Outwitted

I’m an introvert. Introverts tend to have a rich inner world–especially INFJs like me. I always think that I live life on two levels: One level involves studying and pondering deep things and the other level involves mundane daily tasks, although “mundane” is actually the wrong word to use because that can imply “boring” and I don’t think daily life is boring. I can’t remember the last time I was bored. While I was busy turning my poem into a song with Grok, which was very fun and exciting, I was also busy doing other tasks, mostly involving the animals.

Two or three weeks ago, we finally let Harvey out of the garage. He is the feral cat we adopted last November. It was too cold to let him out until recently and, most importantly, I wanted to make sure we had friended him before setting him free. He was very timid and it took months to win his trust. I think he will always be timid, but he now loves being petted. I was a little concerned that once we let him out, he wouldn’t go back into the garage at night. We have predators–coyotes, foxes, bobcats, etc.–and I always make sure our outside animals are safely shut up at night. Theo, our other outside cat, is extremely affectionate: I can call him to me and pick him up if necessary to carry him in the garage. But Harvey doesn’t come when called and I can’t pick him up. However, despite my concerns, so far Harvey has always come back into the garage before I have to shut the doors for the night. Even if he’s left out for the night, we have outside shelters and Harvey did survive as a feral cat before we adopted him. Still, I like to know he is securely safe.

Timmy, our old inside cat, decided he had gotten a promotion when Hannah Joy died in February and he took over as “Lord of the Bed.” He has mostly stayed on the bed, day and night. I like having animals sleep with us, but Timmy became a problem. He slept at the foot of the bed near my feet and any time I stirred, he walked up my body and repeatedly “mewed” in my face. It always took a while for him to settle down again. I always get up with EJ when he wakes to get ready for work at 4 a.m. If it was anywhere near that time–like 3 a.m.–Timmy would insistently “mew” in my face and not stop. So I was constantly awakened during the night and began to feel very sleep deprived. Finally, I had enough and banished Timmy from the bedroom at night. Of course, this also means that none of the other cats can be in the bedroom at night. I tell them before I close the bedroom door in their faces, “Don’t blame me. It’s Timmy’s fault.”

A week or so ago I released the hen and her chicks from the “nursery.” Three hens had oddly shared the same nesting box while they were incubating the eggs and I wasn’t sure which was the “true” mama so I had them and the six chicks contained together in the coop. Two of the hens eventually got tired of being quarantined and escaped. Usually I keep the chicks we get from the farm store contained until they are much bigger, but since these had a Mama to protect and guide them, I decided to let them out. It’s so much fun watching the chicks zooming around full of energy–like young ones of all species do–yet staying near their Mama. Every time I see them my heart melts. They are so cute. They are interesting color combinations: Taking on the characteristics of Richard VI, while also clearly the traits of their mothers–New Hampshire/Rhode Island Reds and the golden Buff Orpingtons. I’m not sure what breed Richard VI is. We got him for free from a couple we found on FB Marketplace who needed to get rid of a few roosters and I forgot to ask them what he was. I’ve looked at chicken breeds online but can’t find one that looks like him.

Video: Hen and Chicks

Richard VI has become troublesome. A few weeks ago he started escaping from the fenced garden. At first he escaped only once every few days but the frequency increased until he escapes multiple times a day. I walked the perimeter of the fence several times and could not find any hole he was escaping through. One day when he was constantly escaping, we moved my trail cam to try to discover his escape route but he didn’t attempt any escapes after the camera was up. The stinker. I felt outwitted by a chicken.

I finally discovered where he was getting through the fence when he ran through a gap next to the house when I herded him toward the gate. EJ fixed that place, but still he escaped. Grrr! Then one day I was herding him and he FLEW OVER THE FENCE! Seriously? I’ve never had a rooster–or hen–fly over the fence before. He never attempts an escape when I’m spying through the window so I don’t know if he has a favorite location from which to escape. Preventing his flying escapes is not such an easy fix. EJ said that we could put chicken wire along the top of the current fence, bending it inwards (like a fence around a prison). I said, “Good idea. Then we can build watch towers with spotlights, alarms, and snipers.” EJ said, “Uh. No. The fence will do.” It will take time to put up the extra fencing when we have so many other things to do so meanwhile Richard VI keeps escaping.

I’m turning into Mr. Tweedie from the movie, Chicken Run. Not MRS. Tweedie because she is cruel and hates chickens. Mr. Tweedie spies on the chickens and is sure they are organizing. That’s me. Sometimes I see the hens gathered in a circle under the lilac bushes and I wonder if they are trying to organize a union or are planning a escape (led by Richard VI). Multiple times during the day I go to the window to see if Richard VI is still inside the fence. If I see him pacing outside it, I get a ski pole in the hallway near the door. (We don’t ski. We use them as staffs.) I go around the outside of the east side of the house to herd Richard VI toward the gate in the west side of the garden. If EJ is home, he opens the gate when we get close so the rooster can go in. If EJ is at work, I have to manage it myself. All the time I’m herding Richard VI, I’m scolding him:

“Why do you INSIST on escaping, RICHARD THE SIXTH?” Saying his full name in all caps indicates I’m not impressed and he’s in big trouble.

“The grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence.” Ok, it actually is because the chickens have eaten all the early Spring greenery inside the fence. But Richard VI doesn’t need to know that.

You have 20 attractive hens in your flock. They are INSIDE the fence. When you are OUTSIDE, you have no access to them. Understand?” Apparently not.

“You are being a complete BIRDBRAIN.” He’s a bird and he has a brain so that’s a true statement. And right now I think he’s pretty clever and wily.

“You are going to end up as a predator’s chicken dinner. Do you WANT to be dinner for a fox or coyote?” He ignores me. I’m sure he thinks he can outwit them like he’s outwitting me.

“If you get snatched I will NOT be sad because it will be YOUR own fault.” I actually will be rather sad. I like Richard VI.

“Do you WANT to leave your children without their father? Do you WANT them to be traumatized for the rest of their lives?” They probably won’t be but a little guilt won’t hurt Richard VI.

I’m not exacting affirming Richard VI, but I’m concerned for him and he needs to stop escaping. My scolding doesn’t seem to be adversely affecting him.

Gotta run: Richard VI is outside the fence. This is about the 4th time he’s escaped so far this morning.