interacting with wildlife

[tunaoftheland]

I saw something funny today I just had to share. My girls are 11 1/2 weeks now, so they're pretty used to being outside, but the local wildlife seems to be taking longer to adjust. The groundhog who lives under our shed was trundling by the coop and seemed to suddenly notice the chickens for the first time. He stopped, trundled up to the door and looked at them. They were equally curious and all gathered round and stared back. They all stayed like that just staring at each other for a minute and then Mr. Groundhog seemed content and continued on his way. Then late this afternoon a small flock of house sparrows which has moved into our yard decided to check the big birds out and flew over and clung to the hardware cloth on the outside of the run and on the ground right outside it, just peering in. The chickens liked them less than the groundhog though and rushed over all fluffed out. They flew off but they came back a couple times (feisty little birds) and the girls seemed to mind them less then. As long as the local foxes don't pay them the same attention, it's a lot of fun to see!

 

[montcapu]

that is cute.. I haven't seen much of any wildlife around yet... but I will have to keep my eyes open
angela

 

[Guitartists]

LOL That's funny about the groundhog

I can just picture it!

 

[speckledhen]

My girls play with a poor deformed squirrel. He/she has no tail and is missing the right foot.

 

[JennsPeeps]

My 10- & 11-year old cats are about the only "wildlife" the babies have met thus far. The cats love to watch the chicks and were super freaked out by the menage a trois dust bath today. I'll post pics if I can. It was hilarious: comatose chicks in dusty la la land and perplexed cats.

 

[d.k]

* Lol!!! Wish you'd had a video of THAT!!

Ed: (DH said, "Groundhog was probably thinking, "Welp, there goes the neighborhood!!")

 

[SpottedCrow]

It depends on Obelisk's mood I think...
She chased my only pair of Baltimore Orioles I ever had out of the yard.
She chases moths and bees and butterflies.
She used to chase robins and doves, but leaves them alone now...even the cardinals.
She and the squirrels have a cold war going on...as long as they stay away, she's fine.

 

[tunaoftheland]

Quote:
Poor squirrel! I wonder what happened to him. There was a three footed groundhog in our yard for a while. He had had an unfortunate encounter with the engine of my sisters car

My cats seem to think of the chickens as Cat TV. They just sit outside and watch, no tail swishing or anything.

 

[speckledhen]

I dont know what happened to the poor thing. It's obviously been a long time ago. I first saw this squirrel almost a year ago, but till recently, hadn't seen the missing foot. Probably a car engine, like you said. If not that, a birth defect.