Post by Mitra on Apr 10, 2007 19:53:43 GMT -5
That was one of my favorite books as a kid. I remember my third grade teacher reading it to the class. The anticipation of hearing another few pages each day used to nearly kill me. I was very sympathetic to Mr. Fox and his family and the lengths they had to go to, the dangers they faced in order to steal chickens from Farmer Bean. The book is by Roald Dahl, author of many amazing books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and James and the Giant Peach.
My sympathies are now with Farmer Bean. On Sunday at 8:30 a.m. I was filling up my water bucket for the ducks, while staring out the kitchen window. I had not released the ducks or the chickens yet. I had to do a double take when I realized that I was staring at the tallest fox I'd ever seen walk out of the woods and head straight toward the duck coop. There was no time for guns so Max let our Lab out the back door and yelled, "Sic 'em Lulu!" and she took off like a greyhound at a racetrack. The fox gave an annoyed over-the-shoulder look and just trotted into the woods without too much concern. Lulu was all bristled and growl-barking as she tried to follow it into the woods but the snow made it hard going because she kept sinking up to her chest while the fox never broke through the surface at all!
A couple of hours later, I let the ducks and chickens out of their coops but all the while feeling very stressed. Max put on his snowshoes and took the dog into the woods to track the fox and also to do some "perimeter peeing".
I keep thinking this is the beginning of the end I've had such a good run with no casualties to predators. My chickens and ducks have always roamed free during the day and been closed up at night.
My sympathies are now with Farmer Bean. On Sunday at 8:30 a.m. I was filling up my water bucket for the ducks, while staring out the kitchen window. I had not released the ducks or the chickens yet. I had to do a double take when I realized that I was staring at the tallest fox I'd ever seen walk out of the woods and head straight toward the duck coop. There was no time for guns so Max let our Lab out the back door and yelled, "Sic 'em Lulu!" and she took off like a greyhound at a racetrack. The fox gave an annoyed over-the-shoulder look and just trotted into the woods without too much concern. Lulu was all bristled and growl-barking as she tried to follow it into the woods but the snow made it hard going because she kept sinking up to her chest while the fox never broke through the surface at all!
A couple of hours later, I let the ducks and chickens out of their coops but all the while feeling very stressed. Max put on his snowshoes and took the dog into the woods to track the fox and also to do some "perimeter peeing".
I keep thinking this is the beginning of the end I've had such a good run with no casualties to predators. My chickens and ducks have always roamed free during the day and been closed up at night.