The Wary Farm Wife: Rest in peace...

Sadly, we have lost our first hen. Miss Magnolia, who had stolen our hearts from the first instance we saw her, is now in chicken heaven. Five days ago, due to a change in routine in preparing for a mini-vacation, we left the coop door open-- as usual during the day-- but did not get home to shut the door until it was after dark. We know that darkness is a chicken's worst enemy, as with the darkened sky comes the predators. Our late night dinner with my parents turned into an unexpected feast for a curious raccoon. The coon found his way in the coop and to one of our favorite birds. I will not give details, as I'm still trying to get the images out of my own head. Little to say, I knew Magnolia was gone and counted two more chickens were missing (Primrose and a Bantam.)

I feared the fate of the other birds but knew I had to deal with the problem at hand. The raccoon was still in the coop. You know how you always hear that animals are more afraid of us humans than vice versa. Not true in this situation. Picture me, still in my work clothes, screaming profanities at the raccoon while slamming a rake on the coop walls. Picture the raccoon, sleeping in the coop with a full belly, not bothered in the least by my ranting and raving. So... what does a farmwife do??? Call her mom! She had good advice to put the hose on the raccoon but the hose was not long enough to reach. I was worried the raccoon would attack another bird if I left to go fetch water. After more colorful language and rake banging, I got the raccoon out of the coop.

Still in my work clothes and dying to go to the bathroom, I started searching for the missing girls. Armed with my cell phone (phone call #2 to one of my best friends) and Farmer J's headlight, I did lap after lap around the farmhouse. I looked in all the usual spots but found no "babies." I feared the worst.

When Farmer J returned home later that night, he searched as well with no luck.

In the light of day, in the midst of early morning packing for our trip, J found both birds just outside our mud room door. They were covered in frost but not hurt. Answered prayer. Yes, I did pray for the safe return of our missing chickens. We took them to the coop to get warmed up and fed. Thirteen birds is not as good as fourteen... but better than eleven.

I'm thankful the boys were not around for the above event. I wish J would have been home but I'm realizing, if I want to try out rural living, this is par for the course. Next time, of course hoping there won't be a next time, I will be armed with something a little more powerful than cuss words and a lawn implement.