Can you guess what these kitties are doing?
And what's making Ryder so happy?
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Anyone recognize this bug? There was a gazillion on our trees. I looked them up but wasn't able to really pinpoint what bug they are. But I can tell you that these are actually not the bugs themselves, as creepy as they are, they are actually just the shells left behind. I do believe they are part of the tree beetle family. Can you guess what these kitties are doing? If you guessed nursing, you are absolutely correct. But I bet you didn't guess that it was with her. No, she's not lactating, but the kitties don't care and Emma loves to comfort them. And what's making Ryder so happy? His new dog run, of course! This also makes his owner very happy as well since we've lost him to the swamp once too many times. And finally, who's this little critter with his eyes already open?! Why that's one of Odette's babies! She is a great mother and has only lost the one baby but that was entirely our fault as we did not secure her cage properly. She has since been moved to the rabbit brooder where no barn predators (aka cats) can get at her babies. All remaining six are doing great, bouncing around the brooder and getting nice and plump! That's my girl! Way to go Odette!
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Thought I'd share some updates from around the farm. First, as I mentioned briefly in the previous post, our dark snowy call duck who was to be named Daphe if a boy or Daphne if a girl, has been renamed Ben. My son wanted to name him since everyone else was naming animals and when he said Ben, I liked it and agreed. We are 99% sure Ben is indeed a boy. He has grown some beautiful and colourful feathers. I haven't got a photo, but will try and post one when I do. Another name change around the farm was June's, one of our stray barn cats. Initially, we had thought June and May were mother and son, then May got pregnant so that corrected that. However, June is a late bloomer and her testicles have finally dropped. Yes, testicles. June is a boy. Very disappointing, since she/he was so much friendlier and prettier than May, which really should have been the first sign. Anyway, not to confuse us too much we changed his name to Juno. Me and my hardworking crew have been working steadily on the henhouse. Haha, they are such jokers! Actually, I'm pretty proud of my crew...3 females and a 7 year old boy and we've nearly completed a henhouse entirely on our own. Second wall goes up. All the walls are now up, I haven't taken a photo yet. I just need to add the door for humans and a door to the run and the girls are moving over. Which I can't hardly wait since they've been free ranging in the barn at night because they have become just too big for the brooder. There is poop everywhere in the barn. As soon as I can lock them up at night, they are moving in. My daughter finished her rabbit house and began work on the rabbit run. The completed house and run. She is raising the house about a foot off the ground, however, to create a shaded spot for the rabbits. The rabbits cannot all go in at once so they rotate in the house/run on a daily basis. They love it and it gives them lots of exercise. The tarp is there because we discovered after a rainfall that there was too much space between boards, so she will need to insultate the inside eventually as well. She also wants to add shutters over the windows to lock the rabbits in even more securely at night and place a flower box under the window to pimp up the place.
The ducks have been holed up in the run during the day with the rabbit ever since last night's incident. I didn't want another accident and chance of loosing another bird. Don't think the boy could handle it. Anyway, as soon as I'm done the henhouse, the duck's run and house are on the agenda next. I was going to post about how to sex a duck, but am putting that blog subject off until tomorrow as I wanted to share an incident at the farm that happened the other night instead. But first, I need to tell you that our german shepherd, Dakota, was hit by a car a few days ago. Now before you think the worse, let me assure you she is fine. Remarkably, unbelievably, truly a miracle fine. She is approximately 11-12 years old (she was a stray we adopted so never knew her exact age) and is definitely showing her age. We are fully aware that her days are numbered and are prepared for that. So when I was down by the road gardening the flowerbeds at the end of our driveway and heard the familiar tire squeal, thump and cry of a dog, I figured her day had arrived. When I spun around and saw the rear wheels rise up and back down onto the road after driving over my dog, my memory flashed back 13 years ago when we lost a dog to the exact same way. But then unbelievably, Dakota simply got up, shot the vehicle an angry glare and walked off. Then mad as heck, she chased down the very next car. I couldn't believe it. So for her own safety, we tied her up to a shaded tree behind the barn. That is where the incident begins. Because Dakota was tied up at the back of the barn, she was not able to do her duty of guarding the property. She is constantly barking. Admittedly, it drives us crazy. What we sometimes forget to appreciate is all the critters who wonder over from the animal sanctuary across the road and who are scared off our property because of that bark. Which explained the sight of a raccoon down by the drive shed. It was the first wild animal we spotted at the farm (not counting the dead