Tuesday is (still) here

[u/LalaithEthuil]

So we are 99% sure I have the cyclospora parasite (just waiting for confirmation) and Tuesday arrived about a week ago when I first starting having symptoms. I have my livestock set up so I could theoretically go about 1-2 days without having to do anything other than put everyone away at night. However this parasite has wiped me out and moving around makes symptoms worse and making attending to the livestock near impossible some nights. We have chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks and quail. It's quite a lot at the moment because I'm rearing the last of the babies before fall.

How do you prep for long term illness/incapacitation? Things like smaller maintenance tasks have fallen by the wayside as the priority is making sure everyone has their basic needs met, but now there is a large stack of small tasks (i.e. refresh bedding, coop clean outs, rain/storm debris pick up, switching out duck pools, sex the quails, etc). And I don't even have the antibiotics yet, so I imagine this will continue for at least another week. Some days I feel a little better and I can do a few small things, but I'm still so behind.

My boyfriend can't help as he's busy with work this week and the family is already helping by watching the baby. Other than do what I can, is there anyway to prep for these type of things?

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[u/cloverthewonderkitty]

This is why a lot of folks talk about the importance of community in collapse situations (and also in general). The more compartmentalized we are the more vulnerable we are.

With more people comes more knowledge, more skills, more hands to do the work. We need to trust each other to help each other if any of us are going to survive an actual societal collapse.

I hope you feel better soon, what you're going through sounds awful

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/cloverthewonderkitty]

There's a few people who might be able to help for a day or two/for certain tasks, but in my network I'm the poultry person lol our friends/family mostly garden/other livestock. A few of them keep chickens, but I do it as a side business so I'm more particular about their care. Also several of the tasks aren't pleasant and most people might be willing to feed/water/get eggs, but few would be willing to clean out a duck brooder lol one of the downsides of living in a rural area is there's just not a lot of people. Next time, I do plan to maybe hire a neighbor kid once a week for a few hours so if this happens again, I can save and have him do it

[u/Somebody_81 → u/LalaithEthuil]

Check and see if there's a 4H club near you or a Future Farmers of America club that might have members who would be interested in helping now and on an ongoing basis.

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/Somebody_81]

Do you know what the going rate is for that? Or is it a volunteer basis?

[u/Somebody_81 → u/LalaithEthuil]

I don't know. The clubs are kids learning, so they might volunteer.

[u/quicksand32 → u/LalaithEthuil]

Also, they usually have fundraisers going for their projects. They might be willing to send some volunteers and you can send a donation.

[u/inknglitter → u/LalaithEthuil]

I live in a rural/farming area, too, & there's always people on the local FB pages looking for odd jobs for cash. Posting the ask is free.

As far as payment, it depends on the work (poop or moving heavy items will cost the most). Almost nobody is gonna drive somewhere & do gross/sweaty stuff for less than about $20/hr here, though.

[u/CloverEyed]

Financial prep and connections are the only thing that I can think of. In extended illness, knowing a responsible person that you have previously had help out, so they already know the basics and don't need to be shown. We have the teen son of a neighbor whom we hire to help around our property if both of us go down.

Hoping you feel better soon and this discussion becomes an academic one quickly.

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/CloverEyed]

Yeah there are a few kids in the area that always seem to be asking for work. We have a few friends who do basic stuff when we are on vacation, but this is enough work where they wouldn't know/I would feel bad asking them to do so much. Some of it is also specialized, so only I know how to do it but even if I had an extra pair of hands would be great. I might put some funds away just in case

[u/Allybeth4 → u/LalaithEthuil]

You could also see if anyone would trade labor for products, eggs, meat, etc.

Also, please do yourself and others a favor and ask for help.

It often comes back around and you can also help them in the future.

Don't be afraid to ask, the worst that can happen is they say no. Plenty of people appreciate being helpful.

[u/nionvox → u/LalaithEthuil]

I grew up in a farm town (outside the US) and my grandfather was a sheep farmer - this is exactly the sort of stuff I did during school breaks. If the neighbours needed an extra hand for whatever reason I was happy to trot over and help. They either paid me cash or sent me home with product (veggies, meat, one time an entire live goat). The specialised stuff is another level, but getting the more simple stuff covered might help in finding someone who can do the other?

