The Front Porch Swing

[perchie.girl]

Oh Deb, you are having a rough time. Wish I could be there to give you a big hug but a virtual one will have to do

Please don't blame yourself.
Prayers going out to all of you dealing with the severe weather tonight . Be safe and check into the porch when you can.

Thank you ...No its ok... I just needed the front porch to write about it.... It helps life going on. I realllllly need a livestock guardian dog.... but now I have no livestock. Katee can take care of herself.... her size fives would pancake a coyote. I really need a mammoth Donkey or Mule to keep her company historically they are death on roving predators.
Katee


deb

 

[Blooie]

Okay, change of subject! Those of you who have been brooding your chicks outside have the way of it. I will NEVER go through this again! I will do it the smart way - the more natural way - them outside with protection with a warm place in the straw to run under and take the chill off. The brooder box is finally out of Ken's office.....the dust and the shavings aren't! I'm beginning to think I'll never get this cleaned up! That dust is like talcum powder! Ken keeps his suits in the closet in there because he has so many different ones he needs for his events that there's no room in his closet for them. Did I have the brains to move them out before the chicks moved in? Oh, heck no! I mean, there was a door on the closet, right? This evening he needed his purple suit jacket - yes, purple...he also has a blue one for a different organization, a red one for yet another, his blue one for Lodge, and his tuxedo, not to mention his various hats and caps and his aprons and swords. Last time he got one out it was slightly dusty but they are all in garment bags so all we had to do was wipe down the bag, then get the suit out. Not tonight! Despite keeping the closet door shut, everything in there looks like it was at the lake shore when Mt. St. Helens erupted. It's all covered in what looks for all the world to be volcanic ash and his red suit even had dust on the shoulders and in the breast pocket!

And how does that dust get inside drawers? Sheesh! My Dyson took one look at that room and ran away. I think the last I heard it was in Minnesota already. Ken's office is actually a very small bedroom in a very small trailer - typical trailer room, with built in dresser drawers, lovely trailer paneling, and it's only 10'x8'. The brooder's length went from the wall to just a few feet short of the doorway. So the overflow ended up throughout the house. I tried my best to keep up with it, but I didn't realize how insidious that stuff was until I started moving things around.

Now, I'm not complaining about the chickens as much as I am my own stupidity. I read on here about dust, but how bad could it be? Now I know. And I have nobody to blame but myself. So never again, I tell you.....what is it you told me, Bee? Oh, yeah, work smart, not hard!
I'll keep at it until it's as clean as it was before they chicks came. Then I'll relax and enjoy them. In the meantime.....

 

[Triple Willow]

Hi checkin in....  any one made that Apple Pie moonshine yet....    HI new people...    dont read its depressing.... sigh.

its been a heck of a chronological year...  

Last summer I had to put my beloved Rosie dog down she was 17 and failing.  All my chickens were killed by coyotes because the well died and I had to let em out to get water.... long story that....   The goats made their own gates on their enclosure and have been thriving on eating what is out in the Chaparal  I finally got a lead on some fencing that is goat proof and I can afford it.  Things were looking up.

Today I was cleaning up my corner where my computer desk is....  I reached out to pick up a bit of paper from my computer chair and it flipped over Sending me into a water jug on the floor which exploded and water shot out and drenched my sons school books.  for thos who dont know me I am close to 400 lbs and if I have to walk far I use a rolling walker.  Now I can get up off the floor  still thank god....  But it takes a moment to get coordinated and I have to turn over to get on my hands and knees.  I was pondering that when the phone rang.

It was my neighbor Tom who caretakes my animals for me.  He feeds the horse and goats and I feed his dogs cats and chickens  Um er provide food for them.  ITs a win win for us because I need to be here with Grandma.  He called to tell me Coyotes got in with my goats and killed at least one.... He couldnt find the other two ... I only hope they ran far and high up in the rocks...    He only found my dead one because of the Vultures.... and Crows...  Then he told me he needed Catfood and chicken food....  He will bury my Goat tomorrow.  

Sigh.... I got back up my cleaning spree way over now.  All enthusiasm is gone....  I must deserve this....   I have become one of those people that drag negative energy around them.  I only have my horse now...   Of course I have my family....   I am grieving.... for failing my critters... and for not being able to be there for them.

deb

Awww Deb, I'm sorry you have been having such a rough time. That is just how it is sometimes, seems like everything goes wrong at once. If it makes you feel any better at all, I busted my hind end the other day too. I was headed out to feed everybody, stepped on some wet leaves and my foot took off without me. I sat right down on my big hind end, then just sat there a minute and said, "ain't this some crap."

I'm really sorry coyotes got your goat. Those little beasts have to mercy. That's just what they do to survive. I hope your other goats survived and show up back home soon. I had a neighbor's dog kill two goats I had a few years ago. It just makes you sick! I need a LGD too!

God bless you for putting your life aside and taking care of your grandmother at this time in her life. I hope you will be blessed for it.

A huge hug to you!

 

[wyoDreamer]

Good Morning everyone,
This looks like such a fun porch to sit on. May I join?
I am from Wisconsin, about 1/2 hr from Green Bay. Just the idea of being able to sit on a front porch after this past winter makes me happy.
I am new to the whole backyard chicken community. Attempting to hatch my first batch of chicks now.
I am mom of 4 kids. 27,25.19, and 17. The 25 year old is my only daughter (becky) and she is married to a wonderful guy (weston). My oldest is Jake, followed by Luke(19) and Jeremiah(17).
I will be married for 30 years in Sept. Which is really odd seeing as I swear I'm not a day over 30 myself.

