Today I went a-calling holler style. Did I mention we have some different sorts of neighbors out here? They tend to keep unusual pets, at least unusual to me. Meet KooKoo:
I must say Kookoo is aptly named. No only did this Emu strike me as kookoo. He/she striked me as just a tad on the dangerous side, but that was only because she kept lunging at me with her big beak and she made very unusual noises while doing this. Trust me, when a bird over six feet tall lunges at you multiple times, you do take notice.
I need clarification from my Aussie blogger friends. This bird didn’t seem like she had all four tires on the road so to speak. Definitely not the brightest bird on the block. Am I correct on this, or was it only KooKoo who is KooKoo? There were other Emus, but only KooKoo sought me out so to speak. Here are some more shots of KooKoo. I don’t think I’m planning on getting an Emu for a pet. I loved seeing the beautiful wild ones in Australia and have many photos of them. But as a pet, at the holler, don’t think so……She would put the coyotes in their place though wouldn’t she!
Moving on, more calling to do….Meet Bennie the Alpaca. He was nice and friendly, but he needed orthodontic attention:
I told you about the neighbors who had a pet pig that reportedly slept in their bedroom closet? This is not the same pig, but the same type, different neighbor. I hear they are smart and make good pets. They can’t run real fast though…..at least this one couldn’t…..You need a pig that can run fast at our holler.
I would easily get some of these beauties, except they like to scream at dawn. Have you ever heard a peacock scream at dawn? Nope, don’t want one of these either for a pet…I like to sleep at dawn..Like to look at them though.
Now these are our geese. Well, they are not our geese, they are geese that come to the pond….They are nice and they are not over 6 feet. I don’t want any sort of pet bird that is over 6 feet tall. I know I’m picky….
Rumor has it that the man who owns the ranch across the valley, keeps a private zoo. Lots of folks out here have private zoos, as you can see above. But he reportedly keeps exotic animals. I heard from a reliable source, my air-conditioning repair man (they know everything that happens out here), that his tiger once escaped getting all the Hollerites in a tizzy. Once I’ve had a chance to recover from my visit with KooKoo, I’ll try to pay a call to his holler & his zoo. I’ll keep you posted.
Enquiring minds want to know……
Folks are generally friendly out here, if you can get past their dogs, Emus and uhhh, tigers.
Cheers to all!
Lions and tigers and emus, oh my !!! I don’t know about an emu as a pet, but they’re not bad barbecue, Cindy. Friends in Florida had us over for an emu BBQ one evening and it was pretty good…, after about 3 beers. Watch out for those emus, Cuz.
Paul
WOW! Never heard eating Emu! KooKoo would make one huge roast Emu. I think I would have claimed a prior engagement. You’re brave~
Yipes!! I’m not sure I want to be greeted by the Emus lol
Certainly not KooKoo!!
I got plenty enough other things to make me KooKoo
Exactly!! Who doesn’t?
An interesting selection of animals. I don’t know about emus but a pig would be a good pet. Not keen on having a tiger in the yard.
Me neither. I think wakiing up and finding a tiger in my yard would be overstimulating. Pigs are smart. I don’t like the way they are treated in my country with mass pork production farms like Smithfield Ham. Unbelieveably and un-necessarily cruel.
Yes, horrible isn’t it!
Yes ):
Yes ):
Yes, the bird is a bit on a scary side to me too.
Like a feathered dinosaur!
Amazing photos, Cindy!!
“Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.”
― Colette
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Great quote~
Wow, wow, wow!!! Are these animals free in the wilderness?
)))
The first photo is an attention getter!
Just last night Jay Leno had ostrich on his animal specials.
An ostrich is even bigger!! I would not want to annoy an ostrich. The animals were penned. I wonder what that Emu would do if it got out?
Amazing! Great photos and bravery exhibited
This aussie says emus are interesting creatures but crazy..I think I’d want to be on the other side of the fence Cindy! I love alpacas..but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that isn’t orthodontically challenged – what’s up with that?! And peacocks..aren’t they incredibly beautiful? but quite bizarre…so much to wonder about in nature.
Look forward to hearing about what really goes on, on the ranch across the valley…!!
KooKoo was definitely kookoo! Yes, I do want to locate the private zoo……
KooKoo has crazy eyes. I’d be very careful.
