Every morning, early, I put the boys in their outside play area, while it
is still cool.  And when I get done with my bird chores I take the girls
out to the temporary pen & let them have some play time.  I have been
watering my new grape vines & the transplanted grass plugs while they play.
Because this pen doesn't have a real roof over it I have to keep a close
watch on them.  It is partially covered & I pull a piece of tin over the
other part but there is one spot where little Miss Caffie can wiggle
herself up & through to get out.  While I do my watering I watch that pen
constantly but there are 2 spots where I have to turn my back for a minute
to get into position to water.
 
This morning everyone was in high spirits & bouncing all over the pen.  I
am watering one of those two spots & hear the Silkies (Banty hens) making
a fuss.  Thinking someone has just laid an egg I ignore them.  Pretty soon
they are making a racket & I look over & see the rooster & a hen neck in
neck run past my viewing area, & this blur of something close to the ground
speeds past in hot pursuit.  Feathers are flying off birds & you'd think
they were being plucked alive, what a noise!  I yell to Joey that something
is after the chickens & we run over.  By the time I get to their pen I can
see it is a ferret but can't tell who yet.  I then see it is Caffie & try
to catch her but she dashes through my hands.  Joey finally nabs her.
 
I don't know how she got out of their pen & into the Silkie pen so fast.
However before I put the piece of tin up she would get a running start &
jump up onto the wire, (it's only 2 feet tall) & be up on the edge of it &
jump off & I swear her feet were moving in mid aid as she comes down
running.  She knows that if she hesitates there I grab her & toss her back.
So the only thing I can think of is that yesterday when I saw her up on top
of the pen & put her back in, today she didn't waste any time investigating
the immediate area but took off towards the Silkies.
 
At first I didn't think it was very funny especially since the hens were
still making a fuss 30 minutes later.  But as time went on & I could see
in my memory those chickens running past & that blur of fur streaking by
full tilt in pursuit, it got funnier.  Joey said she sure wasn't trying
very hard to catch them, but I pointed out that she is rather low to the
ground & has short legs & this was her first (& last) time, she was doing
pretty darn good.  Besides the chickens were inspired to run faster than
her.
 
The temp pen is going to be sunk 2 feet in the ground & 2 more feet of wire
will be attached to the top of that & there will be a almost full wire top
on that, that should hold them much better.  Every couple of days I fill
in their tunnels so they have to start over, so am not worried about them
digging out with the wire 2 feet into the ground.  Right now it is just
sitting on the ground.  And hopefully since we are now going into our
rainy season I won't have to water my plants every morning to get them
established so once more can just sit next to the pen & watch the girls.
 
Lynn & Clan War Weasels
 
Caffie: "Drat! Foiled again & I bet it would have been paw lickin' good to!"
 
Disclaimer:  No chickens or ferts were hurt or killed.
[Posted in FML issue 3069]