Thumper AKA fuzzy butt!

[PaGal]

I am so very tired and all I want to do is sleep. I don't want to deal with anything. I rushed around this morning trying to get some work done. I brought our lawn furniture in due to possible high winds and such with storms that are supposed to come through later. I need a basement. I would be cool as a cucumber with a basement. Instead I feel panicky.

I went to school to help out today. Fifth grade had a cook out. I basically helped to put hot dogs on buns and then wrap them in aluminum foil and stack them up till we had enough for the four classes. Then I put condiments on for the kids as they came through the line of food. We had enough hot dogs for 100 students, teachers, the parents that came and there were a lot left when we were done. I swear I'll be smelling hot dogs for days.

I enjoyed it though. I like being a help, enjoyed talking to the other parents, grandparents, teachers and students and by far the majority of students were nice and polite. Most said thank you and please. Kids are still raised right in the country!

I guess I'll be purchasing another cage like Thumper's for the two other buns. I have to wait till hubby gets home or till I can at least talk to him. Thumper's was here in three days and I believe the neighbor will wait that long.

I had a ground hog and also two small kittens run across the road in front of me. It has been one of those days. Other crazy stuff to deal with but I won't make you all have to listen to it.

 

[whitelop]

Thats a lot of hot dogs! haha. I'm glad it was enjoyable though! It kind of makes me look forward to when AJ is in school, doing stuff like that.

I've never seen a ground hog. How crazy that one ran out in front of you. Its like going further south, the armadillos that are always on the road.

I feel the same way with being tired. And my head has been hurting for days now. Maybe you can lay down and take a rest! That would be nice. Or at least just sit on the couch and take a few minutes to put your feet up and relax.

 

[curiouscarrot]

I'm surprised that any groundhogs are prepared to show their faces in public after Punxsutawney Phil's efforts this year.

Have you suggested to the people you are taking the rabbits from that they contribute to the accommodation for them?

 

[PaGal]

I do like helping out but sometimes like the past two weeks I wonder what I have gotten myself into. Ha!

I have been having migraines or near migraines for about three weeks now. I can't figure out what is triggering them so I can't avoid whatever it is. I try not to take anything because anymore that stuff upsets my stomach so I either deal with a headache or risk dealing with a stomach ache or it doesn't help my head so I have the headache and it upsets my stomach.

Well hubby is just as tired as me. I got up off the couch and made dinner while he started what he has to do in the garage. His work buddy ate with us. Of course the one day I make something quick and simple. Hubby has had me make him two cups of coffee and usually after work he doesn't drink any. I wish I could have someone make me a cup. Time to teach the girls. Ha!

The storms rolled through. It got bad but everything here is fine. Lots of damage in the state and power out though. I was worried as hubby started on his way home right when the line of storms was getting to our area. He came home grumpy because of the crazy drivers on the roads that were putting his life in danger. He said everyone was driving like nothing was going on even though we had crazy winds and there was debris and trees down on the roads.

I did get another pink double knock out rose bush to plant and will hopefully get to plant it tomorrow. I saw two regular rose bushes I want as well. I may get them next time I go shopping. I bought hubby a floor jack stand for atv's and dirtbikes for father's day along with some smaller gifts. I gave him the floor jack on Wednesday when I bought it though since I figured he would have a use for it before then and he's using it today. The girls and I have the small things to give him on Father's day.

 

[PaGal]

Well I did it. I just purchased an X pen for the buns. I figured it is more versatile than a cage. I can use it as a smaller cage at first because I know they are not litter box trained. I guess maybe I'll eventually use it to separate Thumper's room into two for everyone. I really don't know though. I may be worrying about everything too much but I have been really too tired to think straight the past few days. I spent hours yesterday in the crazy heat working to get our home made cage ready only for hubby to decide it won't work.

I did some searching different places and prices online. I purchased the X pen from the same company I got Thump's cage as their prices are good, I'm happy with the product, they get the product to you quickly as they don't take long to process your order and they have a good rating on e-bay and sell lots of items. It cost $59.99 with free shipping. It is 48" high as I wanted as high as I could get so hopefully no one will jump over it. It has 8 panels that are 28" long so it's pretty big.

I guess at first we'll make it somewhat smaller to try and litter train them. I guess I also have to think of something to put down so that the carpet is protected. It wouldn't be such a problem if all the buns were neutered or spayed. Of course I have had the thought in the back of my mind of finding a friend for Thump but I know I would have planned to have him neutered before even looking. Now I'm getting not one but two new buns and Thump still may not have a friend.

