Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I Am Conflicted or R. Lynx in the Henhouse





I love nature! I love animals! I just don't like to see nature taking off with one of MY animals in it's mouth. We recently got our first egg and way earlier than anticipated. A perfect blush-brown pullet egg. It was adorable it made the cutest sliced boiled egg on a salad that you've ever seen. Woo hoo, project egg-stravaganza coming in early and on target. That is till Rufus arrived, Rufus Lynx, or Bob Cat as he is sometimes called. He has been quietly breakfasting and sometimes brunching on my hens. Just one or two at first when no one was around to see his felonious ways. But now he is offending in straight up broad daylight right in front of my lying eyes. He came over the fence grabbed a startled Spitzhauben girl, looked over his shoulder, winked and took off. Now the conflict sets in, I say I don't believe in capital punishment, guess we'll have to see how that one plays out. But for now the theme of the day is reinforce, reinforce, reinforce then electrify. This probably won't turn out well, I HATE electric fences, I get 'bit' more often than I think I deserve, but guess I'll try it before resorting to... well, you know.

7 comments:

Nicole Merkens said...

wow. i'd say he is a son of a.....

High Desert Diva said...

Awwww....hell

It's a hard one, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm going to be the 'city girl' that hates the animal-choices thing. Is there any way that something would permanently scare off the handsome Bob without killing him? I know I sound exactly like I am...unexperienced with the whole farm-thing.... but I would volunteer to come bang pots and pans! I also feel sorry for the chickens, you.... I guess it's a tough world out there, and High Desert Diva said it all.... "Hard one" is right. Good luck; to you, the chickens and the gorgeous lynx. (Can't we just name him and keep him?)
xoxo
Karen

Holly Hall said...

To quote Nick Cage in one of my favorite movies, Raising Arizona: "That Sumbitch."

Christopher A. Klingler said...

Have a great holiday weekend Christie! :)

Spooky CK

Owlfarmer said...

Time to shore up the henhouse, Christie. It's an investment, but making a bobcat-proof house is quite possible (we had one that kept out mountain lions). They don't get the run of the yard anymore, but they're safe and you get to watch Bob getting all frustrated. Mother Earth News back issues must have plans--or look around on the web. South of you, possums are the problem, and they're easier to deal with, but the principle's the same: house at night, secure pen for the day--and it may require a wire roof.

Unknown said...

I hope that old lynx has been disciplined now? Despite your problems I really enjoyed reading this. It opened up another part of our big world to me!

I loved reading about Woogie too. You write really well.