Every May and June for several weeks it seems like the farm is under siege by foxes.
It is during this time of year that I always lose a few chickens.
This year is no exception, sadly.
Henri
and rooster Number 6 have disappeared from the barn area.
Foxes are to blame....I am sure.
It is this time of year when the mother fox teaches her kits to hunt,
and they hunt purely for sport (education).
I am sure by now you are thinking that I have had a bad couple of weeks...
first losing Edith,
then Sam and Oakley's porcupine attack,
then the duck shooting incident,
now 2 roosters are MIA.
Yes, it's been a tough couple of weeks.
I was starting to feel like a dark cloud was following me.
And, truly, I hate to share these things with you, but it is the reality of life on a farm.
What I couldn't bear to tell you, however, was that Leo, our adorable barn kitty,
also went missing.
For two days we called for him and searched for him....
to no avail.
Then yesterday morning I decided to do one last search.
I began in the hayloft.
Up the stairs I climbed calling "Here KeeCat, here KeeCat"
(my special call for Leo...and one that he always answers).
I was just about to descend the ladder, when I heard a slight muffled cry from behind the hay pile.
LEO!!
Oh, thank goodness, he was alive...
just stuck behind the bales of hay.
He must have fallen back there.
I tore down the bales of hay, swooped him up in my arms,
and carried him back downstairs for breakfast...
which he woofed down like he hadn't eaten in 2 days (which he hadn't).
Happily, I have no more sad tales to share with you...
rather... one with a happy ending!
On days when the harsher side of life on a farm gets to me,
the best cure is time spent with goaties.
We have only three of our six kids remaining,
and those three are getting so big now.
And just like their parents, they love Ritz crackers, too!
Snuggling a baby goat always makes my heart a little lighter.
Comments
Maybe you need to fence in your chickens too. I feel much better knowing mine are safer now. Just a thought. And who would stop and shoot a duck for no reason? You can bet I'd be on the lookout for that person! We have a family of canadian geese and one of the babies is limping. One of my husband's friends came to visit and saw the neighbors dog trying to get the babies yesterday. He stopped and ran the dog off. If I had been home and seen that, the dog would be dead now. I have had trouble with this dog before going to the mailbox, a big german shepherd. He is on my list now.
So keep your animals safe, if possible.
Tamera
Country at heart
When are you bringing home a new turkey girl for your turkey boys???
Give Leo an extra hug and keep hugging those goaties!!!Hugs to you from me!
Becky
I am SO glad Leo is okay! I always rejoice when I walk the farm and find all my little friends are intact.
SO nice that there's always something around to cuddle with...
hugs
-missy- pennthenny #4003
I do hope the chickens haven't fallen prey to foxes. You have certainly had a tough week.
Kathy from Tasmania