Chick TV

Who would have thought? Rob and Mum got Rummy and I a wonderful surprise. Well, perhaps not so much for us, but more for our hen in our yard. After all the coyote visits, we have only 1 hen left. After the fences were put up, it is much safer now, for our hen and for us too. Mum felt that she'd be happier if she had a friend or two, so we got chicks! 6 cute tiny 1 week old chicks.

Rob and Rummy at his first glance of the chicks

After Rob set up the chick enclosure, we got to say hi. They used my old crate and turned it upside down to make it the chick house, and it works well.

As you can imagine, we were both so excited to see this new thing in the house, we dashed straight in toward the crate barking when we saw tiny things moving here and there. They were also making chirping noises.

We were so curious, we just kept staring and looking. Rummy tried scraping the side of the crate and Mum corrected him harshly. Ok, no scraping and no pawing the crate walls. When I barked at them, I got corrected too. Ok, no barking either. Seems like the only thing we're allowed to do, is watch the chickies... yes, that's what Mum is calling these furry creatures.

After a while, I got a little bored, but Rummy couldn't peel his eyes away.

The chickies are very cute. Are they for food? Are they toys that move?

Very early on, we have now established that chickies are not my thing. They are Rummy's little pets. He just loves watching them move around, making their little bird sounds.

Rummy and I with our pet chicks

Rummy (left) and I (right). Rummy grins up at mum and says thanks for getting us chicks.

Ok, I'm not really into staring at chicks for hours on end.

Rummy and Rob gazing at chicks

From left, Me, Rummy and Rob

Rummy tries to sneak around to the other side to have a peek.

Me

From left, myself and my brother Rummy. Do you know how to tell us apart? I am older, so I have a more established beard and a more grown up look. 

Since it is the first night the chickies are with us, we just couldn't keep our curiosity in check.

Rummy loved his chicks so much, he even took naps by the crate.

Mum is trying to nurture the protective instincts in Rummy and I, so that instead of seeing the chickies as our meals, we would try to protect them as part of our pack... that is a tough challenge, especially because Rummy's prey drive is much stronger than mine. If the chicks grow up into hens and they start running, it will be practically impossible to stop us from chasing them. Mum will just have to work really hard at flooding us with the chicks and building the bond across species, and put in a lot of effort in this project. At the end of the day, if Rummy or I eat a hen or two, then so be it. We can't help it, it is in our nature. We are terriers. We hunt things.

Evening time.... Rummy with the chicks

Night time.... Rummy with the chicks

Late late night time .... Rummy with the chicks

Rob thinks Rummy wants to eat the chicks, but Mum doesn't think so. His gaze is not a predator's gaze, it is one of amusement and curiosity, one could even guess affection. He just loves gazing at the chicks, and now we call it the "Chick TV".

Wee early in the morning, the first thing Rummy checks on are his chicks.

He checks on them from all sides, to make sure they are all well.

The chickies

Daytime checking

Me

A head shot of me.

Myself and Rummy gazing at our chicks

 Me (Left), and Rummy

It will be very interesting to see if we manage to raise the chickies, and stop ourselves from eating them. We haven't had the chance to smell them yet, but Mum says in a few days, we'll get to smell our chicks. Yummmy... oh sorry Mum. I will try not to eat our pet chickies. Yay for more yardbirds.

Hugs,

Kimi