earthing.com has some good info but you don't have to buy their products as there are plenty of Youtube videos that show you how to make grounding mats.

Hope you get to moving around better too my dear.

No, didn't test the soil. It was mostly chicken poop and pine shavings but before this season, we quit adding to it. Grains from the scratch in it had grown lots of greens and so there was "green manure" in the pile. We tilled it and found rich black dirt full of worms under the top surface. Seems to be doing great. Guess it sat long enough to "cook" out the excess nitrogen and for the shavings to break down well.

Tom's back is that way because he is missing several discs. He has degenerative disc disease. It is going to be a permanent issue unless there is a new surgical techinque to do something with his spine. He had surgery when a disc pretty much exploded while on temporary duty in Texas and he came back in a wheelchair. That was over 20 years ago. He has been afraid to have more surgery for fear of paralysis since he says he will not live paralyzed and back surgery is always risky. He hates changing doctors because they always want him to do physical therapy and that is useless. No amount of exercise, if he could even do it without putting himself in bed for a week, is going to grow discs back. He has bone against bone in the spine so that is just going to be painful unless, as I mentioned, he can have some sort of surgery again.

 

[1muttsfan]

PT seems risky for someone with bad disks.

Guest room available for anyone too hot. I see we are on the cool side, and Holm on the hot side of the jet stream. Another year waiting for summer to happen.

 

[holm25]

PT seems risky for someone with bad disks.

Guest room available for anyone too hot. I see we are on the cool side, and Holm on the hot side of the jet stream. Another year waiting for summer to happen.

Great I had the poultry and other livestock start packing their bags

 

[holm25]

I hope u guys start feeling better!! And Lizzie looks AMAZING!!

 

[speckledhen]

I hope u guys start feeling better!! And Lizzie looks AMAZING!!

Thank you, sweetie.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

No, didn't test the soil. It was mostly chicken poop and pine shavings but before this season, we quit adding to it. Grains from the scratch in it had grown lots of greens and so there was "green manure" in the pile. We tilled it and found rich black dirt full of worms under the top surface. Seems to be doing great. Guess it sat long enough to "cook" out the excess nitrogen and for the shavings to break down well.

Tom's back is that way because he is missing several discs. He has degenerative disc disease. It is going to be a permanent issue unless there is a new surgical techinque to do something with his spine. He had surgery when a disc pretty much exploded while on temporary duty in Texas and he came back in a wheelchair. That was over 20 years ago. He has been afraid to have more surgery for fear of paralysis since he says he will not live paralyzed and back surgery is always risky. He hates changing doctors because they always want him to do physical therapy and that is useless. No amount of exercise, if he could even do it without putting himself in bed for a week, is going to grow discs back. He has bone against bone in the spine so that is just going to be painful unless, as I mentioned, he can have some sort of surgery again.

Oh my goodness!!! Tom's situation sounds horrendous. Did an injury contribute to his disc problems or does it run in his family? The reason I ask if it is genetic is because spine and hip problems seem to run in my family on my Mom's side. When she was my age (51) she had already had 1 back surgery. At 40, I started noticing little aches and pains creeping in that seemed very similar to what I remember my Mom dealing with. I started going to a Chiropractor and to head off any problems and 11 years later I am still doing great in the back and hip dept. My heart really goes to anyone with any type of frame problem. There is not a lot you can do when you are in excruciating pain. I am always telling the kids, "TAKE CARE OF YOUR BACKS!"

I hope that you are both doing better this morning!

 

[speckledhen]

Oh my goodness!!! Tom's situation sounds horrendous. Did an injury contribute to his disc problems or does it run in his family? The reason I ask if it is genetic is because spine and hip problems seem to run in my family on my Mom's side. When she was my age (51) she had already had 1 back surgery. At 40, I started noticing little aches and pains creeping in that seemed very similar to what I remember my Mom dealing with. I started going to a Chiropractor and to head off any problems and 11 years later I am still doing great in the back and hip dept. My heart really goes to anyone with any type of frame problem. There is not a lot you can do when you are in excruciating pain. I am always telling the kids, "TAKE CARE OF YOUR BACKS!"

I hope that you are both doing better this morning!

No, we don't believe it's genetic, necessarily, but I guess the tendency could be. We don't know of anyone in his family with this issue. He fell through a rotten floor with one leg while on National Guard duty in his early 20's on weekend. And he's fallen on ice while living at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio after that, so multiple injuries contributed. He has lots of nerve pain. And he blew out a knee a few years ago. Some of the stuff is deteriorating with old age-the orthopedic doctor told him that his parts are just wearing out in the joints.

That and my osteopenia and arthritis make it difficult to think of keeping multiple groups of chickens, especially when I have a husband who sometimes is completely out of commission, though he does his best to push through the pain when he can. I was debating hatching those BR eggs I have, but I just don't have it in me to do it right now. May be a mistake, but I'm just too tired.

 

[seminolewind]

Just wanted you to see the wall in my bedroom that has absolutely nothing to do with Atlas or breeding.

 

[speckledhen]

Just wanted you to see the wall in my bedroom that has absolutely nothing to do with Atlas or breeding.

It looks beautiful there, Karen! I'm going to have to make a similar one some day soon in a different color family, though I personally love those colors.