CHICKEN NEWS #8

CHICKEN NEWS from the Butterfly Tree #8

permission to forward to friends granted

May 10, 2005

The raccoons are back! Just when I am sure (after deporting 11 of them) they are gone, Izzy, Iphigenia, (Iffy) and Chuckles come under attack.

It is 4:00 AM and my trusty Guardian of the Poultry, Ms. Dana arrives, screaming into the early morning and the duck pen.

"You dirty filthy raccoons! Get out of here! Go!"

She locks the ducks into their inner safety box, which we thought was no longer necessary, now that the three new ducks have a large enclosed area, protected by lattice and fence wire . . . an impenetrable fortress, at least so we thought.

But Iffy is injured and next morning limps. We feed her water and grain, but still the next day doesn't walk . . . but she is better than the day before. Chuckles and Izzy keep her company.

The seven hens in their secured area continue to lay eggs, seven a day, and they get along beautifully. Magic is deliriously happy with the harem.

I am wondering what the significance is of this on going drama of chickens and ducks, and I realize it is two fold:

1. It points out to me my own inadequacies as a human being and

2. It shows me how like animals we humans are.

What I have learned from the latest raccoon attack is that I am still at war with raccoons and have been for about 25 years, that I still hate raccoons, and try to outwit them with traps, fenced-in areas, etc. and continue to bandage up the wounded left over from the Ongoing Raccoon Wars. But have they improved my character? Do they bring delight or joy to my life? Do they entertain or enlighten me? Of course NO is the answer to all three questions.

I am left with life as it is at the Butterfly Tree. Maybe some day I will be able to write a poem to a raccoon. . . but not this month. Instead I shall leave you with a few excerpts from the "YEAR OF THE ROOSTER 4702" , which was sent to me by my neighbor Wayne, who gathered it from several sources.

"The Chinese year 4702 is the Year of the Wood Rooster . . . It may require a great deal of effort this year to resist going off on wild goose chases. Disappointments and conflicts will resiult. The Rooster likes to flaunt his authority and a lot of trouble can come from his domineering attitude. But since he also symbolizes the good administrator and conscientious overseer of justice in the barnyard, the peace will still be kept. Everything will be precariously balanced in the Rooster's year, as his dramatic personality can set off all kinds of petty disputes.

"The diplomatic scene will be dominated by philosopjical orators who rave a lot about nothing. We may also be terribly ostentatious about the splendid image we think we project. . . but this will be a buoyant year in spite of the Rooster's knack for making simple things complicated. One thing for sure: he seldom comes up empty-handed!" (excerpts courtesy of Wayne Heldt)

Karla Andersdatter