Several of you have asked about Peanut, or, Old Honker, as I now think of her. Each day, she flies off the garage roof, straight into the middle of the road, missing the garden, every, single, time, honking and screaming unmercifully! How she hasn’t been hit by a car is a mystery to me! I think she’s calling for an invisible male to take over brooding duties, or for me to feed her!! If I don’t respond immediately to the screaming, Peanut takes herself off to the feeding station, there is always something to eat there.
It’s impossible NOT to hear that unholy racket, so out I go with food and water, while she’s in the middle of the road, hollering, Peeeeeanuuut, get back here, now!
She instantly comes a-running, at speed these days, for her feed, and devours it, while stretching her legs and wings at the same time. Seems we’ve tamed each other! I am becoming far too fond of her!
The entire neighbourhood now considers her to be my bird. I’ve given up with the explanations!!! No doubt they’ll have the noise police onto me soon.
I’ve become concerned about her lately, as she is rapidly losing weight and has spent twenty three hours a day on that garage roof for a month now.
So, hubs got a ladder out and had a peek at what was going on up there.
Initially, he was horrified to discover an entire new eco-system, so sent me up to have a peek.
Struth!!! Who knew???? Talk about taking a walk on the wild-side! All of this is actually growing on the garage roof!
Peanut is in there. Can you spot her? Look for her eye.
There has been another development…my next door neighbours called me over a few days ago to view a peacock egg that had been pecked and devoured. It smelt rancid, clearly it hadn’t been fertilized.
Now….there are a couple of scenarios here… that one egg was isolated and easy pickings for crows, magpies etc? Or, is peanut sitting on a bunch of unfertilized eggs?
By now, peachicks should be hatching. I haven’t seen or heard any evidence of that, so in another couple of weeks we will have to somehow remove those eggs, or get close up and check their viability. Problem is, the roof is unstable, we’d have to criss-cross it with ladders to reach her nest..
She will eventually starve up there if she is sitting on unfertilized eggs!
The rescue is now awash with raggerty-tattered chicks. Some are too old, and some too young to be raised, but raised they will be!
It’s all about gaping beaks, deep red throats, whirring-feed-me wings, and the endless tweeting, some tinny, some chesty, some downright loud and persistent.
Other birds arrive too, a dove, shot twice???? Still alive and thriving. Why would a person do such a thing? Some scary, psychopaths out there for sure!
I’m always astonished at how many of these chicks survive, a testament to the staff and their endless dedication which never ends at five pm. Vulnerable chicks always go home with someone.
Seeing tiny ducklings grow and thrive and take their first swimming lesson is something you never tire of, how I understand the saying…. like a duck taking to water.
On the garden front, hubs and I managed to trim the jungle growing through the railings in the front garden.
It’s a huge task, as the railings go right around the corner, so always a relief to get that sorted, also saves the council the trouble of sending us the ubiquitous letter threatening us to cut it back…or else!
It’s lovely seeing the side planters bursting into life with seed grown annuals in the back garden, I particularly like vipers bugloss, as do the pollinators.
Slowly but surely, the planters are disappearing and gardens are forming!
And Finally….
even the courtyard is coming back to life after the old fences were torn down and all the borders destroyed.
I’m always amazed at how quickly life can return.
Poor Peanut.
You cope so well with every eventuality.
I could not believe you have a garden growing on the roof. We think we control nature 🙂
I don’t think so.
Garden is looking great. Always good to get the cutting down over and done with.
Lovely chicks.
I am sorry for that bird, she’s in the wrong place and young and inexperienced, I have a potential home for her, just need to know the eggs are unfertilized and then it’s all about catching her! Oh that roof!!!! Nature can never be controlled, if man disappeared our civilization would be covered and torn apart in a few hundred years. Thanks Cheryl.xxx
Well….life is very eventful for you! We had chickens when I was growing up, and I always thought it was sad when one was broody & had no eggs…not quite sure how one solves all of nature’s mishaps. Your garden is looking wonderful! We would never get so much growth in such a short time….be glad of all your rain! The garden on the roof is amazing & very hip (in Australia)
Well said Gerrie, we can’t solve all of nature’s mishaps, young inexperienced birds often make bad choices, they learn or die, sadly. Peanut is lucky to have food on tap so will survive. Oh rain, how I long for it, it’s lovely having the sunshine but the garden is shriveling!
The garage is astonishing, a veritable jungle…who knew????xxx
Dear Dina, how is Peanut doing? Did you check about her eggs?
I saw this on FB and share it… amazing beauty!!!!
Have a lovely weekend 🙂 kisses claudine
https://www.facebook.com/visitsenja/videos/2106644676328617/UzpfSTEwMDAwNDMzMTgzMzI2MzoxMDU1Mjk5MTA0NjI0NDc0/?comment_id=1055501917937526¬if_id=1529698526223495¬if_t=feed_comment
What a beautiful white peacock!!! Thanks for passing this on I did enjoy it! We haven’t managed to get on the roof yet but I do have a good home ready for Peanut….need to check the eggs first and then catch her….no mean feat in itself! Thanks Claudine, love and hugs to all!xxx
Reading your posts do make me smile, especially about Peanut …
Your planters are really looking good. I love this time of year when things are growing well.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, good to make you smile. Everything takes off at this time of the year for sure, especially the weeds, it’s so hard to keep up! xxx
Could you possibly leave food on the roof? Are all the chicks at the shelter peacocks? Your planters look great!
