Head count in June

I can't help myself. I love animals. If it were possible, I would have a couple of goats and more indoor cats and another dog or two. (I think Farmer Jeff would end up building his own little barn if I did that!!!)

As it is, I seem to be acquiring more chicks! I really don't MEAN to get more...but the folks at Western Farm, our nearest chicken supply place, has been tempting me wildly with new kinds of exotic babies! What is a Chicken Mama to do???

I think I have mentioned the 8 Marans chicks that we got back in late May. Along with them we also picked up 2 Brabanders aka barbanders and Brabands. They are too funny. They have little mohawks... and so now they are named Sid and Nancy, in memory of Sid Vicious (the Sex Pistols) and his girlfriend, Nancy.

The newest babies are 2 silver laced Wyandottes and 2 black
Austrolorps! The Wyandottes will look something like the Plymouth Barred Rocks, but with more color definition. The Austrolorps are actually Australian Buff Orpingtons, but someone in proper Orpington society didn't think the Australians to be as refined ...so hence the new name. I was told they were big frumpy girls. From the drawing, I can see what they mean!








I want to move the Marans and Brabanders out to the main coop, but first have to wrap the entire cage in hardware cloth to prevent the rats from nibbling on them. I just can't let that happen. Just when I think the rat problem is under control (because I haven't seen them!) they return from vacation or the rat convention and just start in on the food again! RATS!!!

As for the rest of the gang, we had a tragic accident almost 2 weeks ago. All 3 of the little feral kittens were hit and killed. The road is an unforgiving place. I just don't think they realized how to survive around it. The efforts to catch Mama Joleen are back. I hope we can do it before she gets pregnant again. I am also trying to find out who her handsome black persian lover belongs to ...and see if we can persuade them to get him neutered!!!

The indoor kitties, Julian and Ginger, are both fine. Julian continues to lounge in the tub...when dry, and Ginger sleeps a lot and stands guard over the bathroom.

The dogs are all good. They have been having fun in the sports arenas that Farmer Jeff has created with planting dirt. Right now Tasso is playing "King of the Hill" on top of the pile of redwood bark in the dog pen. That will soon be spread out, but in the meantime, he is making the most of it!!!

So...the count is as follows:
Indoor cats - 2
Dogs - 3
Porch kitties - 5
Chickens - 38