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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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I have some roosters that I keep and they pretty much run where they want. Every now and then something scares them and they start making a huge noise. A few days ago they started making a racket like a predator was near. When I went out I didn't see anything around and then this huge shadow went overhead. I looked up to see a hawk swoop from one tree to another. As the hawk was landing in the tree it looked as if it dropped something and because it was staying in the tree I waited around until it flew off.
An hour or so later I went for a hike around the property. When I was getting near the house I kept hearing a really strange sound as if someone was torturing a squirrel. Lucy, my dog, ran over to see what was making all that noise. She ran across the creek and up the steep hill where the hawk had been earlier and chased something out that was now tumbling down the cliff.
It turned out to be the smallest baby fox I have ever seen... he fits nicely all curled up in one hand. Apparently, the hawk had found a meal and it got away, now I need to figure out what to do with a tiny fox kit. I could not leave the little critter out there to die and yet what is a chicken farmer to do with a fox?Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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I enjoyed your post. I lost all my chickens to the fox who makes his home in our woods. I have seen the little ones running and playing and jumping over each other and just enjoying life. What a gift. I'm guessing that you have the wee one tucked away someplace. What else could you do? 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Hi Kay, How are ya. Intangable couldn't you keep him as a pet and let it grow up
with you it might protect the chickens if it is around them all it's life.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 9/9/2008 Posts: 2,978
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Neat story Greg,
It's good to see you posting again. Not sure what I would do in that instance. I know I would be tempted to keep the fox and try to nurture him back to health. The problem with that though is it would be hard to reintroduce him back into his natural habitat. Maybe a trip to the vet is in order and they could give some recommendations.
Okay, gotta get back to my coffee and start thinking about what needs done today.
~ Insults Should Be Written In Sand ~ Compliments Should Be Carved In Stone ~
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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Well it seems there will be one more addition to our family. West Virginia is one of a very few states that do not regulate keeping most wild animals. There is a two dollar fee that is to be paid to the Division of Natrual Resources for a permit but that is about it.
I will be taking Jack Henry to our regular vet to get his shots and a check up soon. We fed him with a dropper for a few days and now he eats cat food... about a half teaspoon at a time four or five times a day. Once I gave him a good bath he looked a whole lot better.
I don't know why Jack Henry is so tame, no sort of contact seems to bother him at all. In fact, I have never had ANY animal be so gentle. I have had a wide vartiety of animals share my home through the years, mostly dogs and cats but we did have an oppossum we raised, along with frogs, turtles, cavies, various rodents, birds and fish I have had the opportunity to be around quite a few different critters and NONE, not ONE, has been as calm and accepting as this little baby fox.
His normal routine has him wake up, he makes a wide array of calls and sounds and I let him out of his pen. He runs around for about 5 minutes and then decides to eat. He runs around a bit more and then curls up on me or in my hand and goes to sleep and I put him into his little den in the pen and he sleeps for a few hours.Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 3/3/2008 Posts: 12,943
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Some folks don't deserve to be on the front page. Just saying. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? - Galatians 4:16
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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stevelundgren wrote:Some folks don't deserve to be on the front page.
Just saying.
What is that supposed to mean? Is this something in context?Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 3/3/2008 Posts: 12,943
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This is Pet Corner. How much context do you need? LOL Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? - Galatians 4:16
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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stevelundgren wrote:This is Pet Corner.
How much context do you need?
LOL
So then, what is your intended meaning of "some folks don't deserve to be on the front page?"
What has that got to do with my post or pets?Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 3/3/2008 Posts: 12,943
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You said it better than I ever could. The trouble ain't that there's too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right. ~Mark Twain~ It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. ~William G. McAdoo~ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? - Galatians 4:16
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 9/9/2008 Posts: 2,978
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intangible wrote:Well it seems there will be one more addition to our family. West Virginia is one of a very few states that do not regulate keeping most wild animals. There is a two dollar fee that is to be paid to the Division of Natrual Resources for a permit but that is about it.
