Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueberrybook
I am so sorry! That sounds like a ton of animals to take care of. I would be stressed out too! You're a saint for helping out! I hope you are getting paid to take care of all the animals. Are any of their chickens mean? Both my grandparents had chickens and they wouldn't even let us in to collect the eggs if the rooster was around. Every new rooster seemed to be mean. I don't recall they ever had a nice one. And then certain hens would peck at you trying to collect the eggs. How many chickens do they have, more than a couple?
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There's actually more animals...there's a cat and another aquatic thing. In years past this group has got a lot of laughs out of the things the cat has killed and left for me every night I've been here; this year they put a bell on the little murderess and all she's killed was a chipmunk. Thank God.
There are 11 chickens. 1 chick in a separate pen (4 others were lost earlier in the week before I came) and 10 in a big coop (1 lost earlier in the week before I came----see where the anxiety comes from?). I am not fond of birds in general. We have chickens at home and I'm fine with them; they are more pets than anything and come to be petted. Most of these are fine. There is one I've developed a hatred for because she picks on the young 2. The young 2 are then frightened of everything so to get them into the night pen I have to cover them with a towel which makes them immediately relax until they can see again. They aren't particularly fond of being covered by a towel but hopefully tonight will be like last night when they just did it. I'm hoping they are getting used to it and will not fun from me tonight. I feel so mean chasing scared birds around but they have to go in or there will be more deaths. And there will be no deaths on my watch. (Again, see where the anxiety arises?)
Roosters are mean. The past few years they've had roosters that they had to have culled because they were mean. Sometimes you are told you're getting a hen and wind up with a rooster. This year either they only got hens or it is too soon to tell.
The eggs are laid in a box thing and as long as nobody is in there it's very easy to grab eggs. If someone is occupying the box I just leave and come back later.
there's a novel about chickens......I need to vacuum the kitchen before it is chicken fighting time. Then I will just have to shower, pack everything possible so I can leave as soon as my meds wear off in the morning, and sweep the bathroom floor. Tomorrow I have to load my cooler, finish packing toiletries and stuff and load my car and then I can head home. I can't wait to see my AbbyCat.