House Chick Update

Two days on and Persimmon is growing very nicely. In hope of having a hen, we have chosen to use feminine pronouns until proven otherwise.

Miss P. enjoys periodic forays to the kitchen or outside with me while I garden. Some of the pussycats are intrigued and the dogs desperately want her to play. Rufus play bows and everything. Right now Persimmon is running around the keyboard 'helping' me write. She'd follow me around everywhere if I let her.

Last evening another chick hatched from an egg I had presumed dead but which Squeaky refused to leave. Squeaky is still a horrible mother and let the poor thing wander off to be beaned by Miss Bett. I must have found it just after it happened because the chick was still crying and not too cold.

I brought it in, cleaned up it's torn skin, and gave it a home in a cage within Persimmon's cage to see if it would revive and live through the night. Remarkably, it has! It is eating and drinking well on its' own. FYI, chicks really dig sugar water. (They do a little head wriggle when something new is especially wonderful.) She is getting Chick Quick and OTC doxycycline in her water to keep infection at bay. Please cross your fingers and say your prayers that she makes it.

So, now we have TWO chicks living in the house. This new one is a bantam Cochin x Dominique with classic female markings: dark legs and a tight white spot on her head. Any suggestions for naming this one? She's only got one operable eye and will never have feathers on her cheeks.

P.S. In an unrelated development, the farm has received nearly half an inch of rain over the last two days! Hurrah!!!

Meet Your New Brother

That's right, there's been a new addition to the Stratheden Farm Family.

The pussycat is Fred Tweedle, one of the kittens born two years ago. He's a real lover when he decides to hang out at home. Chet (up on the banner) and us humans like to call him Chet Jr. as Dr. Chetworth took him under his proverbial wing and taught Fred "everything he knows." (To quote that good doctor...)

Now it seems to be Fred's turn to take a young'un under his own "wing."

Fred is still not entirely sure he wants the Chicken Uncle gig but he checks on Persimmon when he passes through the dining room and is quite happy to allow the little one to snuggle up under his arm or neck.

Little Persimmon (gender unknown) was the sole survivor when one of our little hens abandoned her chicks to set on eggs only a few hours after they'd hatched. This one had a lot of trouble hatching as it's mama was a bantam and it's papa wasn't... s/he filled the egg so completely that s/he couldn't maneuver inside. Mrs. Fuzzy had to help by picking away part of the shell until Persimmon could unfold a leg and push out.

If you have ever heard that the first creature a bird sees upon hatching is the one they imprint upon it is true! Persimmon follows Mrs. Fuzzy around the garden and chicken-howls if, upon awakening, Mrs. Fuzzy is not present.

Rufus & Grover are madly jealous... the rest of the indoor clan don't give a whit about the new one.