Rest in Peace Klara

We lost our dear 2 year old german shepherd dog today. She wanted to play ball last night, and collapsed while bringing it back. We brought her in, and all she did was heavy panting. She threw up a few times, and a horrible smell coming from her earlier that evening. We put her on the back porch, after being cooled down in the shower, but I guess that didn't work.

I woke up this morning to a pool of blood from her behind, and I guess I woke up in time for her to let me be with her for the last few moments of her life. It's so heart wrenching to watch someone you've raised from an 8 week old puppy, and 2 years later, their life ends with no warning. Oh precious girl, you will be missed. I'm sorry your life had to come to an end. I just don't know how to put into words of how awful I feel. For all those times I forgot to give you lovings when you wanted it, all the times you wanted to lick my hand, although I never liked you doing so. I hope you get to play with your orange chuck-it ball in heaven with God, Jesus, and Major. Major should lead the way until we all meet again. Every time I see your ball, or your play rope or something, I tear up. You're still at the foot of the bed, and your remains will stay next to Majors.

I love you Klara. Please never forget. I will see you soon someday........

Love, Mama.... <3

Waiting to pip...

Well, we have another egg ready to hatch, a Silkie, and than another after that, Rhode Island Red!! I've been waiting for my silkie to hatch any day now, and last night we heard cheeping!  I sure hope he/she hatches today or tomorrow for that matter. All I hear from under me at the computer desk is "peep peep! peep peep!"Scratch that!! The Silkie AND Rhode Island Red both decided to pip today! WOW!!!! 2 babies in 1 day! Amazing! It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to watch a creature make it's entrance into the world. http://jaycut.com/content/little-chick-hatching I sure hope that this little one makes it alright. It's pretty exciting to just be able to hear it peep. Lol. Enjoy the video of the little cochin cross mixed babies we hatched in June!! I'll keep you updated, and a possible picture!!!

RIP little Twitch

Well, I came home from class yesterday, and our little brown leghorn wasn't doing so great. She was lethargic, and not moving. So, we took her out of the box with the jersey giant, and let her go until she was gone. I feel awful for busting her back, but than again, fate has it's way of handling things. I just wanted to cry. At least she is in a better place now, so she's not suffering.......

Just waiting on a silkie egg to hatch any day now.

Another one bites the dust

Well, another chicken down. I might just have to keep those 17 little chicks that we have instead of selling them. That is, if I have to keep culling everyone else! I had to cull a barred rock this morning. She hasn't been looking too "hot", and pale face and just super skinny/slow. Not sure why, but I just saved her the agony and put her down!!! Poor girl, she'll never know what hit her... well it was a broom stick! Lol, that's not funny, and I shouldn't be laughing about it, but really, it's either lose 1 chicken to culling instead of making everyone else sick, or kill the entire flock. Oh jeez... not sure what the hell to do................ On to picking up the watermelon from the yard....

Rough day

Well, this morning started out rough. That bee sting still hurts like a son of a gun and my leg is still red, but not as swollen as it was yesterday. Than, as I walk into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, there are maggots on the dust pan. Really??? Where did those come from!?! Went to go let the chickens out and of course, the stupid ducks were already in there, pecking at food and everything. ARG!!!!!

I've got to clean my house today before in laws come. I'm just going to spot clean I guess.

I went to check on our new little Jersey Giant chick, and there's bloody stool in the box. Gosh, can't we catch a break around here??? I might have to cull another chicken today, and of course, it's a Barred Rock. She hasn't been looking too great, pale face and such. A friend asked me yesterday how we put a chicken down? Well, lay it down, lay a broom stick on its neck, and simply put ALL your weight on it and roll over the neck. Pretty quick and painless. They flop around for a bit, but that's about it.

I'm just tired of not getting any eggs. I really hope someone starts laying a few soon. It's starting to make me think I'm not in the right "profession". I think I'm just irritated today. We are pretty low on money, barely bought groceries, and the boys are coming home today. Our garden looks like a hot mess, although the mini cucumbers and green beans are growing. So I guess that's good. I hope next season we do a bit better with the garden.

Well, I better go paint the dining room and the floor of the coop....sigh....

Toodles,
TnChickHen

Oh the irony....

Well, this morning I went out to vaccinate all the birds, and got to a Buff Orpington. After giving her the vaccination, she began to cough!!! Her face turned purple and just couldn't breathe. So whatever happened, it wasn't going to continue to happen. The moment I watched her cough in pain, I decided that was it. I had to put her down. Better to put her down than to make everyone else sick. Not sure what is up with her.

I left 3 hens in the pen, hoping they lay an egg sometime soon this afternoon. Not sure exactly what is going on with the 2 laying hens, but they need to lay! I've only got 11 eggs from the past 2 weeks! Really? Come on!

Little Twitch, our inside brown leghorn chicken, is doing well. She's still limping around a bit, but will hopefully walk again. I just feel horrible for hurting her! The Jersey Giant that hatched last night is down right adorable! I will have to post a picture of it soon. We are going to try to find a new home for some of the other chicks, as 17 is a little too much, and we have 8 on the way! Yikes! I think we got a little over our heads. Ok, I got in over my head, but hey! The kids love them as do I... they just need to start laying eggs or they're going to get the boot! Haha! Just kidding.

Well, onto other things, and probably to pick up some more poop from little twitch... I've got to learn how to make a little chicken diaper for her if she wants to become an indoor chicken! :o)....

Toodles.....
TNChickHen

So many chickens, so much to do, not enough time!

Well, in the past few months of having chickens, I've officially become the "crazy chicken lady".

The past week and a half has been rough. No eggs from anyone, a chick died on us, we had to cull 2 of our birds, and I crushed a brown leg horn chick today, possibly paralyzing it! It's just been a super hard time since June. We currently have 14 chicks and about 13 chickens. We have a Jersey Giant that is currently hatching this afternoon, and hopefully Josh will get to see it hatch.

I'm not sure what I would do now, if I didn't have chickens. I mean, yeah, I've got the kids and dogs, but chickens keep you pretty busy. And they are pretty fun for the kids. The ducks on the other hand, just make huge messes. Oy Vey!!!

Well, I will continue my adventure tomorrow.

Toodles,
TnChickHen