Farmer Makes Discovery That Changes Everything

A simple man, Jack spent his life working on his farm, tilling the land surrounded by forest, and spending time with his daughters and wife in their humble, countryside farmhouse. 

Jack was diligent, taking great pride in his work caring for crops and animals.

©Budimir Jevtic/stock.adobe.com

Every day, Jack followed his usual routine of waking up in the morning and beginning work, pausing only for lunch and, at the end of the day, dinner. But, on the day of the eggs, his life would change forever.

Jack worked hard for his farm, and what he had was a beauty. He grew many different crops, but he was most known for his corn. Though he had much to offer, it was his corn that drew the most attention.

His hard work paid off handsomely, as everyone knew Jack was the man with the nicest farm this side of the state.

EggDiscoveryStory Jack’s Farm ©Jon Bilous/Shutterstock.com

But, even well-run, beautiful, seemingly-peaceful farms can be thrown for a loop.     

The town surrounding Jack’s farm was everything you could want from small town America.

Everything was local, as not many corporations had swooped in to replace the mom-and-pop shops. The people were friendly, and there was nearly no crime, aside from a random incident or two. Jack loved living there, and he had a good reputation amongst the townspeople.

The Town ©Greg Henry / shutterstock.com

Everyone knew his farm, and that had its upsides and downsides, as you could imagine.

The people in the town came to Jack’s every year for his annual harvest festival, which featured hayrides, pumpkins, a petting zoo, and pretty much anything else you’d want to celebrate summer fading out.

While most people were friendly, sometimes, kids could get rowdy, particularly those who didn’t have much else to do.

The People © Sharkshock / shutterstock.com

They knew better than to mess with Jack, but he still kept a sharp eye on his farm and his beloved animals.

Pigs, cows, chickens, and roosters all called Jack’s farm home. Some of them he sold, as it was a working farm, while others he gave sanctuary to. Milking the cows and cleaning out coops and stalls could get tiring, but Jack loved the labor.

His father and grandfather had both owned farms, so he had been raised in the culture of hard work and harvesting.

The Animals ©Swampy167 / shutterstock.com

That said, even a farmer like Jack could get a shock here and there.

It was a hot summer morning when Jack awoke right before the sun, leaving sleep behind and untangling his blankets, careful not to wake his wife. 

Jack pulled on his overalls, brushed his teeth and shaved quickly, and went outside to start work.

The Sound ©Zacarias da Mata/shutterstock.com

As he headed to his barn, Jack heard a strange noise. It was still dark outside, and he couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from. He knew, however, that something was very, very wrong.

Jack wasn’t one to scare easily, that much was true.

He felt somewhat embarrassed at how much the sound put him on edge. He’d not heard it before, and his mind wondered what was hiding out there in the dark. He’d heard a fox scream, but this was much different.

Jack Is Scared ©Max_555 / shutterstock.com

This was something unknown, and Jack, always a pragmatic, careful guy, was not used to the unknown, not by any stretch.

The screaming squawk Jack had heard sounded like an unearthly wail. His wife had heard it too, because, as he went back to the house, he almost collided with her. Both jumped a foot in the air before laughing a little. Their laughter died quickly as they realized the wailing was still ongoing

“Did you hear that?” Bonnie whispered. Jack nodded. 

The Noise ©HalizovS/shutterstock.com

The pair stood in the kitchen motionless, listening to the commotion outside. The noises rocketed through the still air, shattering the calm pre-dawn into pieces.

“Maybe it’s kids,” Bonnie said quietly, “You know how they get around here when they’re bored in the summer. They run rampant.”

“Yeah, but this early? Making that noise? Seems weird,” Jack said.

Maybe It’s Kids © Smit / shutterstock.com

Kids had been known to tip a cow or two or race each other on the town’s dirt roads, but this was something different. Though Bonnie had suggested it was kids, Jack could tell she didn’t really mean that suggestion. 

Small footsteps sounded from above, and the two parents sighed. Their daughters had awoken at the noise. Jack and Bonnie looked at each other. Right before Giselle and Mary made it down the stairs, the wails stopped just as suddenly as they started.

After a minute of silence, Bonnie shrugged and said, “Well, I guess I’ll start making breakfast.” 

The Silence ©Fraija/Shutterstock.com

For the second time that morning, Jack headed back outside. He headed straight towards the chicken coop, praying he wouldn’t find anything he didn’t want to.

Though chickens are hardy little creatures, that doesn’t mean they’re infallible. Far from it. There are a lot of dangers that can plague domestic chickens, from cats to foxes to illnesses.

Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, owls, hawks—all of them were a constant threat to Jack’s chickens. Though he kept a farm dog around that did a good job at scaring off predators, you could never be too sure.

Dangers to Chickens ©Guitar photographer/Shutterstock.com

Certainly, it was possible that a predator had slipped the farmer’s iron-clad defenses.      

It wouldn’t be the first time.

Jack had some barn dogs and cats who would defend the livestock and catch vermin, but that didn’t mean his farm’s defenses were infallible. Predators had gotten through before—coyotes, foxes, even a stray dog or two.

Not The First Time ©Pascal Halder / shutterstock.com

They always wreaked havoc, causing a huge disruption that shut down the farm for days. Jack shuddered to think that a predator had gotten in again.  

Before he arrived at the chicken coop, Jack looked behind him. In the window were Mary and Giselle, their tiny, worried faces pressed against the kitchen window. He gave a wave, anxiety tightening in his stomach.

When Jack opened the door to the chicken coop, he saw that the chickens weren’t where they were supposed to be. He also saw clumps of feathers scattered on the ground. 

The Coop ©Carlos da Cunha/Shutterstock.com

Heart sinking, he muttered, “No, no.”

Moving further into the chicken coop, Jack’s worst suspicions were confirmed. His beloved chickens hadn’t made it through the night. 

The majority were missing, and the ones he did see were lying on the ground, motionless.

The Animal ©Linas T/Shutterstock.com

Grief, shock, and anxiety weighed down on him as he beheld the lifeless birds.