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
The Kitchen's Garden 
52 responses to “Barn Swallows”
Liked , but not happy about it….deep sympathy !
The hard days are not fun C.
Sending a love filled hug your way.
🙂 Mandy xo
Oh Celi, my heart bleeds for you… Poor Carlos Garcia, a short happy life and a sad, nasty end. I’m praying your white angel Godot stays with you forever.
That is very very hard….. I know you are strong and well prepared to deal with these ups and downs, but still…. very sorry…
Oh, how hard… What on earth could it be, if not a dog? Carlos was a big bird…Around our place, the coyotes don’t mess with the adult turkeys, but a loose dog would…
Thinking about you, Hon…all the way from Texas today.
Oh heck I wasn’t expecting this! Sounds like a fox, as they take away their kill, especially if they have young ones to feed. I know we have to live with nature in all it’s wonderful and sometimes cruel ways, but it still makes you want to spit sometimes!
On a different note, how come the cold cruel winter we had didn’t kill off the bugs? I am being swamped by Japanese Beetles! They are doing a big job on my fruit trees. Luckily enough my chickens like to eat these buggers, so I shake the trees to make them fall and the chooks jump on them. Trouble is I usually end up with some in my hair LOL
sorry for your loss
could it be coyote, or fox?
we have bobcat problems in this area
Sorry you lost your beautiful bird. But I’m with you – I’d rather my chickens free ranged as much as possible in the daytime, and had as natural a life as possible…I only once saw a mink (I think – just the back end of it disappearing through the hedge), but we’ve not had any losses, thankfully. Hope you have a better day.
My condolences for your loss of Carlos Garcia. And for the chooks which were in The Barn Across The Way.
Oh no—I am so sorry to hear about Carlos Garcia. Sounds like a coyote might be the culprit—seems they are on the rise in population and I am sure they would not think twice about taking one of the most beautiful creatures ever. Life is hard on the farm sometimes, isn’t it? Thinking about you today.
Oh, I’m sorry for your loss of Carolos Garcia and the chooks. It hurts on all sorts of levels. I know you’ll pick yourself and get on with it – but easy for me say that when I’m not having to deal with it. Keeping you and all your precious creatures in my thoughts.
I’m so sorry to hear this celi, poor Carlos Garcia and poor chicks, nature can be very cruel x
I’m so sorry.
Sh*t …. Bastard mink , erh coyote. Poor Carlos Garcia hadn’t even come into his own yet. 😦 Laura
Oh, Celie, I’m so sorry. It makes life very hard for you. Is it those horrid minks again?
Love,
ViV xox