Welcome to the Family - Tibby!

Last Monday I added a puppy to my animal family.

This is Tibbet the Tibetan Terrier. I call her Tibby.

She is the sweetest dog I have ever met.

She loves to play, but is also calm and laid back.

Nothing phases her - we've jumped off docks, swung in a swing, slid down slides, walked near whistling trains, had cars honk at us, ect.

In a week she has learned how to - sit (100% on this command), lie down and fetch.

However, we are still working on potty training.

I'm keeping a log of when she's gone and when she should be ready to go again, so I don't have to guess when/if she's about to pee on the carpet.

She is doing much, much better.

After all, it's only been a week.

And she is a baby.

She will be 4 months old on the 28th. She weighs 12 pounds right now. Last Monday she weighed 11 pounds.

If she keeps gaining a pound every week..........she will be a big dog!

~

I have to say, in a week we have come a long way. This is the post I wrote last Wed. Notice the hint of desperation.

I have never had a puppy before. I've always adopted older dogs.

Puppies are exhausting.

I'm really tired.

I have spent hours and hours outside with her, only to come inside and have her poop on the floor!

She hates going in her crate for bedtime. It's the only time she barks, but she barks and barks and barks when she is in her crate.If I go into a different room where she can't see me (I have pet gates between the kitchen and living room and the kitchen and hallway/bedrooms) she whines and yips.The good things: She is very, very sweet. She wraps her paws around my arm when I pick her up. She learned how to sit, walk on a leash and climb stairs in 2 days. She doesn't pull on the leash. She isn't scared of anything. I took her swimming yesterday and she jumped off of the dock into the water all by herself.I'm happy that she loves me - I just wish she didn't love me quite so much!Unfortunately, I can't take her everywhere with me!I just keep telling myself - she's missing all her siblings and this is only day 3 of a 20 year relationship.

Well, things are much better now. If things keep getting better and better every week........life will be perfect!

Introducing: Kiwi

A new bunny was added to the family on Tuesday.

It's a funny story.

On Sunday I was talking to one of my friends, that used to work at the local animal shelter, about a bunny I had noticed advertised on Petfinder. She said it was probably already gone, but offered to check on Monday for me. I said, "That's Ok I would call them myself on Monday".

So Monday: I was very busy at work, but I finally found a minute to call them - at 2pm. The people at the shelter said he was still available and I could come and look at him at 4pm when I got off of work. So I went to the shelter at 4pm and they said, "Oops! Sorry he was adopted just after you called."

So I went home all bummed out that I didn't even get to see the rabbit.

I called my friend and told her about the whole adventure. She says, "Oh yeah, I called around 2:40pm and it was adopted."

She and I made plans to hang out the next day, Tuesday, and she said she had a present for me.

I thought it was a fire pit, because she had hinted before that she was going to buy one for me.

Finally, Tuesday we go out for lunch and she still doesn't say anything about what the present is.

I'm still talking about the rabbit and how surprised I was that it would get adopted in only 2 hours.

My friend is very quiet and acting kind of weird.

Her sister, who is with us too, finally says, "Just tell her already!"

I think you can guess the rest of the story!

~

She adopted Kiwi for me!

I was totally surprised.

He is a big boy. He weighs about 7lbs and is about twice the size of Tansy (my other bunny).

He was neutered on July 13th, so I plan on waiting a few more weeks, to let his hormones calm down, before I attempt to bond Tansy and Kiwi together.

He was found in some one's backyard and the shelter thought he was 2 years old, but I think he is a little younger.

The shelter was only feeding him pellets and he is overweight, so now he is on a hay and fresh veggie diet.

He is doing very well with his litter box training.

He had no trouble figuring out where to pee, but he pooed outside of the box twice.

I just put all the poos into the litter box and now he knows where to go.

So far we haven't had any more accidents.

Now a few pics of Tansy.


