My animals are spoiled. Yes. Yes, they are. I buy cracked corn sorta for my chucks, but also for the White Tail deer. The deer beg. They stand at the bottom of the steps off the deck and look in through the sliding glass doors of the house and blink those giant beautiful eyes at me and say, “Gosh, it’s chilly out here. Don’t you have anything you can share? Don’t you have any corn?” And I do have corn.
I should show a pic of that scene. I don’t have one. Next time it happens I’ll take a pic and update this post.
Anyway, so today I had finished reading a journal article for class, and it wasn’t time for Zoom class yet, so as I bustled through the house I looked out the slider and saw a begging doe. I had time before class so I went out to the chicken house (where I keep the animal feed) and scooped up some cracked corn for her. I mean. There is still some snow left over from yesterday, so she’s probably cold. And things don’t grow that well in the winter. And, you know.
Yes! I’m a softie.
So I poured out a couple of piles of food for her on the grass. And the chickens, off in a huddle over by the creek, noticed I was doing something, and said, “Whut, ho?!” And they trotted over to investigate.
The doe was on alert, but ok with them at first.
I think this is the first time a deer has met my chickens close up. I recently discovered when I leave their door open, this particular group of hens doesn’t go far. In the past, I’ve had the Hussies, who roamed far and wide and brought shame on our family name. But in this group, there’s only one of that original bunch, and their dynamic is different. These 8 ladies prefer to hang around home. And their reward for that is that I’ve been leaving the door to their pen open nearly every day. They roam around, eat grass and bugs, and then go home at the end of the day. The deer come through the yard a couple times a day but there has never been a reason for them to meet each other until today.
It all went well till the hens pecked up the one pile of corn closest to them. The deer finished her pile of corn. There was one final pile of corn left untouched, and everybody wanted it.
The doe backed down, and let the hens have the third pile of corn, and then circled around back and ate the leftovers of their pile of corn that they hadn’t really finished. I can’t believe the deer let the hens have their way! It just goes to show how effective it is when you are bold and confident.
Then it was time for Zoom school and I logged in to my computer and let the ladies work it out.
Conscious Engagement 
this was a fun slice of life Crystal
thanks for sharing and you are kind to share like that
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🙂
who roamed far and wide and brought shame on our family name.
hahahahah
It is SO cool ho the dynamics change and glad these are not roamers
and love the captions with the photos
HI Yvette! I’m glad you enjoyed a little glimpse of my day with the hens and deer. I love imagining conversations between the critters out here. It’s a way to entertain myself during isolation, I guess. ha ha! I, too, am glad these hens are not roamers. So far, they prefer to stay down the hill by the pen, and the trees, and the creek. The last two batches of hens were all about coming directly to the house, and my gardens, and digging up all my gardens and pooping on all the places where I walk. Also, I could never get them to go back home at night. But these ladies must love their home and they trot back inside and fly up to their roosts each evening with no coaxing from me.
they must love their home indeed
What a delightful photo story. Jackie found feeding the deer a scary concept as a gardener 🙂
Jackie is smart to have that response!! These deer visit several times a day and eat my plants whether I feed them or not. I’ve tried to plant things that aren’t too yummy for them. My neighbor two years ago tried a plan of feeding the deer a huge amount of corn, apples, and bread so they would have no reason to eat her plants, and it didn’t work. I cannot have a real garden, like yours, for this reason, until I build a fence. Which I still have not done.
What you have seems idyllic to me
A sweet post. Thank you. Hope all is well?
Brian, all is well, thanks for asking. I just had friends stop by yesterday and it made my day. My week. We kept our masks on, stood 10 feet apart from each other outside, and chatted for 45 minutes till we were all shivering in the cold. Then mimed air hugs and kisses and waved goodbye. The world is certainly different. But gosh, having friends over was a boost. How are things in your world?
Same same. We used to get together with our daughters and grandkids often last year, since the MD daughter and hubby had caught the virus. So we were good for a while. But since December MD daughter put us back on lockdown. Too many cases at the hospital. Now they’ve had their first shot and daughter #2 caught the virus. 🦠 She had a bit of a rough time but is ok now. So we’re planning a big family re-union again mid or end-february. Yes!
You have a daughter if I recall? Can you see each other?
I have a kid, yes! Good memory. 🙂 Tara is transgender and prefers not to be thought of as a daughter, but gender neutral. They are at another town in their last year in college, and no, we don’t see each other much. Tara’s partner works at a supermarket and is exposed every day, so both of them feel like they are virus vectors and are protecting the ones they love by not visiting. We DID do a distance greeting at Christmastime though: masks on, outside, 10 feet apart, no hugs. 😦 I just found out that a Tribal clinic nearby is offering vaccines to anyone with a Tribal ID card, and Tara and I both have one, so we will probably go soon to get our shot.
Interesting. Daughter #2 did a Masters in DC on International development with a strong emphasis on Gender studies. And she works a lot in that field.
You have a tribal ID card? use it? In France it is a bloody mess to get access to vaccines, and here in Mexico, it is barely starting for “Senior citizens”! (I’ll take what we can…)
💉
yes we do have Tribal ID cards that show our registration number. What I like most is that it’s a photo ID, so on those rare occasions when I need multiple photo IDs, I have them handy! There’s not much else to use them for out here in Oregon though. Maybe I would use the card more if I lived back in the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.
So you belong to “me The First Nations” as they say in Canada? (Maybe in the US too?)
I did post on the subject a liitle while back. I can send you the link if you like.
The U.S. sometimes uses First Nations, and I’m pretty sure that is borrowed from Canada. Historically, the US public says American Indians or Native Americans. Within our tribes, we often call ourselves “Indians” which I have been told is a slur, ha ha! I guess not so much if we use it on ourselves. I am a registered member of the Cherokee Nation, and family rumor has it that my paternal grandfather was of the Modoc tribe. Sure, send me the link. I have posted multiple times in my blog about Indian issues.
Cherokee now… Interesting. I always like different perspectives. here’s the link:
https://equinoxio21.wordpress.com/2020/11/17/walking-the-edge/
Let me know what you think… Cheers
I love that you are such a softie, Crystal. 🙂
Does it show?
Yes! And it is wonderful. 🙂
Ahhh, how wonderful! I’d gladly have any of the photos on my wall. To me they signify that all is well in this world. (I know it isn’t but even so.) They bring to mind times long gone. And you let the doe have the corn just like you let a woman far away, who didn’t even blink with her eyelashes, have your old camera.
If only you had eyelashes like that doe! They would be your superpower, ha ha! I was thinking about the camera while making my fantasy plans of travelling to Italy at the end of summer. I wonder how to get the camera to you. It will one day be in your hands, I promise. ❤
❤ I have no doubt about it.