Flock Loss

So, something---probably a raccoon---got into my coop last night and killed everyone but Arcata, the lovely little phoenix hen Allison gave me a couple months ago. I went out this morning, and there were just a couple of bodies, mostly eaten, and a lot of feathers.

This is an inevitable part of having poultry, and it will almost certainly happen eventually to everyone who does. It still sucks, and I'm very sad about it. I've gone back and forth over the years about how to deal with this emotionally, and it's hard not to question whether letting myself get attached to the damned chickens is really a good idea. Being emotionally distant from them is worse, though. So, I will continue to tame and name the poultry and just accept that from time to time, the wild requires a sacrifice. Still, it's been a really long time since wildlife took everything.

My mystery squawking the other night was probably the coon coming in and being chased off by the dogs, who were all sleeping in my bedroom last night, with the door closed. So, tonight I will lock Arcata in the small coop and leave the door to the chickenyard open, and Jez loose. That should either chase them off or deliver me grilled raccoon steak for the following night, and the next day I think I can borrow a cat trap. If I catch any coons, I will drop them off in remote woods many miles away from me.

Meanwhile, life goes on. I just picked up some adorable week-old chicks, and a young pullet to keep Arcata company so she isn't alone for a month. Still sucks. Marilyn, Wild Blue, Random, Oddment, Whatnot, Felix, Vivienne and Josephine, I am sorry. I'll miss you.

Sad.

Alphabet meme

prickvixen made this up, and I thought it was cool. Then I did it, and LMAO at my results. So here it is:

Think of a word beginning with the letter 'A'. Note the first word which comes into your head. Then immediately think of a word beginning with 'B', and so on, through the entire alphabet. Try not to look at or revisit your notes during this process. Nonsense words are absolutely allowed.

When you're finished, post the words and these rules in your LJ; put the entire list behind an lj-cut so that you don't hijack someone's thoughts accidentally. Repeat as necessary.

*

I definitely need to go to sleep now, and hey, the chicks in the living room have stopped cheeping, bonus! The wolf and the collie are both fast asleep, facing each other, with their foreheads smooshed together. It is so very mind-meltingly cute. I am glad I have them, even though they don't always succeed in keeping raccoons at bay. Loves my puppies.

( letters thoughts )