The Front Porch Swing

[OHhappychicks]

I have had the most devastating news this morning. My youngest daughter is three months along in pregnancy. Her ultra sound done yesterday shows the baby is alive with normal development; however the child has no brain.....

It is hard to see the keyboard while crying uncontrolably.

Please pray for her......her name is Brandi......she is going to be faced with some horrible decisions in her near future.

I am so very sorry!!

Can I tell you, I know how you feel. In 2001, my oldest daughter was pregnant with her 2nd child. During her 5 month ultrasound, we found out it was a little boy! The joy we felt. Everyone was there! My DH, myself, other DD, and DS, and of course DSIL! I kept watching the technicians face. She wasn't excited, didn't say anything. After the ultrasound, everyone had left to go back to work, except me. The Dr. came in and told us the news. He had spina bifida, water on the brain, club feet. We later found out he had trisome 18. A chromosome, genetic thing. The Dr.'s gave her options, but she chose to go full term and let the Lord decide. Little Collin Seth was born on June 3. He weighed 3 lb 13 oz. My DD and DSIL were living with us at the time as they were building a house. Can I tell you, I wouldn't trade those days for anything. Collin went to be with the Lord on June 9th. He was home surrounded by his family. From the time he was born, he was never laid down. Some one held him around the clock. I can remember looking into his sweet face. It still aches to this day.
My DH nephew and his wife also faced the same thing as your Brandi. They were living in New Hampshire. They chose to go full term. I remember my sil saying she got to hold that little baby! She was thankful for that. But everyone is different. I want you to know you are not alone. If you ever need to talk about it, you can contact me. Praying, Praying for all of you in these trying times. I've been there! The shock, unbelief, just a feeling of numbness. And yes the tears. I just remember feeling, I just needed to do something, to try to fix it. I researched trisome 18 till I couldn't look at the computer any more. But ultimately it wasn't up to me. I knew that, but the mom in me wanted to fix it for my DD. I think she and my sil took it better than I did. But like others have said, go to her, she will need you.

 

[Beekissed]

BK, I think your birds will like that, and it will also make dealing with different ages of birds a little easier. I like having an area that is a little quieter for the broodies and the babies.

Our coop is big. That's the best feature of our set-up, I think. Lots of good indoor space. We have some improvements to make elsewhere (we have a desperate need for more pasture, which we just seeded this past week), but for the number of birds we have, we have plenty of coop space.

One of the reasons we put up a double row of roosts is so the birds can "cuddle" head-to-tail as well as wing-to-wing at night and only have one end exposed and don't feel lost in the large, airy coop. I think that helps them stay warmer in winter than a single row of roosts might. In the summer, our nights can be a lot cooler than our days, so the cuddling helps them not have to deal with the stress of big temperature swings. The day of the photo was a LOT cooler than the days before, so the birds were puffed up for insulation. That's why Ruffles was looking especially cute.

I like the light in the coop, too. And I think it helps keep the birds more productive. The nice thing about where I have the coops set up is they are well shaded from above by big trees (one big evergreen for year-round protection, and several smaller deciduous trees for seasonal shade), so don't really overheat during the middle of the day, but the light can get in from the sides during sunrise and sunset. Shade cloth over the "roof" portion of the coop is another protection against overheating in summer. The photos were taken at dusk, the birds were headed to bed, and the coop was still pretty well lit from the low angle of the sun to the west.

I'm all jazzed about re-arranging my set up with some well-placed "hoop coops." The limiting factor here is fencing. One could argue the limiting factor is "no guard dog," but we say "fence" instead. Gust's #1 job is keeping me laughing, and he is pretty good at that.

LJ, I'm putting on a new tarp also and it's opaque like yours so that they can have more light and warmth in the winter months...your coop inspired me and after this cold, dank, dark winter of birds confined due to deep snow, I'm ready for a change. I'm also going to frame up a large box in one corner for group dusting in the winter time. I'm increasing the nesting options, building in the end caps so I won't have to plastic them for winter wear any longer, running a light to the middle of the coop with a switch by the door so I can have a good work light.