raccoon stuck in our pasture fence). And I knew it was here because Dakota was not there to scare her away. We ignored the raccoon as it couldn't harm anything near the driveshed and at supper when I went out to feed the animals, I heard Dakota barking like mad from behind the barn. I knew she had spotted the raccoon and was going ballistic because she couldn't chase after it. So I untied her and the moment I did, she shot off in the direction of the driveshed sniffing the ground like she was a police dog hunting down the narcotics. I'd never ever seen her do this in the 10 years we've owned her. It was impressive admittedly. She suddenly veered back to the barn sniffing the ground like mad. I was right behind her sure we'd find the raccoon in the barn. Dakota went wild in the barn sniffing, even going up on her hind legs to smell the air above her, but there was no sign of the racccoon. I sighed with relief, doubled checked my ducklings were okay and no raccoon had them for dinner, then left the barn, shutting the door behind me in case she decided to come back. About ten minutes later, my oldest headed out to the barn, opened the barn doors then suddenly slammed them shut. I happened to see this from my window so went out to see what was wrong. The raccoon was in the barn, feasting on cat food...right next to my lovely ducklings. I couldn't believe it. I had checked ever single corner of that barn. There had been no raccoon. Then as I entered the barn, Dakota who was right on my heel, came charging in after the raccoon. The damn thing didn't run away as I had thought. Raccoons are fighters. She stood her ground and took on Dakota. A nasty fight ensued. I took a single photo, but was too preoccupied with the fight so it didn't come out very clear. Admittedly, I was terrified. I had heard that raccoons can be nasty little buggers, but I had no idea they were fearless and would challenge a german shepherd. Me and daughter grabbed some sticks and began banging the posts, cages, anything that would make a loud noice and try and scare it out of the barn and off our dog, but it refused to go. When it finally did run, it was to up here. (This explained why I hadn't seen it earlier, I was looking on the ground not overhead. Dakota, however, had known the scent had ended above as you recall I mentioned she began sniffing the air. We again began hollering and making loud noices trying to scare it down and out, but it just would not go. Now the reason I'm telling you this, is not to give you a lesson on how to remove a raccoon from your barn because I have no idea, but to warn you how difficult it is. We spent an hour trying to remove the critter. I hosed it down, through rocks and cans of cat food at it, jabbed it with a pitch fork and a wooden stake (it was 8 feet long so no worries I got that close) but still it refused to leave. I didn't know what to do. If I had a shotgun I would have seriously considered shooting it cause I figured that was the only way it was leaving my barn. We eventually were able to move it toward the front of the barn and the exit, but he only found something else to climb up. (The wooden stake is below him, it's the yellow looking pole). We were able to knock him off the ladder and with the help of the pitchfork and Dakota, finally maneuvered him outside. As soon as we did, we shut the barn down and closed my ducklings and baby bunnies safely inside. Dakota kept close to the raccoon (behind her hiding behind the tree) as if she was personally escorting it off the farm. But since we had gotten it out of the barn, I didn't care so much where it went. I figured it would saunter on back down to the woods now that it no longer had it's food source. I checked Dakota over and remarkably, she didn't have so much as a scratch on her. I couldn't believe it yet again. She had just come out of a nasty fight with a raccoon and didn't have a mark on her. Two days and two incidents and the dog walks away harmless. My daughter says she is immortal. I, however, know the power of 3's. You are given two warnings and then it is the 3rd that matters. I'll be keeping a close watch on her. As for the raccoon, she wasn't done exploring our property. We went into the house but noticed it shortly afterwards walking around our backyard. Since all my critters were safely locked away in the barn, we simply watched with interest from the back window...until we spotted May, our barn cat that just had her litter a few days ago. We had prepared a bed for her and the kittens in the woodshed but she had rejected and had taken the kittens to some unknown location. My daughter wanted to track them down, but I figured we'd see them again when they were big enough to follow mom to our back door for food. Anyway, May's back suddenly arched, then in a bolt she fled to a pile of logs lying beneath a pine tree. We knew then where the unknown location was. Hubby grabbed a thick stick to ward off the raccoon while daughter went and fetched the kittens. We brought them into the house and placed them back in the bed we had prepared. It didn't take much persuading May to follow. We set up a kitty litter next to the bed in the front room where it is nice and quiet, and she and babies have been there ever since. May has always been very nervous and skitterish around us, but she's really coming along quickly and learning to trust us. We did notice one at least kitty is missing. It was one of the little black ones. Of course we were disappointed but relieved the others have survived and that no raccoon was having them for dinner.