I have thought about leaving food on the roof, but the ivy seems to be four/five foot deep so food would simply disappear. No, those pics of chicks are garden birds, I don’t think we’ve had a peachick in to date. Thanks Jason, there are some strange colour schemes going on, mislabeling as usual!xxx
It is always fun reading your posts. I have a good laugh at the way you describe Peanut. I do hope she is well and I’m glad you consider her as yours!
You garden is looking very good now. So good for you. I especially love those plants arrangement on that wooden planter.
Thanks Jade, good to have you smiling. I will have to sort something out for Peanut, she can’t stay up there forever and survive. xxx
Your garden has never looked better and I love the ducklings coming to water…so wonderful:) I always enjoy hearing about the managerie and what every little critter is up to….
I am fascinated by your cover picture….that little chick’s mouth is bigger than his/her whole body! Excellent:)
have a beautiful day – hopefully the sun is shining as it is here in London.
Sending hummingbird hugs. Janet xxxxx
Thanks Janet, I am always astonished at how very young chicks look, almost alien! We are having some wonderful weather but now the garden needs rain. Us Brits are never satisfied! Looking forward to our jaunt! Love to you, as always!xxx
Nature is incredibly resilient. If only we could all learn to work with her rather than against her. I look forward to the next instalment of The Peahen Eggs!
Oh, if only we all tried to work with nature! Hahaha….that peahen!! I have actually got used to having her around! Thanks Gill.xxx
Thank you for sharing Snowbird lovely photos and i hope peanut will put some wait on she looks lovely garden is coming along nicely blessing to you all
Thanks Linda, we are having some lovely weather, the garden is growing fast but now we need some rain. xxx
Here too we’ve been seeing a lot of bird activity above in the trees, despite the active feline community down below. Some birds even visit my work room window, standing on the deep sill (because of the wide stone walls of my house) and staring at Nechama before choosing somewhere else to nest. My favorite are the sparrows. Your post is bursting with life, and the description of the chicks in the shelter is touching, but also encouraging to think of those who give their time and energy to save helpless wildlife. Those brick planters are so beautiful now, filled with vegetation. How I wish I could join you in observing the ducks take to water. I do love ducks. As for Peanut, we knew she was a problem as soon she turned up. Waiting for the coming adventures…
I saw a programme about a lady in Israel who fed the cats each evening, there certainly seem to be lots of cats in your part of the world. I love to think of all the birds visiting you, they seem sensible to avoid nesting near a cat! We don’t see many sparrows anymore sadly, how I miss them, there used to be flocks of them twenty years ago.
Ah yes, Peanut! You say it all!!! I would like nothing better to sit with you and watch our ducklings take to water for the first time, their joy is absolute! Thanks Shimon.xxx
Life does seem to carry on, doesn’t it? It’s possible the vegetation on the roof is holding the roof together. That’s the case with my little garage/garden shed. If I take down the ivy, I think the garage will come down with it! How does anyone get any sleep with a baby bird to feed all night?
Life does carry on, always something new around these parts! Oh yes, if we moved the jungle on top of the garage it would certainly fall in! The chicks only get fed until about ten pm and then they need feeding at dawn. Thanks Casa.xxx
Wow, Dina; Peanut is a book at least, maybe an entire series, and I so hope it ends happily! Your illustrations would be so amazing. I send her smooches, love, and prayers, dear thing. Seeing as she arises much like I do (ask Phillip), fairly screaming and flapping till I eat and get my tea or coffee, I can sympathize with her, and can imagine her joy in finding such a loving caregiver and friend. Bless you both, and I hope her heart will heal if what you fear regarding her eggs is so.
The rescue must keep everyone hopping from dawn to dusk and then longer. I wish I had millions to send, but I do send love and prayers. Blessings on all those babies and the rich lives so many will have because of all of you.
And, my goodness, what an amazing secret garden you’ve created! It looks so beautiful, shady here and sunny there, and soooo colorful. There’s such variety to see and such delights! Just breathtaking! I love how all the boxes soften the middle views.
Thank you for a beautiful post! Joy to your week, dear one!
I would love to write children’s stories about animals, maybe one day I’ll go for it just for me! You have me laughing at how you wake, Hubs is the same! Thanks for your lovely comment Kitty, your garden looks like paradise to me, full of blossom and colour! Love and hugs to you all.xxxxx
Only one dog! Mind’st, there’s -plenty of other varied life in all your pictures.
Peanut sure is a complex feathered friend isn’t she. Is there a zoo, or, a stately home garden where others of her ilk reside. If so, would staff be approachable for some help?
The garden is looking gorgeous, those planters work a treat.
