Stancock's Day Out

[Courts Clucks]

My husband thought it would be ok to let Stan out, that he would come back at night like the chickens. I don't see him around the house so I start walking to check on him. (I was not home when my husband decided all of this, so I am starting to spaz) Walked all around without spotting him. So enlist the help of my friend. He went to check on a rooster and hollered for me. "Stan has been in the chicken coop!" he proclaims. No way...There sitting on the ledge of the nest boxes is a large pea-poo. Brilliant idea. Follow the pea-poo. Around the yard, through the hay barn, in the machine barn, and finally in the back barn....Stancock. On a twenty foot rafter. Above a planter and rake crammed in the corner. So, being the overly panicked mother hen I am, I decide to retreive him right then so he can sleep on the safety of his roost. Now picture a very cheap 16 ft ladder balanced on top of the row crop planter. Then all 115lbs of me at the top of the ladder, coaxing Stan to come willing. Amazingly, no person or pea was harmed in the rescue attempt. The whole way back to his perch, Stan cuddled with me and did his pea-cluck ( what do you even call that noise?). My husband and friend followed with a discussion of my darn spoiled birds...

 

[zazouse]

now next time just let him come down on his own, he will be fine but if you get him panicing he may fly off and that would not be good.

I learned along time ago to just keep an eye on the loose pea and they will come down within an hour unless something got after them then it could be the next day before they came down.

 

[Courts Clucks]

I worked 16 hours the next day so it just made me really nervous. Especially with all the predators that have been hanging out. I walked out the front door and spotted a coyote sneaking up to a brand new calf. Gutsy turds.

 

[zazouse]

Sounds like you need a couple dogs to watch your place .. that has worked well for me here.

 

[Courts Clucks]

Well our German Shepherd is 14 years old and starting to show her age. My husband has a catahoula that he is hoping to get up to par before Inga passes. That pup still has a way to go. It is too much fun chasing the birds. And cats. And her shadow. Look a stick...

 

[WestKnollAmy]

LOL I have a young pup (7 months old) that is still learning the ropes. The 6 year old Pyrenees lets him chew on any bird here, so much for HER training the youngster. Funny pup lets the hens go in his dog house to lay eggs so he can later enjoy a snack but when off his chain he chases the birds and will try to eat the feathers off of them. Ugh!
But gosh, they are great deterrents for varmints! Good luck with your new Catahoula!