Jest Another Day in Pear-A-Dice - Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm in Alberta

Arcnova said:

Tried to practice the chicken exam instructions on my Roo today since he's the least flighty of my birds....
My hands are too small! I couldn't fit his thighs between my fingers.
I will have to practice with the girls I guess, lol.

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For the Showmanship competitions, we suggest a SMALL bird, even for the older competitors.

Choosing the Bird said:

This Lilac tom was 33 pounds and processed to 25 pounds...​

For the REALLY big birds like Dale the Lilac heritage turkey who weighs upwards of 33 pounds, maybe more...I hold the one set of legs in one hand and wrap my other arm around him...securing wings so no flap whilst grasping the body.

The sanctioned judges will judge big birds like the geese and turkeys in a big old pen...not expected to be able to wrestle with them massive birds, eh. I happened to be BIG, so I tend to make a twenty to thirty pound bird intimidated...and yet comfy when held in hands...ha ha ha!

Quote:
Originally Posted by drumstick diva

Thank you Tara, I love to dwell over Fixins photos - I can't get enough of her.

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Starting to see my service provider not providing enough service (hard to load up photos here--sigh)...so I will post some more pics of her from earlier on, Mar 21 and onwards but when I am able to get service. I am never sure who wants to see that many pics of dogs eh...I forget she and Foam Dome have fans here...I don't like to overwhelm people with all the click pics I take of the muttley crew of dogs here.


Off to go make a trip to get Fixins some white fish. We have both been out and about enjoying the sun...now she is napping, deeply sleeping and resting those old tired bones of hers.

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

For the Showmanship competitions, we suggest a SMALL bird, even for the older competitors.

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Oh. I ended up holding him like a turkey, haha! He's not a small bird, I should weigh him some time. On the other hand I am a rather small human, most twelve year olds are bigger than me, lol.

I am proud to say that I did not drop him and embarrass him in front of his girls. He talked to me the whole time, I think he was nervous since his legs were shaking. But then I've never really held him before as an adult save once to trim his wings so maybe he'll get used to it.

Heel low:

Here's some more pics...









Evening of March the 21st...snow started up



Dogs seemed pretty OK with a bit of more winter time.



Don't seem to bother the chickens, lots of eggs...not hatching so finding uses for extra eggs...devilled eggs...

What I did find was it was a bit gloomy...overcast alot of the time, so missed the sunshine and the cheeriness.



Gloomy or not...


American Buff Pied geese have decided its spring enough...fourth goose egg in as many days.


Getting hard to locate any snow in the Pear-A-Dice goosey area...



Baked a cake for Rick...his b-day this week. Yeh, I know the "icing" looks whispy...it is one cup of whip cream with package of instant pistachio pudding...jest what Rickie wanted. Looks scary, tastes great!

Yesterday evening...not alot of light left...


Fixins decides rolling is the game...


Rolling in the pebbly snow piles.

What a hoot she had...


Today...it was more of the same kinda pursuits as yesterday evening...


Not quite April yet but love that saying, "April showers, bring May flowers!"


General walk about inspections by Fixins...we got two decent down pouring showers...



Right on down to the veg garden...




Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine
Written by Tom Hall:

When Makins had Fixins, I collected up three of my precious silver dimes to celebrate the event, one for the Fix, and two for her bro and sis. And yeh, I may not drink no more's but I made up a batch of homemade watermelon wine...well you all know why now...




Lots of determined walking today...and then some of this...


I like this best...I know she is resting but being part of the day's endeavours too.

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

drumstick diva said:

Tara, many, many thanks for enough Fixins photos to even keep ME satisfied. You and Fixins are the Best! Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICK

diva

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Second that!

drumstick diva said:

Tara, many, many thanks for enough Fixins photos to even keep ME satisfied. You and Fixins are the Best! Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICK

diva

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lularat said:

Second that!

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I am glad you got your fill of Fix Fotos for a tiny bit...

Thanks on the B-Day wishes...last week was not kind to him with Fixins sick and even his ancient geriatric Budgie/Parakeet decided to up and kick last week...sigh...it had tumours and I find it amazing how significant it is sometimes when things go the low way...but no matter...for now it is good. As good as it can be.

Very much find this a toe tapping, loving, EVERYDAY kinda tune. Rascal Flatts does an amazing job of it and yeh...it is like one cannot get enough of this EVERYDAY LOVE...when every day is full of love and joy, peace and happiness...I guess we get to measure that degree of euphoria but how sometimes the lows do come to visit...disease and death are about the ONLY clouds in our lives here...so sometimes it's gotta rain, cats and dogs kinda rain storms with flashes of lightening and big old boomings...so you know when it IS good times you are having.


So a little lightening and rumblings...

Those that follow this thread know that our beloved Fixins is ill and has been on the decline for, what, seems to me and Rick because we are living it day by day, FOREVER...but maybe three weeks since the latest bump (histiocytoma) made an appearance on her head. Being as she will be 14 years old in July and she has really worn out alot of her dog parts (always pedal to the metal...that gal of ours!), we knew it was going to be an accumulation of issues from worn out body parts to just sheer abuse on her part...always is one to be giving it her all...no medium, no maybe, no half way...always FULL on GO to the max... One of the things we love about her, eh. A going concern from day one.

