December 27, 2021 • 35 mins
Send us a message! We’d love to hear from you!
Listen in as we speak with Rai of https://www.instagram.com/covidcluckers/
on her favorite things, lessons learned, and dreams for the future.
Chicken keeping is a rewarding adventure. We must continue to be open to learning all we can about our flocks. I've made many mistakes along the way. I'm not ashamed to admit I've lots more to learn, even after 10 years.
Wilma and The Holler Gang would like to thank you for your support in 2021. We're super excited for the future. We're forever grateful.
Melissa
“Where education fuels compassion.”
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mel (00:00):
Hey friends.
Welcome back to the very lastepisode of Wilma The wonder
HenMel 2021.
I know it's just mind blowinghow fast this year flew by
today's episode features a will.
My favorite Ray of COVIDcollector.
(00:21):
We are looking back at thisyear.
Things that we loved, thingsthat we, uh, would've done
differently and our hopes anddreams for the future.
So y'all help me welcome Ray ofCOVID Cluckers Hi, Ray, how are
(00:43):
you?
Rai (00:44):
I'm doing good.
How are you?
Mel (00:46):
I'm doing fabulous.
I am so excited to see yourface.
Uh, your glasses are so cute.
Mine are just old lady glasses,uh, but yours are always
styling.
I'm not sure where you get them.
Like if that's local or online.
Hey, y'all I'm Mel and you arelistening to Wilma.
The wonder hand, Are you achicken mouth loving mama daddy
(01:11):
together.
We'll dive into the latestpoultry keeping adventures chat
about everyday life.
We're the generous mix of somehilarious stories, Bringing you
fascinating interviews withpoultry owners from all over
you'll find tips and basicadvice from your local
veterinarian.
Along with new chicken, keepinggadgets and reviews.
(01:32):
I'm gonna see what Mr.Janglesand Wilma has to say about that.
We're going to encourage andhelp you build a stronger,
healthier flop.
Let's go see what Mr.
Jangles and Wilma is up to.
Let's go let these Heifers out.
Rai (01:47):
I get'em online and this is less than 20 bucks.
Like what?
Yeah, I, I had that LASIKstopped on.
Yeah.
And it's so funny cuz I spentall this money on like my
eyeballs for not having glassesand the pandemic happened and
these are blue lake glasses.
Oh.
So,
Mel (02:03):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah.
My daughter has some, uh, theblue reflector glasses and
they're actually pretty Chi andcool, but they don't help old
people eyes.
But anyways, that's not thepoint of all this.
I hope you had a very MerryChristmas.
Uh, this is the last episode of2021 on us with her presence and
(02:26):
her thoughts on things that, um,she loved this past year things
that she may have, uh, made amistake and maybe she wants to
share with us to help, you know,learn and teach us something new
cuz she is a teacher and that iswhat she does.
And any thoughts that you havefor the future.
So I'm gonna turn this over toRay and just kinda see what, uh,
(02:48):
things, uh, she could reflect onthis year.
Rai (02:53):
Um, well they all have respiratory infections this time
of year.
Oh no.
So that's been quite the hassle.
They came straight off theirmalt and by the way, I didn't
know that malting like took likefour or five months.
Like I thought it was like, youknow, a couple weeks and they
were done.
No, they're still malting.
So that's been quite a process.
Mel (03:14):
Yeah.
Mr.
Jangles, last year it took sixmonths to grow all of his long
to feathers back.
Rai (03:20):
But he's beautiful
Mel (03:20):
Feathers, I think it really just depends on the breed of the
chicken, the type of feathering.
They have maybe all kinds ofthings, but so how did you
realize that they had arespiratory infection?
Rai (03:31):
Um, well we got a really weird egg.
It looked like a lash egg and Idid get it confirmed that it was
.
And so it was like thebeginnings of like a pretty bad
infection.
And I was lucky cuz the vet whohas seen my chickens before was
like, I don't need to see'emagain.
I'm just gonna write you aprescription for all these
drugs.
And I was like, okay, that'sfine.
Oh, so that was, that wasfantastic.
(03:53):
Yeah.
And she, like, she gave me aspecific drug for the chicken.
It was pompom.
Um, so she gave me a specificantibiotic for pompom, which she
refused to take and it was verydifficult to dose her.
And then, um, there was also anoverall antibiotic that we put
in water, which made it a loteasier.
That was for everyone becausethey've all been sneezing and
just they're uncomfortable.
(04:14):
And like today it's in thethirties and yesterday it was 60
degrees.
Mel (04:20):
Yeah.
That's crazy today.
It's uh, 68 I think.
And tomorrow night is supposedto be 21.
Rai (04:26):
So yeah.
Uh, and I mean like our friendsoverseas, like to give you an
idea, it's like going from likebeing in like the twenties and
jumping down to like twodegrees.
So I mean, cuz I know that CELTthing.
People get confused with ourweather yeah, yeah,
Mel (04:40):
Yeah.
They do.
They're like, oh 27.
That's nothing.
And I'm like, wait a minute.
That's Fahrenheit.
That's not Celsius.
So they're like, it's so hot.
Rai (04:48):
I'm like, no
Mel (04:49):
Man it's cold.
cold.
Yes.
It is challenging while it'schallenging for some of us
anyways.
But
Rai (04:57):
Yeah, I hate doing the math on it all the time, but I'm
getting better with it getting alittle quicker.
Mel (05:02):
So you ended up putting them on an antibiotic.
Did you think about givinginjections to pump home or was
that an not an option or so?
Rai (05:10):
Um, I have a phobia of needles and um, oh, okay.
That's fine.
That's I mean like we're givingbridge and IV every day and um,
I, I pass out sometimes, butI've been lucky that it's gotten
a little better with her.
Maybe it's just cuz it's, youknow, my puppy dog and I love
her so much, but yeah, needlesI'll pass out or I'll scream,
bloody murder.
Like I always warn the nursescuz like I don't want them to
(05:33):
think like I'm crazy.
It's just like, I'm terrified of'em and I will scream and I
don't wanna scare other peoplein the hospital or any place
else so that way they know.
But um, yeah, injections.
I don't, I don't know if I'mgonna be able to do that unless
I absolutely have to.
So
Mel (05:47):
That's okay.
You don't have to.
I just thought, you know,because that is an option.
So I just wanted to make surethere, if there wasn't like some
other reason, but that reason isperfectly legit.
So
Rai (05:57):
Yeah, I know it, but you know, like shoving the pill down
her throat that works too.
So
Mel (06:01):
yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's fair.
Rai (06:05):
It was, it was not fun.
Mel (06:06):
and how long do
they have to be on?
Are they still on it?
Uh, no they're
Rai (06:10):
Off.
Um, we just finally they said tohave a 14 day egg withdrawal and
so I did longer because it wasin the water, no matter how much
I like scrub the bucket thattheir water's in.
I was like, eh, let's just giveit a little extra time.
So, and they weren't reallylaying anyway.
They just came back online withlaying.
So
Mel (06:27):
What else have you been up to Ray?
Um,
Rai (06:30):
We're getting ready to put in like a six foot tall fence
around our, our, um, yard.
And once we do that, we toimprove our run, like as we've
like just been going throughlike this entire like journey,
we love our run.
It's fantastic.
It's around a, um, a Magnoliatree mm-hmm and so
it like provides a lot of shade,a lot of shelter and like it's
(06:52):
interesting cuz there's allthese bugs and stuff on it.
We do have an issue sometimeswith the birds, but they
actually stay away.
They, they seem to know thatlike if they go in there it's
danger for them.
So, um, it's not, it doesn'thave a roof over it.
So
Mel (07:06):
It's been kinda like, yeah, not the
Rai (07:08):
Best.
We have like cute littleumbrellas and it looks like a
beach theme, but we're gonna puta roof on.
And also like, as I'm gettingolder, I'm like, I really don't
like crawling into my coop.
Like my coop is about the sizeof a twin size bed and it's like
maybe like two or three feet offthe ground and I can get in
there and do stuff.
But like I'm thinking aboutlike, this is like the long term
.
So I wanna have something that Ican actually go into and just
(07:31):
like, you know, sweep up andjust be done with it.
But it works right now and it'sadorable, but you know, the
bearded on, I we're gonna just,you know, redo some things and
make it nice and make it the waywe want it and make sure that
it's gonna last a long time andit's not like an eyesore.
I mean, not that we care, butyou know,
Mel (07:48):
Right.
I think the functional part ofit is probably the most, well, I
mean, I'm not sayingaesthetically that's also, you
know, I, you want something thatit looks nice.
I mean, I'm not saying that ithas to look nice to, you know,
house your chickens as long asit's clean and stuff.
