Claus

February 9, 2011February 9, 20113 Comments

We have two kitties here on the Farmlet. Claus and Little Bit. I love them both, but it is Claus who has become my kitty.

He is the only cat I’ve ever had that will instantly begin to purr when I say his name. Although he can be aloof at times, he is after all a cat, the very next minute he will be in my lap demanding attention and he rarely takes “No” for an answer. He follows me when I do chores, weeding, raking, gathering eggs, etc. I must tell you of course, that the chickens take an exception to his visits in their run and can become downright peckish when he checks to see what I am getting out of the nest boxes!

Claus was adopted from the animal shelter and at the time we didn’t realize he had a dislocated knee. It wasn’t till he got a few months older that we began to notice his limp. We took him to the vet and were told that we would need to wait till he was older for surgery, but that as long as he wasn’t in noticeable pain and could get around OK, then we needn’t have him operated on. (I had misgivings about that advice) And so it is, that when he walks he looks gimpy, and yet he’s the best mouser I have ever seen. I can get him to come running home by calling out “CLAUS KITTY… com’on CLAUS!” Well, for a gimpy cat, he can race home amazingly fast for dinner and some kitty-lovin’s!

Of course when I want him he’s nowhere to be found!

However, the other night I got lucky. I started calling for him and Little Bit found him for me!

“Gee, thanks Little Bit!“

“Too… CROWDED… ergh! Go AWAY…”

“and stay out!“

“Uh… Mom, maybe you should change her name to Little Brat!”

I love both of my kitties, but Claus is my special kitty boy.

The morning after

January 27, 2011January 27, 20116 Comments

After all the excitement of the hawk incident, most of my girls were pretty anxious to get back to business as usual. So I was sorry to disappoint them yesterday by closing the gate in their face, but close it I did and left. I had other work to do! The Silkys on the other side of the yard were even more incensed as I did not let them out until I had made some sort of emergency makeshift run for them.

To accomplish this I put up a metal dog playpen and attached it to the chain link fence. Then I took my staple gun and stapled garden bird netting directly to the sides of their hutch. Next, I took a box of spring binder clips and attached the netting all the way around to top of the chain link and the dog playpen. It looks a ramshackle affair, but seems to be working! I can live with it for a couple of days till Bob and I can do something more permanent and less ghastly looking…

When finished I quickly ducked under, opened up their hutch, gave them their ladder and watched for them to come out. They didn’t. I waited, and waited! Oh-KAY-THEN. I went inside to watch from the window. It took the two adults about a half an hour to come out, but the three babies took till almost noon! Poor things.

Later in the evening I went out to lock up the hutches and collect any remaining eggs from the day. The egg count was understandably very low. This happens when the girls get stressed. However, the most curious thing I found wasn’t in the nesting boxes.

It was this…

and I found it in the leaf litter out in the run!

These are Tippy’s eggs. the one on the right is normal, and the one on the left is about the size of a medium jaw breaker!

I know it to be hers, because she is the only girl I have that lays white eggs. (blue tint is an anomaly of the photo) The little one is called a *Wind Egg, or as some crusty folk call it, a “Fart Egg.” When opened the inside will contain only the albumin or “white” of the egg. Quite irregular, but then I guess if you are throttled the day before by a hawk and he pulls out all your tail feathers, but you thankfully manage to get away, then you can be expected to be a little off the next day.

Poor baby!

*For more amazing and strange egg anomalies look here: http://www.poultryhelp.com/oddeggs.html

Good Boy!

January 21, 2011January 21, 20116 Comments

We went to bed last night knowing there was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground. And so it was that when I woke up this morning to the little dog’s whining and sniffing at my face to go out, that I found my self annoyed and not wanting to get up. Laying there all wrapped in my cocoon of flannel sheets and extra blankets I simply did not want to face the icy chill I knew was waiting for me.

But, the little dog was not taking no for an answer this morning. I grudgingly forced myself out of my comfort zone, and instead of letting the poor little dog out I thought, I’ll just let him out of the room and he’ll go find Bob. Bob will let him out! So I opened the bedroom door, and hearing those little tappy toes prancing down the long hall looking for Bob and the express pass to the outside for relief…

I closed the door and crawled back into my cocoon. Aaaah…

Just on the verge of sleep again I hear the little dog! BARKING! I snuggle down deeper into the warmth of my covers.

Arff…ARFF-ARFF-ARFF!

What the…!!!

I hop up to find the little dog sitting at the mud room door and barking at it. Apparently Bob was indisposed and little dog really wanted out! I feel bad now. Quickly I put on his little red jacket with the imitation fleece lining and send him out the door.

I’m up now.

Donning my robe and slippers I find my way to the kitchen, pour coffee, and then return to the mudroom to let the little Pupcicle in. Taking off his coat and wiping the snow off of his pads I tell him,

“Good Boy Tucker!”

Later this morning…