I wonder if peahen eggs is the correct term or peacock eggs. The egg may contain either.
It seems the peahens are laying again. Or at least I have found one of their more recent nests. (With a chicken egg in it just for good measure.) The peahens are being very good at staying out of the gardens so are again roaming free (until the tomatoes and grapes are ripening then back to the penthouse they will go.)
Now what do I do. The eggs will be fine for a few days, she will lay a clutch and then she may come back and sit on them.
But the nest is very close to the milking parlour and the side of the barn with all the action, so I am not sure if she would sit there long.
And of course in about 13 days we will have noisy piglets in here too! How many are in there. Maybe we should run a sweepstake! I will try and work out how to do one, that could be fun! Or maybe a poll?
But I do have another broody hen for peacock eggs if need be. The eggs will wait a wee while. They have not been warmed up at all so they are still dormant.
The lambs will soon be fat enough to take to the little local abbatoir. It is a very small concern and they are good kind men who treat the animals with respect. Remember this is not a hobby for me. I am working towards being as self sufficient as possible. I don’t work off the farm, my contribution to the family coffers is much more direct. We do eat what I grow. This is why I grow. The reality of hands on farming is that you will end up looking your dinner in the eye and saying thank you. I think this is an important link in the ancient rhythm of hand to mouth. Knowing where your food comes from means you don’t waste it. Growing the food yourself means you actually eat less meat because it is hard won.
The lamb and beef, honey, vegetables and eggs also become a kind of currency. I often pay for services and favours to the farm with our own produce. This is part of being self sufficient. And keeping as few animals as possible on the ground is part of being sustainable. This is why Mia will be going with the lambs. That sheep has been through enough – it is her time. (I know this is hard but I also know that you expect truth from me and that you know deep down that this is the only answer for Mia, she has miscarried a total of six lambs, all dead, and all in grievous circumstances, she eats lying down in the field, she walks with her head down with a panicked gait . I have to call it, that is enough for the poor thing.)I know this upsets some of you but I am running a working farm. We have to deal with the tough decisions. We cannot stock more than the land can maintain without stress and we cannot keep an animal who is in stress.
Pity I can’t pay the land taxes with a piglet though! Because soon we will have pure bred Hereford piglets to sell to local children (to raise and show) and maybe even peacock chicks!
We have had two calm nights in a row now. No storms. Yesterday was a stunning day. Not too hot and perfect for the garden. Though I still have not got into the bee hives.. maybe today!
Good morning. The flood waters are slowly receding and the land and the skies are settling down again. Lets hope this trend continues for a while.
You all have a lovely day.
your friend, celi.
The Kitchen's Garden 
100 responses to “More peacock eggs and big bellies and sleeping cats!”
Your poor Mia but well done having the courage to make the necessary decision. I truly admire that. We’re aiming for as self sufficient as we can be on our 1/2 acre and keeping an dkilling our own chooks and keeping a goat are our first and 2nd steps. Hugs for when the hard day arrives.
eating the chickens is something I should be doing, at least with the old ones, but I have not got that far yet, the eggs are essential though! are you going to milk your goat?.. c
That’s the plan. We’re big dairy people but the dairy industry is pretty unethical (I’m in Australia) and it would be nice to lower our dairy carbon footprint. I’m attending a cheese workshop later this month too.
I LOVE goats cheese, this would be the only reason to get a goat, dairy cows need a lot of space too, to grass feed them, let alone the water they consume, goats are a much more practical solution, i love that you do so many classes! c
I’m loving it too! But it’s only a new thing. I usually do the whole figure it out and suck it an see approach but it is nice to do some classes and learn to do it properly first off. It just depends on how much time my long suffering husband is prepared to give up to watch the kids.
once he tastes the cheese he won’t mind!!
His favourite is parmesan. He will be waiting a LONG time for that taste. It takes 12 months to mature.
It is my favourite cheese to make, and is the easiest to make I think, I have cut it after 6 months though.. bad girl!!
The peace of nature is that it is not easy. It’s designed so that only the fittest animals survive, that the species can not only endure, but flourish. Wild animals do not hold interventions for the weak. In the wild, death comes swiftly for the weak and infirmed. Livestock animals are designed to breed. Those that cannot must deal with the unbearable pull between instinct, hormones, and reality. I think you are simply ending Mia’s torment.
And, I’m hearing that breeders average 8-10 piglets, but that’s because they use genetics to select for overbreeding pigs. So, I’m guessing 7 (although pig physiology would suggest 4 should be normal).
Four would be just fine with me! This is an old heritage breed too, not a commercial breed, so I am all for your Four!! I want to ease into this pig thing.. c
Nature has the rule of half: mammalian species average births that equal half the number of nipples. (Unless the pig has 6, then 3 would be the natural number.)
Nope she has eight! Four would be sweet! Better tell that rule to mama though, I think she missed that page! Queenie has five nipples I hope she does not have two and a half calves!! Morning Bill!! c
Your thoughtful and gracious treatment of your animal companions is a gift and by far preferable to thoughtless living of any kind. Peace and joy to you, my dearest.
I pop in and see life and death and floods and piglets and decisions and ll of life going on here. I know I miss out on the action as it is happening, but I am scrabbling away in my corner of dirt outside, trying to figure out which plants might have to go and puzzling about whether the mystery seedlings I have found are weeds or a forgotten fill-in-the-gaps packet of wildflower seeds. Briefly wondered if you were going to tuck those eggs under the pig to brood, I hope the floodwaters go down soon. xx Jo
I know that feeling of wondering, hmm, is this a weed or MY plants coming up.. Wildflower packages have never worked for me, though i have desperately tried every summer, they just get choked out I think, BY the weeds.. hope yours do better!! c
What happy animals.
I have to ask and it might get me in to trouble… have you tasted a peacock/hen egg yet?
No.. I am not that brave, but I do remember your link! And Tui is laying like a trooper! c
Do send some with the loan of the pig 😉
My mother grew up on her parents farm in upstate Maine. In those days, there certainly weren’t any supermarkets or stores within easy travel distance so they were self sufficient. Some years were good and other years were very lean but somehow they made do. I agree with you that when you are raising your own food, especially animals, you have a greater respect and appreciation for all living things. I am new to your blog but really enjoy reading your posts. It brings back so many fond memories of visits & life on my grandparents farm.
Thank you for such a lovely comment and welcome, wish your grandparent were still around, i could do with their advice sometimes! c