The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Aoxa, you better not ditch us! We need you too!

HOLY COW, Bulldogma and Delisha, it didn't take you two long to come up with great plans. Actually, I laughed right out loud. I love all the ideas. sue

When you have been breediing chickens as long as i have..there are things you can live without and things you wish you had..

Justine shows her birds ..she needs a room with running water and a blow dryer..and it can also be a room used for FF and hatching.I wish I had one room with running water, insulated, and heated. My two story is heated, but, I do not heat it. It is heated with a wood stove. If I had to heat it I would only if I lost power in my house. I would fire up the wood stove and bring chicks and the dog in..with me of course. It is an old antique stove.

Big money would be needed to run water out to the barn. I am not sure she would want to sacrifice room for water.

 

[ChickNmamma]

After being directed to this thread and the two original OT threads I have been reading a bit of them every day. I find much wisdom shared in past posts, and I usually wait until I have finished the thread before putting my two cents/questions in because I want to make sure they haven't been answered before. It looks like I "lurk" but I am lurking in the past...

I am up to page 105, and was reading posts with pictures.. and my subconscious noticed something had changed in a signature line, and drew my attention to Aoxas signature line. I read it.. my mind refused to accept what it read. Then realization dawned on me what the words meant and I couldn't breathe.

I have an old barn that I have been dreaming of how to change it into something approaching what Axoa has... had. To read that was like having my barn burn down. Through sharing of pictures and stories I felt I knew them, at least in part.

Axoa, I am very grateful that you shared what happened.. even though you must be going through shock and grief. I just wanted to say how very very sorry I am to see this.

I also wanted to let you how you have helped me. You have taught me the lesson you learned in such a hard way - I need to make sure the electrical in this very old barn is safe and secure before I put anything precious in there (like my chickens). I hope the knowledge that you probably saved me and my chickens can help you heal and be strong for those you have left.

Please continue to share your knowledge and strength, and please lean on your friends when you need help to heal.

Although I have never met you - I would be honored to be considered a friend. I sincerely admire how you are focusing on the future, planning a safe barn, and not letting this tragedy take away something that you obviously enjoy.

I hope through the media of the Internet this will touch the lives of other people like me who need this lesson. I sincerely hope that anybody else out there with unsafe electrical - or anybody who is unsure what constitutes safe electrical - that this will cause them to evaluate everything and make sure everything is safe before putting lives at risk. I know I am viewing my surge suppressor strips and extension cords with new eyes. I am just so sorry that this happened.

I will now go back into the past and read further in the thread, but it will be bitter-sweet to read Axoa's posts.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Aoxa I am so sorry for your loss.  I am just a lurker here and post occasionally but I follow daily and laugh and cry with each of you.  I can not imagine what you are going through right now.  Hugs from Kansas.

Lisa

I am also just a lurker but follow everyday and when I read your post my heart just broke. I will keep you and your family in my prayers!! I am so very sorry for your loss! I agree with Leigh, heaven welcomed a beautiful family of animals yesterday!!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Another idea for the barn, maybe a gutter system that runs the water to a very large water container of two.

 

[off-grid hen]

Aoxa, I am so saddened by the losses from the fire. All the photos you've shared with us, it's like we knew them too. I will name my next rooster Jagger, in his honor.

 

[Bulldogma]

OGH - They say great minds think alike... I had already decided to name any of my H/RIR and PRs that we just got "Penny." Yup - all of them. Like the Pennies from heaven...

As long as it is OK with you, Aoxa.

 

[Mumsy]

I am so saddened by the losses from the fire Aoxa. All the photos you've shared with us, it's like we knew them too. I will name my next rooster Jagger, in his honor.

That is a beautiful idea for a tribute to aoxa's beautiful animals that she has so often shared with us all. There will be a Clementine and a Gigi in my flock this Spring. When ever I say the names, the beautiful animals I came to know through beautiful images will become immortalized through new life.

 

[Sally8]

When you have been breeding chickens as long as i have..there are things you can live without and things you wish you had..

Justine shows her birds ..she needs a room with running water and a blow dryer..and it can also be a room used for FF and hatching.I wish I had one room with running water, insulated, and heated. My two story is heated, but, I do not heat it. It is heated with a wood stove. If I had to heat it I would only if I lost power in my house. I would fire up the wood stove and bring chicks and the dog in..with me of course. It is an old antique stove.

Big money would be needed to run water out to the barn. I am not sure she would want to sacrifice room for water.

To be honest, I truly have backyard chickens. Less than 2 doz that I like to watch. No breeding pens, running water, separate room for food. I carry everything from the house and garage. I can only speak of what I know. What you 2 describe are things I'll only dream of. If my grand kids want to join 4 H, I'm all for it. I wasn't being judgmental or making fun. It would have taken me all day to think of those things. That's why I like reading here, different life styles than my own, then I can pick and choose what fits into my life and makes it easier for me. After our house fire I couldn't put 2 thoughts together let alone format my house plans. It happened just days before Christmas. After the fireman gave me my cat I walked out back and buried her but later that summer I dug her up and re buried her when I had a plan. I can't account for other disasters but a fire is mentally devastating as well.

 

[delisha]

I keep crying..every time I read this..I can't imagine how Justine feels. You guys naming your birds after her flock and animals shows me how truly special you people are.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I think your sweet..sorry about your loss