But uh, yeah, definitely gettingin there is such a blessing to
(08:12):
get in there and to clean itlike that.
And
Rai (08:15):
I mean like I'm small right now.
Like I'm, I'm a little bit overfive feet tall and like I'm
little petite and like I canactually crawl in like the side
door and get in there cleanstuff, but like that's not gonna
last forever.
There's just no way
Mel (08:30):
Oh, that's funny.
Rai (08:31):
It is.
It's pretty funny.
Like the girls are like, whatare you doing in here?
What is going on?
Mel (08:35):
And then you don't belong in here.
Rai (08:37):
Well, they all just wanna snuggle at that point.
Like they're all like brushingme and like, it, it, it it's
amusing.
I'll have to video it sometimefor,
Mel (08:44):
For you is there any
kind of products that you use
this year that you really, uh,you don't have to name who it is
or whatever, but just the, the,uh, idea of it or something you
found to be, uh, for otherchicken keepers that, you know,
something that's been veryconvenient for you or, you know,
any of those things?
Um,
Rai (09:04):
I will say, hold on just one second.
I gotta pick up bridge cuz she'syeah.
Mel (09:08):
You pick up bridge.
Uh, there is bridge.
Yeah, she is
Rai (09:12):
She?
Yeah.
Um, I did get some Gries I gotthe love tub cuz it was on sale
and I use, I use your littlecoat.
Yeah.
Just getting those, like theblack soldier fly larva.
That seems so much nicer thanthe meal worms.
Yeah.
Like even the smell andeverything about them.
Like the girls really like them.
There's
Mel (09:32):
Definitely a huge difference even in size, so,
well it's like
Rai (09:36):
Why you put some open in like there's stuff on the inside
and you're like, oh, what it,like, I didn't know.
They had guts
Mel (09:41):
yeah.
They dry the whole thing it'sreally grub farms is Gries is
probably the best.
And then, um,
Rai (09:49):
I do wanna try the coffee grounds for the bedding.
Have you seen that?
Mel (09:54):
I have, I have not tried it yet.
I have a lot of when I look tochanging bedding, I have to
think because I've got sevencoops in an aviary.
So, but if you try it and youlike it, I like, you know
Rai (10:08):
Yeah.
Like, um, cuz my coop, I usesand on the inside, which is
great.
It's fantastic.
It's just dusty.
And like, I was like, well maybeif we tried the coffee stuff,
maybe it would smell nicer andyou know
Mel (10:21):
Yeah.
I've heard a lot of good thingsabout it.
I don't, I don't know anyonepersonally like in real life
that has used it, but I'd bewilling to kinda listen to their
opinion on it.
Rai (10:34):
Yeah.
I'd like, I'd like to know moreabout it.
So yeah.
Mel (10:37):
So hit us up if y'all have used the coffee bedding or if
you produce coffee bedding, youknow, Ray would be open to using
it and trying it and giving herhonest opinion on that.
Rai (10:50):
And I, I I'm, I'm very fair about things.
Mel (10:52):
So yes, yes she is.
She is very fair.
That is the only reason why sheis friends with me.
otherwise she would'vetossed me long ago.
Oh no,
Rai (11:04):
No, no.
We have too much fun.
Mel (11:08):
Have you come across any accounts online that you think
that you, uh, could share withus that maybe have been
influential to you in a positiveway?
Rai (11:18):
Oh, oh yeah.
Um, I don't remember her name.
I'd have to go and grab myphone, but um, she is a vet here
in Maryland.
I actually vet her your waybecause like she's actually on
Instagram and
Mel (11:31):
I think I follow her.
It's
Rai (11:33):
Like Rebecca, the chicken, something like that.
Mel (11:35):
Yeah.
I do follow her.
Rai (11:36):
She literally, her practice is right down the road from
where I used to live.
Mel (11:40):
I was actually gonna send her a message.
I think she is a vet on anothershow.
Maybe.
I don't know if there's like a,I don't know if she's exclusive
or not, but we would love to, uh, speak to her.
So
Rai (11:52):
I doubt she is and I'm sure she would love to talk about it
cuz like she's just, when I talkto her, she's just so passionate
about it and it's just so niceto know that like
Mel (12:00):
Even though like it's an hour away from where I live, I
could still go there if I needTotie stop sniffing the
microphone.
Aw, she's trying totalk.
Rai (12:08):
She's mostly hungry.
Aw,
Mel (12:10):
Me too, girl.
all these, uh, extraChristmas stuff I woke up this
morning and I was like gonnahave a healthy breakfast this
morning.
Not gonna have, you know,leftover cookies.
so now I'm wishing I hadleftover cookie
Rai (12:29):
I've given up,
Mel (12:31):
She's given up a couple weeks.
Rai (12:32):
It's fine.
It's fine.
Cause like my students, mestuff.
So it's like, eh,
Mel (12:36):
That's great.
I just know for me, my stomachwas just not handling it, so
Rai (12:41):
Oh yeah.
Like eventually it's like, okay,if you have one more cookie,
you're gonna be really sick.
And I'm like, Yolo, just likegoing,
Mel (12:48):
Throwing caution in the wind baby
Rai (12:52):
Hey, it's worth it.
You know?
Mel (12:53):
It is, it
Rai (12:54):
Is.
I know it's I did have somepeople asking like questions on
how to grow accounts becausethey wanna be more involved in
the chicken community.
Yes.
You know?
And like that was kind of like areally like interesting
conversation to have, cuz like Iwas like, all I do is just like
post nonsense you know,our, our dumb adventure and like
(13:14):
, you know, Jeff making weirdnoises and yeah.
I mean like it, it's veryinteresting how people are
asking those questions.
Like just be authentic I guessis what happened with me.
It's just, it's just who we are.
Mel (13:28):
Yeah.
We get asked that quite a bit.
Uh, and I actually had aconversation with somebody the
other day about this and it'sactually in my note for me and
me, I'm gonna talk about B.
So I see all these other feedsthat are just magnificent.
They're just beautiful photos.
I mean just uh, beautifulfarmhouse pictures and beautiful
(13:51):
eggs.
And you know, all those majesticcolor are full things and I
think, wow, that is amazing.
You know?
Uh, and then you're like, okay,I'm gonna focus on doing this,
this and this, you know, to bebetter or you know, comparing
myself my account to somebodyelse.
And then I had to stop and thinkand I really thought about, and
(14:11):
I'm like, uh, we are who we are and that is
exactly who we are.
So like me changing any type ofhumor or me changing any type of
the way I speak.
Um, obviously, you know, youwanna put your best foot
forward, basically.
You get what you get andwhen you see our feed that's,
(14:32):
that's just who I am.
I decided that that's going,that was actually on my notes.
I'm so glad you brought that up.
It's because for me next year,that's just, my goal is just to
be me.
Mm-hmm you know,and that is my advice to like
those individuals that you weretalking to just be you.
Uh, I know for Ray and know forme, we, where we are now is just
(14:54):
from doing that.
I know there's a lot of thingsthat people try and get you to
do online, to grow.
And I don't think it'snecessarily all about the
number.
I think it's about building acommunity mm-hmm of
people that you look up to cuzit, you know, like Ray, I look
up to her and there's a lot ofpeople online that I look up to
and would go to, you know, witha question or something like
(15:15):
that or reassurance and youknow, Ray hears a lot of
nonsense that comes outta mymouth before y'all even see it.
And there's a few other peopleonline too.
But like Ray said, just, youknow, just be who you are and
then it's not such a chore ordisappointment.
Um, when you compare yourself tosome of these other feeds and
(15:38):
those feeds are beautiful, notknocking them at all, they have
their place.
Uh, but we all bring somethinggreat to the table.
That's different.
Rai (15:47):
I don't know how they do it.
Like they have like thesepristine, clean everything.
And I'm like, I'm like my house.
Like we have toilet plannersthat we put our plants in.
I mean, like we are that housein like our neighborhood and
it's like, we don't even hideit.
Like I, I don't have a problemwalking back and taking a video.
Oh, well there's a bunch ofgarbage sitting on the side of
my house, whatever.
And like I've had people say,wow, we're not the only people
(16:09):
who do that.
And it's like, no, you're not.
Yes, everybody does it.
And you know, like my mom grewup on a farm on a dairy farm and
you go out there and there isstuff everywhere.
Like it's never like perfect.
It's never pristine and kudos.
And those people who can havethe beautiful white farm houses
and the beautiful, like whiteeverywhere, I, I couldn't do it.
(16:30):
It made me crazy.
But it, you can do it.
Awesome.
But like that that's not myauthentic self
Mel (16:36):
At all.
Yeah.
We have piles of like tire oldtires.
Those are things that, you know,we do recycle them and use them
for different things and stuff.
But we have piles of wood, likedifferent wood scraps.
