Ohiofarmgirl'sAdventuresinTheGoodLand-where ya been? whatcha been doin

[Beekissed]

I think, at the bottom of it all, we all feel a certain deeper feeling for some animals than others.

I have spent too much money on my old dog, Lucy, to get her out of pain. But...if the same things were to happen to her now, in her advanced age and condition, I would gladly put her down.

It all comes down to balance, I think. What balances out some person's life may not balance out another's. Chickens were not purchased by me to be a source of love and affection and, though I enjoy watching and caring for them, they are still not a valuable source of love in my life. Therefore, they are expendable~not to mention a valuable source of nutrients~ and can easily be replaced by more pretty and utilitarian chickens.

A good dog can never be replaced.....oh, you can get another dog about whom you may feel as deeply but you really can't replace your previous good hound. At least, I can't. Dogs are more hardwired to show affection, loyalty and appreciation than are chickens. Chickens love the food bringer, for the most part.

Thus, I'm more prone to spend money on a dog than a chicken, as I can see more sense in it. But, if dog were a good tasting source of meat, I would honor my old Lucy by eating her when her life was over.

What you feel is disregard for our $3 chicken is merely a difference in values. I value my chickens differently than do you, as I value my dog differently as well. I would no more donate a kidney to my dog than try to swim to the moon. For a human, yes. Even a stranger to me. But dear old Lucy? Nope. She's a dog.

As cruel as that may sound, it makes good sense to me. As, I'm sure, paying money out on a chicken does to you....for you to have balance in your life and spirit.

Some of us gals over here are just a little more crusty and our balance is reached a little differently, is all.

 

[bibliophile birds]

sure, AL, come one out! there definitely is a happy medium and everyone has to find their spot on the continuum.

i am emotionally inclined to rush everyone to the vet constantly. i am intellectually (and monetarily) inclined to do what i can myself and make some hard decisions. basically, i think what my dad would like to do (usually nothing or put it down) and what i want to do (spend everything i have) and i try to actually do something in the middle. which usually works pretty well.

like when one of the turkeys broke a wing. i went to pieces after trying to splint the darn thing for 2 hours with no luck. i was blubbering on the bathroom floor, sure the turkey was a goner. my dad (who i'd called for advice) told me to just put it back in the pen and watch it for a day before i made any decisions. sure enough, that silly turkey acted like it didn't have a care in the world. and now, a couple months later, it's flying.

if things had looked worse, i would have attempted to amputate the wing on my own (with some advice from my wonderful farm vet). and if that hadn't worked, i would have put it down myself. but, of course, i was running all over the internet, emailing Bourbon Red and OFG all in a panic. that's what i do. and then i get on with it. that's the farmy way, right?

then again, like OFG, the cats kinda have me ruined. i've spent a small fortune on my silly asthmatic cat who has an enlarged heart and chronic UTIs. we all have a weakness or two.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Been so busy I've barely checked in here for a week or so, and by the time I got through the last page of posts (mine is set to max) I forgot what in the title made me come here ...

But. U am SO glad to read what y'all are saying. I guess I'm one of the poor folks who shouldn't even own animals, and in my posts I pretty much tried to hide that fact "over there" since I could guess the reaction I would get. Top it off with several local vets who are near-impossible to get ...

I am desperately trying to increase my knowledge of how to care for the animals myself. Both doelings have been at death's door and now they are fat, sassy, and frisking around and getting pretty big! My baby llama is the only one I've lost. And with him it was a matter of time. The only vet that could have helped was at lunch and the baby was dead before he returned. He doesn't do farm calls anyway. I still regret his loss deeply. He was not a financial animal but mostly just one for me. He did have gorgeous fiber though, in his baby coat.

I've lost just about everything in the past couple years and pulled myself up to start over. Twice now in fact, LOL. What I could afford was what I wanted anyway. A little farm. Well, at least something I am turning into a little farm. I believe in the importance (and goodness) of fresh food that you know how it's been raised. And the welfare of my animals is important to me. I want them to be healthy, and even happy. But. I have to make practical decisions too.

If people have the money to buy first-class animals, build brand new lovely barns for them, and maintain them with premium foods and an on-site vet -- if that's what they want to do and they can afford it, well, I think that's great for them. I might even wish I could do a bit of that myself.

But for me, I bought mostly grade goats i can still milk, and local chicks, and a few rabbits. I shored up the old barn, built a coops and hutch frames from free pallets and throwaway privacy fence panels, and rely pretty heavily on pasture, browse, and hay for the animals who can eat it.

I'm running out of milk for now, but I have eggs coming out my ears, a huge freezer packed FULL of meat (and tomatoes LOL), lots of chores, and I'm happy. I think my animals are mostly pretty happy and healthy too. Except for one goat -- and I pretty much broke down and threw everything at her and she is STILL skinny and whited-out anemic.