I will be taking Jack Henry to our regular vet to get his shots and a check up soon. We fed him with a dropper for a few days and now he eats cat food... about a half teaspoon at a time four or five times a day. Once I gave him a good bath he looked a whole lot better.
I don't know why Jack Henry is so tame, no sort of contact seems to bother him at all. In fact, I have never had ANY animal be so gentle. I have had a wide vartiety of animals share my home through the years, mostly dogs and cats but we did have an oppossum we raised, along with frogs, turtles, cavies, various rodents, birds and fish I have had the opportunity to be around quite a few different critters and NONE, not ONE, has been as calm and accepting as this little baby fox.
His normal routine has him wake up, he makes a wide array of calls and sounds and I let him out of his pen. He runs around for about 5 minutes and then decides to eat. He runs around a bit more and then curls up on me or in my hand and goes to sleep and I put him into his little den in the pen and he sleeps for a few hours.
I think it's great your going to keep him/her Greg. It sounds as though the little guy needs your help. I'm not sure if you were aware that my dog is half coyote. Best darn dog EVER! I'm betting you have the same with your Fox puppy. If you would allow him to sleep with you then bonding is easier and he'll learn quickly to trust you which is so important. If you ever change your mind about keeping the little guy, I would definitely be interested. I had a neighbor with a Fox pup years ago and he worked out great for him. They were the best of friends and made a wonderful pet.
K, gotta get for now but will check back in later. Good luck with your new baby my friend.
Sarge 
Oh yeah, one more thing before I forget, whats a cavie?
~ Insults Should Be Written In Sand ~ Compliments Should Be Carved In Stone ~
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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intangible wrote:Well it seems there will be one more addition to our family. West Virginia is one of a very few states that do not regulate keeping most wild animals. There is a two dollar fee that is to be paid to the Division of Natrual Resources for a permit but that is about it.
I will be taking Jack Henry to our regular vet to get his shots and a check up soon. We fed him with a dropper for a few days and now he eats cat food... about a half teaspoon at a time four or five times a day. Once I gave him a good bath he looked a whole lot better.
I don't know why Jack Henry is so tame, no sort of contact seems to bother him at all. In fact, I have never had ANY animal be so gentle. I have had a wide vartiety of animals share my home through the years, mostly dogs and cats but we did have an oppossum we raised, along with frogs, turtles, cavies, various rodents, birds and fish I have had the opportunity to be around quite a few different critters and NONE, not ONE, has been as calm and accepting as this little baby fox.
His normal routine has him wake up, he makes a wide array of calls and sounds and I let him out of his pen. He runs around for about 5 minutes and then decides to eat. He runs around a bit more and then curls up on me or in my hand and goes to sleep and I put him into his little den in the pen and he sleeps for a few hours. Jack Henry must be very secure in his new family. I hope that you will keep us updated about the little one.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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sarge wrote:I think it's great your going to keep him/her Greg. It sounds as though the little guy needs your help. I'm not sure if you were aware that my dog is half coyote. Best darn dog EVER! I'm betting you have the same with your Fox puppy. If you would allow him to sleep with you then bonding is easier and he'll learn quickly to trust you which is so important. If you ever change your mind about keeping the little guy, I would definitely be interested. I had a neighbor with a Fox pup years ago and he worked out great for him. They were the best of friends and made a wonderful pet. K, gotta get for now but will check back in later. Good luck with your new baby my friend. Sarge Oh yeah, one more thing before I forget, whats a cavie? [/color][/size] A cavie is better known as a guinea pig.
Jack Henry is quite definitely a "him"... on some animals it isn't always easy to sex a young one, but not with fox apparently. It seems fox kits are naturally litter trained... I put a shallow pan with kitty litter in his pen and he went straight to it! He misses sometimes but he definitely prefers the litter to the rest of his pen.
Most people I know seem to think a dog's place is on a chain hooked to his dog house. I am not one of those people... my animals can share my bed whenever they want. When Jack wakes up in the middle of the night I take him to bed and he curls up under my chin until I get up or he decides he wants some food.