I am an RN. working in pediatric home care.
I have loads of seeds starting in my dinning room, and incubator of eggs warming in my living room and really bad spring fever. Looking forward to listening to all of your stories.
.

Welcome to the Front Porch, soon to be neighbor! SH and I are buying a house north of Green Bay.
I grew up in Crivitz, have been in Wyoming for 7 years and am now moving back to the area.
You guys have had a heck of a winter this year, sounds like spring is not too far away though.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Quote: Hang in there deb

God gave us laughter and smiles because he knows things aren't always going to be easy. And, it is way better to laugh through the pain and bad things, then try to cry and keep up with the flow of tears.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hi checkin in.... any one made that Apple Pie moonshine yet.... HI new people...

dont read its depressing.... sigh.

its been a heck of a chronological year...

Last summer I had to put my beloved Rosie dog down she was 17 and failing. All my chickens were killed by coyotes because the well died and I had to let em out to get water.... long story that.... The goats made their own gates on their enclosure and have been thriving on eating what is out in the Chaparal I finally got a lead on some fencing that is goat proof and I can afford it. Things were looking up.

Today I was cleaning up my corner where my computer desk is.... I reached out to pick up a bit of paper from my computer chair and it flipped over Sending me into a water jug on the floor which exploded and water shot out and drenched my sons school books. for thos who dont know me I am close to 400 lbs and if I have to walk far I use a rolling walker. Now I can get up off the floor still thank god.... But it takes a moment to get coordinated and I have to turn over to get on my hands and knees. I was pondering that when the phone rang.

It was my neighbor Tom who caretakes my animals for me. He feeds the horse and goats and I feed his dogs cats and chickens Um er provide food for them. ITs a win win for us because I need to be here with Grandma. He called to tell me Coyotes got in with my goats and killed at least one.... He couldnt find the other two ... I only hope they ran far and high up in the rocks... He only found my dead one because of the Vultures.... and Crows... Then he told me he needed Catfood and chicken food.... He will bury my Goat tomorrow.

Sigh.... I got back up my cleaning spree way over now. All enthusiasm is gone.... I must deserve this.... I have become one of those people that drag negative energy around them. I only have my horse now... Of course I have my family.... I am grieving.... for failing my critters... and for not being able to be there for them.

deb

Please don't blame yourself....things happen. You do NOT have negative energy around you. I love your posts and you have a big heart. Not many people (except for the people I meet here on the Porch) take care of their grandmother. I hope you get good news today.

Thank you ...No its ok... I just needed the front porch to write about it.... It helps life going on. I realllllly need a livestock guardian dog.... but now I have no livestock. Katee can take care of herself.... her size fives would pancake a coyote. I really need a mammoth Donkey or Mule to keep her company historically they are death on roving predators.
Katee


deb

O Deb! I am so glad I don't live nearby. I would be over at your place everyday. What a gorgeous horse! Such power!

Lisa

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Thank you ...No its ok... I just needed the front porch to write about it.... It helps life going on. I realllllly need a livestock guardian dog.... but now I have no livestock. Katee can take care of herself.... her size fives would pancake a coyote. I really need a mammoth Donkey or Mule to keep her company historically they are death on roving predators.
Katee


deb

She is lovely! I love big draft horses. Especially black ones.

I read on here about dust, but how bad could it be? Now I know. And I have nobody to blame but myself. So never again, I tell you.....what is it you told me, Bee? Oh, yeah, work smart, not hard!
I'll keep at it until it's as clean as it was before they chicks came. Then I'll relax and enjoy them. In the meantime.....

I keep reading about the dust too and like you thought how bad can it be?....it's pine shavings.... What size pine shavings did you use? Do the chicks grind the shavings to powder? I'm thinking the garage is the place for my brooder. The only problem is, my garage isn't secure....

 

[Blooie]

She is lovely! I love big draft horses. Especially black ones.

I keep reading about the dust too and like you thought how bad can it be?....it's pine shavings.... What size pine shavings did you use? Do the chicks grind the shavings to powder? I'm thinking the garage is the place for my brooder. The only problem is, my garage isn't secure....

Actually the biggest problem isn't the shavings - that's part of it, but most of it is chick dander from them feathering in. At least that's what I read (I think Bee told us that) and I can believe it! Early one sunny morning when I went in to clean the brooder, a few of the chicks were having a tiff. They were flying at each other and doing some chest bumping. As I came into the room, the rest of them, probably already a little keyed up by the disagreement in the brooder, all panicked and started flapping around in there like I was a giant predator coming to get them! The dander, stubby little feathers and whatever else chicken dust consists of filled the sunbeam coming in the window, and it was just thick!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Actually the biggest problem isn't the shavings - that's part of it, but most of it is chick dander from them feathering in. At least that's what I read (I think Bee told us that) and I can believe it! Early one sunny morning when I went in to clean the brooder, a few of the chicks were having a tiff. They were flying at each other and doing some chest bumping. As I came into the room, the rest of them, probably already a little keyed up by the disagreement in the brooder, all panicked and started flapping around in there like I was a giant predator coming to get them! The dander, stubby little feathers and whatever else chicken dust consists of filled the sunbeam coming in the window, and it was just thick!

I never thought about that. That makes more sense. I need to figure out how to make my garage more secure. The door doesn't close tight....

 

[LindaB220]

Hoping Bee's back is better. Miss her.