Ah, I know I'm rambling. Sorry. Guess I've missed y'all lately. Probably won't be here that much from here on out either, except maybe late in the day. I got a job (praise God!) and I start Monday. I still have time before and after for the critters too.

just wanted y'all to know you've been like a breath of fresh air and sanity.

 

[AL]

I think sometimes it also comes down to how you were raised. A lot of times people ( ) go to the other extreme from what they were raised with. In my house growing up, NO life had real value - including the kids. The other extreme? All life has value and deserves some form of dignity / respect - I guess that is where I am... except I would add " even on the butchering block. " , which is why I admire folks here. Knowing all that goes on in the commercial processing business (stuff of nightmares) I don't have a problem in the world with folks butchering their own chickens / cows / goats etc.. invite me for dinner!

 

[Bourbon Red]

So - back to the prosthetic livestock...

A farmer walks into a bar with a pig that's limping along on a wooden leg and say, "I'll have a whiskey and a beer for my pig here." The bartender gets the drinks and then asks why the pig has a wooden leg. The farmer says, "This isn't any ordinary pig, this pig saved my LIFE! I was asleep in the house when it caught fire. The pig out in the sty saw the flames, broke out of his pen and rushed through the smoke-filled house, up the stairs and dragged me to safety on the yard."
"WOW!" says the bartender, "But why the wooden leg?"

"Well," the farmer answered, "A pig like that you just don't go eatin' all at once!"

WAAHAAHAAHAA - pass the bacon OFG!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

"Well," the farmer answered, "A pig like that you just don't go eatin' all at once!"

*drops brownie, falls of chair*

oh golly, BR... you do got a way with words!

lala, have a fun time at the market! and yes you are out of cake so we...i mean.. you need more baked goods!

yep, Bee, balance is the way of it. and some of us gals are a little crusty...but the crust is the best part! right?

bibbird.. yep that is the farmy way!

Shiloh, i always think you hold your own really well 'over there' -- and thank heavens for that job! great work! let us know how it goes. and while you are comfortable and clean...think of us all poop covered and hot/cold whatever!

to be sure, AL, these are tough concepts. remember that we could count on one hand to the generations where EVERYONE grew/raised at least some food. its just an odd thing in the modern world. and just so - raising your own avoids the factory stuff. the only fear our critters know is that i wasnt one time last nite to get their food (WERE ARE YOU! THE SERVICE IS BAD! GET OUT HERE!)...and they will only be a little confused why they are upside down on the way to the block. until then its outside in the fresh air, good food, and skipping in the sunshine. we think we give them a good life.

i think in our modern world its just hard to think that you can kill something without malice or cruelty... that it can be done with reverence, thanksgiving, and kindness.

tough concepts to wrestle with...and you can always come on up for supper. you wont have to pluck but you'll be shoveling out the hen house.

as you know, everybody works!
;-)

 

[Beekissed]

OFG, simply LOVE your siggy line! Girl, you need to be writing for the masses!

 

[Javamama]

Mornin OFG. I saw this ad on CL and thought it would be a great way for you to bring in some extra $$

"My fiance and I are planning to wed next fall and are conducting a preliminary search for a nice outdoor location for the event. We would love to find a large field with nice country surroundings. If you are a land or farm owner and would consider letting us hold our small (around 50 guests) wedding on your land, we would be willing to negotiate compensation with you and would leave everything just as we found it. We're looking at areas in xxx and xxx and will consider anywhere, as we are still in the planning stages. Please contact us if you would like to help make our day memorable! Thank you! "

I can see it now : OD could be the ring bearer, the goats could be flower girls, roosters could crow the wedding march, the beez could...well, I don't know what the beez could do but I'm sure it would be interesting

I wonder if these are city slickers? It just strikes me as so odd.

 

[kcsunshine]

So - back to the prosthetic livestock...

A farmer walks into a bar with a pig that's limping along on a wooden leg and say, "I'll have a whiskey and a beer for my pig here." The bartender gets the drinks and then asks why the pig has a wooden leg. The farmer says, "This isn't any ordinary pig, this pig saved my LIFE! I was asleep in the house when it caught fire. The pig out in the sty saw the flames, broke out of his pen and rushed through the smoke-filled house, up the stairs and dragged me to safety on the yard."
"WOW!" says the bartender, "But why the wooden leg?"

"Well," the farmer answered, "A pig like that you just don't go eatin' all at once!"

WAAHAAHAAHAA - pass the bacon OFG!

OMG, I spit on my monitor!

 

[kcsunshine]

Here are 3 of the delicious goodies we offered at the market this morning.