10. The Silence
The parents heard small footsteps from above and sighed. The noise had woken their daughters. Jack and Bonnie stared at each other. The wails suddenly stopped as Giselle and Mary were about to descend the stairs.
After a moment of silence, Bonnie shrugged her shoulders and said: “I guess I’ll get started making breakfast.”
Jack went outside for the second time in one morning. He walked straight to the chicken coop and prayed he would not find anything he did not want.
11. Dangers of Chickens
Chickens are tough little creatures but that does not mean they are infallible. Far from that. Domestic chickens are susceptible to many dangers. These include cats, foxes and diseases.
Foxes and coyotes were constant threats to Jack’s flock of chickens. Bobcats, owls and hawks also posed a threat. Even though he had a farmdog that was good at scaring away predators, it’s impossible to be sure.
It was certainly possible that the farmer’s steel-clad defenses had been breached by a predator.
