The egg stealer was a ‘possum.
I had left the chook house door open, while I was at work, and Boo found the ‘possum sneaking out of the chook house. Last night. After I got home from work. When we went out to shut up all the barn doors for the night.
The chickens were in a fury. So I think that is that – but I will need to be alert for mink now that we know the mammals are on the move.
I always feel bad when Boo kills an animal that threatens his flock. But it is his job so I can’t have it both ways. The ‘possum would probably not have killed a chicken but Boo did not know that – they were shrieking so loudly he thought it was going to attack them. So he removed it.
And he has to keep guarding the the birds because – you know – bastard mink.
The temps are up into the 50’s for days now. Warm.
Mr. Flowers is doing very well at tapping on the window when he wants his food, now that the weather has warmed up and he’s back on the porch. I’d better wash that window.
I only feed him tiny bit at a time, I don’t want him to get too fat. If he is too heavy he won’t be able to fly up into the rafters of the barn and I don’t want him on the floor with the critters waking up.
Speaking of waking up, this morning I woke up to Little Quacker flying back-and-forth at speed above the house, screeching and quacking really loudly, with Big Quacker quacking back from her puddle. So I’m not sure what they’re planning but something is afoot. I fed them. And all is quiet again. But now the Little Quacker has remembered how to fly.
She can go anywhere now. The creek for sure. Hopefully she does not take Quacker with her. There will be mink hunting along there shortly.
And the mink have killed a few of my ducks over the years.
The forecast says sun today but it has dawned with heavy cloud. Ah Well.
I hope you have a great day!
Celi
TKG TAKE 10 – a quiet ten minutes. And you will hear Little Quaker’s voice. The one that woke me up this morning!
The Kitchen's Garden 
15 responses to “Mystery Solved”
Well at least you now have the answer and Boo did his job. Good Boo! I suspect Little Quacker has been employed to be the farmy alarm clock and it worked. Every animal really should have a purpose on the farm.
Who is going to be on window duty for Mr. Flowers while you travel? That sight of him peeking in the window makes me laugh every time.
Window Duty! 🤭 MF’s window is very close to Him Indoors (on his tablet) so he (Him Indoors) is in training to hand out a little feed. He is happy to help keep MF off the porch where we walk!
I’m glad the mystery has been solved and that Boo is doing his job. I can’t belive Little Quacker is still there. I guess he knows a good thing when he sees it.
I think she will go when mating season comes round. Nice place to doss down until spring.
The predators are definitely on the move around here, in south coastal Georgia. My two chickens are predator bait. Speckles has geen attacked by owls twice, foxes, and chased by dogs.
Hawks watch from the trees, and we all recognize their sounds. Tweety runs cats off, and so far, she can outrun owls. Something has been getting some of Tweety’s eggs, maybe a racoon or a possum. Lately I’ve heard coyotes across the marsh, for the first time in my life.
Interesting that you’ve just got coyotes in your area. I wonder why. An old man told me that around here they didn’t used to be coyotes until they started growing corn in big amounts and the corn, brought the deer, and the deer brought the coyotes. That’s what he told me anyway, I thought that was interesting.
I believe animals migrate just like people do–to fond more congenial habitats. Our modern overlay only adds layers of complexity, but the US “border crisis” is the result of political machinations caused by the artificial creation of fences and lines in the sand. Coyotes probably have been somewhat displaced in the Western US because of human development, roads, highways, and other animal migration patterns.
Aww Little Quacker wants Quacker to play. The spring ducks here seem to go from pond to pond during the mating season. Interestingly they seem to know exactly where they are and have been coming here for years. There’s a man downstairs who feeds all the beasts and in spite of the ducks not being here for months, they go straight to his door and wait…
Well done Boo!
In duck shooting season in NZ the parks and city creeks swarm with wild ducks. For exactly that month. I also wonder how they know – they must have amazing radars for season and geography and apparently a mans door! I love that.
Yes, I think they are quite astonishing.
Glad you solved the mystery!
I feel bad that I find possums creepy and ugly because they’re very helpful animals. (when they’re not stealing eggs, that is) I wonder what the quackers have in store!
I know it is a tough one. But Boo is very protective of his birds (and his little pigs). I will be interested to see if Quacker buzzes the house again tomorrow morning.
Is the quacker 🦆back?
Yes! Little Quacker is still here.