Yesterday was a day for babies on the farm. First up, May was not done having hers. She ended up having 4 more babies. And since there was no more room left at the Ritz, she had to find another secluded spot not too far from her other kittens. She chose this spot at the bottom of a wood pile. It didn't take long however for her to realize her mistake, when one too many visitors came to see her and babies. She took off, abandoning her babies. Since it wasn't the safest place and was easily accessible to other critters, we set up a bed in a corner of the shed surrounded by plywood sheets with food and water for May, and moved the kittens there while May watched from the beam above. And it was a good thing we did. For some unexplained reason, the pile of wood directly above where she had been, collapsed later that day. We popped in periodically after that to check on them and though there was no sign of May, the kittens appear healthy and content. I just hope she comes for them during the night and doesn't leave them to freeze. Yesterday, as it turns out, was a day of baby arrivals on the farm. Though the kittens were the only ones actually born here, we went over to our favourite breeder to pick up our remaining chanteclers and while we were there we visited with all her other animals and new mothers. And ended up going home with 2 turkeys, 2 rabbits, 3 ducks, and the 3 chanteclers. The chanteclers checking out their new home and new family below. The turkey's....which daughter discovered their reputation of not being the smartest chicks on the block rang true, says we should name dumb and dumber, haha! But which my son has wanted since our last visit to the breeder's where he met their pet turkey, Walmart (named for his love of greeting visitors to the farm). I had wanted ducks in the hopes of helping to eliminate the fly population on our farm. When I did my research, I chose Call Ducks because they are the friendliest and with my boy always wanting to play with the farm animals, I thought they would suit us best. However, on talking with my breeder in further discussion about ducks, she recommended we get Muscovy as a) they are the best fly catchers and b) have the best edible meat. So we've ordered some babies from her who should be born any day now. The call ducks above will only be for pet value as she said they won't catch a whole lot of flies. I couldn't resist taking them home though when she showed me their mother. A beautiful black and white duck. I've never seen one that colour. Two of the ducklings above should turn out with the same colouring. We took the third one because he was the last of the litter and came with his sisters. Of course, when we brought them home we had no idea what to do with them. We aren't set up for baby ducks so have put them in the upstairs shower stall until I can figure something out. Then finally, before we went over to the breeders she told us that her rabbits had another litter of bunnies and that one of the litters were safe to breed with Odette. You know, just in case we were interested, haha! We had wanted a male rabbit ever since Odette came home in February with the hopes of breeding her. He was even named at that time. Meet Phoenix. Now the problem is, he shares the same parents as Odette, so no breeding. (Apparently it is not safe to breed siblings, but you can breed parent to child.) So after much debate and finally unable to make a decision, we picked up another male from a different set of parents for breeding purposes. He remains nameless at the moment but he quickly found his way into our hearts. So much so that we are thinking of buying a female from the same litter so that we can cross breed the two litters. I foresee a lot of building of shelters and runs this summer!
Talking of babies, and as an update, the tadpoles in our pond have completely disappeared. We haven't seen our Koi as well in the past week or so. We stopped feeding them in the hopes they would help themselves to the tadpoles. I think the plan worked. There won't be any toad invasion on the farm afterall! May, one of our barn cats, has had a litter of kittens making this the first birth on the farm. Back when she went into heat, she attracked many tomcats which resulted in many cat fights with our own beloved tomcat, September. We crossed our fingers that September was the victor. He has a wonderful personality that we would love to see duplicated. Yesterday, while I was in the wood shed, I heard that familiar coo of newborn kittens. I knew May, who was far more timid and nervous than June, would find a birthing area that would be very secluded. The spot she selected was here, in this birdhouse. Now, if you are wondering how the heck she got in there, the birdhouse actually opens on the other side into the woodshed off the end of a beam, and is nice and roomy. Daughter wanted to move mom and babies into the barn as she was concerned how weak and skinny May looked but I told her to leave them where they were and bring food and water out to her instead. We were unable to see the babies, but I could stick my lense into the hole of the birdhouse and got a slightly blurred image. There appears to be 3 to 4 kittens with mom's colouring and some with black coats. So yippy, looks like our September is a daddy!