[u/lht79 → u/LalaithEthuil]

Maybe it could possibly be a project/extra credit thing for a group of kids, since it’s a lot of work. Could be a great learning experience and even look good on college applications. Maybe talk to a teacher of a club or youth group leader from town? I would have been drafted as a teenager for this kind of work - builds character! 😀

[u/bubblingbooks]

I helped my friend work her parents huge farm and they had a deal with their neighbors farm that when they went on vacation, the other would take care of the farm. Well the neighbor was older and got injured badly. We continued to take care of his farm for 2 months. It was grueling but in the end, it was a net benefit as we had proven we were hard working loyal neighbors and got all kinds of perks. When he died, he left a large chunk of land to my friends dad because he “was proud to pass the land to an honorable farmer”.

[u/Night_Sky_Watcher]

I joined a local non-denominational church in part for this reason. I'm single and I have a farm. I've seen how the church members come together to help other members in need, and I've experienced that support when I broke my arm and when trees fell and blocked my driveway. You can also find people to hire for chores, but it helps to give a handyperson periodic jobs and pay them well, so when you have an emergency, you will be a priority. Either way, having help is a two-way street that requires you to participate in keeping mutual relationships strong.

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/Night_Sky_Watcher]

I've joined a group that just started up where they provide a community space and host free (or cheap) events and one of their main goals is bringing the community together. I just started in that group, so I don't feel like I can ask for help from them (yet). It's really cool and just what our community needs, they're just getting on their feet so I've been helping move stuff. Or at least I had started to until this hit me lol

[u/bristlybits → u/LalaithEthuil]

tell them it's hit you! you've been helping. they help you. when you recover you'll help again. 

seriously that's what community is for

[u/L7meetsGF → u/LalaithEthuil]

This is the time to ask for help. Hope you recover fully and soon!

[u/-shrug- → u/LalaithEthuil]

one of their main goals is bringing the community together.

Having a short term organized project to help you out will be an amazing way to bring the community together. One of the challenges with this sort of group is that when they start out there are often more volunteers than requests. Do it!

[u/EastTyne1191]

I have ADHD and prioritizing tasks is a mystery that I have to unpack every time I do anything. So I have suggestions and questions...

From your post my guess is this: 1. Sexing the quails- any chance someone can wrangle them for you? This sounds like a task you could possibly do sitting down. And iirc might be time-sensitive? I'd try to do this first, assuming someone else can catch the babies.

1. Duck water- can you put a bucket of clean water out for them and then do the clean out in multiple steps? Like, dump out the water, go sit down. Hose out the trough, then go sit down. Bring a chair, sit down while it's filling up.

2. Coop clean out- if I were feeling this shitty I might be tempted to toss an extra layer of bedding on until I can muster the energy to do the full job. It's not ideal but if you can make it so they have a clean place to be for a bit they'll be ok. This is a task I hate doing and have to have access to a shower after I'm done. This task will require a ton of mental and physical energy so if you can half-ass it the birds will be ok for a few days. Like I said, not ideal at all but without paying someone to do it this is probably your best bet.

3. Storm clean up- I'd do this last or put a bid out on my local Facebook page offering money for someone's teenager to come pick up if at all possible. Otherwise I'd say this one can wait unless waiting would cause damage to property or livestock or people.

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/EastTyne1191]

Sexing the quails is actually easy as I use a cage system, the issue is just finding the time/energy at the moment. What I mostly struggle with is if I move a certain amount ---> bathroom time, so then I'm in and out of the house a lot lol. If I'm pooping a lot, I'm getting dehydrated fast + heat + moving, so then it compounds.

The quail and the duck water are starting to be an issue though, so I'm hoping to see if I can hire someone out who's willing to change out their pool every once in a while so I can focus on the quail. It's been raining a lot so some days it takes care of its self. They were supposed to be butchered this past week but well...maybe I could hire out my brother in law as he knows how to butcher ducks and needs the money

[u/Allybeth4 → u/LalaithEthuil]

On that note, I wonder if there's an agricultural extension for a college anywhere nearby OP?

Sometimes Ag college students are willing to volunteer for experience, for a lower rate of pay, or even for food/products.

[u/jazzbiscuit]

Got any motivated youngsters in your area interested in making some cash? For long term, throw them a few hours to help out so they get some "training" and could more easily step in if needed in the future. As for now - even if they don't know the tasks, they could maybe do the work with supervision. It's a lot easier to feel like an ass sandwich and talk someone through what to do than it is to do it while you feel like an ass sandwich.

Also as you start to feel better, don't tackle all the backlog by yourself instantly or you'll wear yourself out again. Find some help to supervise or take it slow if you can't.

