The Old Folks Home

[Wickedchicken6]

Went to the lung doctor today. All the progress I've made is reversing. I have bronchitis/pneumonia again. I have a lung function test tomorrow afternoon, then a PT scan on the 12th. That will satisfy the insurance company's criteria, so he can scope them, take specimens for the lab to analyze, and get more proactive with whatever is causing this.

I'm so sorry to hear it's reversing.

I hope they're able to get it under control again quick. Waiting =

scg, sorry to hear about you having to battle rats. Been there, done that, and it's not fun.

For my last coop, the one the chickens are in now, I was very emphatic about the pen skirt. For this coop, Dh was thinking he would get away with cutting a few corners, like only making it 2 - 2.5 feet out, and not burying it too deep. He and I were locking horns a bit about it, until the day before yesterday, when one of our neighbors, with chickens, came over. The neighbor is in the dirt hauling business, so Dh was arranging to get some fill dirt from him. I had gone to the doctor's office, so I wasn't here at the time. They looked at the coop, and decided how much dirt was needed, but the neighbor commented about the pen skirt.

He explained to Dh that he too, only went out about 2.5 feet with his pen skirt when he first built his coop. There was a fox, and it tried to dig close to the coop. He wasn't concerned, because the pen skirt stopped it, but the next night, it began digging further out from the coop, until it found where the pen skirt ended. It dug under, and killed out his first flock of 25 chickens. He told Dh that he increased his pen skirt out another foot, restocked his coop, and so far nothing has gotten past the pen skirt.

When I got home from the doctor's office, Dh told me he was going to increase the size of the pen skirt, and what the neighbor had said. I am glad we are not locking horns on this anymore, but it ticks me off that he didn't just listen to me to begin with. I chalk it up to a "man thing".

The next discussion they had was about hardware cloth around the lower half of the perimeter to keep raccoons from reaching in to grab them, and to make sure the roosts, nest boxes, waterers, feeders, etc. were far enough inside the coop, not near the outer perimeter. When Dh began to educate me on how I had to set up the inside of each coop, I reminded him to think about how I had placed everything in my existing coop. Wow, lucky me that I accidentally got it right both times in my existing coop!

Another hurdle he's jumped is about my electric fence. I bought all the stuff for it, about a year ago, to put around my existing coop. He's been totally against it. Now, he's all gung-ho about putting it up. Between him, and our neighbor, they'll teach me how everything needs to be done to predator proof things, and keep my chickens safe. Life is good.

Thinking/planning doing a coop skirt, same idea...at least 3 feet out with hardware cloth so it not only keeps the foxes etc out...but the rats, minks, weasels...all the small pain-in-the-butt critters as well. I'm so sick of the rats.

They tunnel in under the roosts...and when I set my box traps to catch them...the traps get covered with chicken poop. Ewww.

I don't need the extra work of cleaning poop off. Ugh.

Quote: More waiting...

I hope you hear soon and that it's good news.

Miss Heny, I know what you mean. Queen Misha was a favorite hen. QM is a very nice man.

I'm getting people wrong.

Sad morning in our household.

Our 13, almost 14 year old canine family member, Bunny passed away last night at 11 PM from a massive heart attack. We are going to lay her to rest after breakfast.

They sure do leave deep paw prints on your heart.

I'm so sorry to hear about Bunny.

 

[miss heny]

Even if it. It It'll explain stuff at least.

Thank god I already cut out Soda from my diet months ago

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm so sorry, microchick. It isn't easy but sure glad it was quick.


Latestarter, I did shoot with ratshot a few nights last summer, used a red light to illuminate the area then shot based upon what I could see. This looks much better.


Woke up this morning at 0300 with wicked nausea. After a horror filled 8 hours or so I think things have calmed down. Today was supposed to be my sewing day - did all my chores yesterday so I could spend the day in there getting caught up without any regret or guilt. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go chop my pig up, might have to send BF in my place (he's going to love that probably more than being woken up this morning by the horrific sounds echoing in the bathroom that his side of the bed shares a wall with) if this doesn't continue to stay calm. I was just sick 2 weeks ago, too (not with GI symptoms), so this is exactly what I needed to round out my month.

