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The day began with glorious sunshine, well earned if I must say so. I greeted the girl's, "top of the morning to you ladies" and was just about to release them for the day, when I had this feeling or as I refer to it "my inner voice" telling me "NO, DON'T DO IT" So, I offered them strawberries instead. I went about my morning working in my gardens and happened to notice three momma turkeys with their twelve babies enjoying their morning stroll. They proceeded to walk through the yard by the coop. My girls stood completely still and did not make a peep. The turkeys gave them the once over and then made their way into the woods. I thought nothing more. Till all of a sudden I heard this horrendous screeching, like a cat fight only with "gobbling" thrown in. I grabbed the closest tool I had, and ran towards the noise. Yup, thats right a fox- the same very LARGE fox that I had encountered at the end of my driveway- the same fox that was under my bedroom window "howling" last night. This fox had killed three of the baby turkeys. That being bad enough, the sound of the momma turkey calling out to her babies was heart wrenching. So, this evening while visiting with family from Oregon, I asked my nephew to please see what Winslow Homer was barking at, Winslow can lose control over a mosquito. Geoff ran back in and said "there is a HUGE fox out there". Now, Winslow has been known to venture into woodchuck holes and shall we say have a little "go around". I thought great, all I need is to deal with Winslow and a HUGE fox. But, as I type this Winslow has been rounded up, puckers and all. My girls are locked up tight for the night, and that very LARGE fox is lurking out there somewhere in the dark. Gladys and the girls will not be free ranging anytime soon, that is, till I get the key to my son's gun cabinet. Watch out Mr. VERY LARGE fox this is war!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tristan, I need the key to your gun cabinet!
Tristan, I need the key to your gun cabinet!
7 comments:
Oh, that is so sad! Poor momma turkeys and poor babies. Thank God for that inner voice. Is there any place except in a cage that a chicken is truly safe? Everything wants to kill them. The sad thing is that when you get rid of one chicken/turkey/dog/cat killer another comes along and takes it's place. Can you have him trapped and relocated?
Maybe if rabies was suspected.
Thank God for your inner voice. We don't see fox here but then we have nothing to attract them in our little bit of country. I know they are around. I am sad for the mom turkey and her babies, I am so happy your girls are ok. Sweet Pip be a good girl today!
we just had to take care of two snakes in the chicken house eating eggs, before that it was possums and before that racoons and before that owls eating the heads of the chickens as they went back into the hen house at dusk. Its not easy keeping chickens safe.
Love that your dog is named winslow homer, he is one of my all time favorite artists
I built a fence but it didnt stop an owl eating on of my flock, the only safe way to keep our feathered friends safe is an enclosed covered fence.
Pop him in the butt Julie...that'll teach em!!
i cannot imagine what you had to experience with that poor turkey mother...she probably thought being near your barn might keep her babies safer since she saw your chickens...my foxes do not come around the yard since the dogs are out. the electronic fence saves money from building a real fence. maybe get a larger dog and introduce the puppy early to the chickens? (great pyr's are good with lambs but what about chickens?) my golden, 2 labs, and pit mix do not let anything in their four acres...but then you would not see your poor turkeys either. so sad...
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