This week has been a bit of a tough one for the boys around here.
In a household consisting of 7 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, 2 birds, assorted chickens, ducks, geese and finally 2 people there are a very limited number of males. There’s me, Sancho, a couple of roosters and a peacock. As you can see we’re a bit outnumbered and this week has seen considerable violence perpetrated against us (well maybe not considerable but …)
As you’d be aware, males are supposed to have a lower tolerance for pain than females (at least that’s the story you’ll get from the girls). Well, I think we’ve managed very well under extremely trying circumstances.
Firstly, I was attacked by the electric fence and a rooster. My understanding is that the electric fence is around the chicken yard to protect them against foxes, which are common in this area. While organising the water for the chickens I inadvertently (well I wouldn’t do it intentionally would I?) touched the charged wire. I was immediately assured that it was working very effectively.
Feeling somewhat sore and slightly sorry for myself (actually I was having an internal discussion – using appropriate language – about what a dumb thing that was to do) I entered the enclosure only to be viciously attacked by one of the roosters. OK – so it wasn’t so vicious but he did leave me with a bloody knee and a very trendy hole developing in my jeans. Given my earlier comments about the gender imbalance you’d think there’d at least be some solidarity but oh no – not this little black chicken!! Mind you, I had been warned about him. The owner had told me she had to beat him off with a rubbish bin lid at times. Fortunately for me, he seemed to respond to a good hosing down – perhaps the chicken equivalent of a water cannon at a riot.
Then it was Sancho’s turn. As I mentioned in last week’s post one of the dogs is blind. Danita was taking some meat and bones outside to share around and there was a canine stampede for the front door. Unfortunately, the screen door had shut and so five dogs were jammed together trying to get out with Sancho and Stella (the blind one) in the centre.
Stella, presumably under extreme duress, then had a bit of a barny with Sancho. This turned into something like a schoolyard punchup – two dogs, in the middle fighting, with a few onlookers providing very noisy encouragement. I provided “crowd control” by throwing Stella off Sancho which had the desired effect of calming the situation. We were then able to open the screen door and everyone headed out to their objective – the meat and bones.
While he dealt with it very stoically, Sancho did end up with a cut just below his eye and one of the back of his neck. I contemplated taking him to the nearby vet but after cleaning him up with antiseptic he seemed his usual cheerful self and so we decided to “keep him under observation”.
Ultimately, all has worked out and Sancho still gets on well with Stella, and the rooster and I are doing much better – I think he’s worked out that whenever I turn up he gets fed so that’s incentivised him quite successfully.
I’m now looking forward to a more sedate week.