Dust devil scare

[Fayed]

So, I just needed to share this to ease my terror.

I'm sitting outside in the chick pen enjoying my ducks and chickens, watching the ducks swim around in their little pool with my favorite chicken sitting on my shoulder while the rest dig around in the dirt. There's no breeze and it's about 90° outside. Suddenly some wind comes though and my first thought is that it feels nice. A moment later my ducks darted out of their pool and make a mad dash between my legs and under my chair. A split second later the chicks dart under me as the wind gets stronger and things start flying though the air. My favorite loses her grip on my shoulder and fall/claws her way down my arm and hides behind my chair. I sit up and look around wondering where this horribly strong wind came from as it just keeps getting worse, and suddenly see a huge dust devil moveing out from behind my car traveling strait tward the pen. I'm terrified as tons of horrible senarios play out in my head and i have no idea what I should do. I pretty much decide to wrap my body over the ducks and chickens as that would keep them the safest and I would probably be ok. Honestly I wasn't thinking about my safety at all. Luckily as I was about to climb on top of them the dust devil changed directions and started moving away from the pen, I kept watching it. As it passed into the next property it started losing momentum and disapated a few moments later.

After about two minutes the ducks and chicks go back to swimming and digging like nothing happened and I'm sitting here with my heart pounding and my hands shaking so bad I can bairly type. I've never seen a dust devil that big, I know it's part of living in the desert but wow it was so scary and so close, it got within maybe 10-15 feet of the pen before changing direction.
Now that I'm calming down everybody has decided to come nap around/on me.

Anyone else have experience with this kind of thing? How do you keep them safe? Any advice for if it/when it happens again? And someone please tell me I'm not crazy for deciding to throw myself on them to keep them safe. >.<

 

[Zinjifrah]

Just provide shelter they can get under if it happens. I've had a dust devil come through my horse pasture that was about 70 ft. across the base, and dense enough to look dark brown/black. It had my yearling mustang filly trapped at the far end, and I was afraid she'd go through the fence. Instead, she bolted through the edge along the fence line, down to the far end of the pasture and into her shed, before I could get out there. Generally, in my experience, birds and other animals know when they're coming and get to shelter - as evidenced by your ducks hiding under you. They just need something more secure to take cover in. I've been caught in them a few times - they're quite common here - and really, the worst is cleaning dirt and grit out of your ears for the next week. Duck your head, cover your mouth and nose with your hands, and keep your eyes shut.

 

[Fayed]

Thank you so much for replying, you've given me some reassurance. I'll be sure to get some secured low cover for them. My pen has a solid roof on one end and wire on the other. I didn't know if the pen would be heavey enough to hold up to the dust devil, I was scared it would go flying or something though now that I'm not in the moment I think that's unlikely. Good to know that my only real concern for myself is some grime , I've delt with that plenty lately when the wind has been bad. (Digging sand and dirt out of my teeth and eyes.)

 

[drumstick diva]

That does sound mighty scary- I'm sure I wouldn't be as brave as you.

 

[Fayed]

I don't think it was bravery just it would be devestating to lose them. They are like my children >.<. And ya it sure was scary.

This is supposed to be their first night in the pen all night...I don't know if I can do it though. I'm checking on them every 5 minutes and they are sitting at the door waiting for me to take them inside. It's breaking my heart lol.

 

[pertnear09]

I don't think it was bravery just it would be devestating to lose them. They are like my children >.<. And ya it sure was scary.

This is supposed to be their first night in the pen all night...I don't know if I can do it though. I'm checking on them every 5 minutes and they are sitting at the door waiting for me to take them inside. It's breaking my heart lol.

Seen a dust devil come through at a new house I was working on once. There was a big cardboard box a refrigerator had come in thrown outside and the dust devil picked that big box up and took it up, up and up until I couldn't see it anymore.

 

[Fayed]

Seen a dust devil come through at a new house I was working on once. There was a big cardboard box a refrigerator had come in thrown outside and the dust devil picked that big box up and took it up, up and up until I couldn't see it anymore.

That's percisly why I was so scared. My little bantams are so tiny I've seen a strong wind push them around. But I'll building a nice low shelter for them to hide in tomorrow so they will be better protected for the future.