The Old Folks Home

[getaclue]

micro, I'm doing pretty good, so far. Thanks for asking!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

micro, I'm doing pretty good, so far. Thanks for asking!

I think I missed something, if you don't mind my asking, everything ok with you?

 

[getaclue]

All that good food, yum yum. Dd #1, and the 3 grandkids came to stay with us over the weekend. We all had a lot of fun, and it was a good Father's Day for Dh.

When they arrived, each of the grandkids, picked a chick. We painted a couple toenails on each chick, in a different color, so the kids would know which one was theirs, and then they named it. Their mom got the one that none of the kids picked. They were all thrilled.

I was surprised, but the kids did not disturb the chicks much. The older two would ask permission to look at, or hold the chicks. The most shocking was the baby. She would walk up quietly to the brooder, and just look, smiling. She didn't try to bother them. When I took her chick out for her to pet, she would extend 1 finger, and pet it ever so gently.

Even the weather cooperated for their visit. We got to do lots of swimming. Last night, it rained. I hooked up the old Game Cube, with 4 controllers, and the kids played Mario Party. When the kids went to bed, Dd, and I played Mario Party too. What memories it brought back.

 

[getaclue]

Fields, I'm now out of remission, and going through chemo again, for breast cancer. It has metastasized. As of now, I'm considered Stage IV, which is terminal.

 

[microchick]

Good deal @getaclue. Glad to hear that you are doing well.

We know that the culprit is a fox. Our neighbors have seen him/her running away with one of their chickens in its mouth. They started with 15 birds and now have 1.

Two months ago, DH was taking garbage out early one morning and much to his surprise saw a handsome specimen of a big grey fox trotting down the road. He said it moved like it owned the road and everything around it.

Then last week I was down at the pond and heard a fox barking/howling making whatever you call it across the road in the neighbor's timber next to the road.

Nobody around us has white chickens and the nearest Guinea fowl are about two miles to the north east unless people have them closer to the west.

I'm just about certain it is hunting the area and bringing or has brought it's kills to our pond to eat. I think what protects my flock is that I don't let them free range and their run and coop are protected by a hot wire, the run consisting of chain link panels and fencing and covered with netting.

I swear this fox knows the whole area, knows where the meals are and isn't about to give up the buffet table without a fight.

We do have a larger live trap that I could set but I'm thinking about calling the conservation department and asking them what they are going to do about their fox.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Fields, I'm now out of remission, and going through chemo again, for breast cancer. It has metastasized. As of now, I'm considered Stage IV, which is terminal.

I'm sorry to hear that, It sounds like you had wonderful visit and it's something they'll always remember.
My younger brother is going thru treatment for colon and liver cancer. He's always been very healthy and active, it's taken a toll but he's making it! He just had surgery last week to remove a portion of his liver and doc said everything there looks good but he'll go in at the end of summer for colon removal and will have a permanent colostomy bag. It's been tuff road but like I said he's hanging.
I do hope things go well.
Enjoy those grands all you can! And hope it's ok... Prayers and hugs for you!

 

[getaclue]

micro, I agree, it's the hot wire, and enclosed run(s) that are keeping them safe from the fox. Is there a chance it's not chicken feathers, but some other type of white bird? Here, we have white cranes that foxes, and the like can catch, and eat.

 

[getaclue]

Fields, Thank you! Especially for the prayers.

 

[room onthebroom]

Fields, I'm now out of remission, and going through chemo again, for breast cancer. It has metastasized. As of now, I'm considered Stage IV, which is terminal.

I'm sorry! Hang in there! We women are tough chicks! You tell that rotten cancer to prepare to get its butt kicked!!!

 

[room onthebroom]

Ok...that IS creepy. And way too close to you is my thinking. I like Ron's idea about the game camera.

There's no neighbors close that have birds of said description? Foxes can have territories up to a 12 miles. (if I remember correctly)

DH came across two dogs' remains by the fence line on one of our pastures. We know one was likely belonged to our uncle's neighbor. The other...we don't know. Our guess is they were out running and they met some coyotes.

When Max was younger we used to see the coyotes come up and try to bait him into following them. Thankfully he was intelligent enough to circumvent their ulterior motives.

You need a motion sensing game camera with remote discharging capabilities.View attachment 1047468

The coyotes in my area will eat anything & wont leave a drop of evidence behind. Maybe they're hungrier down here because of the urban sprawl. My local coyotes will clean up anything the snobby hawks wont eat;
Kitty paws purposely dropped from the telephone pole?
Yep, they'll eat those!
Entrails dropped by accident?
Oh yea, they'll definitely eat those!
Rabbit tails & tufts of fur with zero meat on them?
Done & Done!