As you can see he is the king of this castle, so bonding/introducing Kiwi might be a little difficult.

Isn't he cute?!?

Catty and Tansy planning their next vacation.

Best friends!

Catty weighs about 7 pounds, but looks much smaller than Kiwi.

Tansy weighs about 4 pounds.

I can't wait for them to all be bonded and friends!

Cabbit

These are pictures from before Tansy's neuter, so I'm hoping that their relationship will be even better now.

"What are you doing?"

"sniff, sniff"
"Go away."

"Ahhhh, so comfortable."

"Hey! That was my spot!"

"Not any more. Now it's my spot."

"So rude...grumble...stupid rabbit...."

"I can't believe you! You are so rude!"

"O I'm sorry. I didn't know you khats were so sensitive."

"Humph. Rabbit."

Tansy!

Rabbit Vs. Plants - Duh!

Tansy recently expanded her horizons.

This morning, I let her out of her house and into the x-pen, before I took a shower.

15 minutes later I returned to find my baby had turned into a teenager!

She figured out that she could jump up onto her house and get to the potted rosemary and grape vine. Half of the grape was gone and most of the rosemary was pruned to twigs.

*sigh*

They grow up so quickly. Soon she'll want the keys to the car and a later curfew or at least keys to her x-pen and late night banana snacks.

Tansy and Crocuses

I took a few pictures of Tansy outside in the crocuses.

Just pictures of Tansy!

Spring!

She really liked the flavor of crocus flowers.

Jump! Whoops, she's still a baby and she couldn't quite make it over the crocuses.

"Nummy mo fwowers!"

Cute Tansy

Tansy is getting bigger every day!

I love this first picture, because it shows off her cute little mohawk. :P

She likes to tug on the ribbon in my PJ pants.

This picture is a little hard to see, but she fell asleep upside down in the crook of my arm.
She really likes to have her ears rubbed.

Tansy's favorite spot - on my lap.

New Bunny!

Do you remember in Anne of Green Gables when Matthew Cuthburt goes to the General Store to buy Anne a dress with puffy sleeves?

He ends up buying a rake, 50 lbs of brown sugar, ect.

Well, today I went to the "General Store" looking for straw.

I thought the Ladies might like some straw to dig in. I gave them a couple bales last Spring, they had fun digging through them and then I composted the straw.

I didn't find any straw.

It couldn't hurt to take a peek at the baby chicks - right?

Awwwww - there was one baby bunny all alone.

It came right up to my hand and let me pet it.

Awwwww - it fit perfectly in my hand.

It was so cute!

No.

I bought some canning jars, a magazine, some more canning lids and went home.

.

.

.

Then three hours later I went back to the store and bought her!

I think she is a she, because she was in the bin marked female, but of course she might turn out to be a he.

Only time will tell.

Now I need to name her.

She was only sniffing.


Catty says, "Whaz that!"



"Lemme out! I chew you big fur ball!"

Update: She has a name! - Tansy Tweed.

Another Sad Day

Pixie died today.

There was an accident with a dog.


I'm just waiting for Charlie, Carol's husband, to bring her to my house.


Then I will bury her next to Honey.

This is a video of Pixie in July

~

Well, I buried her.

I cried a lot.

She is buried between Honey and a mint plant.

My hands still smell like mint.

How Long Will Chickens Live?

The Guinness World Record for oldest chicken is/was held by Matilda. 16 years old!
Just like any other pet, chicken age will depend on their care.

How long will chickens lay eggs for?
Chickens molt at about 18 months of age.
Molting is where they lose all or some of their feathers and stop producing eggs for a few (2-4 months).
This is a natural shedding of feathers.
Factory farms usually cull their hens at this time, BUT if these are your pets you don't have to cull your hens.
They will continue to lay eggs after their molt, until they die (hopefully, like Matilda at 16+ years old!).
They may not lay as well as they did during their first year, however they will still be sweet and cuddly pets.