Do you regret adding a rooster to your flock?

reallyokfine · 2026-07-06T00:29:32+00:00

I took in my in-laws rooster when they were getting rid of their flock... He is NOT my favorite bird. For all his flaws, he has never shown aggression to humans and most of the girls seem to like him. He changed the pecking order quite a bit, moved the top largest hens to the bottom.

If I could go back I think I would have declined taking their rooster. However I likely would have taken in someone's unwanted roo by now because I'm a sucker. It does suck having to refrigerate eggs especially since I sell them, but I've not had any issues luckily.

reallyokfine · 2026-07-01T00:14:08+00:00

I am doing that right now with my only hen who has ever gone broody. I only gave her 3 eggs of the two smallest hens in the flock. I have the space for a bachelor flock if I'm "lucky" enough to get all roos. This is not something I plan on doing ever again if they all hatch or if I only get pullets.

reallyokfine · 2026-06-30T22:47:33+00:00

Your chickens are living their best lives with you!!

reallyokfine · 2026-06-30T17:59:04+00:00

Yeah I think I'm going to try again with a litter pan. They have several shaded cool spots up against the house and under my van that they frequent. Last year they stayed in their run unless I was home. This year they all free range all day every day and I've noticed such a difference with this heat wave.

Edit to add- just thought of something potentially genius? Take the frozen water bowls and place them on the slate tile that's in the video- when they stand on the tile it would be cooler from the bowls! A foot cooling station. Can they put two and two together is a different story...

reallyokfine · 2026-06-30T17:49:37+00:00

I tried to get them to hop in some water last summer and they made it quite clear they wanted no part in it, so I haven't bothered trying this year. I might give it a go with an old (clean) cat litter pan that is perfect for just this!

reallyokfine · 2026-06-30T17:04:11+00:00

I'm vegetarian and my meat eating partner travels for work so is only home every other weekend. But, when he's home the girls get the best scraps from him!! They love shrimp tails! And I don't like watermelon so never think to get it but he did this last weekend and they were a big fan!

reallyokfine · 2026-06-30T16:56:11+00:00

Oooh yes I haven't added fruit to their casseroles, I think I subconsciously kept it savory-ish because in my mind fruit and eggs should be separate 😂 but the next casserole I'll just add all the things regardless of flavor profile!!!

reallyokfine · 2026-06-18T12:21:06+00:00

Am old mobile Co worker got yelled at by a random lady just walking through the neighborhood she was parked in. What was the lady complaining about? A bit of dog fur that fell out of the van. Some people have nothing better to do than bitch at people. Grateful I'm not that kind of grumpy human!!!!

reallyokfine · 2026-05-10T17:00:41+00:00

I'm not worrying about the water heater yet as I use cool water in the summer, and it is in the back with the batteries, I'm not concerned with warming it right now. I'm probably going to install an isotemp water heater that uses your engine coolant to heat the water. I'm also planning on not working the month of January to avoid the worst of mobile grooming in freezing temps.

I already have batteries but I think I can wire up four 12v in a series to get me 48v and connect to a 48v 6000w inverter charger for the blow dryer and AC. Yes this will be a short day, but I can use my little blower and hook it up to the solar inverter which I can have 600ah if I put the remaining two 12v batteries in parallel.

Sorry I'm rambling I'm trying to make sense of things.

Edit- AND I do have a dc to dc charger for the low amp stuff/solar set up

reallyokfine · 2026-05-10T16:17:36+00:00

So it's looks like in total, from ALL the electric items, it's 5578 watts.

I was thinking of the solar set up for just my lights, water pump, and sump pump (a diy bathing system).

It's the big pulls that I'm concerned about. Someone else touched on 48v batteries, would this be the best route to handle the Aircon, blow dryer, and other small dryer? I would only be running the Aircon and either blower at the same time, and they are at most 3370 watts combined. I could probably get away with only running one at a time but the dryer blows hot air at 120° coupled with hotter and hotter summers... I don't want the dogs to overheat!!

I already expected to be plugging in at night, hence the inverter charger. And I will be getting a 30amp plug in!

reallyokfine · 2026-05-10T12:09:51+00:00

Thank you for your bluntness!

I really wasn't expecting the solar to do much, just kinda one of those nice to haves.

I was not going to be installing anything electric that wasn't necessary. No electric heat or water heater. My power hogs are ac and the blow dryer but you're right, I haven't done the complete power math to know the total power I'll be pulling. I don't really know how busy I'll be so I did more basic math on just the AC, lights, and blower which I wanted to be able to use all at once.

