We have had so much rain. I remember complaining several weeks ago that my chicken pens were so muddy......everyone was miserable. It still has never stopped raining until yesterday. All kinds of things and places are flooded in NE Okla. Many people are in shelters just to the north of us because their homes are flooded. We flooded, but not in the house, thankfully.
Our yard is not totally flooded now, but it is like a swamp........ (I'm not exagerating).
We are very lucky, we don't have water up to the house though. But, back at the very back of our property is where the chicken pens are. The poor chickens were up to their bellies in water, which then turned into nasty, nasty souplike mud. Yuk !
I couldn't bear watching them in such a nasty miserable mess, and with the continual rain and flooding, there wasn't anything I could effectively do. For some reason, they refused to stay up on the nesting areas and perches in the chicken house. They would wade around in the outside flooded area all day instead. The way their pen is built, the pen is all enclosed along with their house, so there's no door on their chicken house to make them stay inside.
Finally, I couldn't bear watching them suffer their awful conditions, so I let them out to free range.......... or try to get on higher ground.
Unfortunately, what I feared most.............. did happen. Something, don't know what, killed my 2 big roosters and 2 of my big hens. It must have happened while I was gone to work. I don't know what would have gotten them, as there are no dogs running free (that I know of). We saw feathers and parts strewn and floating in the yard.
DH was so sad for me losing my chickens.. But I told him I'd rather them go quickly than to have suffered and either drowned or got sick from being in the flooded pens. This past couple of months has been so frustrating trying to take good care of them. We had rain every single day for something like 37 days in a row without any chance to dry at all. Finally, with the ground so saturated, the water had no where to go, so everything gradually started to flood. At this point, I'm not sure if even our septic tank may be flooding out into the yard. We are afraid to wade around in the swampy mess because it could be contaminated. Also, water moccasins are a real danger, since with so much rain and water, the grass is about calf high from not being able to mow.
I haven't been posting much lately........... as there hasn't been much of anything good to post about concerning my poor chickens. It's been pretty discouraging.
Finally, the rain has stopped. Some of the rivers are so high above flood stage and are just cresting today. Maybe we are on the better side of this thing now................hopefully. We did have sunshine today for the first time in I can't remember when.
As of now, I still have a couple of large hens, 2 bantam hens and the mean little bantam rooster left. Hopefully they will be able to stay alive long enough for the pens to be occupied again. Some areas of the yard have started receading
enough so they are able to get out of the water and pick up worms that have flooded out of the ground. I don't know where they are roosting at night, but each morning, I am afraid someone else will be missing.
Well......sigh............that's enough of my doom and gloom for now. I hate to just be complaining. But I got a D-mail from a DG'er wondering where I went and why I haven't posted lately......... so I thought I would let you all know I miss you all.........and I haven't "flew the coop" yet. lol
All this going on, and my brother being ill and needing my care, has just been a lot. But it's stopped raining, and my brother is on the mend now, so It's time to visit my friends here on DG, and smile again. I love everyone's posts and have missed you all. :) PeggieK
Flooding in Okla.
I am so sorry for all you water problems. I've been watching all that rain on the weather chanel and prayed God would move it my way. I know it must be terrible for you to see your chickens in such a mess. I hate to say this, I wish it would rain here. We have not had much rain all summer, everthing here is drying up, my grass is pretty much dead now. I started watering the chickens grass so it would grow for them. I can't believe you've had so much rain. That would be so depressing. I have 2 brothers one in Houston and the other lives in Fort Worth, they are so tired of all the rain. We are supposed to get rain today, figures, it's a holiday. But it dosen't look very promising.
Cathy
Peggie, I'm so sorry you're having his awful flooding to deal with, and on top of family illness too.
I've lived through flooding three times in my life and I know how scary and dangerous it is.
I don't know what to say other than I'm sending you some big hugs and I'm glad the waters are receding and your brother is on the mend.
Peggy, Im praying for you hon! Im so sorry for all the miserable things going on in your life right now! Im hoping things will turn around real soon for you and everyone out your way!
Your Chickens will survive and they know you did your best for them. The ones lost , well there probably were some poor starving critters out there that couldnt get anything to eat elsewhere. Its a vicious cycle thing ,but you did what you had to do! I guess Mother nature decided you were such a good person to try and save your chickens ,that she decided that your helpfulness should help a few others that couldnt help themselves any other way! The one that were spared are probably your best anyway, so keep taking good care of them.
Take care of yourself and family, Im sending Hugs and if there is anything you need , Please let me know! E.
Peggy, my prayers are with you - - - - we too are receiving floding rains, daily here in Texas. It has turned my entire farm into a flood zone! UGH. Such a muddy mess........I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Belinda
Hoping things are truly on the turn around for you and your family !!!!!!!
Julie
Thank you all so much. Together with your well wishes, the sun did shine part of the day here today. Thus making it easier to see that this too shall pass................ thank goodness ! And to realize how fortunate I really am that our home is still dry and comfortable. Areas just a little ways from here have water all the way up to the street signs
and people are dealing with problems with livestock that their livelyhood depends on.... and their homes are flooded too. What a mess. Much as my heart sank about my few chickens......... there are those so much worse off.
I know they are 'just' chickens. But after you turn those little boogers in the incubator for 21 days, watch them hatch and grow, you can't help but to grow fond of them. I guess it's back to the incubator. But I think I'll wait until later when it's dryer here and maybe a little cooler at the end of summer. I think we will build a new coop
on higher ground too. Chances are, this wouldn't happen again, but ya never know.
I am greatful for your words of encouragement. Bless you and your families, and Happy 4th of July.
Oh Peggy your poor thing! Keep us updated on progress. We've missed u!