The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eggcessive]

I have the most terrible news I can ever imagine typing here...

My barn..

My birds.

My Clementine.

All gone...

The barn caught fire and nothing is left. I don't even know.. I don't know what to say. My heart is broken.

Aoxa, I'm so sorry to have read this. I can't imagine what you are going through, I think we have all grown to love your Clementine and all of your birds from your beautiful pictures. Prayers to help you get through this.

 

[aoxa]

Again, thank you all so much for all your condolences.

I am looking to the future and trying not to see each individual life lost. It's all I can do to keep my sanity.

I have a little pullet in my basement from our very favourite hen - Penny. I am very grateful for that.

So I would love all your thoughts about starting fresh. If you had 46,000 to build a barn, what are some of the things you would do?

The insurance adjuster is here now. We are making spread sheets of our barn contents.

I'm just hoping all those birds in the barn died very quickly.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I saw this post on using green clay for wounds. (This is a facebook fellow-group-member's blog. She's from France.) Wondered if anyone has used the green clay before? There's also a video at the end.

http://holistic-hen.blogspot.com/20...howComment=1360609955350#c3768384385291090783

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Again, thank you all so much for all your condolences.

I am looking to the future and trying not to see each individual life lost. It's all I can do to keep my sanity.

I have a little pullet in my basement from our very favourite hen - Penny. I am very grateful for that.

So I would love all your thoughts about starting fresh. If you had 46,000 to build a barn, what are some of the things you would do?

You know you are going to be hatching and breeding like crazy....so I would think that you would want space that could be broken down into individual smaller areas...oh and a good place to make & store FF

 

[Happy Chooks]

I got a lot of kind PMs. I will get to them. I promise. I'm just trying to hold myself together while I'm falling apart.

Informing everyone is one of the hardest parts. It makes it real.

I never in a million years thought this could happen. I feel to blame. I feel helpless. The barn and possessions are all replaceable, but those animals are not to me. Still, I will carry on and not allow this to stop me. I am going to have a flock again. I am going to build a new barn that is safe and properly wired for what I plan to do with it.

The wiring was very, very old.. There were cords all over the place, and we did have a power bar, and that could have been the start as well. Not sure when we will know the origin, or if we will at all. The barn was insured for 46,000 and that's not the personal belongings, just the barn. We can build something great with that. I know it.

You guys - I hope I can continue to take part in this thread.. I do still have about 14 birds all in the basement. This will be my pet flock until I can get that barn built back up and once the insurance money comes in, we can build a little coop for them while waiting.

And to think I was going to move them all to the barn yesterday.. I would have lost every single bird...

Everyone here is just devastated.. we all are in shock. My neighbours, and friends in the farming community have all opened up their arms to us. Offered help. It is really nice to see. Thank you all again.

I wouldn't be here without each and every one of you. You're all so important.

I am so very sorry.

How devastating. I'm glad you didn't move the babies out to the barn. Please be sure to post about your re-building effort when you get to that point.

 

[Alibabe]

I have the most terrible news I can ever imagine typing here...

My barn..

My birds.

My Clementine.

All gone...

The barn caught fire and nothing is left. I don't even know.. I don't know what to say. My heart is broken.

So sorry for your loss,

I don't know what to say as nothing I say will bring them back. Sending healing love your way

 

[loanwizard]

Again, thank you all so much for all your condolences.

I am looking to the future and trying not to see each individual life lost. It's all I can do to keep my sanity.

I have a little pullet in my basement from our very favourite hen - Penny. I am very grateful for that.

So I would love all your thoughts about starting fresh. If you had 46,000 to build a barn, what are some of the things you would do?

The insurance adjuster is here now. We are making spread sheets of our barn contents.

I'm just hoping all those birds in the barn died very quickly.

I happen to be a distributor for All Steel Carports. www.allsteelcarports.com

Not giving you info for credit or pay, just to show you what is out there very reasonably. I have often thought if my old barn fell down, what I would have put up.

What would I do? Size matters! The bigger the better!

 

[Bulldogma]

Again, thank you all so much for all your condolences.

I am looking to the future and trying not to see each individual life lost. It's all I can do to keep my sanity.

I have a little pullet in my basement from our very favourite hen - Penny. I am very grateful for that.

So I would love all your thoughts about starting fresh. If you had 46,000 to build a barn, what are some of the things you would do?

The insurance adjuster is here now. We are making spread sheets of our barn contents.

I'm just hoping all those birds in the barn died very quickly.

Looking to the future - here are some things I would want in a barn:

• Breeding pens that have pop doors to separate outside runs.
• An insulated room for brooders, recovering birds and FF.
• Plenty of ventilation.
• Windows to capture the winter sun and warm up the barn - but open for the summer.
• Perhaps a "processing" area.
• A large sink for baths and storage for show equipment and meds.

I'll post if I think of more...
HUGS!

 

[rambunctious]

I put the grass in with them at day one..it is in there brooder box when they get out of the incubator.

I thought I remembered you saying that. Do I need to cut the grass so it doesn't get caught in their crop? Just some dirt and cut clippings? Make sure grit is out. Thank you!

 

[delisha]

Again, thank you all so much for all your condolences.

I am looking to the future and trying not to see each individual life lost. It's all I can do to keep my sanity.

I have a little pullet in my basement from our very favourite hen - Penny. I am very grateful for that.

So I would love all your thoughts about starting fresh. If you had 46,000 to build a barn, what are some of the things you would do?

The insurance adjuster is here now. We are making spread sheets of our barn contents.

I'm just hoping all those birds in the barn died very quickly. I am positive they all died in there sleep

http://www.todaysplans.net/free-farm-barn-plans.html