This story starts with a little background information. We let the chickens out every day. They walk around, eat bugs, annoy the pigs, tease the dogs, etc. Over the years we have had trouble with the dogs and other wild animals having them for a snack every now and then.
We also try to put them up at night. MOST of them go into the coop at night just like they are supposed to do. However, a few pick different spots to roost on that are outside the coop. So once they go to sleep we go over there and pick those up and put them in the coop. The hope is that if we move them enough they will eventually get the message and go to sleep in the coop... (so far that message is not sinking in) Somehow there have still been 1 or 2 each morning that we don't seem to find and in the morning they are already out of the coop.
Two days ago, it was about 6:30 in the morning and I was walking past the window in the living room and watched a red fox run the full length of the back yard, across the drive, past the shed, past the trampoline, and down the other hill. I ran outside and yelled at it so that it would keep moving. That particular night the chickens were not put up and they were all out walking around.
My WORTHLESS dogs were asleep on the deck. When I went out there yelling at the fox, Sadie just stoop up, stretched and yawned. Sugar didn't even get up, she just sleepily opened her eyes, and Abby was out by the tree and never even looked my way. Remember this fox is right there, not 20 yard from them!!!!
This is the not the first fox we have seen up here (Rod even killed one last hunting season with his bow and arrow while deer hunting) Of course if I had my gun quick enough I would have taken a shot that morning as well. Fox, Coyote, etc are all fair game because they kill the chickens.
So now the last two nights we have really been trying to put every chicken up and make sure none get left out. So two nights ago Rod and I went over there with a flashlight and looked and looked to make sure we got them all. But yesterday morning there was still a chicken out. Somehow we missed one. I couldn't believe it. We had spent probably 30 minutes looking to make sure we got them all.
So last night we again are going to try to get make sure. We are looking all around because we know at least one of them is hiding from us. Finally I shine the flashlight in a tree. There are not any low branches and there, right by the coop is the missing chicken. She has been sitting there for nights watching us get all her sisters in the coop staying perfectly quiet so that we miss her! To get into that tree, she had to get on top of the coop and fly up there for the height of the coop. She could not have flown that high otherwise. So Rod and I had been outsmarted by a chicken. I promise they are not as dumb as you think!
