[Jacob-list] sheep and chickens

[dave & katrina]

Hi listers-
Thought I would share a story with you...  I was outside this morning feeding/checking on an older ewe who had left the flock with sunken sides and while I stood watching her, I noticed all the funny sheep shaped 'shadows' where the flock had laid on the pasture grass.  The frost had collected on their backs, leaving a little frost-free patch whenever they got up in the morning.  It was easy to see how many had chosen to sleep outside last night.   

On the way back to the house, I noticed another of these frost-free shadows on the lawn just before you get to the long walkway leading up to the house.  It was about 50 ft from the chicken house. About the size of a small dog or large cat, with a long fluffy tail shadow out the back.  I looked at it for a long time not realizing what I was seeing until finally I looked at that long tail shadow again and made the connection.  Could it be that our slinking red fox had laid there most of the night hoping to see a stray chicken which never made it back to the coop!  (our dog patrols closer to the house) A few chickens that have decided to spend the night in the barn (mostly teenager roosters) have become meals for this fox, since I have seen feathers scattered in the barn once in a while...the most recent was a few days ago. 
Speaking of chickens...don't chickens and sheep have a funny relationship?  Our sheep come running over when we feed the chickens (scattering grain) but soon forget to try to steal grain as the chickens run under and around them.  Must tickle their bellies because the sheep start looking mesmerized and soon their legs give way and they collapse right in the middle of the scratch grains with chickens continuing to run all around them looking very frustrated.  Cracks me up.
Katrina
Chicory Lane Farm
http://wwwfac.wmdc.edu/HTMLpages/Graduate/TI/pages/lefever/chicory.htm
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