The Old Folks Home

[pickitfarm]

I have been encouraging DH to group fodder or sprouts for the chickens. It is simple. I have grown these in Ball jars for myself. They can be used in stir frys and eaten in salads for yourself but the chicks would love it. Very healthy.

 

[Wisher1000]

I am not a cat person. Like all animals, I am compassionate toward them and will care for them if they need me, but I don't want one of my own. With that said, I have had several cats through the years. All but two were strays that chose me.

Of course, I'm not a "dog in the house" person, either, but we have one. I was outvoted by the four males in my house. At least I was able to chose the dog that we keep in and I have been somewhat happy with her. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but I get irritated at things like bits of chewed up rawhide, stuffed animals, Christmas decorations, wallets, headphones, etc. that are strewn on the carpet under the table. I also don't like the tiny white hairs that are EVERYWHERE! I wear a black poly uniform to work everyday and I have to pick those off everyday before I put them on, even if I pull it straight from the dryer. The worst things, though is the unreliable 'housebroken-ness,' and that she will jump in a chair and then onto the dining room table when no one is looking.

I would likely have rehomed her by now, except that she came down with Parvo the second week we had her and I took off work a week and doctored her through it. I gave her sub Q fluids every 3 hours and monitored every drop of food and water that she had. I slept on the couch with her on my chest that whole week. She thinks I'm her mother, I guess she's right.

I had 17 chicks hatch yesterday, that makes 45 chicks in brooder boxes in the garage. I will be building another tractor today. Some have GOT to go! I may put them on Craigslist. Why did I hatch them? .....................because I got a Sportsman for Christmas!

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I started out using the jars....but I just don't have the inside space for them to be able to grow enough for 14 birds. That's when I switched to dirt in flats....they grew wonderfully, and the birds would eat the whole thing! I just would dump it out on the ground, fill it up with fresh potting soil/top soil and seeds. I did that all last winter.

I didn't do it this winter mainly because back in June, I had stepped in a hole in the yard by the potting shed. I twisted my arch, in my left foot, so badly that I could barely put weight on it for months! I had to soak it, wrap it, keep it elevated, massage it, exercise and stretch it, just to be able to stand on it to cook supper every night. It just eased up early in January. I have basically been crippled for 6 months. Sux when you drive a 5 speed and have to work the clutch, park and be able to walk through the parking lot into the store. And then go shopping. We all know how huge a walmart can be. I would have to park by the cart stalls outside, grab one to be able to hobble into the store.

Anyway, that put me out of doing any extra curricular activities for the rest of last yr.

So, we planted 4 plots of turnips, cabbage, green manure. That worked super till that first freeze in early Jan. Killed the turnip greens, but the birds still loved the turnips. This time around, not much left. Time to till it all back up and replant. I love letting them free range, but we have had major problems with the neighbors half wild labradors. If we catch them on the property, harassing the chickens...well.

It has been an interesting 2.5 years, with chickens. I am a total newbie to it too. I am a city girl, and we never even had house birds when I was little. We only had cats and 2 toy poodles. It is ALL a learning curve for me

such is life..............

 

[Pozees]

Don't I know about it.

My son had a melanoma removed last year - he's a redhead. The doctor told him it was genetic, so he more or less feels he doesn't need sunblock - he'd get it regardless. This is why parents go gray. I told him there are other types he could get and to use the sunblock especially on face, nose, ears, scalp (he shaved his head) etc. I have his aunt and uncle reminding him every chance they get.

I noticed something that looked like "powdery mildew" - on my brothers arm and kept after him - reminding him how long he had it and it hadn't gone away. He finally went in and was quick to tell me it' wasn't cancer ' but it was pre-cancerous, he had the doctor remove it since he was already there.

I'm a terrible "picker," you know pimples, scabs, etc. etc. I couldn't see anything but, felt something on my nose and kept bothering it till the top layer of skin scratched off leaving a very small reddened depression. I showed it to my doctor every time I came in (for other things) and he never thought anything about it. Even though I told him it wouldn't close up. I got caught up in usual family drama and forgot about it.

Last October I realized it still hadn't healed in a year. I made an appointment with another doctor(same office) she wasn't impressed either till I kept insisting that it was like that for a full year. She checked the record from the first doctor and he hadn't even made any
notation . She went off to consult with someone and came back with a referral sheet to take to a dermatologist.

