Often, when we think about wildlife, we imagine that they live in deep forests, and would rather not be near humans, but many  wild animals prefer manmade fields on the edges of woods. The meadow across the street from my home borders a 700 acre woods. It has a path through it that dog walkers use daily. Recently another type of canine has also been enjoying it. In fact, because of that combination of overgrown field, near to sheltering trees, these canines have decided to take up residence.

The path is an ideal place to survey its hunting grounds.

Lily is beside herself. She can see the fox from my office porch. She barks. She announces what an affront it is to have this fox in view, in her neighborhood.

The fox doesn’t care. And clearly, in his body language, lets Lily know.

Scooter hears Lily. He has no interest in tangling with a fox. But, it is an opportunity to claim Lily’s bed.

I’ve seen this fox’s mate. I believe that their den is under the tumbledown stone wall at the corner of this field. Poor Lily, when the kits come out to play, it’s going to make her bonkers. She would chase these animals down, but I won’t let her. One has mange. They both have teeth.

Meanwhile, the hens are being kept inside of their secure pens. I’m calling the fence company to install a perimeter wire fence around my property. It’s the price one pays when you have fox neighbors living side-by-side with hens and a little dog. The fence won’t guarantee that my animals will be 100% safe, but it will lessen the chance that they’ll be snatched while I’m watching over them.

It could be worse. At least the bear that lived here a few years ago hasn’t been back.

I did four Skype visits on World Read Aloud Day. Thanks to technology, children from California to Maine visited my hens and goats. Today I received a packet of thank-you notes.

Here I am, dressed in pink, with lovely long hair. Tillie has her own fancy top knot. What a wonderful image! But, even better than the drawing is the sentiment that the first grade artist, Grace, wrote: I Love Boock’s.

I love books, too, Grace.

Flock dynamics don’t change “just because.” Hens don’t suddenly become aggressive because “they’re mean.” When a stable and content flock attacks one chicken, that behavior is provoked by something. But, we humans don’t always know what that something is.

Two days ago, Edwina turned on Buffy. Siouxsie also decided that Buffy should be pounded on. They got Buffy’s comb (what little is left of it from other past aggressions.) Blood spurted. Buffy huddled under the ramp.

So, I set up the Rest & Relaxation Coop to the left of the old bunny hutch.

Because wire isn’t good for a chicken to stand on, I bedded it with hay. Buffy can sit there, with food and water within reach, and watch the other hens. She spent a few hours doing that today. Meanwhile, the other hens were certain that Buffy had something much more delicious than pellets in the feed cup. (She doesn’t.)

What’s perfect about this hutch is that there’s a cozy inside area. It has a wooden floor, so it’s bedded with pine shavings which are absorbent and easy to clean. Buffy has difficulty walking, but she moves between these two rooms seemingly with ease. She rather likes her peaceful, alone space, and was not pleased when I opened the door to take the photo.

If it was any other chicken, I’d say that she has only days to live. But it’s Buffy. She’s a tough old bird. We’ll see what a little R & R does for her. In the meanwhile, she’s out of view on the cams, but rest assured that she’s living in top-notch accomodations.