The other day I was sitting outside reading, enjoying rural bliss. I let the chickens and ducks out to graze and roam the yard for the afternoon. It was getting late and I began to debate when I should put them in for the night. I figured I would let them enjoy their freedom until it got a little darker outside. And then I stood up. I looked over at the barrel garden and clustered around the base of it was my little flock enjoying a free cucumber buffet! I ran over to them yelling, "GET OUT OF MY PICKLES!!" and waving my hands like a maniac. The simply stopped pecking, looked up, and blinked at me a few times and then continued on with their delicious treat. "Shoo! Shoo!" Blink. Blink. Nom. Nom. Nom. I immedately decided my quandary was over and now was exactly the right time to put them away for the night. I lured them back to their kennel with some chicken feed and locked the gate.
Then, I went in the house to feed the dogs. Shortly after the dogs ate I let them back outside as is normal practice. And I sat back down the read. Now, I was sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of the driveway but my car was blocking my view of the barrel. I hear the dogs' tags jingling but I can't see them. I figured they're just wrestling the the grass like they usually do. And then I stood up. I look over to the barrel and sure enough both dogs are noshing away ON MY PICKLES! I run over to them just as I had done with the chickens. Fortunately, the dogs are smart enough to know my "angry face" and they quickly abandon the pickles and look at me sheepishly.
I'd been concerned about those gross tomato hornworm things and all the other little bugs they warn you about when you grow vegetables. I never thought my garden pests would be so much bigger!
I ended up tying the cukes up a little higher from the ground and we haven't had a problem since. Hopefully my temporary solution will get us to the end of the season without any more casualties.
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