Hooking up to Farm Friend Friday and Farm Girl Friday Blog Hop. Our cats have finally gotten to the point where all four now get along well. I think we can thank September for that, he is the worldest friendliest cat. He loves every living creature. Well, except tomcats. Those he despises. We have had several around the property ever since we moved in. September went to war with each one. He didn't always come out the victor and would spend days in the barn recuperating. However, the girls always chose him. Which, considering his loving personality, wasn't too hard to see why. Anyway, as I had mentioned in a previous post, June has really begun to warm up to us humans as well. She really enjoys being petted and will get eexcited when she sees us. Her trust level had increased, so we thought it time to finally lure her and May to the barn. They had been living in the wood shed and coming up to the back porch for meals but the bag of cat food had finally run out in the house. All pet food is kept in the barn but we had kept the one behind for the strays, but we decided they were ready to be introduced to the barn. The trick would be to catch them. Though June allowed us to pet her, she didn't like us trying to pick her up, but I knew luring her into the cat carrier wouldn't be a problem. Sure enough, after placing some food inside, she walked freely into the carrier. She panicked only for a bit, but we rushed over to the barn and set her free. And September was there to greet her and welcome her to his abode. He helped her to relax, showed her there was nothing to fear from those great big new creatures in the stalls, and introduced her to his other girlfriend, Odette. This morning when I went into the barn I found June curled up in Duke's stall along with September. Warm and content as could be. She's loving her new digs and will even willingly pose for a photo for me now. May, on the other hand is still acting extremely nervous and shy. We were able to lure her into the carrier, but she took a hissy fit once locked inside. When we got her to the barn, she immediately fled to find a hiding place. I did see her this morning while I spent time with September and June, but I was only able to snap one photo of her before she realized I was there. This is September perched on my shoulders. He goes up there all on his own without any coaxing. He just loves being that close to us. (Please excuse my first-thing-in-the-morning appearance.) The weather has been very nasty the last several days. We've had high winds, low temperatures, and lots of rain. On the upside, my grass is turning a lovely green. On the downside, I now have mowing on my already long list of things to do.
When I looked in the barn this morning, something wasn't right. It took me a few seconds at staring at that horses head way down there. That stall belongs to Cowboy, our pony, who happens to be way too short to hang his head over the stall door. However, I was momentary impressed that Cowboy must have grown without my noticing. Then I remembered Cowboy is 9 years old. Way beyond the years of growing. The only horse tall enough to stick his head over the stall door was Chase. However, Chase's stall is that first empty stall. That's when it struck me. Chase's stall was empty. The little bugger had opened the stall divider and slipped into Cowboy's stall. I've hated the stall dividers from the beginning and told hubby we need to replace them. He baulked at me and said they were fine. Though Cowboy looked a little confused at Chase's presence, they pretty much just stood there looking at me. It's a good thing our horses get along, or else this could have had a worse outcome. Actually, I've been thinking they all get along too well. It's difficult to separate them and when one leaves the barn, the other gets very excited and upset. We really need another barn to separate them. It would do them all good. In other farm news, June, one of the stray cats is really starting to warm to the family. She now allows us to pet her. We're making progress. My daughter almost broke the trust we had gained with June, by luring her into the house, something absolutely not allowed but that's my child, wants to befriend all the animals.. Anyway, the cat freaked out and flung about the kitchen, literally climbing the walls until finally I caught her in a box and through her outside. We had made such good progress in befriending her that I feared we would have to start all over again. However, she continues to show up on my doorstep eager for food and yes, for a pet now and then. It's a foggy morning here today, but just as long as it doesn't rain, I'm fine with that. And besides, the weather forecast for the weekend is suppose to be around 16 degrees. I'm super excited for that. Maybe I'll get lots of yardwork done.
It was a beautiful day today to play outdoors with the animals and snap photos. Dakota, our german shepherd loves to chase the horses in the pasture but they all pretty much ignore her, except for Duke the mini. He's petrified of Dakota and runs circles around the farm (as seen in the background). September watches safely from his perch. Or maybe not so safe. Meanwhile, from the front of the house we heard splashing. Don't they realize there is still snow on the ground and we're still wearing winter coats?? I'm participating in the Farm Friiend Friday again over at Verde Farms website. http://www.verdefarm.com/
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