Pests and poultry

Post has nothing to do with anything really, except I am angry and need to vent.

We inherited some ducks and chickens when we moved into our current home and despite various fox attacks we've always managed to remain philosophical about things.

Until now.

I was given 3 white runner ducks a few months ago, they were lovely and funny. Then one day they disappeared. We told the kids they'd 'gone for a walk'. It's a reason we use lots!

Just over 2 months ago I was given 2 more ducks - Aylesburys I think. Maisie named them Sarah and Abigail.

Mr Fox came last week, took 3 cockerels, 3 chickens and the lovely Sarah and Abigail. Gutted. Me, and them.

Then on Thursday Jim procured 2 free cockerels - they reminded me of Foghorn Leghorn.

Which brings me to this evening. Jim found our remaining 3 chickens on the garden table, so shooed them home and discovered the cockerels were dead. 

Then moments after putting the kids to bed (7.15 and still very light), a hen sounded the alarm.

Rushed through the house, nearly fell over each other and the dogs (very excited by all the activity!) in our haste to get out - we found one little bantam hen going mad on the pergola.

Our other 2 chickens are no more.

Here's the only photo I gave of the cockerels. Maisie hadn't even met them yet.

PS - Jim went to feed our solitary chicken, named Polito after El Macho's chicken in Despicable Me 2, he found that the other 2 had returned!

Big smiles this morning.

....And we're off..... Grand national weekend

Well we have a decent house offer - yay - and this week we've also sorted out a small investment property to buy in braunton - double yay. 

I feel slightly nervous though, as unlike in norway when you make a bid on a house it's legally binding, in this country you can dick about or be be dicked about right up to exchange. So although this should be a 'it started with a minion' moment it's currently more of 'jim on telemark skis' moment. It should be cool but somehow isn't - no whether it's due to a lack of technique, ageing knees, or inabity just to be cool, who knows but one thing is for certain we're going to keep trying :). 

Fingers crossed for us please people .

As an aside  a 25-1 outsider trained by a dr won the national today. So you see with enough effort and bit of luck you be successful at anything you put your mind to.......now bend zee knee and tele, bend zee knee tele......