On Saturday evening, Fixins crapped some bloody stools...I will not post the other shots...pretty icky...but this one in the snow is a few drops I found...so not a great sign and disconcerting for Rick and I.


Then as she was coming inside from that, she had a grand mal seizure in the Man Porch. She did the whole legs flaying, body thrashing, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling, in and out of consciousness...lasted for about 30 seconds. During the seizure, Rick brought me blankets which we set up so she would not harm herself. When it was over and she was conscious again, we carried her back into the house stretcher style on a blanket. It was not a nice occurrence and if you do think on it...amusing in a very sick way because there are these two old persons, witnessing a very real and unnerving display of what happens when a being has a bad reaction to meds. No matter...we do what we gotta do to make things work out.

Against my better judgment but not feeling the alternative meds were going to be better (opium based and the side effects can be pretty ugly), we started Fixins on Metcam (nfi) which some years ago, she had thrown up after being administered one dose. Now her mother Makins did well on it for years and we had her on like a 1/4 dose for her to be able to mobile and active in her later years. Along with Cartrophen (nfi - sodium pentosan polysulfate) shots...Makins did so nicely. We recall her sitting on the couch having us thinking, "Well that is just what old dogs do..." and it was not so. Makins got off the couch and was back into living and moving for about five happy years...but Fixins, did not seem to accept the Metcam some years ago. My first reaction was, no to Metcam but got convinced to give it a try again.

Thursday morning; Fixins got the double dose Metcam as it says to start off / Friday morning regular dose with the hyperactivity later in the day (galloping and circling, constant motion, with the zoned out distractedness) / Saturday morning - not wanting to move/very stiff, she got a regular dose of Metcam followed by her throwing up some of her breakfast. No Metcam administered since Friday morning; 1 double dose to start, 2 regular doses. The moment Fix threw up on the third dose, that was it for me. The following grand mal seizure, well that simply sealed that she was not going to be on Metcam...


Fixins still eats (not able to pick the food up, so is being hand fed small pieces which she swallows with a bit of effort, no chewing--believe she may be constricted due to swelling--the head lump is HUGE now), drinks (up until this morning when she drank from a regular bowl of hers, in the past few days she has preferred not to bend down to drink so we have five gallon pails filled with water which is at her head height and easier for her to access with a straight held head and neck), shakes head so gets some light ear rubs which she seems to appreciate since not sure she can sit and scratch with a back foot any more without falling over (balance), she enjoys some good body rubbies and we cluck and coo at her to make her feel fine, she's been peeing about every 3 to 4 times when she is taken outside but not taken a crap since the diarrhea bloody one on Saturday evening.



In the living room, we set an ex-pen up in a circle with blankets and a bed so she could not get up and hurt herself before we can stop her heading for trouble by crashing into something. We have been watching her pretty much 24/7 with a few cat naps in between...she has been doing the circling and tries to stand with her head in corners at times so I have a leash and collar on her off and on to keep her from harm. She does the panting heavy and the disorientation but now that seems over with...I am so glad on that! She does seem to wake up and appears happy about her food and we take her outside for a wander and try for a pee every 2-3 hours. We have taken down the ex-pen panels and with the set up of two beds for her to choose from, she has sorta gotten the jist of the madness...so we are functioning pretty good now that she realizes, you can do the walk about outside, but not so much walk about inside thanks!





Gives me something to do that makes me feel positive about doing. If she quits enjoying her food, then it's going to be a real concern for us. Right now, she finds GREAT delight in eating...a good thing indeed for all concerned, eh.


On Monday night, she slept the least disturbed night since Saturday. Bit of gurgle rattle in breathing and sometimes laboured, but intermittent. The heavy panting episodes would probably be her in pain and stressed but she seems to settle out and actually is restful at times. I try to end the walks outside before she starts staggering...then she seems to sleep for a spell. She readjusts herself on her dog beds but when she stands up and starts moving around, I figure she needs to go outside; see if she wants to pee and get a drink. Had her outside on a dog bed with us pond side Sunday and Monday afternoon...if it stays warm, we will probably keep doing the same thing. She seemed to like that alot. Out in fresh air, enjoying hearing Rick and I talking, the waterfall and pond items gurgling and splashing...hearing her yard chickens running about in the bird yard...yeh, nice and comforting.


Rick got the snow and ice outta the fish pond and waterfall, and we all sat by the pond and filled it on up and just before we packed things up and went inside, I brought over some lawn ornaments to put round the pond.


Happily it is spring break so I am home for her till the seventh when school starts up again. No idea how long she has left. The enjoying eating was a pleasant surprise...she perks right up. Every night, I spend them in interrupted sleep, trying to hear or see if she keeps breathing and she has progressively gotten so much more peaceful...she is more restful which is a blessing for her and Rick and I.

Certainly not going to give her any more Metcam.




Laugh eh...why not choose an emotion you can find relief in.



I got some more photos to go over, so will post this one from yesterday and go about sorting thru them pics...

Fixins resting outside, pond side with Rick and I...temperature of the pond water was same as temperature of water inside the garage...so Rick transferred the fish.

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

Bless her heart, and yours. I hope that she stays comfortable and when the time comes, she goes peacefully, for everyone's sakes.

Love you FIXINS and Tara & Rick

It's hard when your best friends decline, but the years of happiness they give to you before they go make it all worth while. I hope her passing is gentle and her last days as pleasant as possible.