Shoot, Shovel And Shut Up

"Shoot, Shovel And Shut Up"

A fellow blogger left this in the comments after my post about the Fox on Thursday, saying that it's the rule of the modern rural life and unfortunately it's becoming true. 

To many of my friends around here I'm an oddity, someone who follows the old country ways as if they're instinct, but I fear I'm a dying breed.

Luckily seeing the majority of the comments on my blog over the last few days, I'm pleased to see that many share my views and, although I might have been courting controversy by even posting that post, I'm pleased that I can show a true picture of what I do here. To do anything else wouldn't be honest.

I may have lost some readers in the process, or then again I might have gained a few that respect that I have nothing to hide in what I do.

Fox

Well for a change I've managed to chalk one up to me rather than the fox, although I did loose a chicken the other day but I'm not sure to what. 

I shot this vixen about 30 yards away from the bottom chicken pen. 

It's the time for year when they get brave, so with lambing fast approaching I'm pleased to have removed this potential problem early on. 

Like with many of my hunting and shooting posts, I was in two minds as to post this post or not as I know how people get when it comes to animals, but I see things very black or white. This fox is a predator and the animals that I keep on this little homestead are it's prey. 

I don't see shooting this animals as something to be enjoyed, I see shooting it as a necessity. 

Fox Attack

Well I know I'm going to get a "I told you so" from mum, but tonight something killed half of my free range chickens. 

Six dead, I managed to find two bodies but I guess the fox carried off the rest. I hate it when this happens.

The trouble is it makes me ask myself some questions:

Should I keep free range chickens? 

There's no stopping a free range fox. Is it unfair to them to let them have this risk or to my own pocket? I genuinely enjoy having them about the place and getting up to their mischievous antics but it's obviously going to happen again.

Also what should I do with the six that are left?

I can add them to my other flock (seven birds) which is in a semi fox proof pen, but with a randy cockerel and I'm sure they'll be some fighting with the other hens. Or let them take their chances, although if the fox is on "cubbing" then I know she'll be back - this attack must have been bold as brass in daylight as all the chickens were scratching about the place when I left to do a job this evening.

Bugger.