A bit over a week ago I began to hear cheeping every time I went out in the evening to feed, water and put the gang (geese and duck and turkey) into their pens. None of the peafowl have ever been penned because our dogs don’t attack them and they fly up into the trees at night to sleep.
We have five peacocks (one white and the rest blue) – and seven peahens (two white, four green and Gutsy9), but during mating season all except one peahen and G9 disappeared. I assumed they were all nesting somewhere, or trying to, and I hoped for the best that none of them had been killed by wild foxes. But as the weeks went by I began to lose hope and the peacocks’ cries became more mournful.
I didn’t even let myself hope for chicks because, with the crows and foxes, I knew they had little chance of surviving, so I put the cheeping sound down to my imagination and/or the sound of wild bird chicks somewhere. I did a bit of a search every afternoon/evening, but nothing.
Then one evening, I saw them! Two chicks with Queenie (our oldest peahen) foraging under a shrub. I was delighted, but decided not to intervene because I could see they were a great little unit, so different from when I found G9 a year ago, obviously abandoned.
I didn’t hold much hope for them but for the next couple of evenings they were still around! Our dogs hadn’t detected them, they hadn’t drowned in the pond, and they were surviving without human intervention. Nevertheless, I knew these tiny creatures were in great danger from predators so a week ago Ming herded Queenie and the chicks into our smallest pen. I put a shallow water bowl in the yard and lots of wheat grain, which is what I feed all of the birds, and, when they were all still there the next morning I breathed a sigh of relief. The bottom of our three animal yards is meshed to prevent foxes getting in so I assumed Queenie and her kids were sleeping there.
And maybe they were! But then, the other evening, they weren’t; they were gone! I assumed the worst until they were back in that same pen the next morning. This has been going on now for a few days: Queenie and chicks in pen during daylight; Queenie and chicks gone from pen by 7pm.
How do they do this magic trick? I will tell you tomorrow. In the meantime:
jmgoyder 
How lovely to see. You must have enjoyed resolving that conundrum.
I sure did!
YAY!! New babies!!
It’s so exciting!
They are a good size too, I was just telling John how your peahens had disappeared and here is good old Queenie back again. Lovely that they are coming back into that pen for their food, though I understand the fear. I hope they can be raised. How wonderful to see them. c
I hope they continue to survive.
It is terrifying isn’t it.. fingers more crossed.. c
I was trying to remember when I first let G9 out of the house to intermingle with other peas. Now I just have to check my blog!
Love it… when do you name them…??
As soon as they are fully grown!
It’s always an adventure on the farm 😀
Definitely!
Julie, Apparently mommy knows best and is taking care of the kids, and I hope she remains successful at it. Take care, Bill
She is an incredible mother – quite moving to watch her with them.
darn, I have to wait until tomorrow to find out!
Written it now.
It’s funny that she goes in the daytime… at night you’d think it would be more dangerous and she would want the protection … Diane
Apparently they feel much safer in trees at night.
that is a wonderful sign of good things to come )
I think so too.
So happy to see Queenie and her brood.
Me too.
So happy for the cheep cheep, especially since I can see your smiles. 🙂
So happy!
xo
They are so cute when that age – bit like human babies, actually (in their degree of cuteness)!
Sure are!
Can’t wait to find out. Glad they’re okay. Must be a relief.
They are really tough!
Such sweet little babies. 🙂
I hope they survive!
Great peachick wrangling.
The way they get from the yard to the tree is extraordinary!
I like surprises! 🙂 How DO these little chicks stay safe!
It is amazing to watch them!
And now I know!!!! 🙂
Ha!
I can’t wait to hear how the chicks are getting out of the pen!
Just wrote about it.
so cute and adorable! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!!!
Just blogged it!
Babies! 😀
Love it! And I love reading about your life, so different than my urban environment, and yet in so many ways…not. 🙂