Success! Woohoo!

[old fashioned]

My most recent success stories are 2 of our hens have survived.
In early December, the neighbor dog got ahold of one of our hens (Strip) and we were all upset and thought she was a goner. We couldn't afford a vet, especially to tell us to put her out of her misery. So I poured some peroxide into the wound and put her in a portable dog box with food and water in the garden shed away from the rest. I didn't think she'd make it thru the night, but the next morning she was alittle better. This time I even tried to wrap her in an ace bandage to try to keep it closed against dirt and for skin to grow back together, but that seemed to make her off balance so I just left it open. By the third day I couldn't keep her in the box anymore, she wanted in the pen with the others.
The 2nd hen (Nugget) has pre-existing issues and has acted "off" since we got the chickens, though I've tried worming, dusting, checking for eggbinding, etc and still don't know for sure what's up. The day before the dog incident I noticed she wouldn't leave the pen, but didn't worry too much. Then I was busy with the other hen for a few days and when checking on her, she wouldn't leave the box. I nudged her to get up and move, but instead she just fell forward with wings wide and didn't try to correct herself but stayed there. I picked her up and put her in the yard and tried again. Same response. She wouldn't stand or even move. Offering her food and water and she didn't want it, just hang her head down with eyes closed.
I ended up force feeding her and even forcing her to stand, walk etc. as she daily gained strength. I was running a chicken hospital and physical therapy, but now both hens are almost back to normal.

 

[hikerchick]

Started really tracking everything I eat on Diet Power and lost two pounds this week.

I have been grazing just a bit too much lately..time to pay attention.

 

[freemotion]

Thank you, and for all the successes! I think everyone here knows how truly BIG all our little successes really are. Who else but a chicken momma would understand the success of saving a chicken?

Keep the stories coming!

 

[abifae]

*

 

[Bettacreek]

Hmm. Today we ripped the old wood "stove" out of the foyer and mostly have the "new" one in. The pipes need to be crimped and connected, but that's all minor work and will be done tomorrow. This one can actually be used as a STOVE! The old one wasn't working well, it didn't heat anything and everything was smokey (due to piping actually) and only held 3-4 pieces at a time (ie, one whole log). We obviously had the wood furnace downstairs, but now we'll have both running.
We also have the downstairs pantry started. The guys ran wire, hooked up a light/switch and sawed out some of the corners on the steps to accommodate a piece of plywood, which will be the back of the pantry. We also got a new gun cabinet (only holds five rifles though) and an ammo/handgun cabinet.
I even got off my butt and finally scrubbed down my incubator for testing. It's set up and ready for eggs now!
Tomorrow will be a productive day. The BF is going on a skiddoo trip, I'll be driving an hour away to get my package of button quail eggs (sent to my mom's address, lol). I'll probably pick up my standard rex harlequin doe rabbit on the way home. Then we're going to finish the stove and the pantry tomorrow.

 

[framing fowl]

This is so fun to read! Thanks to y'all, I successfully pulled my frozen chicken that we'd butchered out of the freezer and was able to cook it, and eat it, and it was delicious! I used the dutch oven method but will be doing the skillet on the stovetop next to try that. Such a simple thing but still success!

 

[kcsunshine]

And here I sit, reading all your posts and journals all day long - I don't have time to be successful at anything!