Caught The Thief! Don't Mess With My Orpington!

Well, those city folks think that pork, chicken and beef come wrapped in cellophane from some alternate universe....nothing oinked, clucked or mooed....just jumped into the plastic and voila, dinner. Sure, I don't feel like a Neanderthal bringing home a nice Mammoth for dinner..ook ook ook..when I have to protect my little feathered friends with a .22....but then, the city folks who shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's (my favorite, by the way) for their organic, free-range whatever's didn't go through all the steps to bring food to the dinner table. I see no difference in a pet Chihuahua, a teacup Poodle, or cat being eaten by a varmint, or a chicken eaten by the little bustards, for that matter. If the city folks had their little friends at the top of the food chain for varmints to enjoy, they might change their tune. Too many small pets are being attacked and eaten in the city, for crying out loud, by coyotes. As for Mountain Lions here in California, before the hunting ban, they learned quite quickly that the "bang stick" humans carried was something they didn't want to deal with. With a moratorium on hunting, they have lost their fear of man. And regaining their territories. Wouldn't want to shoot them, they are magnificent cats, but if it goes down to me or them, 9x18 rules the day.

WldFlwrs said:

How long does it take to get from city thinking (aw you killed it) to farm animal thinking (necessary death)? I've moved from Houston where I grew up to a teeny tiny town on a farm Mentally get the necessity to kill, but still feel bad for it. My husband and family laugh because I'll kill an animal when I have to, but cry about it. Even I admit it's funny

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If you kill something and don't feel at least some degree of sadness, I'd question your thinking.....

The first time we culled some hens that stopped laying, my wife cried for two days.... my eyes may have watered a little, but in a much more manly way.....

We have no intent on killing our birds, even when they stop laying. You don't kill your dog when is too old to hunt, or your cat when all she wants to do is lay around the house...like grown children these days. We will be giving them the best retirement home they could possibly cluck for....they are family. KFC, on the other hand, we didn't know them very well. Same with Popeyes... Our first chickens in the country will always have a special place in our hearts...and our wallets...boy, they love to eat. Four more weeks and out to the coop they go. Our Rottweiler Shepherd will be watching them closely. Unless she is watching Jeopardy with us.....

bdjh said:

If you kill something and don't feel at least some degree of sadness, I'd question your thinking.....

The first time we culled some hens that stopped laying, my wife cried for two days.... my eyes may have watered a little, but in a much more manly way.....

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That will be me I am sure. Thanks

ManyBirds3 said:

I'm so sorry yr birds were hurt/killed... And I know u didn't want to kill a cute lil coon! It's nature tho.... Xoxoxox

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I'm guessing you've never seen a live coon that's been cornered,or up close and personal have you? They are vicious. They bark, growl. snarl, and bare their teeth. They are heartless killers. They'll pull a live chicken to pieces if they can reach through the coop or run fencing. I'll admit, the babies are cute, but then they grow up...

Absolutely correct regarding racoons. Their skulls are remarkably similar to that of a bear (hence the Native American....scratch that, Indians...of which I am 1/4th) called them the little brother to the bear. Extremely clever, with the tools to wreak havoc wherever they roam. Too many folks have grown up on Disney cartoons, have never seen the real world of tooth and fang, red. And the little buggers carry ticks, fleas, and sometimes even rabies. Many times when we have camped in either state or national parks, people think they are so cute...until they discover the little bustards have gotten into their ice chests and made off with tomorrow's breakfast. They will eat anything available to them....the world is their smorgasbord....but it doesn't stop at just eating what they need to survive. You might find an entire flock decimated, but only one eaten. They are little killing machines. That's why they wear masks...so you can't identify them in a police line-up.... And once they have gotten a taste for your flock, they will be back with all their little friends for a second helping. Watch some of the videos about trapping racoons...they tend to invade with a buddy or two. Very rarely is a single racoon on the prowl. Pack mentality, I guess, like coyotes. God forbid they get a hold of a small pet...will tear it up. Their paws can also open many simple locking devices, they don't give up easily. A .22 LR to the skull is a pretty good deterrent, but might take two or three depending on the size of the critter. When I hear folks saying that WE are invading THEIR space....I ask them when the racoons have paid property taxes.......or a mortgage.