MJ's little flock

[LozzyR]

Thanks Bob!

In other news, I was visited by Mr Fox last night. No harm done to the hens. It's good to be reminded of the foxes.

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Nothing “fantastic” about him.

 

[MaryJanet]

Nothing “fantastic” about him.

Yeh, to my mind it's a sinister presence.

I thought I heard yipping in the middle of the night, so I got up and went outside to check. No foxes but an extraordinarily beautiful summer night. Quite brightly lit by the moon and not cold. I very nearly sat down in my pjs to take a nap in the garden! It was only the thought of the hard chairs that stopped me.

Anyway, if there was a fox family nearby, I didn't see them.

That doesn't mean they didn't stop by, so I'll check the security cameras.

Edit: no foxes, one cat with its leg caught in its collar, tinkling its bell as it hopped along.

 

[MaryJanet]

Manue's photos of lunches al fresco gave me a new habit of having breakfast outdoors on work days, weather permitting.

It's such a lovely way to start the day! Thanks Manue!

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks Bob!

In other news, I was visited by Mr Fox last night. No harm done to the hens. It's good to be reminded of the foxes.

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It would be so shocking to see a fox. I've only ever seen 1 in person and I was hunting at the time. I can't imagine seeing one here. I have protected against them because they must be here. I've just never seen them.

 

[MaryJanet]

It would be so shocking to see a fox. I've only ever seen 1 in person and I was hunting at the time. I can't imagine seeing one here. I have protected against them because they must be here. I've just never seen them.

I would say they are around Bob.

In any case, you still need to keep the hens safe from other predators.

 

[LozzyR]

Edit: no foxes, one cat with its leg caught in its collar, tinkling its bell as it hopped along.

Not that kitty should have been out at night, but I hope they were freed!

 

[MaryJanet]

Not that kitty should have been out at night, but I hope they were freed!

Me too. Also, it visited around 5am so I hope it hadn't had its paw trapped all night.

 

[MaryJanet]

I looked out the kitchen window and saw all six hens lolling around in the dust

I took a photo from within the kitchen and peeked through the tear in the flywire the burglar kindly gave to the house back when I had all those attempted robberies in 2021. (Yes, I'm still angry.)

You can't see Edie because she's out of shot on the far left, but if you strain your eyes, you'll see from left to right, Mary, Katie, Peggy, a random grey pigeon, a hint of Ivy behind the leaves than hang down, and Christa, followed by the water jug.

 

[ManueB]

Manue's photos of lunches al fresco gave me a new habit of having breakfast outdoors on work days, weather permitting.

It's such a lovely way to start the day! Thanks Manue!

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Lucky you ! I'm looking forward to do that again when it gets warmer and the days longer. It does feel like a treat, a moment of calm before the day begins.

It would be so shocking to see a fox. I've only ever seen 1 in person and I was hunting at the time. I can't imagine seeing one here. I have protected against them because they must be here. I've just never seen them.

We see them around the village often, but the one that attacked was the first we ever saw on the property. I agree not seeing them doesn't mean there are none.
When they are healthy, I find them beautiful, but not near the chickens.

Our 97 years old neighbour that grew up here as a foster child, told us that on the very low limit of our land, below the fenced perimeter, there is a rocky bar called fox bar because it is where vixens birthe babies. As a child, he was asked to go watch at dawn there the first two weeks of February, to kill the cubs at birth.
I could go have a look one early morning !

I looked out the kitchen window and saw all six hens lolling around in the dust

I took a photo from within the kitchen and peeked through the tear in the flywire the burglar kindly gave to the house back when I had all those attempted robberies in 2021. (Yes, I'm still angry.)

View attachment 3737433

You can't see Edie because she's out of shot on the far left, but if you strain your eyes, you'll see from left to right, Mary, Katie, Peggy, a random grey pigeon, a hint of Ivy behind the leaves than hang down, and Christa, followed by the water jug.

Isn't it heart-warming to watch chickens do that? A bit like sleeping cats.
Pure bliss. Almost makes one wish one were a chicken or a cat in those moments !
I can't see Ivy .

 

[MaryJanet]

As a child, he was asked to go watch at dawn there the first two weeks of February, to kill the cubs at birth.

That seems like a hard job for most adults, let alone a child.

It does feel like a treat, a moment of calm before the day begins.

So peaceful with the hens talking away over their breakfasts and the golden sunlight at that hour. And not yet tired from the day!

You just have to trust me, Ivy's there but in the photo it's a very faint impression of Ivy.

I have five meetings today. It doesn't take long before professional commitments start to pile up again! But tomorrow is writing retreat, which I'm very much looking forward to. It'll be interrupted by a meeting, but it's an important one.