He owns his own remodelingcompanies.
So he brings home lots of scrapstuff and that, and that's a lot
of my coops were made from that.
Be yourself, just be who youare.
(16:57):
That is great advice.
Absolutely.
Rai (17:00):
And get to know people like that's like the fun thing.
That's like the whole point ofit is like, if you start going
out there and start commentingon people's things and start
dialogue with people like agenuine one, cuz like you see
somebody, those likeinfluencers, like, I mean, like
we all see the big influencersand they're not really like
interacting with people andyou're like, why do I even
bother following this person?
Like I want a genuineinteraction with somebody.
(17:22):
Yes.
Yeah, exactly.
Mel (17:24):
Someone had mentioned the other day that, you know, they
had felt like I comment, youknow like when they comment,
they, it made them feel goodthat I commented back.
I was honored.
I, I say I'm honored if youcomment on any of my stuff, it's
an honor to me that you took thetime outta your day to stop and
leave a comment.
Mm-hmm.
Now I will tell you thatsometimes it is a little
(17:46):
overwhelming because themessages and, and uh, and to
treat those people that areleaving comments on your videos
and photos and messages, makesure you don't get a big head is
what I'm trying to say.
Very with class, don't be a jerk.
Don't be a Jack.
If someone comments on yourstuff, be, uh, open to comment
(18:07):
back.
And if you get negativity onyour, uh, page two, we get a lot
of negativity, but, and peopleare like, why don't you just
delete it?
Sometimes I do delete it, but Iwant it to be a learning
experience.
You know, maybe this person wasuneducated on something anyway.
Yes, yes.
Yeah.
That's a whole nother podcast.
We could talk about growing your, uh, in page or whatever social
(18:30):
media page that you choose to,uh, dedicate Alyssa
Rai (18:33):
Would be a good person yeah .
From Farside farm.
Mel (18:37):
But there are ways that you can grow your account, uh,
organically.
It does take work anddedications,
Rai (18:44):
Especially across all the pro platforms, you know?
Mel (18:47):
And there's a lot of people, well, I'm not gonna say
a lot of people, but there arepeople out there that try and
take advantage of people aswell.
Mm-hmm you gotta becareful with your account and,
uh, know that you do have valueor that there's a chicken in my,
Rai (19:07):
Who is
Mel (19:07):
It?
it's little and his gangheard thems, trying to come in
the, she shed how much Jesus.
Okay.
Do you have anything in thefuture that you'd like to just
talk about?
What kind of dreams you got overat the clicker clan?
Any big vision?
Rai (19:21):
Um, so when we get our big fence, we are going to take the
back half of our garden andwe're gonna turn it into like an
actual like garden garden.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna need advice on thatbecause like plants are, they
come to my house to die.
It's like, there is no hope theycome
Mel (19:38):
In done.
It's so fun.
It's so fun.
It's my favorite time of theyear.
I just placed another order tobaker Creek's seeds, the
heirloom company.
It's a seed company.
And for my upcoming springgarden, you gotta get in there
early.
Cuz that crowd goes fast.
Yeah.
Like Johnny
Rai (19:54):
Seeds.
Yeah.
I tried doing like all that lastyear and I was like, I was like,
just that much too late.
But like I had just gone back tolike work in person.
So it was like just bizarre,like just trying to get
everything like done at thatpoint.
But that's what our plan, wewanna have a little bit more
sustainability because like, Idon't know about you, but like
there's a lot of stuff, like noton the shelves anymore.
(20:16):
Like, and it's scary.
Mel (20:18):
I just went to the store today.
So bare and I was actuallytalking to an, an elderly
gentleman.
He just looked at me.
He's like, I can't get such andsuch.
He was looking for something forhis wife and they're, they're an
elderly couple.
So, and I just thought, oh mygoodness, what will happen to
these people?
You know, physically have theability to seek out more
(20:39):
sustainable living, uh, ways,you know, choices and, and do
those things.
And I think about the elderlyand those that can't yeah.
Doing the, all that you can tosustain your own without having
to depend on other products fromother people.
Rai (20:56):
Well, it was really cute cuz we have a really nice peach
tree out front and some ladieswere walking by like the tree
was physically break and we knownothing about'em, but it was
like, like breaking becausethere were so many peaches and
these ladies came by and theywere like, oh we'll trade you
peaches for these peppers.
And like, oh and like all thisstuff.
And I was like, yes, that's whateverybody should be starting to
(21:18):
get on is like having like thatcommunity, like garden situation
going on, cuz now they comedown.
Like I can't eat all the eggsthat I get from the girls.
Well now I can't am, cuz they'remelting and going through that
nonsense.
But before I couldn't and cuz wewere getting like 42 eggs a
week, which is not a lot.
I know.
But like for the amount ofchickens I have that's a lot.
So they came down and we weretrading back and forth.
(21:40):
Like just that's a
Mel (21:41):
Lot for two people.
Yeah, absolutely.
Rai (21:43):
It was fantastic.
And like nothing was going towaste.
And so it was just used to havelike that sense of community.
Like, Hey, we can trade this forthis.
And like, if something reallywent bad, if everything went
sideways and we couldn't getsomething, at least we know
somebody in the neighborhood hasit and we could barter for it.
Yes.
And I know that sounds liketenfold hat.
Like no,
Mel (22:02):
I do that all the time.
I mean I barter a dozen eggs fora loaf of banana bread.
Yeah.
Rai (22:08):
And I mean like it's also just nice to be able, like we're
in a rare situation, we know allour neighbors and we're in a
city.
Like we know most of the peopleup and down our street here and
you know, that's not as commonanymore.
Like we know the neighbors thatwe know their kids, we know who
dog belongs to who like, and weactually talk to each other, you
(22:29):
know, they'll come by and we'llswing by and like we'll have a
chat, we'll hang out inbackyards.
Like things like that.
So I mean like I, I just feltlike the next step was like,
okay, well we'll get our gardengoing and have no problem.
Like just trading with peopleand interacting more with our
community and just getting toknow more people that have these
types of like resources, cuzthat's always good to know just
in general.
(22:49):
But that's like the big dream isget the garden going.
Uh, Jeff wants to do morepumpkins he loves his
pumpkins.
Um, we are thinking aboutgetting a couple more chickens
cuz my girls are getting older.
Um, and it sounds like they'reancient, but they're only like
two, but they're production hensand they don't unfortunately
have a long life skin.
So yeah.
(23:11):
We'll, we'll see what happenscuz I mean, some people are
like, yeah, my, my sex link islike six years old and I was
like, well that is fantastic.
That's great.
I don't know.
And the way that mine act, I, Idon't know.
They're very high STR
Mel (23:22):
I think, I think
that's smart though.
You're not, I mean you're notimmediately like tossing'em out.
Like you gotta go ladies.
Uh, but looking ahead andthinking ahead there that's I
think that's wonderful thoughthat there's nothing wrong with
that.
That's a great, um, that's asmart way to go
Rai (23:42):
About it and um, of course we're gonna do the chicks.
Um, Ooh.
Remember I sent you an articleabout that, um, avian flu up in
Canada.
Yes.
Like that is some scary stuff.
People like, you know, I'm notasking anyway to be paranoid,
but, but just be aware like thatbiosecurity is something that
like, you know, you shouldn't bemessing around with.
And I mean, my extension off hasbeen telling people, register
(24:05):
your flux because if we have aflu breakout, like they're gonna
wanna come and make sureeverything's okay.
And you know, people just reallycan't play around with that.
But that thought came in mybrain because like, if we go and
get more birds, they're gonnacome from a hatchery.
We're looking for like N P I Ptype situations.
Like, you know, not just goingand picking up pens just
(24:26):
randomly like off thestreet.
Mel (24:29):
Wilma is actually working on her.
N P I P right now that is socool.
I mean, we may do it just forhobby.
You know what I mean?
Not like for, I'm not sayingwe're gonna breed hundreds of
chickens, hatch, hundreds ofchicken chicks, you know, I
think more for just a hobby kindof thing
Rai (24:47):
And just have that option on the table if you wanted to,
you know?
Right.
Which is always nice because
Mel (24:53):
Biosecurity is so important.
Yep.
So stop taking your birds intothe feed store.
Rai (24:59):
Facts.
Absolute facts.
Just stop.
I just, oh, I cringe when I seethat I was just gonna say
like, that's a soapbox I'mwilling to stand up and just,
that is the hill.
I'm gonna die on biosecurity.
Mel (25:09):
Me too.
I'm not there
Rai (25:10):
With you keep doing that.
Keep doing all the good things.
Um, my extension office, I foundthis out.
It's kind of cool.
And I, I wanna take the class,they teach you how to figure
out, like what type of wormsyour chickens have or any type
of like bacteria that they, Ihave in their blood.
