Sunday, September 30, 2007

my Goldie is gone

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It has been a week since my favorite hen "Goldie Girl" died. We were blaming the red tailed hawk that has been hanging around. We didn't see it happen, we didn't find any remains. She just disappeared. I miss her. She was a wonderful gentle bird. She would follow me into the garden and work alongside of me. She would let you pick her up and pet her. She would talk to me. She laid green eggs. Poor Goldie. I hate to think of her being attacked by something. I searched through my photos to find a picture of her.

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On Friday afternoon, I returned home from an afternoon of spinning at the library. I had not let the chickens out to browse that morning, because it was a very cloudy day, and I feared that if the hawk came by, the hens wouldn't see the shadow and they would be easy prey. When I got out of my car, I heard the chickens squawking. They were very upset. I decided to sneak up on the hen house to see if I could spot the hawk. I was walking very quietly, looking up into the trees, when suddenly, about 4 feet in front of me...out of the weeds walks a bob cat! He (or she) didn't see me, he was looking at the chickens. I stood very still and after about 6 seconds, he turned his head to look at me. Our eyes locked briefly, he lowered his head to the ground, and slowly backed up into the weeds until I could no longer see him. Poor chooks. They will have to be locked up for a very long time.

11 comments:

pacalaga said...

Oh no! Poor Goldie, she was awfully pretty. The cat was probably happy to find a source for easy meals with the winter coming on. He'll have to go somewhere else.

Pat K said...

Poor Goldie! Hope the cat moves on to other pastures soon.

Judy said...

Sorry about Goldie. Would the Game Comm. help trap the bobcat? I never thought to call them with my coyote problem.

Leigh said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Goldie. So sad to lose a favorite animal. Bobcat beware.

Cathy said...

Sorry about losing Goldie. It's difficult to balance freedom with security. Yet - it is something to see a bobcat, isn't it?

meresy_g said...

I thought the same as cathy. Cool to see a Bobcat close up, but awful that it has identified your yard as a food source. Poor Goldie. Do you have a dog? My dogs are protective of the chickens and the chickens seem to know this, hanging around them when any hawks fly over. I've had hawks swoop down to try a grab a chicken twice and both times it was when the dogs weren't out.

Anne P said...

Oh dear - I am so very sorry. I am extremely hesitant to get chickens out here, since the idiot neighbor dogs insist upon digging under the fence (all 5 of em) and I know they wouldn't last long here.

Anonymous said...

That's so scary! I'm glad the bobcat is afraid of you, even though he terrified your chickens.

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your poor Goldie. We had the same problem - bobcats - until we got another dog. I hope you and your bobcat come to a truce.

gtr said...

Sorry to hear about Goldie... I'm a bit behind in reading. She sounds like she was a lovely friend. Bad cat!

vanessa said...

poor poor goldie girl.

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