I don't know about you but we're very glad to have Labor Day over with. It of course coincided with the opening of Dove Season. That is saying a whole lot here in North Texas!
Well, two of my neighbors leased out their land. There were pickups, suv's, 4-wheelers and ATV's on every square foot of land around us! Some 200 heathens with guns runnin' 'round itchin' ta kill somethin' is what we had. Needless to say, we had some rattled nerves to deal with.
BUT, as the title suggests, the only truly rattled nerves were mine. I was running 'round like a chicken... Well, you know. Anyway, I gathered, and soothed, and comforted our birds. So I thought. It wasn't long before I realized that our birds were business as usual despite the war zone we were in.
It literally rained lead on several occasions. Don't ask, but the perpetrators were soon on their way home. And the two doves (mortally wounded) that landed on my land stayed on my land. Much to the chagrin of some very chic, camo'd out, super-gun totin' city slickers.
As I was saying, I was a wreck, hollerin' n screamin' some sulphur and hellfire expletives at every human invader in sight. All the while, our girls put out 8 eggs and the guineas took over the small chicken tractor. Again.
It was only after I'd worn myself out and had resigned myself to sitting in the middle of my yard with 12 gauge on my lap and .30-.30 at my side, that it truly struck me. Chickens ain't stupid. Nor are they chicken. When the idiots to the west shot my trees, the chickens moved to the east side of the house. (More than I can say for my neighbor to the north. He took three pellets in the neck. You should have seen the heathens run after that, I tell you what!). The guineas, were yackin' up a storm at my feet. No big deal.
The lesson? I guess I should have asked my birds how they were doing before I went and had a cow. Had I been smart, I would have taken comfort from them, knowing that they knew how to deal with the situation. Even when I did not.
Next year will be better. I'll be mentally prepared. And I'll have plenty of spike strips and roofing nails on hand ahead of time.
Happy After Labor Day to All and Happy Dove Season!
P.s. I got 10.
Well, two of my neighbors leased out their land. There were pickups, suv's, 4-wheelers and ATV's on every square foot of land around us! Some 200 heathens with guns runnin' 'round itchin' ta kill somethin' is what we had. Needless to say, we had some rattled nerves to deal with.
BUT, as the title suggests, the only truly rattled nerves were mine. I was running 'round like a chicken... Well, you know. Anyway, I gathered, and soothed, and comforted our birds. So I thought. It wasn't long before I realized that our birds were business as usual despite the war zone we were in.
It literally rained lead on several occasions. Don't ask, but the perpetrators were soon on their way home. And the two doves (mortally wounded) that landed on my land stayed on my land. Much to the chagrin of some very chic, camo'd out, super-gun totin' city slickers.
As I was saying, I was a wreck, hollerin' n screamin' some sulphur and hellfire expletives at every human invader in sight. All the while, our girls put out 8 eggs and the guineas took over the small chicken tractor. Again.
It was only after I'd worn myself out and had resigned myself to sitting in the middle of my yard with 12 gauge on my lap and .30-.30 at my side, that it truly struck me. Chickens ain't stupid. Nor are they chicken. When the idiots to the west shot my trees, the chickens moved to the east side of the house. (More than I can say for my neighbor to the north. He took three pellets in the neck. You should have seen the heathens run after that, I tell you what!). The guineas, were yackin' up a storm at my feet. No big deal.
The lesson? I guess I should have asked my birds how they were doing before I went and had a cow. Had I been smart, I would have taken comfort from them, knowing that they knew how to deal with the situation. Even when I did not.
Next year will be better. I'll be mentally prepared. And I'll have plenty of spike strips and roofing nails on hand ahead of time.
Happy After Labor Day to All and Happy Dove Season!
P.s. I got 10.
