Astrid
I did finish school, let's get that straight. Became a computer professional. Communications adviser. Ugh. Sitting inside. Wearing a suit. Giving paws. It didn't suit me. Now I follow my passion again: playing outside like I used to do. I live a simple but happy life. That's pure luxury. Every day I have to think of solutions for new unexpected challenges. Plants. Animals. Freedom. I love it. In Fontebona I'm in my element.
Thomas
I did not even finish school. Too busy with art projects. You cannot easily make a living as a visual artist, but from the artistic part of virtual reality I got into an IT job by chance. Actually quite nice, but this ceaseless staring at the screen. Phew. Such a limited life. Fontebona brings a lot of creativity. Nevertheless my artistic calling keeps simmering for now. I will poke up that fire soon. And this art gallery will be realised as well. In Fontebona of course.
Sita
Seven kilograms of purebred dog from a yet unspecified source. My father was called el Feyu, the Ugly One, who didn't keep track of a wheel at his last car hunt. My mum is Cuca, Chickie, who reigns in front of the central heating in the Netherlands. She rules there. I rule in Fontebona, though I'm secretely afraid of Simone. I love to correct her though. I also love to follow the Birri-Birri, though it's still unclear to me why I shouldn't go in front. My biggest passion? Deep holes and a good fresh bone.
Simone
Born as Scraggy Simon. Sturdy name, right? Till the vet after some visits decided to have a closer look between my hind legs. "But this is not Simon, this is Simone". I don't suffer from that. Have always known who I was. An excellent hunter mouse-gatherer. I let Sita win when I'm teasing her. That's good for her self-confidence. My preferred spot is a nicely loosned up bed in the veggie garden. Though I also like to lie down in the meadow. In front of a mouse hole.
Birro
I'm the boss of the Birri-Birri, the sheep. Birra, Birrita and Birrito are my flock. They are sweet animals but a bit loud. So I like to run far away from them. Unfortunately it never takes long before they come back to me at a gallop, bleating loudly. Sigh. Never a quiet moment. When smelling something odd my upper lip curls. That seems to a very funny sight. I love it to be scratched on the head and the cheeks, as long as your approach is calm. If not I'll ram you. I am a circus sheep. Jumping over high fences is my speciality.
Birra
It's true. I bloat a lot and like it. Oh well. Isn't that what women do? These Fontebona people are bloating all the time just as well. So why wouldn't I bloat nicely along? That's what I'm a gregarious animal for. I'm always a bit nervous. Dunno. That's me. Because I'm a sheep. I do like that little dog Sita. And I also like the cats. But I tend to stay away from human beings. Prefer being close to the chickens. They're always a nice chat.
Mozart III
Tatatataa! Tatatataa! Cockadoodledoo! Cockadoodledoo! Once upon a time there was this rooster Beethoven. Excellent interpreter of the Beethoven repertoire. Some Mozart the 1st who was present at the same time also seems to have been a superb imitator of one of the other insignificant composer. Since then every rooster is called Mozart. Beethoven remains unique and unequalled. To compensate my petty size, here I have to explain I'm a bantam cock, I keep my chickies under my thumb extra well. I would like to come nearer to Brunella and Zelda. For a good chat. Of course.
Brunella
I'm the biggest hen. Reddish brown. What they call a Roxa here. I'll approach you without any fear to check if you have some snack on you. These folk here call me somewhat dull. I guess that's because I'm about the only one here who does what she's hired for. Laying eggs. Which I do almost every day. Imperturbable. Like a tank. Cluck.
Zelda
I haven't got any memories of my first weeks in Fontebona. I felt dead as a dodo. Ate nothing. Pitiful little creature. An outcast, ignored by the other chickens. They thought my eyes had been pecked out at the breeder's place. Hopeless. But Astrid held me, first very much against my wish, on her lap three four times a day. Feeding water. Feeding a sugar salt solution. Feeding corn. She would tap against my beak which had grown far too long, so I knew there was food. My eyes opened agonizingly slowly, every week a bit more. Indeed. There were still eyes. No pecking out. No short-sightedness. I'm big and strong now. Always when I see my rescuer I come to her clucking happily.
Buitra
Yes, it's true. I do look very strange. No tail. Strange whiskers. High chest. Long neck. I'm a purebred chicken. Oh yes. Ahem. I'm a Mapuche chicken or Araucana chicken. The name respectively derives from the Araucanía region in southern Chile and from the Mapuches, the Indian people that breed me. My eggs are blue green. Very special. Even more because my eggs would lower the cholesterol. I don't believe any of that story, but it's a nice one. And so are my eggs. A bit smaller than normal, but with a big yolk.
Prima (Kika Cresta)
I have the biggest! I have the biggest! Crest... Apart from that I'm as small as the other bantam chicken. Consort of Mozart, which gives me some privileges. Mozart for example clucks loudly when pecking the soil to indicate where I can find the nicest snacks. He himself only eats when everybody is eating. What a ducky, isn't he? I lay small and not very many eggs, but they didn't fiddle too much with my pedigree so I have instincts left. I love to take a luxurious dust bath. Am a superb finder of insects. And as I said, I like brooding. See me as the mother chicken. The chicken for all your egg/Egg first.
Donna (Kika Crestita)
I'm also a bantam chicken. A kika. Crestita means little crest, because my crest is smaller than that of the other bantam chicken. I prefer to stay a bit away from the rest of the flock. No idea why. Astrid says because I would have my eye on Mozart, but that Kika Cresta is his favourite. Pooh. Armchair analysis. I'm very satisfied with the situation. As soon as I can, I sit on the eggs. Let me just brood ahead.
The chicks
Pan I, Fokke & Sukke, Thomson & Thompson