I have to get Isabell fixed soon and I know she is at risk of getting pregnant again and I don't need that or want to add anymore animals that may not be wanted or cared for to the world. I can't at this point afford to get a cat fixed along with three buns.

Oh gosh it just dawned on me. What if those buns are female? Now I know I'm tired because for some reason my brain has been acting as if they are males. If they are males and I keep them I could probably keep them separate for life if I had to at least the two from Thumper but if they're female someones would definitely need spayed due to health risks plus I'm sure you could never feel that you could let your guard down as far as pregnancy goes. Ahhhhh, it's all too much!

Some lady just drove fifty feet off the corner we live on into a field because she hasn't drove this road in a long time so doesn't remember the corner and she was busy looking at the pretty sunset. And yet she has a driver's liscense. There are those arrow signs up that let you know you are coming to a sharp bend and it is extremely sharp. There are also those grooves in the road that make your vehicle go bumpity bump so you are made aware something is up. hubby and his buddy watched it and she never used her brakes or tried to turn, just straight off.

School has a two hour delay tomorrow which is funny because school lets out at 11am as it's the last day. School starts at 9am so how can there be school at all? The math doesn't add up to me.

 

[PaGal]

Curriouscarrot...I somehow missed your post yesterday.

It's funny because you don't see too many groundhogs down here but I saw them all of the time when I lived in Pennsylvania.

I don't think it would be possible for them to help. They are lower income. I don't mind the cost of the pen especially since I know I will have the pen for the future no matter what we decide for the buns. I have plenty of hay and pellets although I will be given the pellets they are eating now. I will switch them over to the pellets I have eventually. I have extra litter boxes as they are inexpensive and that way I have one Thump uses and a couple clean.

I just need something for under then pen to protect the carpet. I will probably look into sign companies for some coroplast if there are any in my area. Although I don't have a NIC cage I did build one years ago for my daughters guinea pigs and did like the coroplast.

 

[whitelop]

In the meantime before you get the coroplast, you could use a small tarp. They're pretty cheap, especially if you have a Harbor Freight near you.

I wouldn't even make them go to school if they didn't want to, is it their last day?

You could get them all spayed/neutered at different times, and after they've all been fixed and their hormones are gone, you could try for a trio. If they are females, then you would maybe have a better chance on a trio, but I'm not sure. You would have to look into bonding, which I'm sure you will!

Its Friday, hopefully you can put your feet up and take a break! I know weekends are probably busy for you too, with the kids being home and your hub and his friends. Do you ever get a chance to take a break? LOL
I wish we lived closer, because I would totally watch your girls and let you and your husband go to dinner or go take a nap. hahaha.

 

[PaGal]

No harbor freight around here but I could probably get one at Agri Supply. I did find a few sign stores but haven't called. I think I'll wait till Monday. The pen should be here by Wednesday although I'm hoping sooner. But I will call around Monday and if I can get some I should have no problem running out then. Today is crazy busy as I have to clean the house properly, do some laundry, clean Thumps room and cage, clean the kitten cage, try to get some work done in the garden and /or finish mowing my grass. Oh plus cook dinner. We have plans for this weekend so probably won't have time for anything but the very basics. So no rest for the weary but hopefully I can get some relaxing in this week. Then my daughter and two grandsons are coming down for a week so things will be back to super hectic but in a good way.

They didn't go to school as it was cancelled although they probably would have wanted to go as they like school. Now I have to try to run by there this week as they still have some belongings at the school.

Although I haven't tried to retain all of the info on bonding since I didn't need to know it I have been following everyones posts on bonding so I know some but also know if I try to bond them all I'll be here in a panic. Ha!

We do get some breaks from the girls. They are my stepdaughters. We have primary custody during the school year so every other weekend they are with their mother and on Wednesdays. In the summer the schedule changes to them being with us a week, then their mother a week, then us a week and so on. Only problem with that is we usually are trying to catch up on all kinds of extra work when they are not with us that we don't get done when they are. Hubby swears though this year we are having a week off even if all we do is go to our local beach to fish and swim everyday. We'll see, usually once one of us says anything out loud about fun plans something always comes up to ruin them. The story of my life! Ha.

