See ya Mongy Foot

I received confirmation last night from the neighbour that Mongy Foot is dead, supposedly a fox took her and her touched babies are being cared for by the mother with the 8 kids. I believe the fox part but not the babies being cared for. Chickens don't usually do that.

The neighbour said she slept in the tree the other night and that's when she was taken. the story has got holes through it, so it wouldn't surprise me if she turns up one day. Anyway the story about her sleeping in a tree is right. Speedy tried to do it the other day and I got her out of the tree and sent her to the pen, so lucky it could have been Speedy. Speedy was up in the tree and her babies were chirping around the bottom trying to get up up. I said to Speedy "you need to be with your babies penned up, I'm your mum and get down" so I picked her up and put her down on the ground. Sure enough she's been in with the ducks ever since. She's also reclaimed her spot as Mongy foot has gone.

I had a like/dis-like relationship with Mongy foot. I liked her feet and that she was old, but I didn't like that she kept trying to steal Speedy's life. I think these were her first kids so she would have died a happy chicken

Old Boy

I was out taking photos of Old Boy yesterday, he's such an old man. He's a little unstable on his feet and he just stands there and sleeps. Everyone was out under the mangoes chirping and scratching around while he just sat there posing for photos. I love that he can sleep while he's standing.

Vanished

At appears the Mongy Foot appears to have up and left taking her two touched kids with her. I'm not sure whats happened, if its been fowl play or if she wanted to raise her babies else where. You never know with theses chickens. The main thing is Speedy and the ducks are ok.
Maybe she'll turn up like that canoeist from the UK, in five years from now.
Am off again to Brisbane today until Monday so the babies are again left in the hands of the neighbour. I gave him some duck eggs the other day to say thanks for keeping a watchful eye over my ever-expanding kids.
I had to step in between Mandy and Old Boy today. It seems that everyone wants to start a fight with Old Boy, the girls especially. Old Boy will kick the girls ass; before they'd know it he'd be ontop of them. I think it must be some sort of right of pasage to start a fight with Old Boy. He never starts it with them, but he's always ready for a blue - it must be the taste of blood he received a few years back when he killed a fellow cock.

Dreams

I dreamt last night that Old Boy was dead. It came to me when I was out in the garden today watching Old Boy have a nap on the ground. I can't really remember the details other than he was dead. I'm sure I was devastated. Good news is though it was all a dream and I'm not psychic.

The ducks have been playing out in the mud again as its been raining at our place. I think the clouds are only above the ranch as when I left to go into town it was dry and hot. Katcsa is still making her throaty noises. I call her my 'pack a day duck' or the Scarlett Johannson of the group; she's very husky.

farmer

I couldn't manage to get out to take a photo of the babies today. It has been raining pretty hard. But here enjoy a pic of some bananas. We've been getting quite artsy with the garden photos lately. The garden is going off due to it having rained a lot and we planted lots of seeds during Spring. So many cucumbers, its non-stop cheese and cucumber toasted sandwiches here (with lashings of mayo).

Clown baby

Tommy (or Beaker, but I think it was Tommy) bit Mandy's already bulbous red nose yesterday. Just when I thought the Muscovy nose could get no redder, one of them goes and bites it. Poor Mandy, he was limping about nursing a sore foot and one very red nose. Those ducks can take a good bite too, it was lucky it didn't come off.

Single white female

While the photo isn't very good, this is the best I can do of Speedy and her babies (for the moment). The other shots I took just ended up being of her bottom.
Above is the mother with the 8 babies. Mongy foot had two babies the other day and the bitch went in and took Speedy's bed in the duck pen last night. I tried to get her out with a stick but I figured she'll have to deal with the ducks in the morning, at least Speedy knows the ducks.
Mongy foot is always trying to take Speedy's stuff - her nest and eggs and now her bed. I'm beginning to dislike this chicken.