Oh no! I hope you get feeling better!

You may not of gotten your sewing done, but it's nice all your chores were done yesterday so you didn't have to worry about that.

I was just there myself earlier in the week, but I don't know if it was a bug or if I overdid things. I got dizzy after supper (ok, no sarcastic remarks

) and then I got sick. Hubby had to help me do my night chores. I had a hard time walking...lol. I slept and felt considerably better the next day. I did take allergy sinus medicine for the next two days because it occurred to me it may have been vertigo if it was my allergies with sinus congestion/plugged ears. The boy was sick for about 4 days last week. Thank goodness it was over quick. I hope it's over quick for you too SCG!

Miss Heny know how you feel. I hate telephones. I hate making calls - I hate answering calls. I've got a old answering machine from when my son was very young. I either screen calls and only answer the ones I know. Or just let them pile up on the machine & check them out later. PS I also hate answering doors. The doorbell doesn't work and I'm thrilled. I CAN if I absolutely HAVE TOO. But, that is rare.

I thought I was the only one! My peeps! I'm in good company.

If no one called and if no one ever showed up at the door, I'd be the happiest person on earth. Our door bell's broke too and I'm not one bit sad about it.
If I didn't have chickens, no one would even know I lived here because they never see me. When I mowed lawn it was done at dusk until about 12am (I have incredible night vision) and I'd start mowing before the sun came up until the dew was off. I find it much better for the allergies to mow the lawn when the lawn is damp.

 

[microchick]

Thanks everyone. I said on another thread that the people here on BYC are some of the nicest, most compassionate people that I have ever met on the internet and I can't say that often enough. Anyone who has ever loved an animal, be they two legged with feathers or four legged with fur knows the pain of loosing one of them.

Getaclue and Miss heny, I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[miss heny]

Thanks everyone. I said on another thread that the people here on BYC are some of the nicest, most compassionate people that I have ever met on the internet and I can't say that often enough. Anyone who has ever loved an animal, be they two legged with feathers or four legged with fur knows the pain of loosing one of them. 

Getaclue and Miss heny, I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. 

thank you, prayers for you as well.

 

[Peep_Show]

I ache for your loss. I know how special a place a dog can hold in a family. Years ago, when I was just a kid, my first dog passed away and it tore a hole in my heart. What I learned was that the hold was big enough for two more dogs. As time passed and they grew old and went away the hole they left was big enough for 4 new dogs. We now have 7 dogs, mostly rescures and special needs, and would have more if we had the money. We have the space and God knows we have the love.

We don't have the ability to have oodles of dogs (cc&r's have a pet limit), but we have the love. We always adopt the underdogs....the slightly defective ones, the ones that have been in the system the longest, the ones passed over for one reason or another. But those dogs hit the jackpot, and we have been rewarded beyond measure with their love and heroics. IMHO, any time you can bring a dog into home, it's a win-win situation.

 

[FridayYet]

We don't have the ability to have oodles of dogs (cc&r's have a pet limit), but we have the love. We always adopt the underdogs....the slightly defective ones, the ones that have been in the system the longest, the ones passed over for one reason or another. But those dogs hit the jackpot, and we have been rewarded beyond measure with their love and heroics. IMHO, any time you can bring a dog into home, it's a win-win situation.

Any new adoptions at your house? (Not that those big holes can be filled.)

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quote: it is so true .. after the loss of my 14 year old belgian of my own breeding he was my last
I had rescued a dog that came to be called a bagel she was 9 sent to me as last hope before
they put her down I was newly had to surrender work so had the days to fill bootey as she was known
was basset and beagle at first she couldn't clear the step into my trailer so we walked endlessly I had her out
all times of the day and night her problem of going inside quickly disappeared the reason to put her down
she lived another 4 years rescuing me more than she ever realized or maybe she did

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote:
Wow thanks Beer can! I will get some ordered next week. Your so kind.

 

[perchie.girl]

My dogs have always rescued me in some way.... dogless now sad over it

deb