One Chick left

Sadly we have only 1 chick left from the 11 hatched.  I found another one lying on its' side.  We put it in a box as it was still alive at that stage.  later I decided to move the hen and her 2 chicks back in to the main Chook House.  I put the sick chick under another hen and found it still there the next morning.  It had died overnight.  There was no sign of the black chick and later on my husband found it dead and partially eaten.  Rats have been getting in to the Chook enclosure.  The remaining chick is doing well and the hen is keeping it warm and safe for now.

Jake and Chloe really do love each other.  Here they are cuddled together on the sofa next to my husband. I guess that is why there are rats in the Chook House!  

The kittens are 10 months old now and growing fast.

Arnie is working on the rat population as he came in with a baby rat a few minutes ago.  Keep up the good work Arnie!

Cats and Chickens

We are now down to 3 chickens.  Sadly 2 of the buff chickens died.  One I found dead and the other was calling out all night and the next morning was looking a bit cold.  I put it under a lamp and gave it food and water and it was starting to look quite perky.  I checked on it when I let the dogs out in the evening and it had died.  It was still warm so it had just happened.
The chick that came from an earlier hatching looks like it is going to be a Rooster.


  We watched Jake climb this ponga with amazing skill.  While he was busy working his way up, the rat that he had spotted had walked down a frond to another ponga and then along a branch to a tree and disappeared in to the bush.  Jake got to the top and looked around the ponga like he couldn't believe the rat wasn't there any more.

  I tried to take photos as he came down but they are all a bit blurry and it was rather funny watching him.

Chickens and Cats

The black hen and her chickens in their separate enclosure.  There are still 4 buff coloured chicks and 2 black chicks and they are growing fast.

Here is Arnie with Chloe and Jake on the sofa.  The kittens adore Arnie and follow him about.  He is fairly patient with them and does bring in livestock for them.  He plays with them but will tell them off if he has had enough.

Arnie weighs 7 kgs so is a very big cat.  He looks huge next to Chloe.

Chickens

We are down to 6 chickens now.  4 light and 2 black ones.  I built a separate enclosure for them on Sunday which was no mean feat with the ground being very hard.  I ended up with a blister from hammering in the posts with the sledge hammer.  Once I had secured the enclosure the fun part started.  I caught one chickens and then they all scattered.  I remembered we have a butterfly net so started chasing them with that.  One ended up outside the chook enclosure so got out to it to discover 2 of them with cats coming in all directions.  I caught them then fell over so by the time I caught them all and the hen, I was filthy.

Arnie is still home and is getting used to being locked in at night with the kittens.  Chloe followed him around and he plays with Jake.

Went to link tonight with Shilo and Rocky and was thrilled when both of them had clear rounds.  Shilo was really good on her contact and stayed until I released her.  I hope we can get a clear round this weekend.  Last weekend Shilo had 5 faults twice.  Rocky had a good run in Jumpers and knocked the last jump down.

Arnie is home

The alarm had gone off this morning and I had hit the snooze button when I heard a cat meow outside.  Both Jake and Chloe took off down stairs so I went to investigate and there was Arnie on the deck.  I picked him up and cudlled him then Stuart arrived to see if it was really Arnie too.  I fed him and had breakfast.  He went outside and walked around the deck meowing.  I brought him inside again and when I left for work he was curling up on the bed.
When I got home this evening, Stuart told me Arnie had been following him about all day.  He has given the dogs heaps of cuddles and is currently curled up on the sofa with Stuart and the kittens.
He has been gone 10 days and has come home fit and healthy.  Where has he been?
We have lost some chickens and now have 4 light and 3 black chicks.

Arnie is still missing

Arnie is still missing.  Stuart went to a couple of vets today and then to the pound but no sign of him.  None of the neighbours have ever seen him.  It is coming up a week and we don't know what to think anymore.  In the past both him and his brother have gone missing so I haven't given up hope yet.  Please come home Arnie, we miss you.

Three of the black chickens have died so we now have 4 of each colour. 

Arnie has gone missing

Our adult cat Arnie has been missing since Tuesday night and we are getting worried now.  Both him and his brother Forrest have disappeared for a few days before.  Since Forrest died last September, Arnie has been very attentive.  He has been great with the kittens and plays with them.  I am still hopeful he will turn up but as each day passes, it is harder to be positive.