And I was like, oh, that is socool.
So I mean that fear needles, Igotta get over it, but yeah, you
(25:34):
know, it would just be cool forthe experience to be able to
learn how to do it.
And they have like a whole kitthat goes with it.
It's for poultry shows, but Istill think that's really cool.
And it would be just fun just tolearn something new.
Mel (25:44):
Are they giving you like a, a float, a, a fecal float, um,
instruction, and then maybe thetesting on how to do that.
Like
Rai (25:52):
It's a whole like microscope kit thing.
And it's like going through likeall the different pros that
you're gonna run into and thenlike any type of worms.
So they're gonna teach you howto do the techniques to like
figure out like what's going onwith your birds.
Mel (26:04):
I have to find something that's similar to that.
That's on.
That's also on my list.
I love that we kind of aresmashing brains here, a little
more of education, like hands on.
You don't know what you don'tknow until, you know, you have a
certain situation, you know,like giving injections, we can
do that, you know, differentthings.
(26:25):
But like what you mentioned, uh,more, more advanced I guess, is
what I'm trying to say.
More advanced, um, experiencesand knowledge is definitely
something on my list.
Rai (26:36):
Yeah.
And I mean like the cool thingabout that is like, I know that
like if I called my vet andsaid, Hey, I had this training
and this is what I did.
And here's what, you know, Ijust need, that's gonna kill
this type of worm, but they'd bemore likely to write me a script
instead of me having to drag mywhole flock in and have them
like, you know, gimme a song anddance about something, cuz not
all the vets around here treatchickens.
(26:57):
And the one that does she'sreally nice, but she told me to
feed my, one of my hensmedicated feed.
And I was like, no, no, no,don't do that.
What?
Yeah.
I was like, that's not whatthat's for.
And I was like, thank God I hadbeen reading up on that.
You know?
I was like, no, no, it wasreally weird.
Mel (27:14):
I'm gonna say we
are very blessed to have our
alien veterinarian that we have,they are teaching.
I can come in at any time andthey teach me all the different
things that you kind ofdiscussed or whatever.
But yeah, that's well,
Rai (27:30):
She's that who sees chickens.
Okay.
And then, gotcha.
And then we have like an actuallike Evian specialist, but
they're like 45 minutes away.
I gotcha.
Mel (27:37):
I understand.
Rai (27:38):
You know, and you got a chicken that's like prolapse in
there and like you're trying tolike stick it in.
Like you don't have time toright.
Run all over the place.
So
Mel (27:46):
No, but I think that's a very good point though.
I think everyone should look.
If, if you know, they have thedesire, uh, for look for more
advanced training to providethat care where there is a gap,
uh, for a specialist, but takeupon yourself to, uh, seek out
(28:07):
those places that do offeradvanced training is a great way
to be sustainable.
Rai (28:14):
And people need to take more advantage of these
extension offices.
That's why they're there.
You know?
And every state has one.
Mel (28:20):
Yeah, mine's right up the road.
Say,
Rai (28:22):
Say for me, mine's like less than a mile away.
Seeing what the people who do,if your chicken dies, you send
it for a Nero.
Mm-hmm they'reright up the street for me.
Mel (28:30):
Well, mine for that's pretty far, but they, my
veterinarian would send it over.
These are things that you shouldbe looking for, making a list of
these things and seeking thoseout and having prior knowledge
to where these people are low.
Okay.
And the contact information toget ahold of them.
Rai (28:48):
Yeah.
Good to be proactive like thathow's Gibbs
Mel (28:51):
Gibbs actually has to have surgery the 13th.
So that is, that is ourChristmas for the whole
family is to provide this tinylittle dog.
He, he is on a diet.
He is lost seven pounds.
Uh, he was, I think 12 poundswas the goal.
(29:14):
So he is almost there.
Uh COVID did him dirty.
So, he, he got a littlechunky and uh, but yeah, he's,
he is on medications to helpwith the P in, uh, the
inflammation.
But the January 13th will be hissurgery and he will be, um, he
(29:34):
will definitely have to havesome rehab afterwards.
And yeah.
So that was our that's ourChristmas.
Rai (29:41):
Hey, it's the gift of Gibbs.
Mel (29:43):
Yes.
GIS.
I told him, I said, I, Iasked him if he was really worth
this.
And he's like, yes, of course Iam so there's that?
I don't know.
all right.
You got anything else, SIS?
Rai (29:57):
Um, I'm not making, I'm not doing meal worms anymore.
I'm not them oh,
Mel (30:02):
I was gonna ask you about that.
How'd that go?
Rai (30:05):
Um, they were smelly
Mel (30:08):
They, and the people that grow them said they don't and I
think they're just immune to it.
Rai (30:14):
Um, I think it's just, I mean like the fact that I just
don't like smells in general,like, and maybe it's just what
I, I was starting with.
I don't know, but they weregross cuz they're like creepy
crawly all over the
Mel (30:26):
Place and a lady on TikTok and she she's really sweet and
she grows them, not for sale,but for her own flock, she's
like, they're so easy, you know?
Uh, you get them, they grow sobig and you know, it's really
not a big deal and stuff.
And, and then I started readingabout I'm like my shoe shed is
already covered in everything.
This is the only place theywould go.
(30:47):
And I'm not, I'm just not readyto make that commitment yet.
could
Rai (30:51):
You imagine a pumpkin got in there?
Mel (30:54):
pumpkin is so bad.
She went Brody again.
No, yeah.
She's laid two eggs.
Well, three eggs so far sinceshe out her baby quail and they
are now out in the aviary andnot obviously not the same time,
but over a course of after shefinally started going back to
Lang and I took her outside, youknow, she goes outside during
(31:16):
the day, uh, to hang out withthe rest of the flock.
But anyways, little, little Joewas, uh, little Joe is very
interested in her.
So I went while she was outside.
She can't have unsupervised timebecause she doesn't listen to
the rest of the flock.
She runs off and it's very bad.
But I had went back to my, shesaid little Joe decided, you
(31:38):
know, he was gonna make her, hisgirlfriend.
And ever since that, she got upthis morning, clucking and
clucking.
I noticed it yesterday, theclucking.
And you can tell right away,she's coming into being her
booty self again.
And that is what she is.
She is being booty again.
But she is not getting any eggsright now.
(31:58):
No,
Rai (31:59):
No more in pumpkin.
I've cut
Mel (32:00):
Off all of them.
We have three, currently threeRudy HES, and I've cut off all
of them last year I caved andI'm not doing it this year.
We're not having any more chicksright now.
Not till spring Uhuh.
Rai (32:13):
Nope.
That sounds like a good idea.
Cause who knows what thiswinter's gonna be like,
Mel (32:17):
I know.
Yeah.
I'm not going out there in thematernity ward in a foot of
snow.
So that's
Rai (32:24):
A lot to deal with.
Yeah.
Mel (32:26):
Uh, Reva hatched out babies last year at this time coan and
his ladies were hatched out lastyear.
At this time, December 30th.
They'll be a year old.
Oh
Rai (32:36):
His
Mel (32:39):
Out.
He's absolutely gorgeous, buthe's well, he's calmed down.
Some young rolls are just really, uh, pains in the hen in when
they're young.
I am such an idiot today.
Rai (32:52):
No, you're not.
You're not, it's been, it's beena crazy week.
I mean like Christmas that takeseverything outta you.
Mel (32:58):
Yeah.
And it's kind of like sensoryoverload.
You still have to go to work andyou know, do all the other
things and make sure the houseis clean.
Make sure, you know, things arescheduled to be cooked and you
know, I'm grateful for all ofthat.
I don't wanna sound like I'mnot, but it's a lot.
It's a lot to take in.
And some of us do get sensoryoverload pretty easily.
Rai (33:19):
You're talking to a teacher.
I
Mel (33:22):
100%.
I couldn't, I couldn't.
And now, because I don't lovekids cuz I mean, I love, I think
kids are great, but, but this,the constant noise.
Rai (33:30):
Yeah.
Try being a music teacher.
It's like all the time.
Oh there's no way I make Jeffcrazy.
I come home and like, I don'twanna talk.
I don't wanna hear anything.
Nothing.
I just want silent for like 20minutes and then I'm fine.
But it's like, it's, it's likethat pallet cleanse that like,
yeah.
Mel (33:45):
I can definitely appreciate that.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Menopause just killed me.
So
Rai (33:50):
Yeah, that's
Mel (33:52):
Coming.
menopause just took awayany of my patients.
I don't know.
I'm not as patient as I oncewas.
Okay.
Well you got any last minutetips that you would give our
listeners build the coup bigger.
Yeah.
That's definitely number one.