Everything looks bloomin’ lovely!! xxxx
I have a home in mind for Peanut, the problem is catching her, I want to make sure her eggs aren’t fertilized before I attempt that little endeavour! Thanks Menhir, I see you are enjoying good weather too, hopefully your garden is blooming.xxx
I had to smile when I saw your roof. “Green roofs” are all the thing here now, both for the insulation they offer and for their aesthetic appeal. Of course, most of ours don’t have a peahen that’s set up shop in the middle, although I’ve no doubt other birds have made use of them. I do suspect she needs to have those eggs taken away from her, despite her mothering impulses.
Everything else is looking wonderful, although I do suspect it’s good you found a bit of time to trim that jungle coming through the fence. The good news is that the fence-plants are proof that everything is thriving — good for you and your green thumb and fingers!
Green roofs are becoming very popular here too, mine is more of a jungle! I was utterly astonished to see it! Yes, something will have to be done about Peanut and those eggs for sure. I’m working on several plans at the moment. Thanks Linda.xxx
I feel so deeply sorry for this unfortunate mother… willing to have babies and taking care of these eggs in such tenderness. It’s as well terrible to think she may die of hunger, since she isn’t feeding properly. Poor Peanut, isn’t there any way to bring her food on top of the garage without hurting youself? Maybe to put food inside a bucket attached to a long bambù pole with a hook, to enable you to reach her…
I’m sure you already got all the informations about
the incubation time of the eggs, in the worst case, I guess you’ll have to take the eggs away to enable her to finally get over it and start eating again.
This is another example of caring animal behaviour, even if there is the survival instinct for the specie, we can’t deny that this behaviour is protecting and caring. Animals do feel, have feelings even if not alike the humans… and each one of them deserve to live. Dear Dina, we could share so much, I really wish to be able to get up there and finally meet you!
Now really your garden is getting each day lovier… with all these flowers and greenery.
Hugs and kisses :-)claudine
I am feeding Peanut a special diet to meet her needs, so for now she is ok, I have thought of getting food onto the garage roof but it would be lost in the growth up there. Totally agree with all your comments, we are exactly the same as all other animals, given we are just intelligent mammals. Don’t worry about Peanut, I’ll sort something out! It would be lovely to meet you, maybe I’ll come to you and see your beautiful country. Love always, to you all. xxx
If the noise police get on your case, I’d like to know what they propose. That you give Peanut inside-voice training? That you enroll her in a peahen obedience course? And to Sue’s comment — yikes! A whole flock of stroppy AND noisy peafowl!
And, yes, that view of your garage roof did stagger me a bit. It may be the plants keeping the roof from falling in!
Your planters are looking positively lush — wonderful!
Hahaha….yes, good points re the noise police! They’ll probably tell me to remove the bird, an impossible feat! I simply can’t imagine peachicks, my brain won’t allow me to go there….
I have to say, the garage roof shocked me too, who knew??? We are planning a new garage build this year as it is decrepit! I am enjoying the back garden, far more manageable. Thanks Anne.xxx
It’s all looking great. Maybe it will be a good thing if the eggs are infertile. Just imagine having a whole flock of stroppy peafowl.
Oh….a flock of stroppy wildfowl? Shudders! Thanks Sue.xxx
An interesting post and good pictures. I do hope that that going up on the roof proves unnecessary in view of what you say.
Good to see the gardens filling out with foliage and colour. xx
Thanks Flighty, oh, you and me both re going on that fragile roof! It is lovely to see the back garden and courtyard coming back to life after so much building work.xxx
Perhaps Peanut has some sort of psychological problem? 😉
Ah! All that life so apparent in newborn chicks….Fun time for you, no doubt.
Garden looking good as always….. Hugs! 💕
I think Peanut has maternal issues, she is certainly broody! The sheer variety of chicks is always astonishing, I love to see them but always wish they were with their parents who do a far better job. Thanks Bushka. Hugs.xxx
It always seems that you’re at the beck and call of your animals and birds, it’s a wonder you get anything else done other than caring for them all. Poor peanut, it does sound as though she’s sitting on unfertilised eggs, doesn’t it? I think you’re going to have to be cruel to be kind with her. Your garden’s looking wonderful, it’s come on leaps and bounds in the last month or two, you’ve done a great job with it, I hope the dogs aren’t jumping on the planters now that they’re full of flowers.
The animals have me on the run for sure! Yes, I will have to deal with Peanut, she can’t stay up there forever! The back garden and the courtyard are coming on, the front is still a wilderness though, most borders still haven’t been weeded since last year….sighs…it will probably take me the rest of the year to sort them. Unfortunately, the dogs have no respect for flowers, planters are play areas for Sam and Annie. Thanks Jo. xxx
Poor Peanut sitting on unfertilised eggs; there’s something rather tragic about that. I love the fact that she has you so well trained! Your garden is looking fantastic – even the roof garden! xx
Thanks Veggiemummy. It is a little tragic isn’t it? I shall have to put my thinking cap on re her……she always comes for food so at least I can keep her alive while I figure things out.
Oh…unexpected roof garden, whatever next?xxx