FARM ANIMAL HAVEN SANCTUARY

Motor & Mel

Motor and Mel

This story is about two little ducklings I call “Motor and Mel.”

They came from a foreclosure situation, and found their home with me, and my life has never been the same. They were the cutest little ducklings – but were frightened – needing some serious love and attention, and my home was just what the doctor ordered!

Motor & Mel – 4 days

They grew up in northern Arizona, amongst the snow and cold, only to be swept up with and moved with me in June 2012, to Oregon.

I think when they got to Oregon they decided this was where they belonged… there were streams, rivers and lakes galore and it rained so much it was duck heaven.

Motor was especially fond of me – I must have held him longer as a duckling, and possibly because Mel liked to take off without him, leaving Motor and I searching endlessly for her – him, calling her incessantly along with me, insisting she come home and get locked up for the night. Mel would always come home, eventually, but a couple of times it was after 10:00 pm – but we figured out she just liked hanging out at the local creek at night instead of coming in. Motor would accompany me to the creek to ‘ball her out and get her home’. There are lots of wild creatures around.

Motor & Mel – 6 months

When the warm spring weather came they would fly away to a local pond or river, but when calling, Motor always came home. Motor is the type of individual who I consider responsible. He comes when called, he talks to me regularly, sometimes in fun (bobbing head and crazy motions/sounds) and other times – scolding me because dinner was late. He is a big communicator for a duck, and I always knew what he wanted. He had a way about him, and he never seemed to mind the occasional pick up by mom… for cuddles. Mel, on the other hand wanted none of that. She had her mate – she was too grown up for that.

One night just last month, the weather was unseasonably warm and since I got smart and put ponds on the property, the two of them loved hanging out in their little water pond late into the evening as it cooled off. I’d coax and taunt them with food and treats trying to get them in at normal time, but they never wanted to go in.

One particular evening, I went out to put them in for the night – and Motor was nowhere in sight. He’d just simply disappeared. And him leaving Mel intentionally was unheard of… he was the epitome of loyal and faithful – he was always right by her side and following her like a little puppy. Not only that, he was the homebody of the pair, so this was highly unusual – and it freaked me the hell out.

It was dusk and I searched and searched endlessly for him… all the while, Mel, calling and calling until her voice got raspy. Nothing. No Motor. We went in after putting Mel to bed thinking he must have just decided to get a last evening flight in, and he’d be back.

Motor never came back. I think my heart broke into a million pieces. I searched and searched endlessly, called and called for days. Today, a month later, Motor is just a sweet memory.

I believe that he and Mel must have both been confronted with trouble, although there was never a sound, it could have been a number of wild animals that took him… the point is, I am sure – without a doubt – that Motor died protecting Mel. That is why she was still here – because he had stepped in and protected her. That was the kind of individual Motor was.

I knew that Mel had a couple of eggs she had laid while Motor was still here – and I knew they were fertile – so my immediate instinct was to hatch Motor’s babies. If we couldn’t have Motor, the least we could have is his offspring.

So I set up the incubator and began hatching his two fertile eggs. They hatched 28 days later, within an hour of each other.

They are just hours old in both of these photos. When they hatched they imprinted on me – and I am mommy. I really don’t have a choice, Mel isn’t likely to accept babies she didn’t hatch.

Motor babies

These two are as different as night and day, and it is much to early too tell if it’s a male/female thing, but the last baby that hatched… noname yet #2 – is a daredevil beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. He/she was the first one in the water, first one out, first one to jump off my lap onto the grass… and just full of piss and vinegar. Continually nibbling on my earlobes, neck, and sticking that little curious beak into my nostril!

The other baby is calm, easy going, doesn’t cry continually for Mommy – just kicks back and enjoys life. When outside, the grass is just fine – no need to come crawling all over me. And the pond? No need to go rushing over and jump in… #1 reminds me of Motor. Laid back, not really excitable, but funny and cute… the responsible type.

I hope, in the coming weeks, I can share stories of their growth, as well as their unique personalities as they begin to grow into beautiful Mallard ducklings. I am throwing in a day 2 photo, just for fun!

Life with ducks can be extremely rewarding, but a ton of work… each and every one of them is worth it though.

Hanna & Annie

This past week I experienced another amazing act of kindness by a sweet hand-raised, jump in your lap for love hen named Hanna. She’s been diligently sitting on eggs for the past 3 weeks, and that task paid off with a new little black baby chick recently hatched, I named Annie.They have a separate chicken coop, which I call the baby pen, away from the big coop where the large chickens and turkeys live. This pen is perfect for those brooding chickens and babies, they are completely isolated from the rest of the world.

