Somehow we got into the habit of calling the girls "sister(s)"..It's pretty cute, especially when we start talking about the sisters in our chicken/dog voices, the dogs light up and practically wag their cute little tails off! They absolutely love their sisters..I cracked up the other day when just Winston and I were hanging out inside and I saw him catch a glimpse of himself in my floor length mirror, so I started pointing to the mirror like a lunatic saying "who's that baby, where's the baby!? Then I was like what the what when he was practically spinning in circles looking all over my room..I soon realized that I was talking in my sister/dog Mom voice and he must have thought one of the sisters was in my room. It was hilarious!
The sisters are officially teenagers now - actually as of a few weeks ago. Much easier to handle than the human teenagers. Like, really!! I am beginning to believe that I was destined to be a Mom to dog and chicken teenagers, rather than the human kind.
Agnes has the most beautiful green eyes. When I'm holding her I always tell her how beautiful they are...hopefully she will continue to allow me to admire her beauty and she won't peck my face..because that hurts..like for real. My girls have not pecked me yet, but I was talking a selfie with a chicken once (who takes selfies with chickens? < quietly raises hand in the back of the room > ) and it pecked my nose. It hurt like a mother! So, anytime I have my girls within pecking range of my face I instantly flash back to that mean chicken. I can't make this stuff up. This is really my life.
The girls each have their own little personalities, which is pretty darn adorable. Agnes and her sad face make me giggle to myself...she is actually my most photogenic sister, and bless her heart,she has the saddest little face. Rest assured she is a very happy hen who thinks she is the boss!!
Quite often I would, one at a time, let the dogs sisters sniff out the sisters, and touch beaks while they were still little infant sisters in the brooder. The day I finally decided to let them free range with the chickens was a big day.
Scuba was the only one I was worried about because he would lick his chops like he couldn't wait to get his jaws clenched on some fresh, juicy chicken..To my surprise he loves his sisters!! He is very protective of them and just likes to hang out near them. The boys swear that he is afraid of them, but if some little beak came chasing after me to peck my paws, I would probably run too.
Brodie is the same, he mingles well with the sisters and as long as we throw his ball he honestly pays them no attention. I have noticed if we don't throw his ball for a while he will start playing with the sisters to get them riled up, which makes me totally nervous, so I panic until I can find his ball to toss it. Well played, Brodie..well played. ;-)
Wintson, on the other hand...Oh Winston..what am I going to do with my almighty barker! He still has to be on a leash when they are free ranging. I don't yet trust him with them one bit. He is the only one that doesn't listen to commands (from anyone) and will full force senior citizen dog run after them. He makes me so nervous, so for now he is a work in progress. As long as he is leashed he doesn't even try to go near them, but he won't take his eyes off them either..
My sweet Cora is probably my favorite. She is the only one that will sit as quiet as a little house hen while I pet her. She'll coo and cluck a little, but won't move a muscle.
I think she likes me the best too. And I swear she knows her name. Ok, well I haven't decided yet if she really knows her name, but if she hears her name, or my voice she comes to me, or turns her head towards me. Perhaps it's my fabulous sister/dog Mom voice!? Either way, I just love that girl!!
It's certainly never a dull moment around this little homestead, and with these little sisters around things are especially bright and shiny!!
Thanks for reading!
xo
Carrie
