Well, what can I say about life on a farm that I haven’t already said? Anyone who has known me for any length of time has to get a good chuckle over the thought of me raising chickens. But I shall endeavor despite recent discouragements.
Two days ago, our house was hit by what I can only descibe as a serial killer of chickens. Yep! You heard me right. You see, while you might think of this as a simple act of nature– a fox feeding on chickens, I have to remain a bit more cynical. On Wednesday, we lost four of remaining five chickens in broad daylight. The culprit was a fox. And the sucker wasn’t afraid of me at all. He simply stared me down and then sauntered off, after the carnage.
But what was really wrong for the whole thing was that the chickens were in immaculate condition. There were no chunks missing. There was no blood. Last year’s fox attacks resulted in headless lumps left in the chicken pen. But not with this fox. Their chicken necks were merely broken as they were left to flop around.
Our neighbor has lost more than forty chickens to this fox, and similar, disturbing results. His show chickens were killed and left pristine, as if posed.
I’ve thought about contacting the FBI’s BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit), but let’s face it, there’s not a lot of experience to glean from. After all, there aren’t a lot of reported cases of serial killing foxes to build a profile. So, I’ve armed myself and I’m waiting. Foxes are creatures of habit. Yesterday, I stood ready and set a trap for the wiley fox. But he showed up before I could zero my scope on my Gamo rifle. I managed to get a body shot in, but it didn’t take him down. I am hoping he will come back by this afternoon so I can try to get a head shot in now that my scope’s sited. We’ll have to see.
Out of all our chickens, we only have one left– Olivia. Olivia also happens to be our oldest chicken. Well, I guess the fact that she’s the only one alive makes her the oldest. What I meant to say was that she has been with us longer than any other, previously living, chicken. Her theme song is I will Survive.
Wish me luck!
10/04/2009 at 9:36 am Permalink
Fight the good fight Olivia!!!! Hey Mike, buy her like a chain link doggie run
Good Luck Mike!!! Go get Em!!!
10/04/2009 at 9:47 am Permalink
Carrie: The welded wire fence should work well. But this sucker even gets through it when we electrify it. He’s a psycho fox. I’m thinking of dressing up our wolf in a chicken costume and placing her inside the coop. Kind of like a Trojan chicken.
12/04/2009 at 8:02 am Permalink
I wish chain link would keep him out. Gah. Under, over, through…… *sigh*
12/04/2009 at 6:40 pm Permalink
Yep. Bad old fox!
24/04/2009 at 10:37 pm Permalink
Barkley probably taught him every thing he knows. I swear that dog was Houdini incarnate. Remember, no matter how we blocked the fence, he always managed to get out! What a pain! Cute, but a pain!