There are lots of critters running around and a lot of them end up dead…and in my dog’s mouth. Some of the critters are bad, like chipmunks, squirrels, mice, rats, while some are apparently good (i.e. need to be kept around) like toads, snakes, lizards and anything else that will eat bugs and/or rodents. However, there have been a couple of issues with having all these animals running around – our cat kills these things, leaves the mutilated carcasses behind and our dog then has herself a brand new toy. It's not fun seeing your dog happily run up to you with a dead thing in her mouth or when this dog decides it's time to give your face a great big lick after playing with her dead animal toy.
Speaking of all those critters running around, I came face to face with my first rat. No not mouse, RAT. A gray, long tailed, big ass RAT. And yes, it was verified that this thing was indeed a rat - wharf rat in fact - and not just me exaggerating. And I encountered the thing at the worst time you can encounter a rat - when you least expect it. There I was doing what I always do, closing up the chicken coop for the night, when I looked up and saw this hideous creature just hanging upside down on the side of the coop. Of course I screamed - rather loudly - and of course the rat quickly scurried away, jumping off the wire and INTO the chicken coop. I then did what any self-respecting farmer would do...I ran back into the house. Now a mouse is fine. It’s small and is not going to mess too much with the chickens (or me), but a big ass RAT? Could that thing mess up some not yet full grown chickens (and me)? Sean investigated, saw it in a hole, confirmed that it was indeed a rat after some initial doubts about it being an actual rat, got some things to trap it, discovered that it had disappeared into the night, still boarded up that hole and called it a night.
I am now afraid of the chicken coop.
Ticks are bad. I have always known that they were bad, but I was never much for hanging out in the same places that ticks - or really any bugs - like to hang out. I think that I was bitten by a tick once when I was a child but I really cannot remember. I have always been more concerned about ticks getting on dogs and cats instead of myself. You take that stuff for granted. It’s kind of unavoidable and believe me I have tried and tried to avoid it. I’ve sprayed myself down with chemicals (and I hate, hate having that stuff on me), I have declared that I will not spend long periods of time outside nor will I wander too far from the house (farther from the house is closer to the taller grass and other overgrowth). But you know I cannot avoid letting my dog outside. We put protection on her like we should and she is fine. The ticks jump on her, decide they cannot stay because of the medication and look for some other host to suck the life out of. Guess who that is…
Something my husband and I learned the hard way this past year was just how serious tick bites can be. And this happened BEFORE we moved down to the farm so do yourself a favor and research a little about lonestar ticks and the alpha-gal allergy.
So now in our household, we are extra vigilant; tick checks are done pretty much every time we come back inside and the dog is checked before she can come back in. It's all very annoying.
There is a lot to do when running a farm – even a small one. We have lots of plans and getting everything in order has been challenging. Some things like dealing with chicks and building a chicken coop are first year things, but many, many other things need to be done daily. And I’ll be honest, when thinking about all this (and after actually doing it), I have had doubts pop into my head about this whole farm thing. Crops need to be watered, weeds need to be picked, grass needs to be mowed, animals need to be fed, poop needs to be cleaned up, etc., etc., etc. And let me also mention that we both have jobs. There is always something that needs to be done and it gets pretty exhausting.
Satisfying, though? Most of the time but I’ve had a fair share of meltdowns.
You also have a lot to worry about. Luckily, we are not relying on the survival of our crops or how much our chickens are producing, and I can’t imagine the stress that those who do must go through each day. Anything can come along and just wipe you out. There is a lot of hard work that went into planting the crops and raising the chickens, and it is devastating to see that hard work destroyed. We got one last unexpected freeze in April and it killed several of our crops. Not only does that cost you money but also more time that has to be spent on replanting. In addition to everything else to worry about, I now also fret over things like the health of the chickens, overwatering/under watering plants, animals that eat crops, animals that eat chickens, is it too hot or cold or dry or wet, how to keep bugs away and why oh why can’t I keep my dog from laying on my flowers…
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