Today was a bit….eventful. When I went to check one the flock today I noticed little boy boot prints all over the yard and around the coop. I figure that one the neighboring hellions came by to look at the birds and left. I didn’t see any harm, went inside, and proceeded to make honey cakes for Imbolc with Little Mister.
While working on our snack, I kept having a nagging feeling. I decide to go back out and investigate. I’m glad I did. The run door was ajar. There were feather prints in the snow indicative of a bird trying to get away. Also, Alice was missing.
I woke Hubster up from his Norovirus-induced nap and told him someone has stolen one of our older ladies, an Arcuana/Leghorn named Alice. We went outside and tracked down the footprints. Our suspicions were correct: one of the neighboring kids took her.
Just as I was about ready to walk over, the boy’s two older sisters came down the gulley with Alice. Hubster met them down by the stream and apologized. Their six year old brother and four year old brother – only an accomplice – had stolen her and had snuck her up to their attic.
After the girls went home, we checked Al out. She was none the worse for wear and we treated her to some left over eggs, loved on her, and put her back with the rest of the flock. Once she was settled in, I walked to the house where the kiddos lived. I thanked their mother for sending the girls over with Al. The little boy tried his damndest to plead with me. (He “only wanted a pet” and could I give him “one with a cage to keep it in?”) I’m hoping that by taking the step to go over there and show a thankful, positive front the little shitter won’t try it again.
If he does I wouldn’t be too broken hearted if a rooster handed the kid his ass.