Build the coup bigger
Rai (34:07):
Chicken.
Math is real.
Mel (34:09):
Yes.
Yes
Rai (34:10):
It is.
I, I feel like that's like thebest advice you can give
Mel (34:13):
Anybody.
That's it.
Top two tips of 2021.
Woo.
All right.
Well we look forward to next 20,22.
We are.
Yeah.
Anyone who is listening to this,we really hope great things for
you and your flock and we'll seeyou next time.
(34:34):
Okay.
And we'd love to hear what yourplans are for next year.
So you can send us a message oryou can screenshot this and tag
me in it.
We would love to hear what yourplans are for next year, but
until then, bye.
Bye I'm Mel.
And you are listening to willwonder.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
I.
Hey friends.
Welcome back to the very lastepisode of Wilma The wonder
HenMel 2021.
I know it's just mind blowinghow fast this year flew by
today's episode features a will.
My favorite Ray of COVIDcollector.
(00:21):
We are looking back at thisyear.
Things that we loved, thingsthat we, uh, would've done
differently and our hopes anddreams for the future.
So y'all help me welcome Ray ofCOVID Cluckers Hi, Ray, how are
(00:43):
you?
Rai (00:44):
I'm doing good.
How are you?
Mel (00:46):
I'm doing fabulous.
I am so excited to see yourface.
Uh, your glasses are so cute.
Mine are just old lady glasses,uh, but yours are always
styling.
I'm not sure where you get them.
Like if that's local or online.
Hey, y'all I'm Mel and you arelistening to Wilma.
The wonder hand, Are you achicken mouth loving mama daddy
(01:11):
together.
We'll dive into the latestpoultry keeping adventures chat
about everyday life.
We're the generous mix of somehilarious stories, Bringing you
fascinating interviews withpoultry owners from all over
you'll find tips and basicadvice from your local
veterinarian.
Along with new chicken, keepinggadgets and reviews.
(01:32):
I'm gonna see what Mr.Janglesand Wilma has to say about that.
We're going to encourage andhelp you build a stronger,
healthier flop.
Let's go see what Mr.
Jangles and Wilma is up to.
Let's go let these Heifers out.
Rai (01:47):
I get'em online and this is less than 20 bucks.
Like what?
Yeah, I, I had that LASIKstopped on.
Yeah.
And it's so funny cuz I spentall this money on like my
eyeballs for not having glassesand the pandemic happened and
these are blue lake glasses.
Oh.
So,
Mel (02:03):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah.
My daughter has some, uh, theblue reflector glasses and
they're actually pretty Chi andcool, but they don't help old
people eyes.
But anyways, that's not thepoint of all this.
I hope you had a very MerryChristmas.
Uh, this is the last episode of2021 on us with her presence and
(02:26):
her thoughts on things that, um,she loved this past year things
that she may have, uh, made amistake and maybe she wants to
share with us to help, you know,learn and teach us something new
cuz she is a teacher and that iswhat she does.
And any thoughts that you havefor the future.
So I'm gonna turn this over toRay and just kinda see what, uh,
(02:48):
things, uh, she could reflect onthis year.
Rai (02:53):
Um, well they all have respiratory infections this time
of year
Oh no.
So that's been quite the hassle.
They came straight off theirmalt and by the way, I didn't
know that malting like took likefour or five months.
Like I thought it was like, youknow, a couple weeks and they
were done.
No, they're still malting.
So that's been quite a process.
Mel (03:14):
Yeah.
Mr.
Jangles, last year it took sixmonths to grow all of his long
to feathers back.
Rai (03:20):
But he's beautiful
Mel (03:20):
Feathers, I think it really just depends on the breed of the
chicken, the type of feathering.
They have maybe all kinds ofthings, but so how did you
realize that they had arespiratory infection?
Rai (03:31):
Um, well we got a really weird egg.
It looked like a lash egg and Idid get it confirmed that it was
.
And so it was like thebeginnings of like a pretty bad
infection.
And I was lucky cuz the vet whohas seen my chickens before was
like, I don't need to see'emagain.
I'm just gonna write you aprescription for all these
drugs.
And I was like, okay, that'sfine.
Oh, so that was, that wasfantastic.
(03:53):
Yeah.
And she, like, she gave me aspecific drug for the chicken.
It was pompom.
Um, so she gave me a specificantibiotic for pompom, which she
refused to take and it was verydifficult to dose her.
And then, um, there was also anoverall antibiotic that we put
in water, which made it a loteasier.
That was for everyone becausethey've all been sneezing and
just they're uncomfortable.
(04:14):
And like today it's in thethirties and yesterday it was 60
degrees.
Mel (04:20):
Yeah.
That's crazy today.
It's uh, 68 I think.
And tomorrow night is supposedto be 21.
Rai (04:26):
So yeah.
Uh, and I mean like our friendsoverseas, like to give you an
idea, it's like going from likebeing in like the twenties and
jumping down to like twodegrees.
So I mean, cuz I know that CELTthing.
People get confused with ourweather
Mel (04:40):
Yeah.
They do.
They're like, oh 27.
That's nothing.
And I'm like, wait a minute.
That's Fahrenheit.
That's not Celsius.
So they're like, it's so hot.
Rai (04:48):
I'm like, no
Mel (04:49):
Man it's cold.
Yes.
It is challenging while it'schallenging for some of us
anyways.
But
Rai (04:57):
Yeah, I hate doing the math on it all the time, but I'm
getting better with it getting alittle quicker.
Mel (05:02):
So you ended up putting them on an antibiotic.
Did you think about givinginjections to pump home or was
that an not an option or so?
Rai (05:10):
Um, I have a phobia of needles and um, oh, okay.
That's fine.
That's I mean like we're givingbridge and IV every day and um,
I, I pass out sometimes, butI've been lucky that it's gotten
a little better with her.
Maybe it's just cuz it's, youknow, my puppy dog and I love
her so much, but yeah, needlesI'll pass out or I'll scream,
bloody murder.
Like I always warn the nursescuz like I don't want them to
(05:33):
think like I'm crazy.
It's just like, I'm terrified of'em and I will scream and I
don't wanna scare other peoplein the hospital or any place
else so that way they know.
But um, yeah, injections.
I don't, I don't know if I'mgonna be able to do that unless
I absolutely have to.
So
Mel (05:47):
That's okay.
You don't have to.
I just thought, you know,because that is an option.
So I just wanted to make surethere, if there wasn't like some
other reason, but that reason isperfectly legit.
So
Rai (05:57):
Yeah, I know it, but you know, like shoving the pill down
her throat that works too.
So
Mel (06:01):
That's fair.
Rai (06:05):
It was, it was not fun.
Mel (06:06):
Are they still on it?
Uh, no they're
Rai (06:10):
Off.
Um, we just finally they said tohave a 14 day egg withdrawal and
so I did longer because it wasin the water, no matter how much
I like scrub the bucket thattheir water's in.
I was like, eh, let's just giveit a little extra time.
So, and they weren't reallylaying anyway.
They just came back online withlaying.
So
Mel (06:27):
What else have you been up to Ray?
Um,
Rai (06:30):
We're getting ready to put in like a six foot tall fence
around our, our, um, yard.
And once we do that, we toimprove our run, like as we've
like just been going throughlike this entire like journey,
we love our run.
It's fantastic.
It's around a, um, a Magnoliatree mm-hmm
it like provides a lot of shade,a lot of shelter and like it's
(06:52):
interesting cuz there's allthese bugs and stuff on it.
We do have an issue sometimeswith the birds, but they
actually stay away.
They, they seem to know thatlike if they go in there it's
danger for them.
So, um, it's not, it doesn'thave a roof over it.
So
Mel (07:06):
It's been kinda like, yeah, not the
Rai (07:08):
Best.
We have like cute littleumbrellas and it looks like a
beach theme, but we're gonna puta roof on.
And also like, as I'm gettingolder, I'm like, I really don't
like crawling into my coop.
Like my coop is about the sizeof a twin size bed and it's like
maybe like two or three feet offthe ground and I can get in
there and do stuff.
But like I'm thinking aboutlike, this is like the long term
.
So I wanna have something that Ican actually go into and just
(07:31):
like, you know, sweep up andjust be done with it.
But it works right now and it'sadorable, but you know, the
bearded on, I we're gonna just,you know, redo some things and
make it nice and make it the waywe want it and make sure that
it's gonna last a long time andit's not like an eyesore.
I mean, not that we care, butyou know,
Mel (07:48):
Right.
I think the functional part ofit is probably the most, well, I
mean, I'm not sayingaesthetically that's also, you
know, I, you want something thatit looks nice.
I mean, I'm not saying that ithas to look nice to, you know,
house your chickens as long asit's clean and stuff.
