When the Bastard Minks came last time, to the chook house, and killed eleven of our lovely heritage chickens they also killed the big white Rooster. Thankfully they have not been back. 
As well as everything else on that dark farmy day, losing Mr Pink and his girls and The Big Dog and then Daisy – in the back of my mind I felt a disappointment not to be able to introduce this rooster into our flagging gene pool. (This picture is from August)
But the big white rooster left behind a legacy. There is no other explanation for this.
So whose your Daddy then? The Legacy chickens.
We have a had a lot of chicks on the farmy, very few last year, until these guys, and never any as black and white as these or this wee lovely speckled brown and white hen. I think that after the first attack when I shooed all the chickens and roosters out to escape the Bastard Mink, there was a little hanky panky behind the barn and finally we have live chickens and very pretty ones too from the Heritage roosters.
With the cold hitting (there isa little flurry of snow in the air this morning)I have brought the smallest chicks into the cellar (there were two batches being raised by the same hen in the loft. Different ages. Another mystery. I will show you the others tomorrow) with their Brinsea light. Though short lived.. someone left his mark!
Isn’t that a nice thought.
As an aside, I discovered recently that this last summer two men broke in and released 3,000 minks into the waterways a little ways from here. It was a protest against mink farming. Fair enough. But they broke into the shed and let these domesticated (doomed for the fur trade) animals free (to kill other animals – namely my chickens). Minks are mean. They came here and wreaked mayhem. I could understand this protest if the men had taken the 3,000 minks home and looked after them. Took some responsibility! But no, they just let them loose to fend for themselves. No thought whatsoever for the natural balance of things. Or for the terror of these animals as they tried to feed themselves after a life in a cage. Or the trail of destruction through the land.
And for the record I would wear a MINK hat if it was the minks that killed Mr Pink and his beautiful big white rooster and all thosee lovely hens.
Godot is getting bigger and more beautiful every day. The little photo bomber on the left is not so sweet looking but is one of the oldest birds on the property. Those guineas!
Can I come out now, Miss C? I am feeling so much better. Says Tima
No Tima, darling girl, one more day in your bedroom. Just to be sure.
But Tane is in here too! Can you let him out. He is such a pest.
Tane is a pest?
Yes Miss c. He is a horrible pest. Put him out! He smells like a boy. And he won’t stop talking.
Oh no Timatanga. A boy? He smells like a BOY?
Yes, miss c. A smelly boy. Buy me another one. I don’t like this one. Send it back.
Go to bed darling.. we will talk about this again in the morning.
But morning talks are the hardest.
I know, this is why we talk about important things in the morning.
Ni ni then miss c. Miss C?
Yes Timatanga Moana.
You have such a short name compared to me.
That is because you are special Timatanga Moana. Though if you add my confirmation names I am called Cecilia Mary, Edel, Jude, Rebecca.
Oh .. well.. ok .. that is a lot of names.
Ni Ni darling.. I will bring you a pot of warm vegetables in the morning.
…
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Love your friend on the farmy,
miss c
The Kitchen's Garden 
50 responses to “The Legacy”
Argh! The road to hell is paved with good intentions, if I may twist that old saying a little. I’m with Recycler – I think these dudes should be dropped off in the middle of nowhere to fend.
Ahhhh, what a sweetie, Good Night, Miss C. And off to the very warm shelter/bed she goes!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/?s=The+Adventures+of+Fuzzy+and+Boomer&submit=Search
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I can always count on a pleasant kind of roller coaster ride from you Miss C! I smile (hanky panky), laugh (Tima’s conversation), get twisted up (minks and activists gone wrong) and finally enjoy reading conversation from the other “riders” on the farmy roller coaster. I appreciate so much, the effort you put forth to publish a post each and every day. It’s a lovely spot to have my first morning cup and connect with so many like-minded folks.
It is true. We are all very lucky to have foud each other.. c
Some of these animal rights people are so misguided in their methods. I remember in the UK them letting a whole load of battery-bred turkeys out. The creatures were terrified of the open space, as they’d never seen it before, ran in circles, ran in front of cars, and some of them keeled over in shock, or died of exposure. I’m all for animal rights, but when people let their emotions override their commonsense, it doesn’t ultimately do the animals a favour. As you say, minks are vicious creatures, proven to be homicidal towards chickens. Probably they’d have a go at a human baby, too, if they had the chance. Things need putting in perspective.
I’m glad you have some surprise offspring of the feathered kind!
I have heard of cornered minks attacking people.. though like the turkeys they must have been insane with terror.. poor turkeys.. c
I adore that first picture, so cozy and warm looking and so fancy with the dangling beads on the lampshade. Those chicks will be very cute, glad they are in the basement. I think a lot of people store their legacies in the basement. 🙂 Good that Tima is feeling better, that is a big relief. Stay warm if you can.
I’m all for animals’ rights too, but it seems there are extremists in their midst. Hearts in the right place, but their heads are up somewhere else. Common sense is so rare and it seems so many people never consider the consequences of their actions. Maybe this is all part of this demand for instant gratification so prevalent in our society today.
Anyway, I love your conversation with TIma–I almost wrote littleTima. Im am so happy you caughther upper respiratory problem in time. And those little chooks are just so cute.
What you describe in mink activist havoc is another example of disorganized and completely irresponsible lack of thinking an action through to the end–no regard for the unintended consequences. I shake my head at both the loss of the other animals and the brutal and unnecessary terror. But the “new found” legacy chicks are such a sweet reminder that sometimes nature can still rebalance a little and apply some salve to the heart. I love your morning talks…they put a smile on my face. ox
Any form of extremism is dangerous. Glad the farmy gene pool will reflect the missing rooster. I’m glad Tima is being cheeky again. I hope it doesn’t get too cold for the farmy friends.
Love,
ViV
It is that overcast bitter cold that gets right into your bones, 28F (-2) so not too bad.. but both K’s are out grazing and no coughing thankfully. Sheila is of course not going anywhere, she hates the cold.. that old injury to her hip always hurts in the cold, she gets a bit limpy..c
impy? Is that a NZ expression?
no, a typo probably!! laugh!.. c
Sweet, sweet little Tima!
That white rooster was a handsome fellow! And all is not lost 🙂 As for the “mink rescuers”… what did they think was going to happen… that sort of stunt sets everyone one back. Godot is looking wonderful, and is becoming at least a little photogenic rather than fleeing. I’m pleased the K’s are on the mend.
A MINK HAT!!! i’m bloody well wearing the mink coat I put into storage after leaving the bitter cold of Saskatchewan (and the animal rights thingy as well). Those people that let out 3,00 minks are nothing short of THUGS. Irresponsible ignorant THUGS.,
They just let 3000 minks lose? Oh that makes me furious! They’re going to breed and wreak all sorts of havoc! Your wee chicks are very beautiful, I’m glad you have them! 🙂
Love those chicks!
Just too cute Miss C xxx
What a good mix of tragedy and triumph. Cute chicks!