Eek

Crossed paths with a fox on the allotment today. I bared my teeth and snarled, and it looked unimpressed. So I chased it away.

I did feel sorry for it, because it looked like it ate rubbish and lived in an unfriendly environment. Poor thing. But that doesn't mean it gets to eat my girls.

I knew they were around because I'd seen tracks and droppings, and I guessed realistically they were probably around before that. Like rats, they're gonna be somewhere even if you don't see them. But it's still different to actually meet one.

My stupid birds just stood there looking at it. I guess when you've spent your whole life in a tiny metal cage, you don't know about predators.

(I do worry. But I've done everything I can to make the coop and run secure.)

In happier news, chickens have a great sense of comedy timing.

Trex and Dippy still look a bit rough, but Arky's looking better, and Steg is just beautiful. She looks like a Proper Chicken, one of those lovely fat little hens with fluffy knickers. Her face has gone from white to pink, and her comb has shrunk a bit and stood up properly (you can see her original pale-faced floppy-combed state in the user icon). Her feathers are this great light ginger colour with cream markings.

And just as I was considering what a gorgeous girl she'd blossomed into, she dropped a steaming poo the size of Glasgow.