Saturday morning as we were getting up, the dogs started going crazy. They were throwing themselves at the end of the pen, and yelping like they do when they're on the scent of something. Then the geese went crazy. I looked out the window and saw a FOX! Not on the dam, or in the corner of the woods, but actually in our yard! I grabbed the shotgun, realized it's not loaded and I have NO idea where I "safely" stored the ammo. Then I realize by the time I find the bullets, get Bobby to tell me how to load and fire, then put my shoes on, that fox will have either eaten the goose eggs or a goose, or disappeared. So I run out on the back ramp and start screaming, "Get out of here you stupid fox! Get!" He ran to the dam, then turned around and looked as if he were reconsidering. So feeling stupid, I yell, "KaBoom!" He took off running then. Unfortunately, either he already had the eggs, or else Mr. Raccoon has been back to visit during the night. The two nests containing a total of 20+ eggs were down to three. I went ahead and claimed the three eggs from the third nest, but left the other three (partly because Chirpie {one we hatched in year two} was nesting on them!) They were gone Sun afternoon.
I feel mean for taking their eggs and incubating them, but if I leave them in their nests, something always gets them. Maybe next year I'll get a special fence and nesting boxes up, but this year I just don't see it happening. I do have the boxes ready, but I don't feel up to putting up a fence right now.
Meanwhile, my egg turning chart and incubator are now back in commission.
I feel mean for taking their eggs and incubating them, but if I leave them in their nests, something always gets them. Maybe next year I'll get a special fence and nesting boxes up, but this year I just don't see it happening. I do have the boxes ready, but I don't feel up to putting up a fence right now.
Meanwhile, my egg turning chart and incubator are now back in commission.
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