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

[seminolewind]

Hot as you can stand compresses or just run hot water over the itchy areas for a few minutes. Keep doing it every time the itch starts. It really works! And works on poison ivy or bug bites.

I thank you for that!

 

[seminolewind]

Oh...and the best thing I found for PI is Zanfel. It really works, but expensive. You can get it at any drugstore usually or probably a Wallmart.

ETA:
This has a grit to it. You scrub PI that has already broken out with it and the grit feels great because you're "scratching" the pi

I tried other things, but this stuff really works.

Oh my daughter had that at her barbque. It did relieve the itch.
This morning I went out and sprayed it all dead with ortho poison ivy killer. I then blocked off the area where it was. The chickens were hot and not happy with me fencing that small area off. I also sprayed anything that resembled poison ivy.
The itching has eased off except an area right under my breast which seems to get bigger. I must have taken contaminated hands and scratched that area.

 

[seminolewind]

I have another dilemma. It's too late for "I would have..."
This guy advertises on some local farm facebook page "two men and a truck and trailer", will haul away anything.
So I contact him about picking up this pile of unwanted wood, tool trunks, etc. They come the next day and clean it all up. He also says he's a carpenter. So I say that I need a set of stairs built inside patio to house door. So he says he'll come back tomorrow and measure it out. So he does 2 days later. His wife calls me and says I need to lay out the cash ($200.00) for the lumber. We had a discussion over this and eventually I gave them the cash to purchase the wood. He said he will be back later that day and finish the steps.
Now 4 days have past and I get no call, no answer to calls, just nothing. I've left messages and texts. Nothing.

So I'm out $200 for labor and $200 for materials. I am thinking of going to small claims court. All I have is his name, and the check someone cashed for him. So maybe I'll name this one that cashed the check for him as a conspirator in cheating me out of money. I'm so mad! They must be on drugs. I wonder how to get his address. or any other useful info. How angry I am! Next time someone can do the labor and materials and bill me. Lesson learned about trusting someone and paying in advance.

 

[seminolewind]

@seminolewind
POISON IVY!!!! I got it from my chickens a couple years ago. I had never had a PI allergy before, but I, like you, realized that they were walking through it every day and even gathering eggs was exposing me to it on a daily basis.

I guess that even if you've never reacted before, daily exposure like that can break down the defenses.

I had to rip it all out, then in the area where the deep roots were (that will always keep coming back, I needed to find a solution that was safe for the chickens. This is in a little wooded area that they have to run in.

I ended up purchasing a 50 lb bag of real salt - the kind you feed livestock - and salting the area where the PI was. I'd watch it for any growth and just kick it down with my shoe and apply more salt as needed. It worked great, and after watching it for 2 seasons, it hasn't returned.

The salt is safe for the chickens, and the area was small enough that I wasn't worried about hurting the ground.

That is too funny (not) that it happened to you too!

 

[getaclue]

Seminolewind, if he drove to your place, go to the Drivers License office. Tell them he took your money without doing the work. They may be able to provide you with more information on him, or see if he has a vehicle registered, and get the tag number. They can give you his information with the tag number.

For the record, never pay labor up front. Anyone wanting the cost of materials up front, that is not a licensed contractor, or that doesn't sign a contract with you, have the materials delivered to the site. I know it's a bit more to have the materials delivered, but not that much more, and you would at least have that much.

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry about that, Karen. It's common in rural areas to encounter deadbeats, seems like. Hard to get anyone to hire on to work in the first place.

My Partridge Brahma Brandy, who was broody for over a month and finally snapped out of it is broody again. She's still thin from the last bout. I cannot deal with chicks. She's my favorite of all that group and I don't want her to kill herself. Geez.

Tom gets his cortisone shots on the 13th. They have to sedate him for those and I have to drive him, but thankfully, only 17 miles to the hospital in Blue Ridge, not 2 hours away to Marietta. Then, my doctor's appt is the next day an hour away. Generally, he goes with me, but I may end up going by myself if he's in pain or still under the influence of whatever anesthesia they give him.

 

[getaclue]

Seminolewind, when I read your post, I was torn between heartbroken that you were ripped off, and angry that some SOB would do that to you. It gets harder all the time for people to protect themselves from being ripped off. Especially older people, and single women. There are just too many unscrupulous people out there now.

 

[getaclue]

speckled, it would be nice if broodies came with an off switch .

Are the cortisone shots helping, or is this his first round of them? I sure hope they help, and relieve some of the pain. It's a good thing it's not too bad of a drive. Sorry you might have to drive to your doctor appointment by yourself. It would be nice if he felt up to riding along with you, so you don't have to make the trip alone. I guess you'll just have to play it by ear, and see how things stand when the time comes.

 

[1muttsfan]

So sorry Karen! Trust is a funny thing, you must have some but it sure can bite you.

Another reason not to burn Poison Ivy is that you can get it in your lungs via the smoke - VERY dangerous if you are allergic. And just because you have not reacted previously does not mean you never will, I never had a reaction to it until I was 38, now I'm very allergic.

One problem with spraying this late in the season is PI develops a waxy coating on the leaves and spraying is not as effective. Watch that area closely next year late in the spring, and start spraying as soon as you see any coming up. You may need to spot treat for years. And since birds spread the seeds via poop, you may want to check around for any other spots.

 

[speckledhen]

speckled, it would be nice if broodies came with an off switch .

Are the cortisone shots helping, or is this his first round of them? I sure hope they help, and relieve some of the pain. It's a good thing it's not too bad of a drive. Sorry you might have to drive to your doctor appointment by yourself. It would be nice if he felt up to riding along with you, so you don't have to make the trip alone. I guess you'll just have to play it by ear, and see how things stand when the time comes.

This is the first time with the shots. They say if they help, the relief could last a year. I hope something helps. If it doesn't, they'll talk about more drastic measures.