Life on the Farm
I mentioned on Sunday that I live on a small farm. We have a web site at Bullhead Ranch and raise lamb, chevon and eggs. Mostly for our own consumption, but we do sell some to folk on lists we keep. A lot of people have told me their great memories of being raised on a farm and how excited they would be to have a small farm these days.
Unfortunately, the reality of living on a farm sometimes gets in the way of the romantic notion of being on the farm. Last night was one of those times.
We had a couple of rogue chickens that had gotten out of the coop and made their way to the garage. We hate that because they poop all over the garage. My wife grabbed the chickens and began to make her way to the coop to return them. I was sitting in my office at the time when she came back to the house to tell me there was a dog out by the coop growling at her. I grabbed the shotgun and flashlight and took off to protect the animals.
Quick aside here. You may think it is cruel or somehow not right for me to go after critters that threaten my animals in such a violent matter. Maybe it would be better to scare them off. Maybe it would be better to call the dog catcher to come and get them. Well, you very well could be correct. In my world, I am looking to solve the problem quickly and cleanly. I in no way want to harm an animal, but I have been placed as a steward of the resources I have and I take that responsibility very seriously...to the point of killing a threat if necessary. It certainly is not the only way, but it is my way.
So I head off towards the chicken coop and don't see a thing. Slowly, I make my way around the end of the shop, on the side of the shop by the 5th wheel and there are a pair of eyes staring at me. Smaller than a dog...maybe a mink or skunk. I take a couple of steps towards it and it steps towards me...I'm wondering if my wife heard a skunk or mink growl (do they vocalize?) and I fire...it was a feral cat. My wife insists it was a dog she heard by the coop, but no dog was found last night...just the feral cat that won't be having chicken for dinner.
Sometimes life on the farm is harsh, but at least for tonight the 14 chickens we have left will be safe.
Unfortunately, the reality of living on a farm sometimes gets in the way of the romantic notion of being on the farm. Last night was one of those times.
We had a couple of rogue chickens that had gotten out of the coop and made their way to the garage. We hate that because they poop all over the garage. My wife grabbed the chickens and began to make her way to the coop to return them. I was sitting in my office at the time when she came back to the house to tell me there was a dog out by the coop growling at her. I grabbed the shotgun and flashlight and took off to protect the animals.
Quick aside here. You may think it is cruel or somehow not right for me to go after critters that threaten my animals in such a violent matter. Maybe it would be better to scare them off. Maybe it would be better to call the dog catcher to come and get them. Well, you very well could be correct. In my world, I am looking to solve the problem quickly and cleanly. I in no way want to harm an animal, but I have been placed as a steward of the resources I have and I take that responsibility very seriously...to the point of killing a threat if necessary. It certainly is not the only way, but it is my way.
So I head off towards the chicken coop and don't see a thing. Slowly, I make my way around the end of the shop, on the side of the shop by the 5th wheel and there are a pair of eyes staring at me. Smaller than a dog...maybe a mink or skunk. I take a couple of steps towards it and it steps towards me...I'm wondering if my wife heard a skunk or mink growl (do they vocalize?) and I fire...it was a feral cat. My wife insists it was a dog she heard by the coop, but no dog was found last night...just the feral cat that won't be having chicken for dinner.
Sometimes life on the farm is harsh, but at least for tonight the 14 chickens we have left will be safe.
posted by Pastor Tom at 9:38 AM
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