For our little family, the next two weeks are CRAMMED FULL OF GOOD STUFF. Excellent Son Cameron is having a birthday AND graduating from college (YIPPEE!), we are throwing a huge party for the graduation at our house, favorite cousins Beth and Fayne are coming to join in the fun, Excellent Daughter Libby is moving back to Colorado (YES!), we’re heading down to Durango to help her move and see Excellent Son Sawyer. Getting the house and yard ready for a big party after a long, cold winter is a major task. We’ve got a punch list a mile long. I pulled up about a million dandelions today. Only about two million to go…
After all the dandelion pulling, Very Excellent Husband Don (who was also doing yard work) and I sat down to have a well-deserved cocktail. We were sipping and talking and watching the chickens scratch and peck. Then, the chickens FROZE. A split second later Keela ran to the back fence and started that bark to tell me DANGER IS AROUND.
And look who was checking out my barnyard.
Well, well, well. So much for enjoying cocktail hour.
Hello, Mrs. Fox. You are looking large and healthy. Maybe you’ve been feasting on the gazillion bunnies in the neighborhood? Keep moving, please.
Uh, no. Turning around, then sitting and watching us is not cool.
At this point, the chickens had all moved up to the shed, standing close to Doink. Keela was going nuts, as are were our neighbor’s dogs. But the fox sat down and stared at us for a while. She was one cool customer.
Finally….
It took what seemed like a really long time for her to turn and take off.
Buh bye. Remember, there’s rabbits EVERYWHERE. They taste much better than chickens.
Crisis averted, at least for today. Whew.
**Shared at (mis)Adventures Monday, From the Farm and HomeAcre Hop**
We had a similar experience a few weeks ago, except that the fox screamed at us! It was the strangest thing, and sounded like a cross between an angry house cat and a bob cat. The only thing we could figure is that there must be kits close by. Right after that, we placed an order for more electric fencing!
Congrats to Cameron!
They are beautiful animals, but they sure represent a danger to chickens… I’m glad he left on his own. 🙂
Gentle Joy recently posted…Make Your Own House Numbers
Great pictures and story. We had a fox visit our backyard in the SUBURBS! Early one morning my daughter and I looked out the kitchen window and saw an animal dozing under the branches of a pine tree. I opened the window and he immediately sat up–and within a few minutes exited our yard.
Carol recently posted…Louisa and her Mother
Phew! That was too close for comfort! Glad the pooches are on the prowl!
Congrats on all of your good news! You sure deserve it!
daisy recently posted…One Simple Thing-Muffled Drawers
A fox cleared out my entire flock two years ago. I didn’t think I’d ever have the heart to have chicens again, but of course I did, and I also got a Livestock Guardian Dog since which time we’ve never seen another. Keela is a good flock guardian! Foxes are beautiful animals – it’s just a shame chickens are their favourite food. 🙁
Enjoy your party! 🙂
Cath recently posted…Apr 23, Tilly, sweet Till
Just thinking of you today Joan. Hoping all is well!