This particular evening it was feeding time, and Hanna always makes sure her baby gets fed first. This became evident when feeding peas and corn. Hanna, realizing that Annie’s beak was too little to eat these tasty little morsels, began breaking them up into little pieces so that Annie could eat. I watched in awe as that “mother hen” shared food with her chick. What really astonished me was that Hanna didn’t take a single bite of those tasty tidbits which she loves so much – until after Annie got her share and was full.

I’ve always known how incredibly loving hens are and what exceptional mothers they become, but this seemed above and beyond, to me. This was truly heartwarming…

Little Bitsy

Bitsy, 3 months

Meet Bitsy, the little darlin’ I am blessed to share life with. She’s shy and quite aloof, but supposedly that is typical ‘ewe’ behavior. Or, perhaps it is the result of a life started in trauma.

Bitsy’s mother died shortly after she gave birth due to starvation after being abandoned, along with many others who were just left to die, at a farm in southern California. She didn’t get the necessary immune system building colostrum from her mother, so when she came to live with me she needed special fortified milk. Animal Acres in Acton, CA brought her and my two other sheep to me to love and care for. She and I bonded famously while she was bottle feeding. When she saw me, she would cry like baby, which moved me beyond anything I could have ever imagined!

Holding her while she ate felt as if I had my own child. I felt needed. Moreso than with the other two who came with her to live with me, namely Andy and Joey… who were babies too.

From Left: Bitsy, Andy and Joey in back

But today, we are all the best of friends, and Andy for some reason has become extremely partial to me.

The connection I feel to them is something that cannot be explained, it can only be understood through the experience. The love that emanates from the species that so many think are “less than” human, and are treated as such by the billions each year in horrible, dark, loveless conditions, is so superior to human love in many ways, but mostly because it asks nothing in return.

Well, except they want to eat and drink, a lot, and they want to live as much, if not more than human beings – but if you are busy and can’t love them one afternoon, they don’t criticize or chastise or even argue. They love you just as much and probably more, the next time they get to spend time with you.

I can say that in my 5+ years with these precious beings, I have never felt unloved. They are the most gracious, sweet, gentle animals I have ever had the opportunity to care for, or the benefit to love.

I have always believed, as I do today, that animals are superior in their capacity to love unconditionally. To me, that is a lesson we could, as humans, learn in spades.

If you haven’t been gifted with the opportunity to raise your own farm animals, be they sheep, horses, cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, or anyone else, do yourself a favor – take the time to visit a sanctuary. I am sure you will find friendship and kindness beyond anything you could have expected.

Be sure to look into the eyes of the animals – that is where their soul resides, and where you will see their beauty, and even a small likeness of yourself.

Those Trusting Critters

2681_72903905738_4184738_n — Tina & Beauty

”Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.” ~Alfred A. Montapert

When rescuing animals over the years, whether they are chickens, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, sheep, parrots, dogs, cats or others, I’ve had the most astounding realization that no matter what humans have done to them in the past – trust always comes back.

They may remain shy or apprehensive over the years, but after being treated kindly and fed good food and fresh water with a safe place to call home, every animal I have ever rescued learns to trust again. I have never had a single critter not trust me eventually.

Many think its the same with humans to some extent, but it isn’t. With human animals there is much more hesitation that sometimes never leaves and it is much more difficult to build trust again. Most humans will avoid things, places, or even people who remind them of a bad event, and some never recover.

Animals, especially dogs I’ve known who have been neglected or abused, come around eventually to be the trusting souls they once were. There are exceptions, however, the biggest percentage are trusting and loving companions after surviving some of the most heinous crimes imaginable.

I wonder if that makes them more tolerable and loving beings because of their acceptance and forgiveness.

I like to think so. Which makes me prefer the company of animals to humans, 9 times out of 10. I know some might think this unusual or bizarre – but to someone who has been burned too many times to count, astonishingly I am still trusting – however, I am not a fan of our human race. I think that too many human beings are extremely self-absorbed and self intentioned and could care less about those around them, especially animals. There are too few that reach out for kindly reasons and kindly reasons alone. At least in my experience.

Animals do reach out for kindly reasons based on love, curiosity, and trust, and they love without any hesitation and without conditions. As long as they feel loved they are the best companions any human could ask!

So when people tell me I should quit isolating – I tell them… I’m where I wanna be. With those who love me unconditionally and who would never mistreat me.

It is a comfort and a love that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Francis & Albert

Francis and Albert

I would have never realized how incredibly intelligent peacocks were, nor how loving or monogamous they are, had I not rescued this incredible pair of birds. Francis (named after St. Francis) is laying on five eggs, and Albert (named after Albert Einstein) is hovering – making mating calls, following the chickens around, pacing, and acting like a nervous father. It’s adorable. He sleeps in the tree above Francis’ nest, apparently to protect and look after her, but when she comes out, he follows her around like a little puppy dog.

We are into week 2 with the eggs – and I promise photos and a peacock update when they hatch!

Spring – the time for renewal and birth – my favorite time of the year 🙂