The Old Folks Home

[ronott1]

Geeze Penny, you have way too much energy to be decent, LOL!! Heat index is 94 right now and my energy level is 0.

You saying litter boxes brought to mind the latest stunt our diabetic cat pulled on us. Cash has always been an escape artist of sorts, always trying to slip out when you have the door open and aren't paying attention to him. Since we have an abundance of predators here that would love to dine on a fat lazy 17+ year old diabetic cat we don't let him out.

Cash has been the perfect pet until the last two months when he started to urinate alongside the litter boxes. He didn't care if we were watching him or not, he would back his butt up to the wall and cut loose. We tried everything to discourage him from doing this as you can well imagine. We finally put up drop cloths and swathed the utility room in news papers to keep the house from getting ruined and made an appointment for him with the vet for a check up. We did a spot blood sugar check on him. It was 70 okay it isn't his diabetes rearing it's ugly head.

Vet checked him over and couldn't find a thing wrong with him. He finally shrugged and said that it's a behavior problem and he is stressed out about something. We spent the next 15 minutes trying to figure out what was stressful in his live. Honestly. I should have this cat's stress. Eat, sleep, miss the litter box on purpose, repeat. We couldn't come up with anything. Vet asked us if his behavior had changed and I told him no, he was still acting like Cash. Lazy, useless, disrespectful and still trying to escape the house whenever he gets a chance. Vet asked if we let him out and we told him no and why. Vet shook his head and said he bet that was the problem. He is mad at us and voicing his displeasure the only way he knows how.

We got home and worked out a plan that we could let him out during the day when the dogs weren't out and bring him in before we let the dogs loose. We gave it a try and guess what? Suddenly the little fiend can hit the litter box.

Who said animals don't talk to you!?

Only other excitement here is that we cut the pay tv habit and dc'd directv today. Just couldn't justify paying 60$ a month for what few channels we watched and lately we have been watching more antenna tv than satellite. So we are 60$ richer a month. Since I watch more tv than DH he asked me if I was disappointed I'd cut the cord and I told him oddly no.
If I pay for a service I feel obligated to use it. Now I feel oddly free that I don't have to watch tv I'm paying for.

Double post!

You can delete one of them.

My Oldest DD's cat would do worse--pee on the bed and chew game controller cables. I was happy when he moved out with her!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Well had 2 lbs of Strawberry we bought at Costco so cleaned and cut all of them only 3 berries are bad of the entire box of 2 lbs ... so add that to dinner or desert..
Micro this is my daily chores wouldn't want to have it another way as long as I stay active pain does not win

 

[microchick]

Double post....hmmmmm. I was having trouble with my mouse last night. Accidentally poured water into it....don't ask, long story didn't do it on purpose.

Took care of it.

Penny, I'm the same way. Just told DH that was one of the reasons on the short list that I got chickens, so I would be forced to get up and move to take care of them. When you live with chronic pain, moving is the last thing you want to do and the main thing that you need to do!

In fact, time to go out and see if the hens have buried the water dispensers again. I have the main water dispenser sitting up on a pyramid of 2x6 boards so the chicks can get to the water and the silly hens are still kicking bedding into them three times a day.

 

[pennyJo1960]

that is just why I went to horizontal nipples and 5 gallon buckets I will never go back to dishes with crap in it or shavings

 

[microchick]

I tried to wean my big chickens off water dispensers and onto nipples. I tried every enticement I could to get them to just peck at the nipple but they wouldn't do it. I even tried hanging a two liter pop bottle with a single nipple in the coop as I don't put water in with them at night. Those hens came charging out the next morning with their tongues hanging out...figuratively speaking of course and beat a line to the water bowl.

Besides my chickens being unusually stupid, nipples wouldn't last a winter here without freezing solid.

So I guess I'm destined to deal with broodies kicking yuck into the water.

I gave the chicks their first gravel and scrambled eggs today. Some things just have to be seen to be appreciated and watching those antics brings a smile to the gloomiest face.

 

[pennyJo1960]

that is odd from 4 yr old br to ee of 2 to 3 they all took to them when I switched

 

[maddysmamaw]

Ariel has done it again. What a good mama!

 

[pennyJo1960]

all new meaning to pig pile

 

[microchick]

Mini bacon on the hoof! I'm not a pig fan but those little guys are cute.

Penny I tried almost a year starting when mine were about 14 months old. I'd get their attention, tap the nipple so it would drip water. They would watch the drips fall to the ground and ignore the nipple. Even tried wrestling one over to the nipple and tapping her beak on it....nada. Like I said....stupid chickens.

 

[Alaskan]

View attachment 1426944 View attachment 1426945 Ariel has done it again. What a good mama!

Ooooooh! I love me some homegrown pork!!! Bacon seeds!