The dermatologist did a biopsy and said it appeared to be a basal cell carcinoma. A few days later the results confirmed it and I was scheduled for mohs surgery 2 days before Thanksgiving. It was out patient surgery but, for mohs, the procedure can be very time consuming and worrisome. After removing the first layer, he said I had just a bit more, so a second layer was removed. The second
biopsy revealed clear margins - so it was stitched up and I was sent home. The procedure was pretty much painless. Well...... it was until the ' local' wore off. Then It was very painful that day but, the next day I felt much better.

The doctor said it was basal cell with squamous characteristics. Meanwhile I have to keep it covered or bandaged when I am outside. I am scheduled to see him the end of April - at that time he'll tell me if I can go back to using sunblock when I am outside.

Of course I am very upset that my family doctor didn't think it was important - I could have had the surgery done a year sooner. The dermatologist accepted medicare but, NOT my secondary insurance., so that was a big expense I had to deal with. I know skin cancers tend to reoccur so besides worrying about that, have to worry about paying for more.Somehow I have no faith in the administration's health care.

People please use sunblock, wear wide brimmed hats outside, sunglasses, long sleeved shirts whenever possible and keep track of any spots, pimples anything that do not go away or change. As am adult I followed that regimen but, as a child and into my 20's I had several bad sun burns. In my day - people splashed on baby oil or tanning lotion -sun burns & peeling were just something painful that you had to deal with. No one knew back then what the sun was really capable of doing to us.

I have to add that when I go out with the nose bandage, people come up to me and say they had the same thing. They just 'know'. One nice lady even told me I'd be okay. Most people share their experience - which I appreciate. It's good to know you aren't the only one.

This is an important post for so many reasons, not the least of which is being your own health care advocate. You know when something isn't right. If your doctor tells you not to worry and you have that nagging doubt at the back of your head - that, "Well, I guess he/she will know when I die they were wrong" - Run, don't walk, to get a second opinion. My youngest brother's doctor told him he didn't need to worry about that little lump in his testicle, he was only 22 - a year later he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I am really happy he is a long-term survivor, but it could have gone the other way all for taking a doctor's word for it.

I have two male cats and one is healthy and a sleeper and the other is wildly funny and on the go but he is my problem child. Within a year of having him he had a respiratory infection. The only sign was he was hiding from us and look lethargic.....which is not typically Milo. Took him to the vet and $300 later he recovered We had read that once a cat has a respiratory infection they are susceptible to future ones. We have had 4 cats during our 28 years of marriage and this is the only one that had this problem. Well last spring he got another along with a urinary tract infection. Don't know which issue triggered the other. Again, I could tell he was lethargic and hiding again. Took him to the vet paid another huge bill, had to purchase special food to get him to eat since he would not. Finally recovered. and doing fine. I just wish I knew if there was a way to prevent them.



Milo our crazy problem child


Oliver our healthy sleeper in his favorite position.....it must be true when they say sleep is important to your health...Oliver is the poster child.

If it was me, I would try a nebulizing humidifier with Oxine once a day. I love the stuff. We have 8 cats right now, all indoor. They most certainly rule the carpeted roost

 

[Wisher1000]

I love letting them free range, but we have had major problems with the neighbors half wild labradors. If we catch them on the property, harassing the chickens...well.

It has been an interesting 2.5 years, with chickens. I am a total newbie to it too. I am a city girl, and we never even had house birds when I was little. We only had cats and 2 toy poodles. It is ALL a learning curve for me

such is life..............

I have had some problems with my neighbor's dogs. Here's how I handled it.

First, I printed some pics from our game camera of her dog on my property. I explained that I have chickens, and they run loose. I asked her to please keep her dog home because I protect my chickens from the coons, foxes, and coyotes by shooting or trapping anything that tries to kill my birds. I didn't want that to happen to her dog. She understood what I meant and got rid of that dog (it was mean, anyway and she was afraid of it.) Next, she got another dog and again, it came to our house. That time, I caught the dog, she was friendly and sweet, and put a leash on her and took her home. The neighbor had not forgotten our last conversation and apologized profusely and thanked me for bringing her home. I have not seen the dog back again, but if I do, I will not take it home. Since it is a very sweet dog, it will likely go to the no-kill shelter, unless, of course, it actually gets my birds........ She has called me once and said that her dog got out and wanted to know if it had come to my property. I looked and called her back to say no. She said she was sorry, again, and that if I saw it to call her and she would come get it. She also said she would call me when the dog was secured again, which she did in about thirty minutes. It's nice to have a good relationship with my neighbor. She will now call and let me know when she is out of town so I can keep an eye out.

