Saturday, September 24, 2011

Bring It On Mother Nature!

Stove and chimney cleaned and ready. Wood is cut, split, and stacked. All that cold, icy, windy, snowy weather that you have kept from me for years bring it.... I am so ready for you! I know its wishful thinking but I sure would love to have a cold, snowy winter this year without having to move north to get it. Hopefully it will at least be cold enough to keep a fire in the stove and the kettle hot for tea.


Had a rough couple of days with Petro. Actually thought he wouldn't make it through one night but he is well and back to mischief. We have made a pet out of him and let him follow us around while we work outside. While splitting wood the other day he played around the stacks of wood and nibbled on fallen leaves. He also found a dogwood branch that had fallen and ate some dogwood berries before we could get to him . Got most of them out of his mouth and thought he would be okay. The next morning when I went out to feed I found him hiding behind a tree weak and blind. We put him in a dog kennel on the back porch and I started doctoring him. Made a mixture of: 1 pint of water, 1 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp. of baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp. molasses, 1 TBS epsom salts. Gave him a couple ounces every hour and inbetween gave him warm sugar water to drink to help flush the poison out. That night he got really bad and couldn't even stand. I brought him into the house and made a bed on the living room floor and stayed with him all night. He was calm as long as someone was with him. The next morning after more of the concoction and warm sugar water he was standing and passing gas. Really, really, bad and loud gas for a long time. The rest of that day he ate a little hay drank more warm sugar water. (He wouldn't drink pedilyte however you spell it that I usually give goats that need nourishment but can't eat )  By that evening he was seeing just a little bit and walking around the back porch. The next morning he was crying for his bottle and following me everywhere leaving little pellet trails and peeing everywhere. He is now back in the pen and acting like nothing was ever wrong. He gave me a few more gray hairs and now has to be watched like a hawk when he is out of his pen but back to his mischief making and being spoiled. The photo above is a couple months old as he is now 3 months old and lots bigger. I couldn't find a recent one in my files.


Now I am doctoring Baby (the turkey that thinks she is a dog). She didn't get in out of the rain the other night and now has the sniffles. She now has a heat lamp and a warm place to sleep where the other turkeys can't bother her. I went out today to clean her nose (nostrils on her beak) and found somehow she had gotten them full of dirt and even small pieces of feathers. Took me about 10 minutes to clean her nose. She was running around eating everything in sight after that so guess she was happy she could breathe better. When I went out right before dark to check on her she held her head up while I checked and wiped her nose. She is such a spoiled thing!

As always, its never boring around the homestead. Don't forget to count your blessings! Even the tiny ones.

13 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

wow. hope both of those silly young ones make it! you're a good animal mom.

Anonymous said...

Glad Petro is doing better! We've had our share of cold and snowy weather last year.

We live in a valley and it seems colder and snowy than up the road a little ways though.

Blessings,

Amy

Mike said...

I can see you now with a tissue up to Baby's nose. "Blow." lol

Anonymous said...

I hope you get some pretty winter weather up your way, Peggy. I'm happy to hear your babies are better. Take care and enjoy your Sunday.

Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic said...

How scary that must have been with Petro! So glad he pulled through. Animals can get into such mischief, can't they?
Sounds like yours are keeping you extra busy.

Kelly said...

I'm so happy he is better. We planted cherry trees and then found out that it was poisionous for goats. The trees are gone. I will buy cherries from now on. I keep ProBiotics on hand for the goats. Gives them a boost too. I'm glad you were there and knew what to do. I will try to send some cold weather and snow your way. I will share.

Two Old Broads said...

Nothing much dumber than a turkey... too dumb to come in out of the rain!

JoyceAnn said...

Ms. Dolittle to the rescue (LOL), those animals are so lucky to have you. Glad Petro pulled through , know that was scary.
After this summer , I'm hoping for a nice bitter cold winter too !

~ Be Blessed ~ JoyceAnn

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, I'm back after a few weeks off from blogging. Hope you are doing okay. I have missed all of my blogging friends --but needed that break!

Yes---bring on FALL.. Our weather this past few days has been awesome. I love it!!!!!

You are such a good Mama to your babies... Glad that Petro is okay...Hope Baby continues to feel better.

Enjoying you on Facebook!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Terry and Linda said...

You are ever so amazing Peggy! You are also my hero!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Cindy said...

I love your stories about your poor little sick animals. So glad to hear that they both survived, do they know how lucky they are to have such a nice and compassionate nurse/mom? Turkeys can be wonderful pets, can't they. My son had one for a pet when he was one year old and he loved it.
Hugs, Cindy

Joy Tilton said...

Peggy I LOVE the menagerie of farm animals... excuse me, PETS! Thank goodness you knew how to doctor them back to health. I am so enjoying your blog, have to post it in my sidebar for others to enjoy!

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

I had read that turkeys are too dumb to get in out of the rain. Are you hoping to keep him well until Thanksgiving? :)