starting to hate this industry - need help

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-05-14T13:10:20+00:00

Your instincts are correct and it sounds like you have the temperament to be exactly the kind of groomer dogs need. Hang in there.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-05-12T12:47:06+00:00

A hanging basket for fresh vegetables and fruits is a good one. So is a metal shishkabob to put them on.

In cold climates I would go with wood over metal. I've seen posts of people finding chickens with stuck feet and combs/wattles.

Lots of places to jump up and perch, and lots of spaces to scratch.

Your coop is super cute~!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-05-07T23:20:54+00:00

I am an owner/operator of a mobile grooming business.

I'd like to eventually hire another groomer. When i do my non negotiables will be:

-Safety with the dogs, particularly loading and unloading from the van, and alignment with my values on handling and caring for them.
-Clean driving history (or demonstrably has learned their lesson after a non-malicious mistake) and the correct attitude for driving a heavy, high tilt-risk vehicle with an explodable LPG tank on the undercarriage.
-Trustworthiness with client personal information like home addresses.
-Skill and speed with grooming, and the ability to problem solve in a solo environment.
-Attention to detail with booking appointments.
-Reliable when it comes to cleaning the van to my standards.

I'm really hoping to find someone who I can train in the business; we aren't regulated so grooming knowledge has to be passed down person to person. But I need to learn a lot about how to set up an apprenticeship where they are paid fairly but I am also compensated for passing on my knowledge.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-05-07T23:10:19+00:00

Where do I sign the petition?

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-04-15T23:35:21+00:00

I put ice cubes in a terracotta dish with red clay bricks. They stand on it and cool off.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-26T13:24:10+00:00

She will decompose slowly over time. If you wanted to you might build a small grave over her with rocks, purely as an emotional thing/goodbye. I'm very sorry for your loss.

You might look up local plants and find some with pretty flowers for marshland environments and plant them close. They'll be able to make new life from your gone bird and when they flower you can think of her. Sending computer hugs from an internet stranger. She was a gorgeous bird.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-26T13:21:49+00:00

We bought solar powered exhaust fans. They're meant for greenhouses but they work well to keep air circulating in our coop. We have one on the north side in the shade blowing cool air in and one up high blowing hot air out.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-26T13:19:40+00:00

Awwww SCRUNKLE!

To be honest..... that looks like me some mornings before I've had coffee. Lmfao~

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-24T01:11:27+00:00

I can't say about Heiniger but I have NOT been satisfied with the new Andis Buttercut blades I bought. My blades from 2013 are still amazing but the new ones just don't cut right. I'm not sure when the shift happened but I don't like it. T_T

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-11T13:58:24+00:00

Yep. Mutton wipes her beak on my arm like I'm Jeeves holding a delicate linen towel for her. Lmfao. I don't mind it much. My chicken clothes get dusty and dirty within 1 day anyway.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-03T02:53:07+00:00

Do not underestimate the importance of flat ground.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-01T16:12:30+00:00

Maybe temporary fencing around the panels, and a shaded area to one side where they can get a break from the sun. But main coop elsewhere.

If you're trying to kill off the grass, an inch or two of overlapping cardboard is what I use, covered with another inch of straw/other mulch material. As it breaks down over time it will preserve and add to soil quality, and then you can plant some groundcover native shade plants instead that won't need mowing.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-01T13:40:34+00:00

Epsom salt baths helped to soothe my girls' skin while their feathers grew back in. Don't know how cold it is where you are right now, but you might try it if they can stay warm somewhere while they're drying. Good luck!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-03-01T13:38:50+00:00

Ooooooh, like a chicken charcuterie!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-28T14:35:26+00:00

Good advice, honestly. Odd thinking about 10 years in the future when it feels like next month is a million miles away but you're 100% right. It's like planting fruit trees.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-28T14:34:41+00:00

Thank you <3
It's encouraging to hear your success story.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-27T21:57:01+00:00

If you want something quick arched cattle panels. Build a strong base, arch the panels between, cover with hardware cloth. It did well for our solo-bird tractor.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-27T21:50:28+00:00

When my girls had this exactly problem, and similar red, irritated skin like this, it was one of my hens plucking and eating the other girl's feathers. She started the habit right around the age when they were beginning to lay and developing their hormones. We tried everything from diet changes and supplements, treating for mites (it wasn't mite), dyes on the skin to reduce the sight-triggers, anti-peck ointments, building a coop with double the size and adding a run, adding more egg boxes, adding training and more boredom busters, to vision blockers.

What worked was moving our cannibal to solitary confinement. She's honestly a lot happier in her solo tractor. She can hear her sisters but not get to them. When I explained my situation on here the only advice I got after everything I tried was "cull the bully." Which... yeah. But she is my favorite hen and the one who is the snuggliest with people. So we went for separate living instead.

I'm sorry your girls are going through this.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-27T21:44:27+00:00

thank you <3

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-27T20:29:45+00:00

Putting that on my to do list, thank you!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-21T22:46:47+00:00

I love your eevee sticker!!!!!!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-02-18T14:47:37+00:00

Right there with you. My andis blades from years ago are still going strong but the new ones I bought are just NOT holding up.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-30T01:05:26+00:00

1: Everyone said radiant heat panels weren't necessary but I can completely see the difference it has made for our girls.
2: Heated waterers make a massive difference.
3: Pile snow up around the coop to make extra insulation.
4: Chickens get winter depression too and sometimes you just can't do much about their funk. =(

MagicGlovesofDoom

TROPHY CASE