 

[PaGal]

Thumper is only going to get hay in his hayrack in his cage from now on. I can't take the mess of hay in his room anymore. I was using a box to hold hay for him in his room as he seems to like eating it out of there more than from in his cage but he keeps dumping the box and I have to vacuum his room every day. Before I only had to vacuum 2 or 3 times a week. I noticed the other day that the sides might be a little high for him trying to reach pieces at the bottom of the box so today instead I used a box that is somewhat larger in overall size but the sides are very short but can still hold in hay and he dumped that box.

I swear he was so much better in the smaller cage. I guess he kept from messing it up since he'd be stuck in the mess. Now in his bigger cage he keeps moving his litter box to eat his hay instead of sitting in the litter box. So there is always a lot of poop and hay bits on his floor and sometimes he misses the litter box and gets pee out there too.

Oh and he's drinking a ton of water now and it's to the point I need to empty his litter box twice a day. I guess between him eating so much more hay and the warmer weather. We have central air so it doesn't get too hot in here but I get hot doing my work so I guess he gets warm at times too. He used to not finish a bowl in a day and now he is drinking between one and two.

 

[whitelop]

He probably is getting hot after hopping around. If you're getting hot doing stuff, then he probably is too. I know when I get hot doing stuff, Ellie's probably hot too.
Ellie drinks a lot of water now too. I put ice cubes in it so its cold and give her cold water from the fridge.

I know they're your stepdaughters, but I know that you guys have them most of the time. I didn't know how the separation went though. But still, having kids is hard! haha. I couldn't imagine having 3 and trying to get everything done. I hope that you do get to go to the beach this summer for a week! I want to go to the beach, but it will never happen!

 

[Chrisdoc]

Denise I don´t know how you cope sometimes with all the things going on but you do manage and that is so down to you.

An xpen sounds ideal. I have cages and an xpen for mine and it makes things so much easier. I´m waiting for them to get them in store again to get a second one but it´s taking forever. They are so cheap over here, it cost me 30 Euros for six sections and it came with a little wooden house as well which they love.

I don´t have kids but imagine that it´s sometimes exhausting fitting everything in...kids, animals, hubby but try and have a little break over the weekend. I don't´have all this and planned to go to the beach this afternoon and ended up having a siesta...it is so hot right now, in the 90´s and that just takes it out of you. I´ve got the whole of the summer to get to the beach.

If you need info on bonding, we´ll all chip in to point you in the right direction.

Mine seem to be particularly messy at the moment. The new hay I bought is longer strands and gets everywhere but they love it so I put up with the extra mess but they seem to be pooping everywhere at the moment which is driving me nuts.

 

[PaGal]

I don't usually mind being busy because I'd rather that then be bored but by the end of the school year I have had enough. It would be easier if I was a morning person then I wouldn't be so tired.

That's how the schedule goes for now. It would be nice if we could just relax and enjoy the time but there's so much to catch up on and worry when they are not here.

You are lucky the X pens are inexpensive. I know so many Americans are crazy about their pets so it's easy for them to charge an arm and a leg here.

The storms yesterday have cooled it off for today but we had been having weather in the 90's and humid and it does just wear you out.

I do give Thumper ice cubes in his water and sometimes out of it at times. He does lay on the little bit of linoleum in his room, in his cage, right in front of the AC vent or in front of my door that blows out a breeze when the AC is on so he can cool off if he wants to.

If he was just leaving longer strands I wouldn't mind so much but he dumps the box and all the tiny pieces get everywhere.

 

[Chrisdoc]

Yes, some of the things over there seem really expensive but I think when you have pets, it´s the same everywhere if you care for them, you´re prepared to pay whatever you have to.

Just watching mine tonight and they seem very lethargic so I´m guessing it´s probably cos it´s getting hotter. Must get their ice bottles prepared tomorrow and get their fan out into the living room.

 

[PaGal]

I'm just the type that I have trouble when I feel something costs more than I think it really should. It's not a completely bad thing though as it has saved me a lot over the years and if it's something that's necessary I'll get whatever and don't think that way when it comes to hubby or kids.

I'll have to try Thump with some frozen tiles as I have quite a few. I'm sure he'll like it even though it doesn't get too hot before the AC kicks on.



