This week, I started feeding the animals for my husband.
Why? Because I am awesome. Obviously.
Want to test your upper body strength?
Fill two 5-gallon buckets with water and walk uphill (both ways-ha!) to bring pigs water and see how well your arms do.
Mine? Not so well. But, I digress.
It has been lovely outside as of late, so I don’t mind feeding the animals. What I do mind is yesterday’s episode of:
Vet Emergency: Taylor Edition.
On Tuesday, I noticed a hen huddled in one of the nest boxes. I didn’t think much of it, but on Wednesday, I saw her still there and lots of blood coming from her bottom.
It is moments like these when I rue the day Mr. Lumberjack ever got the notion to move us out to Ruralville.
Like I know what to do with a hen and her bloody bum. Good riddance.
Since my husband was not going to be at the homestead until about 9:30pm, I decided it was up to me, Mrs. Farm and Ranch, to tend to the hen.
I will let you all in on a little secret:
Hens are nasty-mean to each other.
Oh, yes. And those nasty-mean hens were pecking the poor, injured hen’s wound. And poor, injured hen was making a little “yelp” sound whenever one of her so-called friends would peck at her.
And, yes. I said “yelp.” Just go with it.
Well, I have never touched a chicken. And I don’t plan on ever doing so. They give me the willies. But I was able to catch the hen with my trusty fishing net and bring her to a safe little hutch, away from all those nasty-mean hens.
We are putting some sort of cream on her feathered bum and hoping she will heal. It was all very stressful for me, because, oh! Have you heard?
I don’t have time to deal with this stuff.
It made me want to put the house up for sale.
But, alas. I survived.
Barely.
Pig Update:
They are still disgusting.
Chicken Update:
They are nasty-mean, but they give us eggs and we forgive them.
Rabbit Update:
I still don’t like them. Hate me if you must, but it is true.
I loathe them. There. I said it.
Cat Updates:
The warm sunshine inspired them to brush up on their hunting skills. Or skillz. Whichever you prefer.
Today’s prey included small birds and the injured, bloody hen.
Fear not, bird lovers! The cats are lousy hunters.
Kid Update:
They are cute, but cannot figure out how to properly dress for winter-themed activities.
I wash my hands of it.
I will leave you all with this little convo between Sweet Pea and I:
Sweet Pea: Mom?
Me: Yes?
Sweet Pea: Want to know what I think is the best?
Me: What?
Sweet Pea: You know after lunch, when you make us read for awhile?
Me: Yes.
Sweet Pea: I think that is the most relaxing time of the day.
Me: Why’s that?
Sweet Pea: Oh, I am just so cozy on the couch and we are all quiet and reading. I can hear the coffee pot making coffee and the dishwasher running and the washing machine running and the dryer running . . . it is all so peaceful. It’s like . . . “Ah . . . Home Sweet Home.”
And I was thinking to myself, “Dude. That is not relaxing at all. That is your mama trying desperately to accomplish 18,000 things while you guys are all contained and quiet for 30 minutes.”
But I smiled at her and let her have her moment.
Happy Thursday!
Oh man… chickens are nasty beasts – did you know that a hen that decides to nest will call a Rooster to take you out?? True story – I have the scar on my face to prove it!!! Hope the little nester heals okay for you.
Send the dudes to put the for sale sign back up at the mailbox!!
I remember once telling my mother the very same thing, that the hum of the dishwasher, etc. made me feel safe. I sympathize with your multi-tasking efforts.
I’ve heard that chickens are mean to one another when there is no rooster in the group. No! I am not suggesting you get a rooster.
I think she’s quite astute. I am always most relaxed whilst others are working and I am not. 🙂
I can still hear the soothing, everyday sounds of the house where I grew up when I concentrate really hard. Sweet Pea is my kindred spirit.
Sweet Pea is aptly named. 🙂 I hear you but one day you will look back on what she said and it will be such a sweet memory. 🙂
I don’t know you in real life, but I think I love you. You make me laugh even on terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days.
Okay – so Amy totally beat me for the witty comment… I must agree with her – send the dudes out to put the FOR SALE sign back up on the mailbox!
And I don’t do good with animal owies either… ick.
Sweet Pea is spot on! She nailed the sound of a mom keeping a home together. My favorite sound as a kid was waking up in the summer to the sound of the sprinkler watering the front yard out my window. This was in the days before automatic sprinklers.
Sweet Pea is one Sweet Pea, she seems very deep, I like that… I still remember always feeling safe and happy in the home I grew up in. Even now, when I visit my parents, I still feel so relaxed, I sometimes fall asleep 😉
Ok, I was with the others one the “sell the house part”, until I read what Sweet Pea said, then I thought “no, she cant”, but hey, now I am thinking… “it’s not the house that makes the home, it’s the family and memories that makes the home, they never said anything about farm animals so YES, sell that house!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again for your posts, always puts sunshine in my days, I need that lately…
Guess what? Chicken butt, that’s what.
Bloody chicken bums?
Seriously, your life is getting wee scary.
I’m a little freaked.
I love the pictures of the kitties in the snow, and the bunny, and the pic of the sunlight streaming through the trees. My kitties have always been terrible hunters, even when we had mice INSIDE the house. Ugh. I love the sounds of the dishwasher and the washer and dryer. Very relaxing. Thank you very much for not taking a picture of the chicken with the messy bottom.
I think chickens are nasty too-dead or alive. Pigs are cute if they’re someone else’s. Or bacon : )
I also think that is the sweetest thing your girl said.
Have a nice weekend.
SP and I must be identical twins! I love the white noise of machines humming along not so much the chain saws but the other things. Hey kids where are all my letters?
Fed cats don’t catch stuff to eat. Starving cats catch stuff to eat. Fed cats catch stuff to play and torture and feel like warriors. Do the rabbits and pigs just sit out there on the snow all day and night? Brrrrr
Dinner? Sorry…I was trying to come up with something for your chicken debacle…but that would involve touching.
Okay, I tried to read all comments to make sure you hadn’t already been told this, but I once learned from April, at Coal Creek Farm (http://coalcreekfarm.com/) that chickens will attack each other when they need meat. You see, chickens eat meat, and when they don’t get that, they go all cannibal. So, the answer is to throw some meat to them (or a mouse, rabbit, snake, etc.) That should solve the bully problem, because I think my dad told me that they will just move to the next weakest chicken when the current victim is removed. Anyway, maybe this will help!
Oh, and I think the reason they don’t have this issue in summer is due to their insect intake.
But I don’t know that.