Friday, January 26, 2018

January 25, 2018


January 25, 2018 - Opie's Diary of Daily Doings at Rikki's Refuge
                                                                                                                                                                   photo compliments of Doug Deal
Another beautiful day at Rikki's Refuge ....  and a couple more minutes of sunshine as we head towards spring .....    come on come on ... no more really cold !!!!   Pleaz ...

One Turkey
                                                                                            photo compliments of Rick Sharp

Two Turkeys
                                                                                            photo compliments of Rick Sharp

Three Turkeys
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill

FOUR !
                                                                                            photo compliments of Rick Sharp

The Pecking Order ...
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
is never what you'd think .....   goats take a back seat to turkeys.

UNLESS !!!!!
                                                                                            photo compliments of Catina Tomapat
They see an opportunity to do what they do best !!!!    Never ever bend over when there's a goat behind you ......   they cannot resist an opportunity to BUTT .........

These lovely ladies are Guinea Hens
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
and they are often mistaken as turkeys by our visitors.  They're much much smaller than a turkey, more the size of a chicken and they make a big noise !!!!   They're known as excellent guard dogs.  They will be the first screeching when they hear someone coming down the driveway, or if a fox shows up at night. 

They are also our peace keepers.  If a fight breaks out, cat fight, dog fight, they'll swoop down and surround the fighters and scream and even lunge in for pecks till they break it up.  One a cat grabbed a wild bird and before I could get there, the cat was surrounded by guinea hens screaming and attacking.  The cat dropped the bird and the guineas surrounded him in a tight circle being very quiet, until the bird regained his equilibrium and fly off.  It was amazing.  I don't know if the guineas just want to help anybody being hurt by somebody else, or if they knew that little bird was a distant cousin who needed their help. 

The kitty lost his free range rights after that.  There's a rule we take very seriously, you only earn your free range rights if you promise not to leave the property, and you promise not to hurt any one else.  The latter goes for all visitors to Rikki's too !!!!!   

If you promise to be nice ..... you can join us on an upcoming tour !!!  Sign up for one today Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

I bet you can identify this guy !
                                                                                            photo compliments of Rick Sharp
Rooster !!   But did you know roosters don't just crow at sunrise and sunset, they crow when ever they have something to crow about!!!   Sunrise and sunset sure gives them something to crow about.  But so does any change in light, clouds, or a shadow.  And so does anything in the sky ....  a star coming out, the shifting moon, an airplane !!   Or anything else in the environment they want to crow about and let their friends know about !!!!

With the turkeys going gobble gobble here and gobble gobble there and the geese going honk honk here and honk honk there and the roosters going crow crow here and crow crow there and the guineas going scream here and scream there and the peacocks going scream here and scream there .....  some folks think Rikki's is a very noisy place. 

Yet when you're used to them all, it's just the sounds of nature that surrounds you !!!

Look out !!!  Somebody's about to get goosed !
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
Yes, that's where the phrase came from !!!   The geese love to sneak up from behind and goose each other ....  and YOU too !!!!   Especially Poppy who's a very naughty boy.  He won't just stop at goosing somebody, he loves to chase anybody who let's down their guard and shows the least bit of fear !!!!  

Some of the roosters do too.  They can really chase you down and leap into the air and kick you with enough force to leave a very serious bruise.  It's amazing.  They hit you with way more force than their body weight and they're moving at an unreal speed when they do it.  It's totally shocking how hard they hit and how much it hurts.  Till you've been kicked by a rooster you won't believe it. 

The really bad roosters who just can't resist kicking any and every hooman have to stay locked up cus they can be really dangerous !!! 

Curly Goose
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
She's one of a kind.  At least at Rikki's.  Our only goose with curly feathers !!! 

Walk this way ...
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
The geese love to form lines and strut about ....  the leader changes and everybody tries to imitate him as the strut and parade about.  Their third favorite activity, after rushing to eat anything and swimming in any available water .... puddle, water bowl, or pool !!

Birds of a feather ....
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
All the birds love to flock together.  They may break up into smaller groups here and there during the day, but they all come together to discuss going ons many times during the day, and they all flock near one another for the night.  Birds love company.  They invite YOU to visit !!!

My name is Hiccup
                                                                                            photo compliments of Katie Terrill
my tongue always hangs out ....  I don't know why ... it just does ....  do YOU still think I'm beautiful?

I can eat it all .... 
                                                                                            photo compliments of Doug Deal
I know I can .....   just don't know how long this is gonna take .....

Come on ....   I double dare you .....
                                                                                            photo compliments of Doug Deal
rub my belly .....

Just catchin some rays .....
                                                                                            photo compliments of Rick Sharp
been lovin these beautiful days.

Our 23rd species
                                                                                            photo compliments of Doug Deal
Diamond our official Platter Puss 

Goliath and Wanda
                                                                                            photo compliments of Catina Tomapat
Cat vs Dog negotiations on the table .....

Perta
                                                                                            photo compliments of Catina Tomapat
our most recent dog arrival.  His mom was in an awful accident and permanent injuries left her unable to take care of her old boy.

Volvo catches the last of the sun
                                                                                            photo compliments of Catina Tomapat
before heading in for the evening.

Sun is low
                                                                                            photo compliments of Doug Deal
it's roosting time.

Last glimpse of the sun thru the trees
                                                                                            photo compliments of Doug Deal
heading in to the barn for the night.

Love, Opie 

thank you for making it all possible !