So thumper is no longer afraid of the vacuum at all not even when I use the hose attachment so it's going to be interesting. I know how quickly he will go after and bitre the cord and a vacuum is a must as I use it every day. He also is really into it when I clean his cage now. Anytime I am on my hands and knees half in and half out of his cage he zooms between my legs or will just walk over and sit between them. He also stands up and puts his front feets on my back. When I get up on just my knees to reach for whatever on the top of his cage he will stand up and put his feets on my chest.

When he stands up on his back feets he is as tall as our big chest freezer.

The oldest had a birthday party to go to today so I had the twins help me take all the kitties outside for some fresh air and exercise. It's so fun watching them because they are still not so sure of the great big world. They started out just co0ming to us and hanging out by our feet. After some time they started to practice stalking and then they started figuring out that they could run but they hopped more than ran. It was so funny. The dark striped one seemed to enjoy it the most and at one point he came as fast as he could and slammed into the littlest kitty. Momma came out and kept calling to them but they ignored her for the most part.

 

[PaGal]

Before I go to bed I always refill Thumper's bowl with fresh water, fill up his hay rack with plenty of hay and then I put his pellets in his bowl. Then he gets locked in for the night. Well as you all know Thump has been going crazy for his pellets since I cut him back on them because of soft poops.

Well he's had soft poops again so again I have cut him back. He's only getting a pinch in the morning and a pinch at night. I'm never like this with animals but I hate to cut them out altogether because he likes them so much. Well last night I went to get his pellets which I store in a garbage can with a lid (one bought new and cleaned for this purpose) next to his cage but it's blocked by his cage and the chest freezer so he can't get to them. Well I swear they must be lacing his pellets with cocaine because the crazy big bun as so as he realized I was going for his pellets jumped up onto the top of his open cage door and stayed there for a few moments while I stood there frozen in disbelief and my mouth hanging wide open. I then got past my utter shock and surprise and placed my hands on him to I guess pick him up and put him back on the floor but instead he jumped down on his own.

His cage is a large dog pen and the door is no more than 1/4" in wide, does he all of a sudden thinks he's a cat?

I put his pellets in his bowl. A few minutes later I got over my surprise enough for my brain to kick back in and I checked on him. He was happily eating his pellets. A few mintues later I checked again and he was contendedly munching on hay. I figured he must be fine and went to bed.

Wish me luck as I am about to go get him ready for bed now!

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

Ahh, that's suprising! Maybe he does think he's a cat, lol. He sounds like he's really addicted to pellets. Ash loves pellets too. A lot of times in the morning I use my hand and grab a couple handfuls of pellets and if he smells my hands he goes crazy jumping around. Other times when I get him pellets he just sniffs them and walks away. I wonder what they put in pellets to make them so addictive to bunnies.

Good luck!

 

[PaGal]

Well no jumping on his cage door last night but I made sure to get my body between it and him so he couldn't jump up there. I need to use hubby's phone and get video of how crazy he is.

This weekend we went to the sand drag races at two different tracks. Saturday was our first time at the new track. It wasn't a bad day but I had to get up at 5:30am which I wasn't happy about. No one did as good as they could but it was due to trying to figure out how they do things. One of the twins got second place and $50 so not bad.

Sunday we went to our usual track and everyone on our team got either first place or second place except for the oldest girl but she was running a 4 wheeler she hasn't run before. This one she has to shirt herself and she is still learning that. So everyone but the oldest came home with a trophy and some money so it was a great father's Day for hubby. One of our team members got with us just last year. He has been racing for six years and just got his first win.

The place that holds the races also has a farm. We had chickens near us throughout the day. There were a bunch that were really small and cute. They may have just been young but they looked like adult chickens to me. I got some pics I'll post. There was one big chicken that was wandering around the concession stand and a kid that worked there grabbed up the chicken and was carrying it upside down to where it is supposed to be. The girls brought it to our attention and hubby went to talk to the boy. By then the chicken was starting to pass out and the kid thought it was dying so hubby had him put the chicken down and explained to him you can't keep them upside down long. After a few minutes the chicken recovered and wandered back to where it is supposed to be. So that's my chicken story!

I need to get busy on my work since I need to catch up not being home all weekend but I'm tired and procrastinating. Drinking a second cup of coffee hoping it will kick in as I'm tired as well.

My dog is sleeping with his eyes half open and barely moving while he's breathing. Why do my animals always make me wonder if they have died? He's funny though because when he wakes up he actually looks exhausted. I have never had a dog before that actually would look tired.

