Chicken Down

A death of a chicken is discussed in this post. Please refrain from reading if you do not want to feel a little sad.

So, we lost our first chicken yesterday. Actually, I take that back. We had to get rid of a baby chick two years ago because it was running around pecking all the other chicks' eyes. We lost our first chicken due to causes beyond our control yesterday. Our flock of 14 decreased by one. This flock is pullets hatched in mid-spring. My frustration stems from that fact that I don't know what was wrong with the creature!

She was a Speckled Sussex, and she very well could have been the chicken that started laying the first eggs. Maybe she just wasn't ready? Is that possible? I noticed yesterday morning that she was lethargic and not interested in the grain and veggie treats that the other pullets were gobbling down. I checked again on her yesterday afternoon, and she was just standing in the shade not moving. I was able to catch and pick her up with no struggling. The other chickens would have given me a run for my money to catch them.

She seemed like she was, um, constipated. She kept pushing her little bottom, but nothing was coming out. I wanted to try to relieve that and try to get things moving. I soaked her for several minutes in a warm tub of water hoping to help something come out. Then, I called a friend who used to raise chickens on a commercial basis. He suggested an eye dropper of warm water mixed with Epsom salts. I didn't have the salts, so he said just regular salt - a saline solution. My mom and I were able to give her the water/salt solution, but that's when things went from bad to worse. Maybe we gave her too much? Maybe she was too plugged up to take anything into her digestive system? She went downhill very fast from that point on.

I did not want to see her suffer, and she obviously was. I made the executive decision, and my husband quickly put her out of her misery. None of my other chickens are showing signs of anything. I've done a little reading but have not come up with anything conclusive yet. Any of you have ideas? I would think she was a bit young to be egg bound, but maybe? Would producing eggs too early be something? How do you help a constipated chicken?

On a lighter note there were a few chicken butt jokes bandied about last night. I can speak with some authority on that now :)

Egg-citing! Also, Keeping it Real.

Yesterday was a big day for the chickens; we had our first egg! I had marked on the calendar that our pullets should start laying right around August 15, so we obviously have an overachiever :) There was another egg today, so we'll see if they start trickling in now. It never gets old....finding the little treasure of a fresh egg.

Remember how I wanted to keep things real for you? Jacob found the egg yesterday. It was a discovery because the young pullets really just don't know what they are doing yet. Their funny little eggs (about the size of a golf ball) can be found anywhere. This particular egg was found in the coop itself close to the water bucket. Both Abigail and Jacob were so excited, and since Jacob found the egg Abigail carried into the house. She was told to put the egg in the refrigerator. She decided that she had to use the restroom first, so she took the egg with her (of course - wouldn't you?). So, the egg makes it finally to the door of the 'fridge only to be dropped right before being placed on the egg shelf :( Sad day for Abigail but a good teaching opportunity for mama (words such as "mama knows best" may or may not have been used, ahem).

Today we tried again. Another egg was found - in the nesting box. Abigail was given another shot, and the egg is now sitting in the refrigerator waiting for daddy to come home and be shown the prize.

In other news, new soaps are being produced, cured and listed; so please take a little time to check them out. Also, I am almost to a goal of 150 likes on my Facebook business page. I would love for you to "like" me too :). Thanks a bunch!

Monday List

Sometimes I like to share my to-do lists; maybe I'll revisit them someday and giggle over the jobs with which I was pre-occupied! Also, I'm nosy and like to read other people's lists; so maybe you want to do the same?


1. Work on potty training this week. Since it's a fairly quiet week, we can get in a few days of stay-at-home focus on Lydia. She shows such an interest, so we'll see. We are not in a hurry, but it would be nice to have one less person in diapers!

2. Buy chicken feed, dog food, and a replacement belt for the vacuum.

3. Finish preparations for Bible study tomorrow night.

4. Bake muffins (usually I double the batch and have the on hand for the kids' breakfast for a week or two).

5. Brush the dog. Little Miss Gretel is shedding like a crazy dog. Poor thing is hot!

6. Sew something....idea for the etsy shop!

7. Cut castile soap and shampoo bars that were made last week. BTW...have you "liked" my facebook page yet?

8. Pick green beans and bemoan the fact that something happened with our squash and zucchini plants that makes them not produce. What could this be? They have plenty of blooms and plenty of pollinators just no baby squash!

9. Finalize the kids' school curriculum orders for the Fall.

10. Attack the mountain of laundry!

Nothing Says "Fun Road Trip" Like...

a nice, sticky lollipop! My blog cuts off some of the picture, but my son actually shows up if you click on the picture itself (the first one).

Giveaway!

I thought I would try something fun: a giveaway on my business page. Be the 150th person to "like" the page, and I will send you soap - choice on castile or shampoo bar. Thanks for the support and orders, and I hope to bless someone with a little something from my stock!!

So, tell your neighbors, friends, and family. Help me get out the news for this fun little contest. I appreciate it so much :)

What Really Happens

I've been thinking of writing blog entries (or maybe Facebook updates) titled "What Really Happens" or something. A lot of people post the wonderful and exciting things happening in life, and that's what I usually do too. But, there is all the behind the scenes stuff that is comical (not at the time usually) or embarrassing or not shaded with rose-colored glasses or sad or frustrating or.....

Here goes the first episode: I just put on my workout clothes. I wondered what that funny smell was (outside of the normal workout-clothes smell). Then I remembered that I'm still wearing the shorts that I was too lazy to wash that my dog peed on in her excitement to see me a few mornings ago! It was just a bit of pee, and I figured it would dry. I didn't notice it the past couple of days, but I guess I need to get going with the laundry here!!

Maybe the title should be "True Confessions"?

Happy Birthday!

June marks the biggest grouping of family festivities: June 1st (my birthday), June 9th (Jacob's birthday), June 10th (our anniversary), and June 12th (Abigail's birthday). Throw Father's Day in there, and we just have a busy and fun time!

My birthday was absolutely perfect. Husband and MIL took the kids in the morning for breakfast, groceries, and a playground exploration. I slept in a bit, and took a run down the road. I haven't run outside the house for, well, I can't even remember! Most mornings find me on the elliptical monitoring still-sleeping babes. The run/walk was glorious. Then I returned home, showered, watched a couple Netflix TV show episodes while painting my toenails. Then I knit for a bit. All of these things in a quiet house add up to a rested and relaxed mama; it has been a blessing even in the days to follow. Then, Big Fish set up a little range for me over our hill; so I got in a bit of target practice. Finally we went out for a nice family dinner; the children were so well-behaved, and the food was so good. I really couldn't have asked God for a sweeter time. Here is a picture of my kids sharing my birthday dessert (Abigail accidentally told the waitress it was my birthday, and the waitress saw the panic in my face and skipped the singing part just bringing the cake). Even baby Susanna was able to have some chocolate bites!



Now we are planning the rest of the month! The kids' present already lives with us - the puppy, but I know both Abigail and Jacob will be receiving some tennis shoes! They are popping out of their old pairs. They both have requested shrimp scampi and dirt cake, so the birthday meal will be combined probably Thursday next week! VBS and ballet recital also happen to be next week; how did this all come down to one week? Prayers, please :)

Thank you, readers, for your responses on my last post. Still a "work in progress", so join me in the journey.

Happy Tuesday to you!