Not So Good Friday

I mentioned in my previous post that our Good Friday this Easter break was accompanied by its own set of challenges. Well, now I have gotten past the worst of it, I can post about what happened.

On Friday morning, I went up to the coops to let my chickens out, and to fetch my Australorp pullet so that I could get off to an early start with her training for the show bench. I went into the coop and did my usual head count, and short period of observation of the hens which I do every morning in order to ensure everyone is present and in good health.

Right away, I noticed that something was 'off' about the Australorp. She stood off in a corner, alone and had the dreaded 'downward tail and ruffled appearance' of an unwell chicken. I let the other hens out to forage, released the rooster from his nightbox and then picked up the pullet, who submitted, unresisting to being handled (another red flag) and carried her down to the patio where her training pen was set up.

I set her on the table where her pen was, and commenced to gently examine her, prodding and feeling all over for any sign of injury or disease. My heart sank at the discovery I made.

I will be placing the rest of this post behind a cut as some of the photographs are somewhat graphic.

Homeopathy

Well, I finally bit the bullet. After researching several colleges that offer Homeopathy courses, I have decided on one and asked them to send me an enrolment pack. I should receive it early next week, and then I have an appointment on Thursday to go over the enrolment papers with my enrolment advisor and get it all set in motion. I will be taking a couple of bridging classes before the commencement of semester 1 next February, just to bring me up to speed with the Chemistry, Math, Biology and statistics I will need for the degree.

I'm a little bit nervous, but also excited. I've decided that once I am enrolled for this course I am 100% committed. No dropouts! I will just have to find a tutor if the going gets tough! There are some BIG subjects in this degree, including human anatomy and physiology, biology, microbiology, chemistry and biochemistry, clinical medicine along with the homeopathic medicine, history of healing, counselling, prescriptive process, clinical examination etc. It will take me a long time to complete the degree, but at the end of it, I will have a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Homeopathy) and be qualified to either open my own practice, or work in a multi-disciplinary medical practice.

The degree program is government accredited, so it is not just some fly by night fancy degree that is not worth the paper it is printed on. I will also qualify for a student loan, which will defray the costs until such time as I am earning enough money to pay it back.

This college also offers an Advanced Diploma in Animal Homeopathy, which I may look at doing later on down the track as well.
So. Here I go. *nervous smile*

Image via justdumbproductions.com