Today we brought home two new hens (I know, we need more chickens like we need a hole in the head). I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity when I saw someone on Craigslist selling a Sicilian Buttercup hen. They’re not exactly the most common of breeds.
I didn’t want to bring her home alone (there’s that anthropomorphising I tend to do) so I bought a blue Maran hen as well.

They’ve been named Melinda (the buttercup, after Ghost Whisperer, Emily’s favorite show) and Amelie (the blue one, on the right).

She’s got quite an impressive comb.  I went through all her feathers, checking for any pointy hackle or saddle feathers.  I just do NOT need another rooster!

So far they are getting along fine in our front pen with Paddy duck, Berry the lame rooster (“lame” as in he has a bad foot) and little CC the hen who won’t stay out back with all the others.

If we keep on at this rate we may need to open our own “Chicken World”.

There’s been a gradual shift going on around here.  A change in demeanor, in behavior, in attitude. Jerry seems to have a whole new outlook on the humans around him.

He’s been letting us pet him.  Kiss his soft fuzzy nose, even (it feels like velvet!).

Sometimes he gets all in your face and nibbles on your lips and nose.  This all started around the time he realized that us bipedal types more often than not have little apple slices for him.  And he loooooooves apple slices.

It’s certainly made taking care of his vaccinations easier.

It also means that at times it looks like you’re making out with a llama.

I’m not honestly sure that making out with a llama is necessarily the best choice a person could make.

I’m just saying.

Either way, we’re all glad Jerry’s decided he likes us.

Meet Jack.

Jack is Susie’s Angora herd sire.  Isn’t he handsome?

Milkshakes doesn’t know it yet, but this gorgeous hunka – he – goat is going to be her booty – call in about a month.

I just can’t resist.  They are going to make some super – cute  mutt kids, let me tell you.

In other news, the chickens have apparently gone on strike – I am getting one egg a day – two if I am lucky.  I imagine it’s because we went from brutal heat to low 40’s at night in the blink of an eye.

Of course today it’s like 80 out there.

Go figure.

When we brought Paddington Duck home from Susie’s we brought a small plastic child’s pool as well.  Unfortunately, the first night Paddy was with us she suffered an injury on her neck ( possibly a peck from a certain hen) that required some bandaging and antibiotic so she wasn’t able to use her pool for awhile.

Happily she is now fully recovered and it was rather warm today so we dug out the pool, filled it with water and let her have at it.  She took right to it like….well, like a duck to water.

It was obvious right away that this is where she is meant to be.  You could feel the happy.

I still can’t get over how stinkin’ cute she is.  Even Paul is smitten with her- and how can you not dig a man who loves a duckling????

Oh hai !!!!!

Something tells me there are more ducks in my future……………..

We ummm……….got a duck!

Meet Paddington. “Paddy” for short.  She’s just a wee thing still.

We got her from Susan’s farm after her little duckling brother died and she was too lonely to stay on her own.

She is the cutest stinkin’ thing, and it’s hilarious how she stands straight up to walk, quite unlike chickens.  We’ve put her in with Muriel the hen and her newest little chicken hatchling  hoping they’ll make a nice little blended family.

Quack!

A new chicken hatched sometime last night.

Welcome to the farm, baby!!  I sure hope you’re a girl!!!!!

I love these things.  Who knew poultry could be so addictive???