need some support

Minelson · #1 03/11/10, 06:27 PM

I'm going away for the weekend and I'm a nervous wreck. My hubby will be babysitting the critters. I'm leaving from work tomorrow afternoon and won't be home until early evening on Sunday. I have everything prepared. Wrote everything down for him (he doesn't read it anyway) so everything should be fine....right? UGH! One of my main concerns is that Flossie has been giving me trouble going in at night. I'm scared he is going to stress her out trying to get her in. I told him use treats...but then I worry he will give her too many. And Gretta is mean to him. This is why I hate leaving home. All I do is worry. And my Rocky (dog) will be so sad and wondering where I am. Anybody else struggle with this? Any tips on how not to be a worry wort?

issylthesthlia · #2 03/11/10, 06:30 PM

My DH refuses to learn how to milk and I have health issues, so, yes, I worry like you all the time-- I don't know what will happen if I can't bend my hands one of these days...

Jyllie63 · #3 03/11/10, 06:42 PM

I've been in your shoes and it isn't a good feeling. I know my DH doesn't take care of the critters the same way I do! With all of our animals we have decided to take separate vacations so that one of us is always here. I took my dd's on a cruise and DH lost our dd's dog. He ended up finding her in the animal shelter and had to pay a hefty fine to get her out. Can he just carry Flossie into the barn at night? What would happen if they stay out?

madness · #4 03/11/10, 06:48 PM

Welcome to my life! I'm at the farm 3 days a week and in the city the other 4. I've really had to learn to trust other people with the animals. It's much harder when you don't have a trustworthy person to fall back on - that's the situation we had been in for almost a year until now (full time great caretaker and my mom is there most of the time too!). Ugh, it nearly gave me ulcers at times! But I'm sure you trust your husband...so trust him to do this as well!

Minelson · #5 03/11/10, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyllie63

I've been in your shoes and it isn't a good feeling. I know my DH doesn't take care of the critters the same way I do! With all of our animals we have decided to take separate vacations so that one of us is always here. I took my dd's on a cruise and DH lost our dd's dog. He ended up finding her in the animal shelter and had to pay a hefty fine to get her out. Can he just carry Flossie into the barn at night? What would happen if they stay out?

Thanks Jillie...now I can worry about him loosing the dogs too.

They have to go in at night...coyotes and too cold and wet outside.

dm9960 · #6 03/11/10, 06:55 PM

try to relax, trust your hubby, make sure he knows the basics, they'll be alright until you get back..but totally understand your stress

#7 03/11/10, 06:56 PM

As far as the treats...only leave enough out that he'll need. Tell him you're running low and to space them out a bit.

As for the other stuff....good luck!

Backfourty,MI. · #8 03/11/10, 07:03 PM

I'm the same way & worry all the time. Very seldom am I away from home for too many days. Dh takes care of the animals but not the same as I do or as well(just my opinion).
I'm normally not gone anywhere more than 3 days at a time. I go to shipshewana Indiana every June for 3 days & that's really all. Have been taking turns with Dh & I staying at my in-laws since my father in-law is not doing well & I worry the whole time I'm gone.
I try to fill their hay bin's to the max with the hay I know they eat the best before I leave. I alos make sure & have Duck, Rabbit & goat bag's in the fridge all ready for each days treats. I even write on the bags with a marker who their for if you can believe that.
Try & have a good time & don't worry too much but I know you will. Make sure he gives the goats there favorite treats each night to get them in the barn & not to raise his voice at them as it will probly scare them. It will be fine but I bet they will be happy to see you!

Have a safe trip & fun too!

Jyllie63 · #9 03/11/10, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

Thanks Jillie...now I can worry about him loosing the dogs too.

They have to go in at night...coyotes and too cold and wet outside.

Oops...sorry about that...I'm sure he'll take VERY good care of ALL of the animals

KimM · #10 03/11/10, 08:32 PM

That is why I don't go anywhere for more than a few hours.

jil101ca · #11 03/11/10, 10:11 PM

Me too! I'm leaving Fri and coming back Sunday evening sometime. Hubby has to work Fri night so I don't know how well things will be done. I have 3 bottle kids as well, I'm sure the critters will be glad to see "Mom" when she gets home

thaiblue12 · #12 03/12/10, 12:57 AM

Mine is scared to death something will happen to the animals while I am gone and I will gut him and slow roast him when I get home, that he makes sure everything it perfect.

