Barn Swallows

Yesterday morning I found a small barn swallow chick sitting on the floor of the milking parlour. I carefully replaced it in the nest and they were still all together last night.

Some sad news though. On our walk last night, as we passed into the wilder area right down the back, I came across a pile of feathers that could only be from Carlos Garcia. When I saw the teal blue in amongst the pile my head just dropped. Shocked I turned the dogs and the pig around and walked back home to get John. After putting Tima to bed for safety’s sake, we searched everywhere. No sign of a body at all.

I herded Godot into the Peacock Penthouse with the Hens and locked them up.  It is hard to raise free range birds out here now.  Every last chicken in the barn Across The Way has disappeared too. I know a local dog got a few of them but most went missing while  IN the barn.

I know it was not Boo, he is under lock and key and my eye. And frankly he would not take a body away to eat it.   We have a new predator. A very quiet one. And big. I have heard of minks taking down peacocks but they were caged.  I don’t know. 

The field chickens are ok though. So far so good anyway.  I left both dogs out last night.  They bark on and off.  All my big chooks are free range now.

Sometimes life is a bit tough. But that is one of the risks of farming here. There are wild animals around us.

But today will be better.

I hope you have a better day.

celi