Wednesday, July 14, 2010

GLADYS AND HER NINE LIVES

How quickly the enjoyment of a beautiful summer day, working in the garden can turn ugly so quickly. All it takes is a group cackle from a bunch of hens that make you instantly jump to your feet and fly around the yard wondering what in the world is going on. When you get a glimpse of a big bushy tail, feathers laying on the ground your heart skips a beat. Adrenaline kicks in and you're off on the now too familiar run (Along with trusty side kick Winslow Homer). Once again the fox has struck and yes, once again Gladys is the victim. The fox had her by the back and had the gall to stop and look at me while lugging her off across the field. Be still my heart. I kept mentally repeating to Gladys "remember to play dead" It seemed like forever before I had located the rest of the girls and wrangled them to their pen. Winslow and I did the mandatory walk around the fields and through the gravel pit located next door. No luck (I have made a vow to myself, a predator may get away with killing my hens, but they will never be eaten, never). So with sadness in my heart I returned to the pen making sure everyone else was okay. I gave them a treat of blueberries and me a glass of lemonade (If I had vodka in the house I would have had me a big old swig). An hour or so later I was just about to slip my feet into my Muck Boots, when low and behold there was Gladys sitting on the porch.
Yup, my girl had once again made it back, no bite marks, no blood, no worse for wear. No "hospital lodging" required.
My girl Gladys has used up two of her nine lives, two too many. I am so thankful that "up there somewhere" she has a guardian angel. I do believe in angels, thank you Grammy Lile you do make a believer out of me and Gladys believes too. Now all you chicken keepers out there groom your chickens to play dead, it works- just ask Gladys!




20 comments:

Peacemom said...

..."get your mind out of the oven"...cracked me up.

Glad Gladys made it through the fox attack again! Phew! She's like a chicken soap opera (Days of our Coop?, General Coop-spital?, All My Chickens?...just some suggestions)!

We're headed to your great state for a long weekend to visit my folks up in Cushing. ~Vonnie

Razzberry Corner said...

Oh, poor Gladys! She is amazing! We cannot let our chickens free-range outside the chicken pen. Every single time we did that we lost one. We just have too many wild animals. My chickens, especially one named Lucy, begs to free-range. But I don't want to lose Lucy, and I don't know if she has 9 lives like Gladys. I'm so glad Gladys lives on to tell the other hens her stories.
~Lynn

Rural Rambler said...

Julie! Julie! Julie! Yowza if I had those girls I swear I'd have to have another cardiac stent! I couldn't take that drama. UhUh. No way. You are so much braver than I am. I am glad Gladys is OK, and after reading this with my heart in my throat I am going to go pour myself a glass of wine. AND I say thank you to Grammy Lile too!!!!!

Eve said...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!!! Damn that Fox!!! Good for you Gladys! Maybe she just wanted to give you a present of feathers and that was the only way she could figure out to pluck them...And Julie...we don't need Pix having a corinary so blast that rotten Bas tid, will ya!!!

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

So glad that Gladys is okay!

Flat Creek Farm said...

Oh, Lordy! Not again! Gladys, you are totally amazing. I will surely train up my babies to play dead when necessary. She is a beauty too! -Tammy

Genny said...

Gladys is an amazing hen! I'm so glad that she returned home safe and sound. My heart was racing just hearing about her abduction by the fox. She's a brave little hen.

Kim said...

Ooooh Gladys and her adventures (more like dramas) are giving me high blood pressure. I was holding my breath while I read! God bless her brave heart.
I REALLY HATE that fox

Pondside said...

Did everyone gasp at the opening of this post? I did.
I'm going out to give my girls a playing dead lesson, right now!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Gladys is a real trooper...

what a lucky gal...so HAPPY to hear she is o.k.

i was worried :-(

she sure is a beauty...

happy end to that story :-)

Rural Rambler said...

Evis thank you for being a sweetie and thinkin bout my ticker :) Julie I have the cutest little wine glasses that make the whole wine time thing just so much better. And I have been told by Deb at Howdy from Cowtown that it is possible to master croquet with a mallet in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. We are strong women, all things are possible :)

Eve said...

I'm always thinking of you Pix...and I want to be there to see the mastering of croquet and wine swilling!!! hahahahaha!

Gail said...

In my next life, I shall come back as one of your hens!

What a lucky break for your hen. You have her trained very well.

Jenny wren's nest said...

Gladys must taste foul!,or maybe she has a secret pact with the fox to get more attention from you and winslow homer.
Jenny

Kathy in KY said...

Julie - yes, my heart was in my throat when I read your post yesterday. That Gladys! I'm so glad she is OK, and just lost a few feathers in the whole ordeal. You had me on the edge of my computer chair reading to make sure she was OK, and I don't even have any wine to take the edge off! LOL - thanks for sharing such a happy ending story with all of us. Take care, from KY.

Farm Girl said...

That is just the worst thing ever, I cannot believe she got away twice. That is a aggressive fox, to turn and look at you!! I have never shot anything in my life, but I think I would go on a fox hunt.
I do know the sprint to the hen house run though. I am in bed and go from a sound sleep to running without shoes to the chicken house.
What was life before chickens?
I am so happy you got Gladys back.

A New England Life said...

Poor Gladys. She must have a certain scent that the fox likes. I can hardly believe she survived, again! You better put gps on that girl!

Lilla said...

How scary! I worry that something like this will happen to my chickens. Even in the city, we have foxes that don't think twice about jumping fences! Thank goodness Gladys is OK.

Finegan Antiques said...

Gladys is ONE TOUGH OLD BIRD! OMG I can't believe she has survived yet another attack. Thank goodness this story had a happy ending.

Donna

Anonymous said...

New to your blog -- I just posted about helping build a coop for my Dad and after I read what's been happening to your chicken -- I wonder what kind of events will happen with my Dad's chicken -- lol -- just hope he does not have too many.. Enjoy the photos too! See ya soon