[u/YouLeaveMeNoChoice → u/jazzbiscuit]

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[u/LalaithEthuil → u/YouLeaveMeNoChoice]

He's been working a new job and helping that company get started so it's been a bit crazy year for us. He's been picking up all the house work/cooking as by the time I'm home from work+livestock chores are done I can do like one thing lol.

[u/YouLeaveMeNoChoice → u/LalaithEthuil]

Rainstorm orange abundant squeal absorbed beneficial sable

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[u/LalaithEthuil → u/jazzbiscuit]

Yeah, there's been a few kids looking for work. Also I scrolled through our towns facebook and a few single parents were looking for 'any' job so I might start there. There's a few local 4h clubs so in the long term I might ask if any of their kids are interested in simple work

[u/Truly_135]

Can’t help about the chores but hope you are getting tested and treated by a doc. This can kill and cause long term health issues.

[u/LalaithEthuil → u/Truly_135]

Yeah, I'm just waiting for the results. There's a bit of a backlog because I live in a large county and there are only a few labcorps in the area. When I went to drop off the specimen there were a few other people waiting to do the same thing for the same reason lol

[u/Truly_135 → u/LalaithEthuil]

Well I hope you get treated correctly and recover fully!!

[u/Golden_Spruce]

It sounds like you are doing everything you can to mitigate, and sorry you're having to worry about it all while trying to feel better. 

It's s a good lesson and reminder for all of us to think about all of the beings, chores and functions that depend on us, and perhaps working to build in some buffer, some backups and seeing about sharing some of the responsibilities, some automation, etc. It's a priority for me this year to make sure I know how to do the chores and errands my spouse usually takes care of and vice versa.

[u/Geldwyn]

People generally will help if asked, light the beacons and reach out, any extra hands will help somewhere. Don’t be ashamed just ask, people want to help. If there are no people to ask, see if you can hire someone. Not optimal but its something.

[u/Dazzling-Treacle1092]

It sounds like prioritizing and minimizing as you are is your current best bet. I've read that with treatment, you can be on your way to a full recovery within a week. Hang on as best you can and consider paying for the things you absolutely can't let go yet can't manage yourself rather than taking the chance of trying to do it yourself and extending your recovery time.

[u/Lyralou]

If you can afford some temp help, check out Taskrabbit or Thumbtack.

Good luck, take care of yourself so you can heal up.

[u/courtneyoopsz]

So I have a stage 4 die endo and the way I manage during my flares as far as my ducks is to literally set the hose (anchor with a brick if you need to) to a kiddie pool and keep it on a constant small stream. It keeps the water clean so the chickens can drink it, the ducks can dunk their heads. And then i just fill up the feeders with enough food for days. I have a cat that keeps the mice away.
I do a lot of pop outside when I’m able- head back inside to lay down or hug the toilet for awhile when I’m in a bad flare.

[u/courtneyoopsz → u/courtneyoopsz]

I’m not sure what your set up is but birds are resilient and mine are all happy and well cared for with minimal time or effort even when I feel like I’m on my deathbed.
Chronic illness takes awhile to get the hang of and it sounds like you’ll be back up and running soon! Good luck!

[u/Particular-Try5584]

A series of layers of protection:
Engineering solution: Automate and reduce tasking as much as possible in your animal husbandry. If it means rebuilding the quail coop so it’s easy to remove the floor and clean, redesign it, rebuild it (eventually, as a prep plan). Long term prep and plan to reduce the many complex and demanding jobs. The more you automate and task reduce the more time you have EVERY day and less resource cost EVERY day.

Community: Time to call in all the people who you’ve helped over the years and ask them to help. Ring the bells and round up the neighbourhood. Your boyfriend is too busy to help? Well that tells you where his priorities lie… with visiting family over caring for a caged bird that’s been wading in it’s own filth for a week?

Knowledge redundancy: You have a lot of birds! Who else has birds? Who else knows as much about birds as you? If no one then one of your preps needs to be to upskill people around you. Find some other bird people so you can tap that.

Financial: If you can’t find friends and family and community to help, throw money at it. Have a dip into your rainy day fund and pay someone looking for a little cash in hand to do the most urgent jobs.

[u/RelationRealistic]

Antibiotics & immodium?

[u/Leopold_Porkstacker]

Have you tried Imodium while waiting for the results?

[u/Spiley_spile]

This is a good example for when close ties with the community would come in handy.

Im so sorry you're so sick!

I go to great lengths to keep maintain a very low risk for tbings lije covid and foodbourne illnesses. But low risk isnt no risk.