But uh, yeah, definitely gettingin there is such a blessing to
(08:12):
get in there and to clean itlike that.
And
Rai (08:15):
I mean like I'm small right now.
Like I'm, I'm a little bit overfive feet tall and like I'm
little petite and like I canactually crawl in like the side
door and get in there cleanstuff, but like that's not gonna
last forever.
There's just no way
Mel (08:30):
Oh, that's funny.
Rai (08:31):
It is.
It's pretty funny.
Like the girls are like, whatare you doing in here?
What is going on?
Mel (08:35):
And then you don't belong in here.
Rai (08:37):
Well, they all just wanna snuggle at that point.
Like they're all like brushingme and like, it, it, it it's
amusing.
I'll have to video it sometimefor,
Mel (08:44):
For you
this year that you really, uh,you don't have to name who it is
or whatever, but just the, the,uh, idea of it or something you
found to be, uh, for otherchicken keepers that, you know,
something that's been veryconvenient for you or, you know,
any of those things?
Um,
Rai (09:04):
I will say, hold on just one second.
I gotta pick up bridge cuz she'syeah.
Mel (09:08):
You pick up bridge.
Uh, there is bridge.
Yeah, she is
Rai (09:12):
She?
Yeah.
Um, I did get some Gries I gotthe love tub cuz it was on sale
and I use, I use your littlecoat.
Yeah.
Just getting those, like theblack soldier fly larva.
That seems so much nicer thanthe meal worms.
Yeah.
Like even the smell andeverything about them.
Like the girls really like them.
There's
Mel (09:32):
Definitely a huge difference even in size, so,
well it's like
Rai (09:36):
Why you put some open in like there's stuff on the inside
and you're like, oh, what it,like, I didn't know.
They had guts
Mel (09:41):
They dry the whole thing it'sreally grub farms is Gries is
probably the best.
And then, um,
Rai (09:49):
I do wanna try the coffee grounds for the bedding.
Have you seen that?
Mel (09:54):
I have, I have not tried it yet.
I have a lot of when I look tochanging bedding, I have to
think because I've got sevencoops in an aviary.
So, but if you try it and youlike it, I like, you know
Rai (10:08):
Yeah.
Like, um, cuz my coop, I usesand on the inside, which is
great.
It's fantastic.
It's just dusty.
And like, I was like, well maybeif we tried the coffee stuff,
maybe it would smell nicer andyou know
Mel (10:21):
Yeah.
I've heard a lot of good thingsabout it.
I don't, I don't know anyonepersonally like in real life
that has used it, but I'd bewilling to kinda listen to their
opinion on it.
Rai (10:34):
Yeah.
I'd like, I'd like to know moreabout it.
So yeah.
Mel (10:37):
So hit us up if y'all have used the coffee bedding or if
you produce coffee bedding, youknow, Ray would be open to using
it and trying it and giving herhonest opinion on that.
Rai (10:50):
And I, I I'm, I'm very fair about things.
Mel (10:52):
So yes, yes she is.
She is very fair.
That is the only reason why sheis friends with me.
Oh no,
Rai (11:04):
No, no.
We have too much fun.
Mel (11:08):
Have you come across any accounts online that you think
that you, uh, could share withus that maybe have been
influential to you in a positiveway?
Rai (11:18):
Oh, oh yeah.
Um, I don't remember her name.
I'd have to go and grab myphone, but um, she is a vet here
in Maryland.
I actually vet her your waybecause like she's actually on
Instagram and
Mel (11:31):
I think I follow her.
It's
Rai (11:33):
Like Rebecca, the chicken, something like that.
Mel (11:35):
Yeah.
I do follow her.
Rai (11:36):
She literally, her practice is right down the road from
where I used to live.
Mel (11:40):
I was actually gonna send her a message.
I think she is a vet on anothershow.
Maybe.
I don't know if there's like a,I don't know if she's exclusive
or not, but we would love to, uh, speak to her.
So
Rai (11:52):
I doubt she is and I'm sure she would love to talk about it
cuz like she's just, when I talkto her, she's just so passionate
about it and it's just so niceto know that like
Mel (12:00):
Even though like it's an hour away from where I live, I
could still go there if I needTotie stop sniffing the
microphone.
Rai (12:08):
She's mostly hungry.
Aw,
Mel (12:10):
Me too, girl.
morning and I was like gonnahave a healthy breakfast this
morning.
Not gonna have, you know,leftover cookies.
Rai (12:29):
I've given up,
Mel (12:31):
She's given up a couple weeks.
Rai (12:32):
It's fine.
It's fine.
Cause like my students, mestuff.
So it's like, eh,
Mel (12:36):
That's great.
I just know for me, my stomachwas just not handling it, so
Rai (12:41):
Oh yeah.
Like eventually it's like, okay,if you have one more cookie,
you're gonna be really sick.
And I'm like, Yolo, just likegoing,
Mel (12:48):
Throwing caution in the wind baby
Rai (12:52):
Hey, it's worth it.
You know?
Mel (12:53):
It is, it
Rai (12:54):
Is.
I know it's I did have somepeople asking like questions on
how to grow accounts becausethey wanna be more involved in
the chicken community.
Yes.
You know?
And like that was kind of like areally like interesting
conversation to have, cuz like Iwas like, all I do is just like
post nonsense
(13:14):
, you know, Jeff making weirdnoises and yeah.
I mean like it, it's veryinteresting how people are
asking those questions.
Like just be authentic I guessis what happened with me.
It's just, it's just who we are.
Mel (13:28):
Yeah.
We get asked that quite a bit.
Uh, and I actually had aconversation with somebody the
other day about this and it'sactually in my note for me and
me, I'm gonna talk about B.
So I see all these other feedsthat are just magnificent.
They're just beautiful photos.
I mean just uh, beautifulfarmhouse pictures and beautiful
(13:51):
eggs.
And you know, all those majesticcolor are full things and I
think, wow, that is amazing.
You know?
Uh, and then you're like, okay,I'm gonna focus on doing this,
this and this, you know, to bebetter or you know, comparing
myself my account to somebodyelse.
And then I had to stop and thinkand I really thought about, and
(14:11):
I'm like, uh, we are who we are
exactly who we are.
So like me changing any type ofhumor or me changing any type of
the way I speak.
Um, obviously, you know, youwanna put your best foot
forward, basically.
You get what you get
(14:32):
that's just who I am.
I decided that that's going,that was actually on my notes.
I'm so glad you brought that up.
It's because for me next year,that's just, my goal is just to
be me.
Mm-hmm
those individuals that you weretalking to just be you.
Uh, I know for Ray and know forme, we, where we are now is just
(14:54):
from doing that.
I know there's a lot of thingsthat people try and get you to
do online, to grow.
And I don't think it'snecessarily all about the
number.
I think it's about building acommunity mm-hmm
people that you look up to cuzit, you know, like Ray, I look
up to her and there's a lot ofpeople online that I look up to
and would go to, you know, witha question or something like
(15:15):
that or reassurance and youknow, Ray hears a lot of
nonsense that comes outta mymouth before y'all even see it.
And there's a few other peopleonline too.
But like Ray said, just, youknow, just be who you are and
then it's not such a chore ordisappointment.
Um, when you compare yourself tosome of these other feeds and
(15:38):
those feeds are beautiful, notknocking them at all, they have
their place.
Uh, but we all bring somethinggreat to the table.
That's different.
Rai (15:47):
I don't know how they do it.
Like they have like thesepristine, clean everything.
And I'm like, I'm like my house.
Like we have toilet plannersthat we put our plants in.
I mean, like we are that housein like our neighborhood and
it's like, we don't even hideit.
Like I, I don't have a problemwalking back and taking a video.
Oh, well there's a bunch ofgarbage sitting on the side of
my house, whatever.
And like I've had people say,wow, we're not the only people
(16:09):
who do that.
And it's like, no, you're not.
Yes, everybody does it.
And you know, like my mom grewup on a farm on a dairy farm and
you go out there and there isstuff everywhere.
Like it's never like perfect.
It's never pristine and kudos.
And those people who can havethe beautiful white farm houses
and the beautiful, like whiteeverywhere, I, I couldn't do it.
(16:30):
It made me crazy.
But it, you can do it.
Awesome.
But like that that's not myauthentic self
Mel (16:36):
At all.
Yeah.
We have piles of like tire oldtires.
Those are things that, you know,we do recycle them and use them
for different things and stuff.
But we have piles of wood, likedifferent wood scraps.
He owns his own remodelingcompanies.
So he brings home lots of scrapstuff and that, and that's a lot
of my coops were made from that.
Be yourself, just be who youare.
(16:57):
That is great advice.
Absolutely.
Rai (17:00):
And get to know people like that's like the fun thing.