I never knew what sounds a fox made, I just used to assume they sounded like dogs. This little guy has a whole range of vocalizations and none really sound dog like. If you watch him make his typical attention call he sorta makes a mono tone with his mouth open and curls his tongue up to the roof of his mouth to modulate the sound into little yips. He makes a sound like the old cowboys and Indians version of native Americans attacking the wagon train. If he gets impatient he lets out a screech like you just cut the tail off a mouse with dull scissors.Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 9/9/2008 Posts: 2,978
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Most people I know seem to think a dog's place is on a chain hooked to his dog house. I am not one of those people... my animals can share my bed whenever they want.
I know some folks like that too and I think it's awful! Alot of people fail to fully understand the responsibilities that come with owning a pet. Too often I've seen in time they end up like you said, tied to a doghouse and neglected. My pup sleeps with me and I read where allowing them to do this builds a strong bond and I believe it. I know my coyote pup is always eager to please me and wants to learn everything he can. He observes everything and does'nt miss a thing, definately the smartest animal I've ever owned and I just love him!
Please keep us up to date with your fox news. Also, I really like "Jack Henry's" name.
Sarge
~ Insults Should Be Written In Sand ~ Compliments Should Be Carved In Stone ~
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Hi Sarge, How are you? I don't have a dog i have a cat and she can snuggle to me anytime.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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For those interested in getting to know Jack Henry I wanted to post his pic. I'm not sure how to post a picture here so I put up a pic of Lucy Kay and Jack Henry on my blog. Fortunately, it seems the right hand side of the pic is cut off... the only thing missing is my bleached white, chicken skin legs.Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 9/9/2008 Posts: 2,978
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I went to your Blog Greg and saw Jack Henry and Lucy and Wow! They are so beautiful! Your Fox pup is absolutely adorable. Lucy looks like she will have a new friend for life.
I really like your blog too. I would like to post a comment there as soon as I figure out what I'm doing. lol
Sarge
~ Insults Should Be Written In Sand ~ Compliments Should Be Carved In Stone ~
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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intangible wrote:For those interested in getting to know Jack Henry I wanted to post his pic. I'm not sure how to post a picture here so I put up a pic of Lucy Kay and Jack Henry on my blog. Fortunately, it seems the right hand side of the pic is cut off... the only thing missing is my bleached white, chicken skin legs. Good morning, I was wondering how Jack is doing. We need an update.........please? Thank you!! Kay
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 3,098 Location: on a hill in the hollow
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[quote=nestgotjesus Good morning, I was wondering how Jack is doing. We need an update.........please? Thank you!! Kay[/quote] Jack Henry is doing pretty good all things considered.
When I found Jack, he had an abscess on his back. It is my guess that having a serious wound has helped to compromise his immunity system. As I learned with Lucy Kay, a lowered immune system can allow a normal and mild case of mange to become life threatening. Jack Henry had a couple patches of mange that were growing until recently. I gave him a bath in a medicated shampoo paying close attention to the lump on his back. By gently cleaning the spot with running water I managed to get the absess to break open and drain. I cleaned it out as best I could and started him on a course of antibiotics. Now, his hair is growing in, the patches are not expanding and the wound is looking nice and pink so I think he is going to do fine.
Jack Henry is growing fast and has the run of the house. He eats any normal cat or dog food plus a few odder things like strawberries, bananas and potato salad, complete with onions, celery and vinegar. He came pre-trained to use a little box so I have several in different rooms until he makes no more mistakes.
Lucy Kay tolorates him, Wilson my big goofy mutt loves him and wants to play all the time. Unfortunately Wilson is so big he just doesn't understand the power behind his large paws and he flattens Jack now and then. Ralph, my older cat just runs and jumps up on something to get away... this will work fine until Jack learns to jump better and Charlie, the younger cat, is still trying to figure out what he is and plays a little bit with him.Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Thanks for the update. Sounds like you love animals aout as much as I do. How big is he now? Does he still sleep curled up with you? How long will you be able to keep him? I have a big goofy dog that wouldn't know what to do with him but would probably try to play with him My old cat would just sniff and turn on his heel an leave the area!! Your Lucy is beautiful!! Thank you again. p.s. I love the pictue of your place.
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