Jac Jac
Songster
Your words of comfort and enlightenment are right on time. I left Mom only after one of my brothers pulled a gun on me for not doing his laundry when i did Mom's. Later, he said he was only joking...What?!?!Trust me, @chickadoodles, I know how stressful it is and don't blame you one bit. I think you will be surprised as time passes how those scars will fade.
@jacjac, I'm so sorry to hear that your mom is in hospice. I had it for my dad when he was slowly dying from dementia and heart disease. They are a Godsend.
Lots of us here at the Home are dealing with health issues and trying to keep flocks. For me, keeping a flock, keeps me active. It's getting harder every day though and I cut my flock by half last year. Looking to get rid of a bunch of roosters this summer...probably freezer camp for them. Hard decision for me as I love roosters but the hens are laying eggs that feed us and people we know who need eggs. I don't sell them, I pass on blessings so we depend on the hens laying eggs for us and them. I currently have 10 eggs under two broody hens. One is sitting on what I hope are from my Fayoumi hens and the other smaller hen is on 4 bantam eggs. I'm praying for a lot of pullets!
You can only do what you can do and as we get older, it gets harder. Don't worry, you are among friends here and only you know what you can do.
Anyway, I am here to tell everyone - I love getting aged with my flocks - the experience will last a lifetime. Eight of my 12 roos need to be freezer-bound, but my soft heart says NO.
I acquired so many roos when I rescued a flock of 22 Orpington "pullets" long before they were mature enough to show or tell me otherwise. Well, that's my cackle for the day...enjoy.