Fox ..!

 After a peaceful afternoon nap I woke and was reading the final chapters of a good book. From the hen yard, one of the chickens began to cluck loudly.Chickens will often vocalize after laying an egg. Poultry fanciers call this "the egg song." I've read a variety of articles about why they do it, most seem to think it is to distract any predators away from their nest site. The noise this bird was making was similar to an egg song, but more strident, and went on and on.  I could barely hear it over the fan in the window, but after a few moments decided I should see what the fuss was about. I came down the stairs, and let the dogs out. Bravo and Flirt both barked alarm barks, so I hurried out to see what was up. There was a fox at the edge of the meadow. Small, probably one of this years kits, its coat glowed a deep and vibrant russet against the green grass. Bravo poised, impatient, as I fumbled with the latch on the gate, and as soon as I cracked it open he was through like a shot, running flat after the intruder. The fox hesitated just a second, looking over its shoulder at the dog barreling in his direction, then stretched and fairly flew to the far end where the grass meets a stand of white pine. He vanished under the electric fence and into the woods. Bravo stopped at the wire, cocked his leg to leave a calling card, then pranced back to me, proud. 

I watched him approach and scanned the pasture. The goats and donkeys were off in a scrubby area having an evening meal. The chickens and ducks were all in the hen yard, having tucked themselves there when the fox made itself known. Then I saw something white moving at the left edge of the pasture. A duck was there, huddled in the grass, but raising her head to look around. She was far from the rest of the birds, and too still. I walked to her and was pleased to see her stand at my approach, and take a few wobbling steps. Once I was close I could see crimson blood staining her snowy feathers. She let me pick her up, something I have never done before, and barely struggled as I carried her across the field to her coop. She had shallow wounds on the back of her neck, and near her rump. I rinsed the injuries with water, and put her in her coop with food and drink. She stayed there a little while, then awkwardly came out and sat among the other birds. She was panting and trembling, but I was encouraged to see her drink and move around a bit.

This morning she is still with us. She moves as if it hurts, but is up and about. I am hopeful that she will survive. 

Bravo is on high alert, hoping for a chance to chase the fox again. I am hopeful the thing will hunt elsewhere after being escorted from our yard by my good dog. I will pay better attention to the chickens conversation in the future, their warning was loud and clear.