Now, I realize that many neighbors are not so cooperative, but I would at least give them a chance to be. If their response was to keep letting their dog run loose, my plan would change as well. I just know that if my dog were bothering someone else, I would appreciate one chance to resolve the problem before they did. If I didn't, I would not be angry with them when my dog didn't come home.

 

[pickitfarm]

Moxie - That sure sounds miserable about your foot. Glad you are doing better.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Thank you pickitfarm. It is much better now

Wisher- I have spoken with the neighbors already back in 2012, when they first attacked and killed some of our birds. She said, if we have to dispatch, they just don't want to know. This whole rural road is pretty much one single family and relatives. My next door neighbor is her sister. And her sister hates the dogs.

There are 3 other dogs who cause no problems. And my next door neighbors....her 3 or 4 dogs...all big dogs....she has them well trained and behaved. They come over to check things out. Have never went after our birds, even when they are out. Of course, my neighbor also has 22+ free ranging chickens also.

DH fired warning shots over the bad dogs heads last month. We'll see what happens. Now, I have seen a pit bull running with them. I may have to start carrying while I sit out with my own birds, protecting them from the flying predators. The pit bull was getting too close when I went to check the mail box last week. I don't know it, or where it lives.

 

[Cynthia12]

This is an important post for so many reasons, not the least of which is being your own health care advocate. You know when something isn't right. If your doctor tells you not to worry and you have that nagging doubt at the back of your head - that, "Well, I guess he/she will know when I die they were wrong" - Run, don't walk, to get a second opinion. My youngest brother's doctor told him he didn't need to worry about that little lump in his testicle, he was only 22 - a year later he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I am really happy he is a long-term survivor, but it could have gone the other way all for taking a doctor's word for it.


So agree with the statement above. I had so many drs. just brush me off in the past when I was having horrible pain in between my shoulders. I could not get into a comfortable position for nothing..I had to hold my arm up in the air to relieve the pain. Went to the ER..of course you can guess what they did. When the nurse came in with these pills, after having had a shot already..I told her that I don't think I need them, and started giving her reasons as to why..she says...oh for goodness sake..just take them! And shoves her hand out to me. I take them! If I hadn't had the shot of what I can't remember now in me, I know I would have said no. My DH had to hold me up walking out the door that day. Then, of course, after the pain meds wore off..I was in horrible pain again. I had already gone to two different FP's and no X-rays. I even mentioned x-rays. Finally, I told my DH I wanted to go to a specialist. I chose an Orthopedic. He had me get x-rays right then and there in the office. Comes back in and says, there is something going on in that neck. Sent me for the MRI..yep, a few really bad blown discs. In the meantime, I'm still walking around either holding my left arm up, or have it above my head. I decide..because it's in the spine, to go to a neuro. When he sees the MRI..he says .. wow...look at that big ol blown disc. Sees me with my arm above my head..lol..and says, that is what we usually see when someone has a disc this bad in this are. I had C 5,6 and 7 fixed. When I woke up, it was so nice to realize, that I was laying in bed..with my arm down! My hand wasn't numb and tingly. My arm didn't hurt. It didn't hurt between my shoulder blades. Oh..but my neck hurt..lol..I can now turn my head around pretty good. But, guess what? I am now having similar pain in between my shoulder blades again..on the left side. MRI, shows more above the site I had the surgery. Not going in until I can't find that comfortable position. It's time consuming..the healing part. At least they know about it. Won't have to wait 3 months for surgery.

Have to say, those are some pretty cute cats there. I am really fond of the orange color in cats.

 

[insanity]

I posted a page on the new bator I built yesterday on this thread.

DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

I want to put it on the incubator page but would like some feedback on it first. Any thoughts or ideas would be great.

 

[ozexpat]

I posted a page on the new bator I built yesterday on this thread.

DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

I want to put it on the incubator page but would like some feedback on it first. Any thoughts or ideas would be great.

I would add 2 more fans'

I dont think the one at the bottom will be sufficient to create a uniform temperature

otherwise, i think its awesome