That's like the whole point ofit is like, if you start going
out there and start commentingon people's things and start
dialogue with people like agenuine one, cuz like you see
somebody, those likeinfluencers, like, I mean, like
we all see the big influencersand they're not really like
interacting with people andyou're like, why do I even
bother following this person?
Like I want a genuineinteraction with somebody.
(17:22):
Yes.
Yeah, exactly.
Mel (17:24):
Someone had mentioned the other day that, you know, they
had felt like I comment, youknow like when they comment,
they, it made them feel goodthat I commented back.
I was honored.
I, I say I'm honored if youcomment on any of my stuff, it's
an honor to me that you took thetime outta your day to stop and
leave a comment.
Mm-hmm
Now I will tell you thatsometimes it is a little
(17:46):
overwhelming because themessages and, and uh, and to
treat those people that areleaving comments on your videos
and photos and messages, makesure you don't get a big head is
what I'm trying to say.
Very with class, don't be a jerk.
Don't be a Jack.
If someone comments on yourstuff, be, uh, open to comment
(18:07):
back.
And if you get negativity onyour, uh, page two, we get a lot
of negativity, but, and peopleare like, why don't you just
delete it?
Sometimes I do delete it, but Iwant it to be a learning
experience.
You know, maybe this person wasuneducated on something anyway.
Yes, yes.
Yeah.
That's a whole nother podcast.
We could talk about growing your, uh, in page or whatever social
(18:30):
media page that you choose to,uh, dedicate Alyssa
Rai (18:33):
Would be a good person yeah .
From Farside farm.
Mel (18:37):
But there are ways that you can grow your account, uh,
organically.
It does take work anddedications,
Rai (18:44):
Especially across all the pro platforms, you know?
Mel (18:47):
And there's a lot of people, well, I'm not gonna say
a lot of people, but there arepeople out there that try and
take advantage of people aswell.
Mm-hmm
uh, know that you do have valueor that there's a chicken in my,
Rai (19:07):
Who is
Mel (19:07):
It?
the, she shed how much Jesus
Okay.
Do you have anything in thefuture that you'd like to just
talk about?
What kind of dreams you got overat the clicker clan?
Any big vision?
Rai (19:21):
Um, so when we get our big fence, we are going to take the
back half of our garden andwe're gonna turn it into like an
actual like garden garden.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna need advice on thatbecause like plants are, they
come to my house to die.
It's like, there is no hope theycome
Mel (19:38):
In done.
It's so fun.
It's so fun.
It's my favorite time of theyear.
I just placed another order tobaker Creek's seeds, the
heirloom company.
It's a seed company.
And for my upcoming springgarden, you gotta get in there
early.
Cuz that crowd goes fast.
Yeah.
Like Johnny
Rai (19:54):
Seeds.
Yeah.
I tried doing like all that lastyear and I was like, I was like,
just that much too late.
But like I had just gone back tolike work in person.
So it was like just bizarre,like just trying to get
everything like done at thatpoint.
But that's what our plan, wewanna have a little bit more
sustainability because like, Idon't know about you, but like
there's a lot of stuff, like noton the shelves anymore.
(20:16):
Like, and it's scary.
Mel (20:18):
I just went to the store today.
So bare and I was actuallytalking to an, an elderly
gentleman.
He just looked at me.
He's like, I can't get such andsuch.
He was looking for something forhis wife and they're, they're an
elderly couple.
So, and I just thought, oh mygoodness, what will happen to
these people?
You know, physically have theability to seek out more
(20:39):
sustainable living, uh, ways,you know, choices and, and do
those things.
And I think about the elderlyand those that can't yeah.
Doing the, all that you can tosustain your own without having
to depend on other products fromother people.
Rai (20:56):
Well, it was really cute cuz we have a really nice peach
tree out front and some ladieswere walking by like the tree
was physically break and we knownothing about'em, but it was
like, like breaking becausethere were so many peaches and
these ladies came by and theywere like, oh we'll trade you
peaches for these peppers.
And like, oh and like all thisstuff.
And I was like, yes, that's whateverybody should be starting to
(21:18):
get on is like having like thatcommunity, like garden situation
going on, cuz now they comedown.
Like I can't eat all the eggsthat I get from the girls.
Well now I can't am, cuz they'remelting and going through that
nonsense.
But before I couldn't and cuz wewere getting like 42 eggs a
week, which is not a lot.
I know.
But like for the amount ofchickens I have that's a lot.
So they came down and we weretrading back and forth.
(21:40):
Like just that's a
Mel (21:41):
Lot for two people.
Yeah, absolutely.
Rai (21:43):
It was fantastic.
And like nothing was going towaste.
And so it was just used to havelike that sense of community.
Like, Hey, we can trade this forthis.
And like, if something reallywent bad, if everything went
sideways and we couldn't getsomething, at least we know
somebody in the neighborhood hasit and we could barter for it.
Yes.
And I know that sounds liketenfold hat.
Like no,
Mel (22:02):
I do that all the time.
I mean I barter a dozen eggs fora loaf of banana bread.
Yeah.
Rai (22:08):
And I mean like it's also just nice to be able, like we're
in a rare situation, we know allour neighbors and we're in a
city.
Like we know most of the peopleup and down our street here and
you know, that's not as commonanymore.
Like we know the neighbors thatwe know their kids, we know who
dog belongs to who like, and weactually talk to each other, you
(22:29):
know, they'll come by and we'llswing by and like we'll have a
chat, we'll hang out inbackyards.
Like things like that.
So I mean like I, I just feltlike the next step was like,
okay, well we'll get our gardengoing and have no problem.
Like just trading with peopleand interacting more with our
community and just getting toknow more people that have these
types of like resources, cuzthat's always good to know just
in general.
(22:49):
But that's like the big dream isget the garden going.
Uh, Jeff wants to do morepumpkins
pumpkins.
Um, we are thinking aboutgetting a couple more chickens
cuz my girls are getting older.
Um, and it sounds like they'reancient, but they're only like
two, but they're production hensand they don't unfortunately
have a long life skin.
So yeah.
(23:11):
We'll, we'll see what happenscuz I mean, some people are
like, yeah, my, my sex link islike six years old and I was
like, well that is fantastic.
That's great.
I don't know.
And the way that mine act, I, Idon't know.
They're very high STR
Mel (23:22):
You're not, I mean you're notimmediately like tossing'em out.
Like you gotta go ladies.
Uh, but looking ahead andthinking ahead there that's I
think that's wonderful thoughthat there's nothing wrong with
that.
That's a great, um, that's asmart way to go
Rai (23:42):
About it and um, of course we're gonna do the chicks.
Um, Ooh.
Remember I sent you an articleabout that, um, avian flu up in
Canada.
Yes.
Like that is some scary stuff.
People like, you know, I'm notasking anyway to be paranoid,
but, but just be aware like thatbiosecurity is something that
like, you know, you shouldn't bemessing around with.
And I mean, my extension off hasbeen telling people, register
(24:05):
your flux because if we have aflu breakout, like they're gonna
wanna come and make sureeverything's okay.
And you know, people just reallycan't play around with that.
But that thought came in mybrain because like, if we go and
get more birds, they're gonnacome from a hatchery.
We're looking for like N P I Ptype situations.
Like, you know, not just goingand picking up pens just
(24:26):
randomly
Mel (24:29):
Wilma is actually working on her.
N P I P right now that is socool.
I mean, we may do it just forhobby.
You know what I mean?
Not like for, I'm not sayingwe're gonna breed hundreds of
chickens, hatch, hundreds ofchicken chicks, you know, I
think more for just a hobby kindof thing
Rai (24:47):
And just have that option on the table if you wanted to,
you know?
Right.
Which is always nice because
Mel (24:53):
Biosecurity is so important.
Yep.
So stop taking your birds intothe feed store.
Rai (24:59):
Facts.
Absolute facts.
Just stop.
I just, oh, I cringe when I seethat
like, that's a soapbox I'mwilling to stand up and just,
that is the hill.
I'm gonna die on biosecurity.
Mel (25:09):
Me too.
I'm not there
Rai (25:10):
With you keep doing that.
Keep doing all the good things.
Um, my extension office, I foundthis out.
It's kind of cool.
And I, I wanna take the class,they teach you how to figure
out, like what type of wormsyour chickens have or any type
of like bacteria that they, Ihave in their blood.
And I was like, oh, that is socool.
So I mean that fear needles, Igotta get over it, but yeah, you
(25:34):
know, it would just be cool forthe experience to be able to
learn how to do it.
And they have like a whole kitthat goes with it.
It's for poultry shows, but Istill think that's really cool.
And it would be just fun just tolearn something new.