I need to have momma cat spayed soon as she is acting like she is looking to get pregnant again. I yelled the one night when people were over telling hubby he needs to make sure she's kept in the garage. Any more kittens will be his to deal with. Ha!

 

[whitelop]

That sounds crazy! He sounds pretty agile and very cat like. haha.

I know what you're saying about the soft poops, Ellie has had some soft poops the last day. I think its because she's getting too many pellets and she's getting too many treats. Sometimes, I get excited. haha.

I've never had a chicken pass out of me, but I carry mine by the feet a lot. With mine being the size they are, when I have to grab more than one at a time, they get grabbed by the feet because its easier. But I only carry mine for a few seconds to a minute like that. What I really hate is people carrying ducks like that! Usually you're not picking up multiple adult ducks at a time, so why not just carry them the right way? I saw a guy recently grab a duck by the feet and the duck was flapping and struggling, it was so sad.

I can't wait to see the pictures of the little chickens! I love little bantam chickens, they're so small compared to mine!

It sounds like you guys had a really great exiting weekend! I didn't know the girls raced the four wheelers too! How exciting! I was just telling my husband that I want a four wheeler, neither of us have had one since we were teenagers.

My dog wakes up and looks really tired too. He looks tired at night and in the morning, like he didn't get to sleep long enough or well enough. Or like he's had a really long day of taking naps and running in the yard! haha.

 

[PaGal]

That's the funny thing with the soft poops, he hasn't had any treats just the pellets and he was only getting less than 1/4 cup divided into two meals. Now I just stopped feeding him them in the morning and he's just getting a pinch at bed time.

I guess the kid just didn't know any better but he was swinging the chicken as well plus had it upside down for several minutes at least. Like I said I'm not sure if they are adults and just very small or young chickens that look like adults. Hhhhmmm maybe that's what I need are bantams. The small ones aren't as scary as the big.

Hubby did race karts. basically a go kart that goes 140mph and is driven while laying down on his back. He's taken at least this year off from it though to just race the 4 wheelers. The girls started racing them last year and right now they are out running around the yard on the 4 wheelers.

That's funny. I know they always show blood hounds or bassets hounds like in commercials when they want a dog that looks tired and with most of them it's just a combination of the droopy skin and the blood shot droopy looking eyes but I didn't realize other dogs could look tired and it's not just his eyes, his face looks wrinkled up. When he's not tired it doesn't look that way. He also scrunches his face up funny if it's raining and he's outside, not that he will stay out long in the rain or go out in the first place if it's raining harder.

 

[PaGal]

I ran around with the girls yesterday for a few hours to purchase some clothes and shoes for them suitable for a funeral only to find out the funeral was yesterday and we missed it. We thought the viewing was yesterday and the funeral today. Sigh.

After I got up this morning but before I was really awake hubby came inside with the smallest kitten. Turns out she found the one bucket hubby had missed and was in the side of the garage the kittens are kept in. It's a tall bucket and had several inches of oil in it, motor oil. Luckily the oil wasn't dirty but kitten did fall in at some point and was soaked. I can only imagine how long it took her to get herself out of the bucket especially since the oil on her would have made everything she touched slippery especially a plastic bucket.

We bathed her and rinsed her three times in dawn dish soap. Luckily we have it as it's the only kind we'll buy because it really does break down grease and oil. She was shivering although we bathed her in warm water, as warm as we felt as safe. I dried her off as best I could and wrapped her in a towel. I then held her for about an hour. She seems fine but we are keeping an eye on her. Her cheeks seemed oily but not her moth so we don't think she ingested any but hubby was worried because of the shivering.

I need to find homes for them.

I moved Thumpers hay rack again so it is not over his litter box. He refuses to sit in it and eat and I would rather clean up poos from his cage floor than poos and pee which I have had to do since he would move his litter box to get to his hay. Of course he had to butt in and get in my way and make things harder. I was not a happy camper at the time and couldn't find the side cutters for cutting the old zip ties. I swear I'm buying myself a set that I will then hide from everyone.

I need a vacation. I did find that Home Depot has a sheet of wood that's 4" X 8" for a little over $13 and it's 1/4" thick which should be enough so I plan to get one for the new buns cage bottom. I'll cover it in tile or something and I will buy another to do Thumper's cage bottom so I can have a side to help hold in hay and casters so I can move it easier. Now just to get hubby to run with the trailer and get them for me. Maybe Sunday, I hope!