New Tricks

Toby has developed new ways of communicating in his old age. He can't really bark any more and he's not willing to wait for someone to let him back inside, especially when it's cold out. He has discovered that putting his front paws on the screen door gets our attention, particularly if the inside door has been left open. We find it annoying, but it is rather difficult to reason with a dog who can't hear.

Toby has also discovered the snow is high enough so he can look into the living room window in the evenings when we're watching television. The first time he did that gave us quite a start, I can tell you!

One snowy morning before we had gotten out of bed, there was this terrible racket going on at our bedroom window, waking us. Toby, soaking wet, was attacking the screen on the window - having found the snow level with the window sill - and making it perfectly clear that he wanted in, NOW. He'd had enough of the snow and rain and wanted his morning treats, pronto.

If all that weren't bizarre enough, Cupcake has also learned the screen door trick.

Years ago, when we slept upstairs, the snow in winter would get high enough to reach the porch roof and Toby and the cats would appear at the bedroom window early in the morning to make sure we were up and moving.

After living with pets for a time, one wonders who owns whom.

Cupcake and the Fox

Living in an A-frame, our windows all have wide sills, perfect for cats to bird watch or bask in the sun. The other evening Cupcake, one of our cats, started running from window to window. Of course we had to see what she was fussing about. It turned out that a small red fox was visiting and wandering all around outside the house.

Cupcake wanted desperately to go outside and confront the intruder, although I'm sure the outcome wouldn't have been as nice as it is in storybooks. She was quite frantic about it. Cupcake has run off German Shepherds, Beagles, and other assorted canines in the past, but she's getting on in years and isn't as fast as she thinks she is.

Toby, our dog, isn't as sharp as he once. He's 15 years old, deaf, although he manages to know when one of us is in the kitchen, and doesn't see very well either. He didn't add to the commotion this time simply because he didn't know it was going on.

On a previous occasion, Cupcake and Toby confronted a fox over the compost pile. It turned out to be a stand-off, as neither side would give in. The fox tried to lure Toby out on a chase, but Toby wouldn't leave Cupcake behind. After quite some time, the fox gave up, smiling, and went on his merry way. One wonders who actually won that round.

Chickens

We've had chickens for several years here in Wyoming.  At the moment we have New Hampshire Reds, Barred Rocks and a couple of Arcunas.  They're excellent layers and have easy going personalities for the most part. The rooster isn't aggressive at all, which counts for a lot in my book, but not so much in my spouse's.  He prefers roosters who stalk you and then attack from behind. 

Steve built our coop and insulated it very well so the chickens continue to lay, even through our very long winters. He is in charge of cleaning out the coop, which he faithfully does on a monthly basis, and feeds and waters them.  We alternate getting the eggs, I do it during Daylight Savings Time and he does it during the winter, although in the fall I seem to be filling in quite a bit during hunting season.

Recently, on my egg gathering, one of the Barred Rocks was sitting on a nest.  We don't brood our own chicks and none of our hens has tried to set. I usually just move the hen aside and take the eggs.  However, this time, the hen wasn't going to budge. She peeked me, harder than necessary, I thought, but still refused to give up her seat. I managed to get a few of the eggs under her and then she bit me!  I have never in my life been bitten by a chicken! Thankfully they haven't any teeth. She bit hard enough to leave a bruise. I still managed to get all the eggs because once she bit me, she left the nest on her own. I was too shocked to do anything at all for a moment or two. 

I suppose I'll have to be more wary in future egg gatherings.  It just seemed so out of character for these chickens.