Mel (25:44):
Are they giving you like a, a float, a, a fecal float, um,
instruction, and then maybe thetesting on how to do that.
Like
Rai (25:52):
It's a whole like microscope kit thing.
And it's like going through likeall the different pros that
you're gonna run into and thenlike any type of worms.
So they're gonna teach you howto do the techniques to like
figure out like what's going onwith your birds.
Mel (26:04):
I have to find something that's similar to that.
That's on.
That's also on my list.
I love that we kind of aresmashing brains here, a little
more of education, like hands on.
You don't know what you don'tknow until, you know, you have a
certain situation, you know,like giving injections, we can
do that, you know, differentthings.
(26:25):
But like what you mentioned, uh,more, more advanced I guess, is
what I'm trying to say.
More advanced, um, experiencesand knowledge is definitely
something on my list.
Rai (26:36):
Yeah.
And I mean like the cool thingabout that is like, I know that
like if I called my vet andsaid, Hey, I had this training
and this is what I did.
And here's what, you know, Ijust need, that's gonna kill
this type of worm, but they'd bemore likely to write me a script
instead of me having to drag mywhole flock in and have them
like, you know, gimme a song anddance about something, cuz not
all the vets around here treatchickens.
(26:57):
And the one that does she'sreally nice, but she told me to
feed my, one of my hensmedicated feed.
And I was like, no, no, no,don't do that.
What?
Yeah.
I was like, that's not whatthat's for.
And I was like, thank God I hadbeen reading up on that.
You know?
I was like, no, no, it wasreally weird.
Mel (27:14):
alien veterinarian that we have,they are teaching.
I can come in at any time andthey teach me all the different
things that you kind ofdiscussed or whatever.
But yeah, that's well,
Rai (27:30):
She's that who sees chickens.
Okay.
And then, gotcha.
And then we have like an actuallike Evian specialist, but
they're like 45 minutes away.
I gotcha.
Mel (27:37):
I understand.
Rai (27:38):
You know, and you got a chicken that's like prolapse in
there and like you're trying tolike stick it in.
Like you don't have time toright.
Run all over the place.
So
Mel (27:46):
No, but I think that's a very good point though.
I think everyone should look.
If, if you know, they have thedesire, uh, for look for more
advanced training to providethat care where there is a gap,
uh, for a specialist, but takeupon yourself to, uh, seek out
(28:07):
those places that do offeradvanced training is a great way
to be sustainable.
Rai (28:14):
And people need to take more advantage of these
extension offices.
That's why they're there.
You know?
And every state has one.
Mel (28:20):
Yeah, mine's right up the road.
Say,
Rai (28:22):
Say for me, mine's like less than a mile away.
Seeing what the people who do,if your chicken dies, you send
it for a Nero.
Mm-hmm
Mel (28:30):
Well, mine for that's pretty far, but they, my
veterinarian would send it over.
These are things that you shouldbe looking for, making a list of
these things and seeking thoseout and having prior knowledge
to where these people are low.
Okay.
And the contact information toget ahold of them.
Rai (28:48):
Yeah.
Good to be proactive like thathow's Gibbs
Mel (28:51):
Gibbs actually has to have surgery the 13th.
So that is, that is ourChristmas
family is to provide this tinylittle dog.
He, he is on a diet.
He is lost seven pounds.
Uh, he was, I think 12 poundswas the goal.
(29:14):
So he is almost there.
Uh COVID did him dirty.
So
he is on medications to helpwith the P in, uh, the
inflammation.
But the January 13th will be hissurgery and he will be, um, he
(29:34):
will definitely have to havesome rehab afterwards.
And yeah.
So that was our that's ourChristmas.
Rai (29:41):
Hey, it's the gift of Gibbs.
Mel (29:43):
Yes.
GIS.
this.
And he's like, yes, of course Iam
I don't know.
You got anything else, SIS?
Rai (29:57):
Um, I'm not making, I'm not doing meal worms anymore.
I'm not them
Mel (30:02):
I was gonna ask you about that.
How'd that go?
Rai (30:05):
Um, they were smelly
Mel (30:08):
They, and the people that grow them said they don't and I
think they're just immune to it.
Rai (30:14):
Um, I think it's just, I mean like the fact that I just
don't like smells in general,like, and maybe it's just what
I, I was starting with.
I don't know, but they weregross cuz they're like creepy
crawly all over the
Mel (30:26):
Place and a lady on TikTok and she she's really sweet and
she grows them, not for sale,but for her own flock, she's
like, they're so easy, you know?
Uh, you get them, they grow sobig and you know, it's really
not a big deal and stuff.
And, and then I started readingabout I'm like my shoe shed is
already covered in everything.
This is the only place theywould go.
(30:47):
And I'm not, I'm just not readyto make that commitment yet.
Rai (30:51):
You imagine a pumpkin got in there?
Mel (30:54):
She went Brody again.
No, yeah.
She's laid two eggs.
Well, three eggs so far sinceshe out her baby quail and they
are now out in the aviary andnot obviously not the same time,
but over a course of after shefinally started going back to
Lang and I took her outside, youknow, she goes outside during
(31:16):
the day, uh, to hang out withthe rest of the flock.
But anyways, little, little Joewas, uh, little Joe is very
interested in her.
So I went while she was outside.
She can't have unsupervised timebecause she doesn't listen to
the rest of the flock.
She runs off and it's very bad.
But I had went back to my, shesaid little Joe decided, you
(31:38):
know, he was gonna make her, hisgirlfriend.
And ever since that, she got upthis morning, clucking and
clucking.
I noticed it yesterday, theclucking.
And you can tell right away,she's coming into being her
booty self again.
And that is what she is.
She is being booty again.
But she is not getting any eggsright now.
(31:58):
No,
Rai (31:59):
No more in pumpkin.
I've cut
Mel (32:00):
Off all of them.
We have three, currently threeRudy HES, and I've cut off all
of them last year I caved andI'm not doing it this year.
We're not having any more chicksright now.
Not till spring Uhuh.
Rai (32:13):
Nope.
That sounds like a good idea.
Cause who knows what thiswinter's gonna be like,
Mel (32:17):
I know.
Yeah.
I'm not going out there in thematernity ward in a foot of
snow.
So that's
Rai (32:24):
A lot to deal with.
Yeah.
Mel (32:26):
Uh, Reva hatched out babies last year at this time coan and
his ladies were hatched out lastyear.
At this time, December 30th.
They'll be a year old.
Oh
Rai (32:36):
His
Mel (32:39):
Out.
He's absolutely gorgeous, buthe's well, he's calmed down.
Some young rolls are just really, uh, pains in the hen in when
they're young.
I am such an idiot today.
Rai (32:52):
No, you're not.
You're not, it's been, it's beena crazy week.
I mean like Christmas that takeseverything outta you.
Mel (32:58):
Yeah.
And it's kind of like sensoryoverload.
You still have to go to work andyou know, do all the other
things and make sure the houseis clean.
Make sure, you know, things arescheduled to be cooked and you
know, I'm grateful for all ofthat.
I don't wanna sound like I'mnot, but it's a lot.
It's a lot to take in.
And some of us do get sensoryoverload pretty easily.
Rai (33:19):
You're talking to a teacher.
I
Mel (33:22):
100%.
I couldn't, I couldn't.
And now, because I don't lovekids cuz I mean, I love, I think
kids are great, but, but this,the constant noise.
Rai (33:30):
Yeah.
Try being a music teacher.
It's like all the time.
Oh there's no way I make Jeffcrazy.
I come home and like, I don'twanna talk.
I don't wanna hear anything.
Nothing.
I just want silent for like 20minutes and then I'm fine.
But it's like, it's, it's likethat pallet cleanse that like,
yeah.
Mel (33:45):
I can definitely appreciate that.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Menopause just killed me.
So
Rai (33:50):
Yeah, that's
Mel (33:52):
Coming.
I don't know.
I'm not as patient as I oncewas.
Okay.
Well you got any last minutetips that you would give our
listeners build the coup bigger.
Yeah.
That's definitely number one.
Build the coup bigger
Rai (34:07):
Chicken.
Math is real.
Mel (34:09):
Yes.
Yes
Rai (34:10):
It is.
I, I feel like that's like thebest advice you can give
Mel (34:13):
Anybody.
That's it.
Top two tips of 2021.
Woo.
All right.
Well we look forward to next 20,22.
We are.
Yeah.
Anyone who is listening to this,we really hope great things for
you and your flock and we'll seeyou next time.
(34:34):
Okay.
And we'd love to hear what yourplans are for next year.
So you can send us a message oryou can screenshot this and tag
me in it.
We would love to hear what yourplans are for next year, but
until then, bye.
Bye I'm Mel.
And you are listening to willwonder.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
I.
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