I hire the kid up the road to take care of the goats and chickens and the indoor animals are taken care of by my husband.

I am going away for 3 days soon and I am already worrying. I know I will have fun but at the same time I am going to worry.

This summer I am going away for 2 weeks and I am about ready to have a break down, lol. I will hire the kid up the road again, plus I am going to ask my friend to bring her daughter over twice a week to just sit and pet them so they get attention.

The longest I have been away from my house pets is a week. I have not been gone from the farm since I got it for more than 3 days. But my Grandfather is 94 and really wants us to see him and it is very far and expensive so might as well go for 2 weeks. He would rather I go for a month but that would send me over the edge in worry lol.

I swear they bring us joy, milk, money etc but they are also an anchor at times! They will be fine and it is ok for Flossie to get a bit extra treats

The dogs will be happy to see you and to them you will have not been gone long since they have no sense of time. It is just one night and it will all be ok.

Minelson · #13 03/12/10, 07:09 AM

Thanks everyone... I may be able to check in on the forum from my sister's computer. Minneapolis, here I come!

bittersweet.

st1055 · #14 03/12/10, 11:41 AM

I understand exactly how you feel, I deal with our animals (goats, chickens and dogs) daily. So when it comes to someone else doing it will they know if someone is behaving oddly or just think that's normal?
I am supposed to go to my stepson's Navy bootcamp graduation the last part of April. The wife wants to make it a 5 day trip ( 10 hour drive each way), I'm going NUTS now trying to figure out who to get to take care of the place while we're gone!!!!

petaddict · #15 03/12/10, 11:51 AM

I recently found a young man to take care of my animals when I'm gone. I worried the whole time we were gone (4 days) but came home and everyone was fine. While we were gone I emailed the guy and probably drove him nuts. If I had to go out of town myself I'd actually hire this guy to come take care of things because I'd trust him more with the goats than my husband. Plus, my husband hasn't learned to milk yet. My husband could be his helper. Good luck. I'm sure it will all be fine.

betsy h. · #16 03/12/10, 12:20 PM

I have pretty much learned to trust, as much as I can, my husband when I am away- it is when he is here that I still have reservations about.

I tend to call at least 2x a day if he is here by himself to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possibly. The problems tend to be house or task related rather than barn related, etc.

Goat Servant · #17 03/12/10, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st1055

I understand exactly how you feel, I deal with our animals (goats, chickens and dogs) daily. So when it comes to someone else doing it will they know if someone is behaving oddly or just think that's normal?
I am supposed to go to my stepson's Navy bootcamp graduation the last part of April. The wife wants to make it a 5 day trip ( 10 hour drive each way), I'm going NUTS now trying to figure out who to get to take care of the place while we're gone!!!!

Well congrats to your stepson! We wanted to take ours downtown Chicago but he wanted a nap first he was exhausted. Never made Chicago.
That was in the days of no livestock.

Min your just going to have to board up that summer cottage & trust hubby.Notice I said trust hubby not Frankie FLossy or Gretta.

And while you're at it have a rollicking good time take the oppurtunity to unwind & relax. If they get into trouble they get into trouble they would anyway you being there or not!

Minelson · #18 03/12/10, 10:48 PM

Well, I don't know what happened but it didn't sound good. he said he had trouble getting both Gretta and Flossie in. He wouldn't give me any details. So I just emailed him and told him to just leave them locked up with food and water until I get home. There is a nice big south facing window he can open for them during the day...
besides that it sounds like all is well. He didn't loose any dogs lol!!

Backfourty,MI. · #19 03/13/10, 05:22 AM

I can't believe they won't follow him in there for there BOSS? They'll work it out & be fine till you get home. I'm sure your dh is doing a good job & it sounds like he's trying really hard & like you said he hasn't lost one of the dogs yet!

Minelson · #20 03/13/10, 10:00 AM

The truth comes out this morning. He never got them in

!! But they will go into the flooded barn. So they will be staying in the flooded barn until I get home. They have stuff to jump onto to get out of the water and they can sleep on the hay that is up on pallets. sigh. Dogs are all there, I could hear them barking on the phone.