Aren’t those eyes strange!!!!
Bennie the Alpaca is so cute. He can have mine.
He was sweet too!! Reminded me of a really large poodle!
Exactly!
That emu looks like one crazy bird and yes they can get quite aggressive, I once read that if one attacks you you will not be able to outrun him so stand as tall as you can and hold your hands and any thing else you have with you above your head. Then I would say a prayer as well they can give you a very nasty kick…
That is a very fat pig I don’t think he will be running very fast. Good photos Cindy
I confess to finding the Emu intimidating. I need to googe Emus. Maybe they are adapted to running around in the outback or something. This one was quite agressive. I wouldn’t want to wake up and find one in my backyard. But then, I wouldn’t want to wake up and find a tiger in my yard either!
That tip of making yourself as tall as possible comes from Aboriginal folklore. Emu oil is big business over here supposed to be an elixir for all aches and pains.
Wh knew!!! Maybe they should give some to KooKoo!!!!! LOL!
What wonderful pictures. That Emu sounds quite hilarious. I’d love to have neighbours with an assortment of animals such as these.
Actually it is quite fun & interesting! Beats a lonely goldfish in a bowl!
KooKoo looks as mad as a bat in a biscuit tin. Peacocks? There are feral flocks of them around here. Pigs? Somewhere on my blog there’s a story of a lcose encounter I had with a pot bellied one. Given the circumstances in which we met, he was very tolerant.
That is so good, “as mad as a bat in a biscuit tin.” I’d like to do a run on blog post where everyone could list their favorite similies for critters that either are witless or nuts. We could start with your wonderful one….like this:
Similies for Witless people/critters:
1. as mad as a bat in a biscuit tin
2. 2 sandwiches short of a picnic
3. all four tires don’t reach the road
4.
5.
as so on……..
mad as a box of frogs
mad as a hatstand
he’s from East Ham (This a reference to East Ham tube station being one stop short of Barking)
And here’s the post about my own close encounter with a pot belled pig in the wilds of Yorkshire.
http://wp.me/p2C8Zz-ey
Oh this is too great….All of it! wonder if I should start the Simile creation post……would be such fun! I love the Britishism….”He drove her barking mad…” LOL!
I don’t know about private zoos and exotic animals in captivity, unless it’s part of some rescue & salvage mission. I’d love your take on it, Cindy especially after you visit. What does you so think of this? My neighbor (a biologist) has an Emu, Sweetpea, who is an interesting bird. They hatched her from an egg and when she was young used to walk her down the street like a dog-off leash. Have a good weekend. Paulette
I don’t know either. If it’s conservation focused and competently managed I suppose I would, but how to ensure this is the issue. I really am not in favor of people owning exotic animals and keeping them as pets, tigers, chimps, lions etc. You would have to be qualified and competent to know what you are doing.. People can buy exotics online which is just wrong.
Thanks, Cindy.
That first bird looks really crazy. I shared this on facebook!
Thank you! I am honored~
I am loving this! The emu was absolutely interesting! I love your little details in the writings. I cannot wait to hear more and see more!
Interesting, he was sure that and a lot of other adjectives!!!!
Love the pig.
Pretty cute, I agree…..
Dang, you don’t ever have to pay to go to the zoo, just visit your neighbors!
Emus must have eccentricities, I think — my daughter’s school group went to an Emu farm years ago and I went along as a “class parent” and took my son, who was around four. He had on a bright red shirt and had very blond hair and blue eyes. I am not sure which feature it was that did it, if not the combination of them, but one Emu just insisted on making a beeline for him and following him everywhere, trying to pick off strands of his hair. Most of the time I was holding his hand, the rest of the time I carried him, but the Emu didn’t seem to notice I was there. The rest of the Emus where calm and friendly. I finally had to take my son out of the pens completely. I don’t know what it is that gets into the occasional Emu, but every once in awhile one goes nuts.
Yes, I’ve heard peacocks scream! I don’t blame you for not wanting one right next to your house, lol!
Looking forward to the “other” neighbor zoo photos!
How interesing, it went just that way….one emu obsessed with me and the others ignored me. How odd!!! Thanks for your interesting info……No emus or peacocks for me, thanks! LOL!