…on a chicken hunt…
One of the nasty little rat dogs from next door got loose and chased Sam, my little white cockerel, into the hedge. He’s usually easy to spot because of his color, so I reckon he’s crawled deep under some bush and gone to ground. If we don’t find him before roosting time, Mr Fox is likely to overnight.
They hunker down and go silent. I’ve been on a scared chicken hunt or two.
And I have to go to an event in town later. I’ll give you an update, but it’s likely to be late.
UPDATE: GOT HIM! Not sure where he was, but I found him walking up the drive headed to his own bed for the night. I wanted to pick him up, but he’s a little too freaked.
Posted: April 9th, 2026 under personal.
Comments: 9
Comments
Comment from Some Vegetable
Time: April 9, 2026, 5:18 pm
Hooray!
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: April 9, 2026, 6:16 pm
Whew! Thanks for the good news update.
I’m very familiar with the kind of dog you describe. Hereabouts in SW FL, right on the Gulf and otherwise surrounded by rivers, lakes, and swamps, they’re generally referred to as “bait.”
Comment from Pupster
Time: April 9, 2026, 9:06 pm
Is Sam the last of the chicken Mohicans? Poor little guy, I’m glad you found him.
Comment from Tim Carlson
Time: April 9, 2026, 9:07 pm
Uncle Al – those yappy dogs are also known as “gator snacks”.
I have a large pen – 20msq, 4mx5m – that is completely fenced in with a mesh top. No way to get in (famous last words), no way to get out (okay, those are the more famous last words). There’s a small pond, a nesting house, and 17 ducks and 40+ chickens. They keep me busy, active, and moving around. Plus daily eggs – both chicken and duck – and occasional meat.
I refrain from naming them so I don’t get too attached. Deaths are hard enough to deal with.
Comment from Tim Carlson
Time: April 9, 2026, 9:13 pm
Reminds me of a story:
One day, my niece informed me of a loose duck in the yard. I couldn’t figure out how it escaped our ‘inescapable’ pen, but there it was. We chased it around the compound for about 1/2 hour, and finally got it back in the pen.
The next morning, during the daily feeding/cleaning, I did a count. I had one duck extra. What the hell? I think I recounted 2 or 3 times. Still one extra.
The only thing we can figure is that the duck in our yard was from somewhere else in the neighborhood. Oh well, Finders Keepers.
Comment from QuasiModo
Time: April 9, 2026, 9:26 pm
Yay!…glad Sam is safe and sound 🙂
Comment from tinman
Time: April 10, 2026, 2:50 am
The prodigal chicken has returned!
Comment from Bob Mulroy
Time: April 10, 2026, 6:41 am
Maybe the massive telescope at Greenbank can find your roos?
ExpressoBold Pureblood local news services just flog the hell out of any press release from those guys:
https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2026/04/green-bank-telescope-supporting-the-artemis-ii-mission/
Comment from Mike In Fairfax
Time: April 12, 2026, 5:03 am
Hey, since you’ve only a few birds, is there any way to fasten an Airtag to your mother cluckers?
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