beginings and second chances

Jessalyn went with the neighbor to help put up electric fence.  While they were in the barn, they found three abandon kitties.  Two had fell out of the loft and on to the cement floor below.  One was just about to go.  Apparently, they had been there for a few days. 



I was diligently working out in the garden making drainage ditches, planting 400+ roma plants, and digging up the southern area of the garden making room for peppers, and checking on the 200+ stawberry plants.  

Jess came home and told me all about the kitties.  I was in no hurry to get over there.   I didn't know she had all ready text her dad over the matter.   After a phone call and clearance,  I finished up my work and took her over to the barn.

 One gray kitty looked like he was dead, or near death.  He was the one who crashed to the cement below.   Very dehydrated, when I tried poking him, he curled up like a catapiller and made small noises. I thought maybe it was internal injuries.  It was hard to tell by the eyes because they were barely open.  We figured that they were hardly 14 days old.  Their eyes must have just opened.

Getting them home, I put the half-dead kitty on a heating pad for about 20 minutes.  We heated some goat milk and Jessalyn started feeding them with an eye dropper and a syringe.  The first two pictured here came around quickly.  The one on the right was barely there.  I kept him warm though, and when he didn't cry when I held him, I started giving him milk. 



Today, one day later,  they are all mewing mewING  MEWING!  All are drinking.   We are cleaning their eyes as they slowly are opening.   They might take advantage of their second chance.

A little after 8 this morning a friend called to tell us the chicks came in.  Twenty-five of them!  Little puff balls.  They are Freedom Rangers.   I met her at the post office then off to the mill to get the food. What? What?   I think I went deaf for a short time.  They are LOUD! PEEP! PEEP! PEEP!

  We blocked half the area off for now because they just don't need all that room.  I took each one at a time and dipped their beak in the water so they knew what and where it was.   Then I put them near the feeder.  They took right off!  We are using a 75 watt bulb right now but I think it will be o.k. as it is warmer at night and they are in a small enough area for body heat.  

90 days from now