I've been working on getting him to take some nourishment. Per the doctor's advice, I bought some Ensure. He was able to drink about two-thirds of a container last night, plus a little lower-sodium chicken noodle soup. I've never heard of anyone who actually liked Ensure, but if he can force it down it will give him a lot of nourishment in a small serving. The ride home was torture, and he had a hard time even getting out of the car once we were home. Still, he is happy to be home, and I'm happy to have him here. Today's challenge is to get him to take four five-minute walks inside the house.
Our temperatures are going to plunge into the thirties today, so it looks like I had better cover up the two tomato plants and one pepper plant out in the garden one more time.
I moved the two hens from their tiny chicken cottage to the chicken house (my old cabin) with the young chickens. I'm sure there were some tussles and power struggles, but it's much easier to chore after them when they are all together. Yesterday morning I went out before dawn with the flashlight to see which ones were on the roost, and NONE of them were, not even the grown hens. So last night after dark I put the hens up there, and three or four of the youngsters. This morning the hens and the little barred rock were the only ones roosting. Cliff said, "Who cares if they sleep on the floor? Leave them alone!"
"Nope," says I. "Chickens are supposed to sleep on their roost, and by george, that's what they are going to do."
I am with Cliff on this one. Why do they have to sleep on a roost? Glad he is home. He will feel better soon at home
ReplyDeleteGetting up and walking after that surgery is not easy. Hope Cliffs strength and appetite will quickly return.
ReplyDeleteI love Ensure and I try to keep some type of vitamin enhanced drink like that (vanilla) here for when I'm in a hurry and can't eat breakfast. I love the taste and it's my substitute for not liking milk. I crave it often. It's expensive but I look at it like this: It's a breakfast in a bottle so that makes it seem less expensive. It's medicine as it does give me a vitamin filled boost. It's my milkshake when I am craving milk. It does have a good taste and my friends laugh at me for drinking it for breakfast but it works. You should try one sometime. Chocolate and Strawberry are out there. lol Glad he is home and hoping he feels better. I'm still thinking he is going to be in pain til the 3rd day after surgery has passed. Hopefully it'll be all better after that. Ya'll take care and I'm so glad you are home. Hope the roosting occurs! lol
ReplyDeleteI remember when my mom came home from her gallbladder surgery she walked hunched over like she counld't stand up straight for a while.. He will lose alot of weight. I'm glad he's home.. I'm sure he will start to feel better soon. I'm sending prayers your way..
ReplyDeleteSonya, this is the eighth day after surgery. He had a procedure a couple days ago, but it was not surgery.
ReplyDeleteGlad he is home! Prayers for great healing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Cliff is home. I used to mix ensure and milk to get my mother to drink it. She still didn't like it but she drank it. Good luck on getting those chickens trained.
ReplyDeleteMy niece had been given one of those Ensure type drinks a while back and she took a drink and said "I don't think this is like the one on TV..." I said "No? Why not?" She said "The kids on TV smile when they drink it, but this is nothing to smile about."
ReplyDeleteBahaha...I laughed til I cried.
It's so much better for both of you to be home instead of at the hospital.
ReplyDeleteI have a close friend who is addicted to Ensure. She drinks it all the time. I prefer straight whiskey. It fortifies my courage....
Hope the chickens roost. I am glad Cliff is back home. It's been quite an ordeal. He needs time to heal. He can't rush it. Ensure sounds healthy and good.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that Cliff is home where you can watch over him and get him eating. Not sure about those ensures. Hope he can stomach drinking it, My mom was suppose to drink it, but oh my goodness, it was not too good. Had to laugh at Amy with her comments :-) Good luck "training" them chickens..ha ha! You take care of yourself too. Wendy
ReplyDeleteGlad that he's back home and feisty enough to give you some advice! :) Ensure is good stuff--full of protein and vitamins which he needs right now. My husband liked the vanilla and dark chocolate.Hugs to both of you.
ReplyDeleteYou would make a good nurse. Hope Cliff feels better soon. He will be able to get appetite back. Just have to be careful what he eats.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
I'm so glad Cliff is home now. Just being home should help make him feel better, even if he's still in some physical pain.
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