Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[DrakeMaiden]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Quail. Drink lots of coffee. I think you will make it to your date night!

A 5 min nap DOES work wonders.

 

[TTs Chicks]

Geez - hope everybody get well and you don't have any thing else crop up!!

Enjoy your date night, as you know they are special and they are few and far between

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Had a nice date night. We ate at Burger King, just the two of us, for less than $7. Haven't ate at Burger King in a while....Whopper Jr.'s for two!

Walked around the mall for a bit, exchanged some broken Craftsman tools for new ones and had a gift card so bought some new craftsman tools for E with that.

Ran into a former employer of mine who now works at Sears and talked to her for a bit. Was nice to catch up with her.

Then we went to Walmart and looked around. Ernie got Doe scent and a new buck call.

Did you know that in the sporting goods department they sell Doe Droppings??? They are $9.99 a bag, and it looked like only one poops worth from one doe! I can collect that FREE in my backyard!! I told E we're in the wrong business! I'm gonna start selling deer poop! (wonder if there's a market for Alpaca pellets??)

Then we went to the Dollar Tree and I picked up a couple felt coloring pages for the kids and a Disney and Pixar Cars sticker book. They were thrilled.

Saturday, didn't do much except worked more on cleaning chicken areas and feeders/waters...cried a bit, wondering if I'd need to cull all my bantams or just a few.

This morning woke up and found my only Mille Fleur d'Uccle pullet had affixiated and died in her sleep. Was quite depressing. The black pair of d'Uccles in quarantine and Lady Bird all had their eyes matted shut this morning. That just added to my depression because it just seems like they are better one day, worse the next.

Went to Church and felt very uplifted after the services. Said my own private prayer to God during the closing prayer, and asked for His Hand on my chickens. Left and was on the way to Becca's with the resolve that I would cull all Bantams showing any signs of illness when I got home tonight (Lady Bird was not on the cull list).

Had lunch with Becca and her mom after Church today. They served us chili and buttered bread, homemade cole slaw, with fruit jello, brownies, and pumpkin cookies for dessert.

After lunch E and I helped Becca clear up her garden spot. It's ready for a fall tilling now. Going to load up some manure for her sometime soon when she tells us she's ready for it. Cow and Alpaca poo for her garden. Helped her move her call ducks and a hoop house, too.

OH the HOOP HOUSE! I thought they were done moving it, so I was standing in front of it looking in at her 7 chickens and 3 turkeys that live in it. All of a sudden, the hoop house moves forward, knocking me down and stops on my foot. Becca's mom yells "stop stop, you're running Aly over" so she stops, E comes around the front and cracks up laughing. I crack up, too, and then suddenly, the house moves forward again! I yank my foot up and leap up, squalling, "She's trying to run me over!" Becca's like, "Oh, did you get knocked down? You weren't up??"

It was funny! and yes, I'm OK!

Came home after we were done helping Becca and I set about my evening chicken chores. Feeding/watering, and trying to get up the nerve to cull the ones who needed culled.....

So I head out to the two quarantine pens determined to make it as quick as possible for the black pair of d'Uccles. I open their pen and was surprised to find them perky! Genuinely seemed happy to see me, and they each had at least ONE eye open, and the Hen's opened eye looked bright and clear! Ok, so that gives me hope, I believe God heard my prayer, and I run to get them clean food and water.

Lady Bird was very alert and active this evening, too, where she seemed a bit droop and lethargic this morning. I fed her first and she dove into her feed. Fresh water, and she was happy. Fed the pair of d'Uccles, and by the time I got back with their water, they had cleaned up all their feed! And the little cockerel now had both eyes opened! So, I couldn't bring myself to cull the pair. I just couldn't.

I re-covered the back of their pens with their tarp, told them good night, and went on to feed and water the rabbits.

So, I've not culled anyone, and I'm praying they continue to show their improvements.

Tomorrow I'm taking some rabbits to the auction and cleaning chicken pens again.

 

[Ldychef2k]

Your chicken story REALLY lifted my spirits. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[BeccaOH]

THANK YOU!

 

[Dace]

Aly, I hope your chickens continue to improve! That is that hard part about having animals....having to make tough choices. I am glad that God intervened so that you did not have to!

If you are going into the Alpaca poo business, you are goign to need a few more...

 

[Farmfresh]

Keep a close watch Aly. That is some hard stuff to get rid of and a VERY hard trial for you to go through.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

THANK YOU!

You're very welcome.

Fixing to head off to the auction with friend R from over the hill. Meeting at her house.

I'm taking 3 rabbits, Big Blue and 2 male rex that I don't need because I'd be over run with BOYS!

Big Blue~I couldn't figure out what his problem was. Tried to mate him with my two adult does, and he just tried to kill them instead. I couldn't figure it out. R asked me this morning, "Are you sure he's a he?"



I flipped Big Blue over this morning and HE is a SHE! Well, no wonder "he" didn't want to mate with my girls

She is a huge big doe, but I don't have a need for another blue doe, so off to the auction she goes (and she better bring close to $5 because she's HUGE!).

 

[lorihadams]

Don't you hate when that happens!

Glad the chickens are doing better, I hope they all continue to improve and you don't have to cull anyone. I know the feeling, I have a sick rabbit right now and it is killing me. I don't have any problems culling her but she is so sweet it just makes it harder should the need arise.

Hope everything goes well at the auction today!

 

[justusnak]

QA, what an uplifting story...so glad to hear the chickens are doing better. Its so hard to " do the right thing" when they become pets. I too will say a little prayer for them to get healthy.