Terror on the Farm

By I. Laid Aygs (A hen at Jehovah-Jireh Farm)

When you come out to Jehovah-Jireh Farm, everything probably looks as peaceful as can be. But let me tell you a story from my perspective at the henhouse.

One morning this winter, we hens woke up and found a thick blanket of snow covering the ground. "Looks pretty deep," I said to my best friend, Henny. And it was. By the end of the day, the big people were saying something about two feet of snow when they came to gather eggs. We had managed to keep a path trampled to the feeder, and the water pans were inside, so we were doing okay. The worst part came about a week later.

As we hens began to stir one morning, a red animal slunk into the chicken house. We recognized the fox, and started squawking. The fox sprang at me.

Quick as a flash, I turned and ran, with the fox right behind me. "Go, Laid!" yelled all the hens. I stayed ahead of the fox until I came to a fence. The fox had me cornered.

Quick as a flash he grabbed me by the neck. "Let go of me!" I squawked, flapping my wings. That was the last thing I remember.

When I came to, I found myself buried in the snow. With a few flaps and kicks, I broke out, but didn't have the energy to get up. I heard a voice yelling "Scat!" In the distance, the fox was tearing across the snow. On the ground around the shelter lay 14 dead hens.

Footsteps crunched through the snow. The gate beside me swung open, and gentle hands picked me up. I saw it was the big man that takes care of us. He carried me back to the shelter.

The fox came back the next night, so the big man and the boy set a trap and took the fox away. So, at least for now, we can breathe easier. Of course, we never know. Some morning, a red shape may come stealing into the henhouse...

Farmer's note: This is a true incidence that happened during the big snow in 2003. About 14 hens were killed and two were still alive after being buried in the snow some distance from the hen shelter. We have developed an electric fence system that works very well in keeping the hens safe from the foxes. However, the deep snow buried the fence and the fox walked right in on top of the snow. Usually, a fox does not just kill one hen and eat it. It goes on a killing spree. Hens also have to watch out for hawks and owls. Human beings aren't the only ones who are concerned about terrorists!