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!”
It is why I do not have a farm I get too attached. I love veggies though 🙂
I love veggies too thank goodness, i grow enough of them!! c
🙂
You seem to have the courage to make the right decisions and I salute you.
Thank you rosemary. This is part if the cycle of food, i am happy to be in the thick of it.. c
as much as i would love a little farm, i could not handle animals. i get far too attached. i have never seen a baby peacock before. this could be lots of fun. i just can’t wait to see the piglets. how many can one pig birth? glad you are getting better weather!
I have heard of litters of 10 or so, but really I have no idea, it should not be too big on her first try!?..
We had a sow that had 15 her 1st litter but that was higher than normal. Also 2 didn’t make it.
FIFTEEN!!! HELP!!! c
i cant wait for the piglets to be born =) and i have never seen peahen/cock chicks!
Both completely new to me too!! What a learning curve we are on! morning cat in israel! c
You know, if a male is a peacock and a female is a peahen, perhaps the littles are peachicks?
and if peachicks are pea chicks then the eggs must be peaEGGS! excellent thinking!
I have total confidence in your judgment and decision making. Not easy and not for everyone, as most people take the hypocritical approach: they have no problem with buying a package of meat, all wrapped in plastic and “clean”, but frown upon the thought of rising an animal for their own consumption.
I really admire what you do.
Morning sally, not everyone is lucky enough to have a little land, but when i was buying meat in little packages I seldom put much thought into where it came from other than what it had been fed! this is tough, but honest.. c
The good and the bad . . . .but surely that is life . . .from the peahens who don’t act very motherly to a sleepy Charlotte who looks ready to give birth now to the knowledge that the food for the pot will have to be attended to also. On a happier note perchance I presume we are seeing you as floor supervisor in the coupe 🙂 ! And can be glad that creek is going down! Good morning, Celi and from me good night!!
Oh yes the creek IS going down, i will take a shot of the tide mark today if i get down there, John has seen it over the bridge but thankfully not this time! c
Good Morning C,
As I read your post this morning I was struck by how much my parents would have enjoyed your posts and your honesty about the farmy. I wish I could share it with them. (I have turned my sister into a follower of yours btw). Thanks for the touch of home you bring me every day!
Oh welcome to your sister also.. and you are very welcome to visit your home through the farmy, it is my honour. c
I’ve always envied that connection to land and food, this disconnection we have that food is neatly packaged is unhealthy and disrespectful. I don’t envy the decision about Mia, but I do get it and thank you for your honesty.
It’s down right cold in these parts, not welcoming at all, but then again a far cry better than snow in June. Hope you have a great day, Celi.
PS I do hope that Chgo John can convince you to move up your trip to the Windy City ;)!
Just the mention of your name was convincing enough! What a treat that will be! I am definitely IN! c
🙂 🙂 :)!
YAY!!!!!
😀
There is an elemental connection between food and life. Something dies so that something else may live. Still, it can be a hard decision.
It is very basic, this is true. And very old. Morning Carol! c
You are a very wise woman, C!!! You have goals for your farmie and your animals and know how things need to go—–it is all part of the circle of life and I admire your ability to be sustainable. I am sure it is a rewarding way of life even though it is difficult to make decisions about things at times–like Mia. You are doing the humane thing that is for sure. Happy Tuesday!
Morning Beth Ann, and happy tuesday to you too! c
Good morning Celi; the hard decisions are not always easy or cheap some of these animals are very expensive. That’s not counting our labor into these animals. the flooring ? is it light oak ? or something else? i did a closet in wormy chestnut looks like the red in cedar but has a lot of white oak in it . (i’ll do a post on it) missy wanted shelfs too;( so she got them) over the chestnut floor I made out of rough cut lumber.
Yes it is a white oak, it has lots of character in it too as I opted for the seconds, I like wood with character, i cannot wait to see it finished. Your chestnut floor and shelves sound wonderful.. c
sorry Celi missy got the chestnut floor but the shelves had to be a little bit more stout 2×6 pine 5’4″ long. these are going to be pantry shelves.
i guess it pays to be a little bit more specific ….mike
Exciting about the piglets – one thing I haven’t done….yet. We always just get weaned 6 week old pigs to feed out. I do know the hard decisions of who “goes” and who stays. We will have 5 lambs to go in the fall. I have two turkey hens setting but I don’t think they have anything viable under them – i broke one open and it contained a feathered-out chick but appeared to have died a bit prior – smelled! I think I’ll let them go a few more days then remove them. I did get 7 to hatch in the incubator which are doing well. Love the flooring in the coupe!
Hmm, I think it might be almost time to candle these peacock eggs and see if there is anything in there. I am thinking i may need an incubator for the future but i am not buying one unless I can sell chicks to pay for it…. i should look for second hand one.. c
Last year the turkey eggs started exploding under the hen – what a mess! I’m determined to not have that happen again. We invested in an incubator a few years ago and it has paid for itself. Last year I had 17 of 22 turkey eggs hatch – NOT what I had planned on – I thought only 5 or so…but I sold 10 of them and made almost $200. Put me in for 8 piglets 🙂
oh dear, that must have one very surprised hen! I have a date for these eggs at least, so after a month with no sign I will know they are not viable , hopefully they don’t start to blow up before that! c
I always appreciate your honesty C. Good luck with it all. You are doing right by Mia.
Sometimes I have issues with my animals, but in the end you are correct. What we raise is for the table. The best thing about our way of life is that it IS ethical. When we buy from the store we have no real idea about how that animal was raised or slaughtered. We have no real idea how clean or healthy the animal was either! When we raise our own food for the table we know exactly what the quality of its life was, and we have a new appreciation and respect for our food. I think this is a good way to live.
Celi, I am glad you are getting a break in the weather and I look forward to more pictures of the Farmy!
Your talk of Mia reminds me of why, growing up on a crop, dairy and beef farm, we seldom named the animals.