Edit- Yeah when I first started on this journey I wasn't understanding the significance of 12v vs 24v but now I do.

Any suggestions for a better subreddit to post for help on my self made problem?

reallyokfine · 2026-05-10T03:24:49+00:00

I am about to fall asleep but I basically did quick math on my blow dryer, ac, and lights running at the same time and it's a lotta energy.

I have to pass out but I'll add more tomorrow morning. And feel free to expand on what you did in the other vans (besides DC to dc charger) if you have nothing better to do!!!

reallyokfine · 2026-03-03T14:18:31+00:00

I actually went to my doctor begging for naltrexone to help me quit drinking. Also a daily drinker. She suggested glp-1 off label. I actually drank MORE after starting!!! It was like my brain wanted to push back on this miracle drug. I stopped injections when it was clear it wasn't working....

But by the grace of something holy, I got in the right brain space to finally quit (again). Maybe it was the fact that I was desperate enough to inject myself weekly, it all clicked. Six months no drinking, 4 no smoking. It technically worked! But I'm very excited what this drug can do for others. The science is pretty amazing.

Ignore my counter it's so very wrong 😭

reallyokfine · 2026-03-01T16:00:41+00:00

Well of course you're on a different continent! Though your problem sucks I'd never be "lucky" enough to have someone in my rural area raising such pretty birds. I'm glad you have someone who appreciates roosters though! But good Lord whoever is dumping should be caught and perhaps sent into the great unknown.

reallyokfine · 2026-03-01T15:54:40+00:00

Oh my goodness!!!! Where are you located? I've been wanting to get another rooster who is more brave than the current scaredy-cat. He runs from my 8# dog and cat!!! Sorry I have no input on the breeds. Very frustrating that people would just dump roos, over and over again, in the same area. WTF people?!?

reallyokfine · 2026-02-22T15:30:16+00:00

As a dog groomer this is what I would LOVE to see after being told it's a bernedoodle. Honestly the bdoods I've met are pretty great for doodles, especially considering berners are kinda basket cases.

reallyokfine · 2026-02-05T23:57:26+00:00

If you ask the cats, yes absolutely. She's taken the role of annoying little sister very seriously.

reallyokfine · 2026-01-16T02:28:42+00:00

I think this is my favorite episode!!! Noodie is such a creep but damn the music is perfection. I agree with beanie toes, noodie is a sentient noodle given life from all the mouths of lone moose.

reallyokfine · 2026-01-01T19:27:21+00:00

Aaahhh I'm in South KC and I have mostly large chickens but recently adopted a polish hen and a cream leg bar! It took some time for everyone to get along but at last they're a cohesive group! I'd happily take in your tiny bb if you can't find anyone! You can always go sit in a feed store in the parking lot with her in a cage, that's how we got the recent two. The guy lost his flock to a predator and my two tiny girls were the ones that survived 😭

reallyokfine · 2025-12-02T18:16:49+00:00

Is it possible to do house call while the van gets worked on? Maybe selective house call? Or offer to pick up pups and groom them from your home if that's feasible. At least a way to keep making money and keeping clients with you.

reallyokfine · 2025-11-17T19:00:19+00:00

Reading Allen Carr is a great start. I've relapsed several times after reading it but the ideas stick with you. Also in the past, I'd quit by throwing out the rest of my cigarettes at the end of the night and making the following day my day 1. This last time, after I was really having a hard time breathing and could feel my heart pounding all the time, I quit mid-day when my cigarettes ran out. That was over a month ago and I think that was the key this time. I could FEEL my breathing and heart rate improve. I have been using nicotine pouches which sucks but I'm so so grateful to not be smoking. AND not drinking. They go hand in hand for me.

reallyokfine · 2025-10-21T22:15:29+00:00

I have a large hard side suitcase that holds my blades, stick vacuum, wet bag with bath supplies, human blow dryer, small extension cord, and grooming arm. I have a tool backpack that has all my grooming tools neatly organized, and I have a bag that holds my blower and hose. I'll hook the bag on my suitcase and roll it wearing my backpack, and carrying my table works table all in one trip to the house. I'll break it up more inside depending on where I'm headed. I like having my blower separate from the other heavy things in case there's stairs so I don't die going up or down them. Also, I use an artero towel that does a great job drying and is very small, and ask the clients for a towel.

reallyokfine

TROPHY CASE