For example, today (Sunday) I woke up at 6:30am, had a coffee, then while still in my night clothes, I washed and packaged up eggs, put them in the egg cooler and took them outside to the end of the driveway.
After that I threw on some clothes and went outside to stomp the ice out of my breeder chickens water dishes and refresh them. Then I refilled my layer flocks water. After that I proceeded to the garage where my silkie chicks and Coturnix quail are and I emptied out their ice and replaced it with water.
Once the water is done, it’s time to check on feed. The same procedure followed for feed. Once I made it back to the garage it was time to switch gears yet again and do the first round of egg collecting. First, down to the breeders, then the layer flocks, then the quail.
I’ve learned over the years to use a bucket instead of a wire egg basket. It seems the chickens associate my hands and anything I carry with FOOD! This, in turn, convinces them to eat their own eggs. So I need to collect them in buckets so they can’t really see what I’m carrying.
Okay! That’s done....for now. Back to the house, where we are in the middle of some “home improvements”. Sheetrock, mudding and sanding it is!
Now that we’ve managed to accomplish that (for the third time), I’m coughing up sand, feel like I have cotton mouth and am in dire need of a drink and a tissue. 😳
At noon time I will fill up milk jugs with tap water (about 6 of them) and bring them down to the breeder chickens as their water will certainly be frozen again. Then I’ll collect eggs again, hoping that none have frozen and popped.
Then I’ll go back to the garage and fill buckets with scratch to treat the chickens in order to prevent boredom. If they get bored they fight and eat eggs. 😒
Back to the house! Now I can warm up a bit. Oh wait, I need to start dinner. Oh my gosh! The kitchen is a mess! Mud on the counter, pine shavings in the sink, water on the floor...etc. I need to clean this place up first!
Rush, rush, rush....clean, clean, clean!
Dinner it is!!! Prep, prep, prep, cook,
Sauté, bake and boil!
Phew!!
Now to clean the kitchen and....uh oh!! I have to check one last time for eggs! Collect, collect, collect....down to the breeder pens, collect, collect, collect.
I return to the house and, with a huff, put the eggs on the counter to be washed, go and change into my night clothes, and...oh no, I forgot to check on the incubator!! I add water to the incubator to insure proper humidity, then back to the kitchen to pack a lunch for Brian.
*pours a glass of wine....then another*
Oh no! I forgot to bring the egg cooler back in! *runs outside and brings the cooler back inside*
*heavy sigh*
I finally clean up the kitchen and sit down. Thoughts of spring time and planting season come over me and I need to write it down! Get the notebook and start making notes.
“Mom, I need some gas money.” Says a familiar voice from his bat cave.
*dramatic eye roll* Why don’t you have your own gas money? I ask. Lessons are never ending for parents.
“I don’t know...” guilty face.
“I want this back on payday.” I insist on teaching him a lesson.
My thoughts are written down. My offspring has retired to his room. My other half has also retired to bed. Even the dog sleeps at my feet. But me? No. I’m up...still trying to wind down knowing darn well that I have to get up early and go to work, then come home and work all over again.
These hands are aging faster than I ever thought. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