I'm also moving Jake's house into the extra hoop/roosting space and building him his own entrance to the outside. No more strategic dog house placement so he can be more near the birds in the winter months and all the tarps, hay bales, etc. that are involved in that. I'm going to snug him right in the coop but he won't be "in" the coop, per se. He'll just have his dog house portion in the coop but the door of it will be to the outside only.

I've been thinking about your birds out on pasture and I think an investment of electronetting is going to be your best bet...a simple solar charger and four lengths of fencing can get you to a situation where you can rotate pasture after your birds have went to roost. Was wondering....do you all have an old hay wagon...or even a smaller, utility wagon... you don't use? That could be made into a great range coop and moved along with the fencing if you have that option..and you could do it with the hoops as planned.

 

[Triple Willow]

@OHhapppychicks... I'm sorry you went through that. I would have to make the same decision your daughter did.

 

[Triple Willow]

YES they stink! phewwww 

Hey there Rose! How are you doing? How's the weather in MS?

 

[Beekissed]

Y'all remember the other day when we were talking about duct tape hen saddles? I'm thinking of something similar but a tad different....I currently have on hand a roll or two of the sandpapery textured stripping that one places on steps and handicap ramps for traction and to keep one from slipping. It's got a very strong adhesive on one side to keep it in place even through weather, so it should stick rather well.

I'm thinking of just using a small piece of it right where the rooster tries to get traction and wears the feathers the most and it will serve both purposes....give the roo more traction and preserve the feathers in that area until molt. Can you see any drawbacks? I'm going to make sure to avoid the area of the oil gland...the strip will be a lot smaller than traditional saddles would be...maybe 3 in. x 3 in. right on the pelvic bone area.

 

[Blooie]

Y'all remember the other day when we were talking about duct tape hen saddles? I'm thinking of something similar but a tad different....I currently have on hand a roll or two of the sandpapery textured stripping that one places on steps and handicap ramps for traction and to keep one from slipping. It's got a very strong adhesive on one side to keep it in place even through weather, so it should stick rather well.

I'm thinking of just using a small piece of it right where the rooster tries to get traction and wears the feathers the most and it will serve both purposes....give the roo more traction and preserve the feathers in that area until molt. Can you see any drawbacks? I'm going to make sure to avoid the area of the oil gland...the strip will be a lot smaller than traditional saddles would be...maybe 3 in. x 3 in. right on the pelvic bone area.

And as an added bonus the rooster struts away with a brand new manicure!

(sorry, I don't know what comes over me sometimes. I just sit here and my fingers take over.)

 

[perchie.girl]

Y'all remember the other day when we were talking about duct tape hen saddles? I'm thinking of something similar but a tad different....I currently have on hand a roll or two of the sandpapery textured stripping that one places on steps and handicap ramps for traction and to keep one from slipping. It's got a very strong adhesive on one side to keep it in place even through weather, so it should stick rather well.

I'm thinking of just using a small piece of it right where the rooster tries to get traction and wears the feathers the most and it will serve both purposes....give the roo more traction and preserve the feathers in that area until molt. Can you see any drawbacks? I'm going to make sure to avoid the area of the oil gland...the strip will be a lot smaller than traditional saddles would be...maybe 3 in. x 3 in. right on the pelvic bone area.

outside of the fact that its not flexible... There would be a third bonus.... Sanpapery surface would help said Roos nails ... file em right down....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
DANG Blooied again....

 

[Blooie]

DANG Blooied again....

Sorry.....I'll slow down.

 

[Beekissed]

outside of the fact that its not flexible... There would be a third bonus.... Sanpapery surface would help said Roos nails ... file em right down....

deb

That's what I was saying to Mom....a twofer! The other hens will have the benefit of a roo with dull toes. The material is pretty flexible....it's on a roll. Not as flexible as tape but I see that as a good thing if applying in small patches...it shouldn't move much and pull at the feathers.