I may have discovered the source of Godot’s strange behaviour. 
What do you think this is? One leg is black.
Here is a close up. Is that dirt, from when he was stuck under the bush the other day? or something more sinister. 
He was fine yesterday. No limping, active. Eating drinking, Flying. Is it dirt? It seems to be mostly on the back of the leg, where he rests it on the ground. And if he had been down long enough to melt the ground a little .. well.. I don’t want to catch him. It is awful to shock wild birds like that, we can watch it with the camera. Taking an image of something like this then enlarging it later is such a useful tool.
I will do it again in a few days, we can have another look.
The others seem to be doing fine in the cold. Everyone got an extra helping of dinner last night to see them through this cold night. Sheila’s bed is so high, we have to watch that Poppy does not just step out of their pen and make a run for the verandah.
Tima and those eyes.
The kittens and dogs were allowed inside all day yesterday. Having a wrecking party.
Mischief makers.
Boo is not taking his eyes off them. No-one sleeps when there are three rascally kittens sitting next to your head, bent on mischief.
Bitterly cold last night but thankfully not so much wind. I have not looked at the temperature. Knowing does not help. And cold is relative – once it is very cold, even colder is still Very Cold. I will let you know after I have been outside. Today the wind will swing back from the North to the Sou’ west again. And though still cold for the next few days, it will not be as bad as last night. The pig porridge is on. I make them warm feed on these mornings but they have to eat very fast. No-one gets finished before it starts to freeze to the sides of their bowls.
But they are stoic, yawning and stretching in the mornings just like any morning. Especially the kune, they show no signs of cold at all. Steaming through the snow like little trains. Tima is showing signs of being in heat (at the same time as Poppy too). Best we note the date just in case. (Three months, three weeks and three days remember). She is only just old enough, but I have no intention of seperating them in this cold. I doubt very much whether Tane is fertile yet, but we shall see. Tima is a big girl, robust -‘Rubenesque’ even. I don’t mind a surprise.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
39 responses to “The camera sees all”
Great photos, & the kittens are precious.
I hope that’s not frost bite on Godot. Whatever it is, how strange that it’s only one. But both feet look a little dark. Rubenesque – I love it!
wonderful pictures…Is it possible for Godolt to have frostbite…i don’t know about such things like you do but I know that when my toes had frostbite they went black…..maybe he needs legwarmers!!! Shall I get the knitting needles out?
His toes are pink so i have ruled out frost bite thankfully.. c
Yep you are right about the Very Cold – and even if it gets colder still being very cold. It’s the same with very sweet, add more sugar and it is still very sweet LOL
I think it is just dirt on Godot. Do peacocks have dust baths like the chickens? I know when mine come out behind the butterfly bush (up against the the south facing side of the house where it is dry and warm) they have black legs like that, and it stays for days. Best keep an eye on it though. However I always think that as long as they are eating and drinking then can’t be too big a problem. I know my animals, if something is wrong, first thing they do is stop eating.
The ground has been frozen solid for some time, so no dust baths. But I am thinking dirt, it looks like it has moved in between the scales/natural cracks in his legs.. c
Is that the colour of your soil? Try rubbing some of the dirt from the spot where he sat directly on your finger, and see if the colour is similar after it dries. Is it the same shade and coverage?
Legwarmers sound like a great idea. Trouble is that by the time I’ve knitted enough for all the animals and birds, it will be Spring.
Keep as warm as you can,
love,
ViV
The dog, Boo, seems very happy with his new charges. I know if our daughter saw that Kune pig, it wouldn’t be long before one was living in the Vendee:)
Rascally kittens? They look so innocent…ha Staying by the warm stove, I would imagine. Pretty little Timatonga with her very expressive eyes. Feed me, love me, scratch me. It is below freezing here in central Texas this morning, but it will warm up and we will have sun, I think. The moon is bright, making everything silvery outside.
Godot’s leg looks alarming, but when I enlarged it on my smartphone it kind of looked like dirt, there seems to be a couple of tiny specks the same colour on the feathers above. Keep a close eye on it, I do hope it is only dirt.
Tima’s little eye peeking over the fence looks like she is say “can I come in with you tonight mama?” I think she has a little babe sort of voice.
Brrr. It is so cold, isn’t it? The kittens and Boo are adorable as always and I keep looking at my cute little Mixbook to see more of your lovelies. Can’t wait to send the copy to my great niece. 🙂
i know nothing of wild birds but this looks rather like mold to me. so….let us hope it is dirt as that would be much better. it has been bitterly cold here for too many days
Looks like BLACK dirt…… fingers crossed.
So 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days -> that is approximately May 3rd. Spring! It is so grand to just think in small numbers (3) it will be spring again with bright green leaves and bees going from flower to flower? The memories of spring is what gets us through the dimness of winter I think.
You are so right. Once we’re prepared, outdoor faucets are set to drip, animals are warm, a number on the thermometer doesn’t help much. Stay warm!
I’m with you Celi, knowing the exact temperature doesn’t help! I know when it’s cold! We had a super cold night last night too, 3 degrees, but thank goodness it will warm up a bit more today! 🙂
All that relentless piggy intelligence directed at one thing: naughtiness. Oh, and food. Stay safe and warm, Miss C, you and all your furry and feathered creatures. I’m thinking thawing thoughts (ooh, I LIKE a bit of alliteration) in your direction, especially at the airport…