Late yesterday afternoon, I sat outside to watch, feed and water the birds. As usual, Gutsy9 joined me at the picnic table and stretched her neck out for me to stroke and when I stopped, she either bit my toes or gave me the cold shoulder.
G9 is a bit jealous of the new peachicks which is probably why she has suddenly become all lovey-dovey again (she went through that teenage aloof thing a while ago). As soon as she hears the back door open, and my voice, she rushes at me making the little chirpy noises she used to make when she was a baby.
For those who don’t know, I discovered G9 outside over a year ago, obviously abandoned by whoever her mother was, so I raised her myself. During her first day with me, I had to meet friends for lunch so I took her with me, hidden inside my shirt and, for the next few weeks, she spent most of her time either on my shoulder, or on the keyboard of this laptop, or in a canary cage with the door open. I took her to the nursing home to see Anthony, took her to my mother’s house for Christmas, took her to the vet when she got underneath my office chair and I accidentally injured her toe, then, eventually, took her outside to integrate with her kin.
To begin with, the other peas treated her like an alien because she was so humanized! But over the last year, she has actually become a bit of a leader, especially in the bread-stakes. I only have to open a packet of bread and she hears the rustle of plastic and zooms straight to the back door, sometimes crashing into the window, with all the others following, hoping for bread.
But now, with Queenie and the new peachicks, G9 seems to have become a little insecure, and very needy of me, almost as if she is nostalgic for our mother/baby months. It’s hilarious! She watches me watching them and pecks me quite violently sometimes.
Oh yes, the pool party. The following photos are of what must have been a committee meeting but it did kind of look like a pool party.
They all chatted for about an hour and the conversation seemed quite serious. I think it was about protecting the new peachicks but I’m not sure. G9 sat with me and watched rather jealously, so I snuck her a bit of bread from my pocket.
jmgoyder 
great post, like a bunch gossiping around the pool. fyi – i’ve been known to run into the glass too, when i hear the sound of bread being opened in the kitchen )
it’s so amazing where our comfort comes from sometimes… I have one doggie and our new kitty and you have a whole yard full …. G9 I’m sure is insecure but I think she knows she’ll always have a special place in your heart…. (and in your pocket) Diane
Thanks tor telling her story! She’s lovely!
lined up for a photo after the summit meeting!
Great entertainment to have a yard full of birds.
This was a great post, I wondered if G9 had now abandoned you, glad to hear there is jealousy there… lovely share Julie…
Your birds look lovely. I don’t see much in the way of domestic fowl like these now!
Reminds me of neighbours in Lochranza in Arran, Sandy and Margaret, who had a lot of birds running about their large garden including hens and a peacocks. Sandy and his brother were shepherds whose sheep roamed the hills on the south of Lochranza Bay.
You’ll have to teach G9 that jealousy is a curse.
I often wonder if birds have meetings or talk to each other in long conversations (different species as well). I’ve often observed what seems to be quacking and reprimanding, quacking and following, or even a duck quacking and when finished, a moorhen quacking back – seemingly replying.
Or are we going a wee bit ‘batty’ in old age, Julie?
Enjoyed hearing this
She has turned into quite the diva! I like the shot of the birds around the pond.
Your description of G9’s behaviors had me laughing…especially when related to that of a teen. And now she is jealous for your attention. Those toe pecks are probably less painful than the pecks from the human kids!!!!
Lovely bird moments!
Julie, I will be honest I was wondering how G9 had been taking the new arrivals. Thank you for the answer. I do so enjoy watching and hearing about life and times on your farm. Being a city boy I am not sure how I would feel having G9 charge me LOL LOL. Take care, Bill
Lovely to see those photos of Gutsy9 as a baby again. Hope she gets her beak back in joint again – the bread treats will certainly help. They do look most serious standing round the pool!
I love that Gutsy 😀
Awwww, such a cute, sweet story. Your birds are so beautiful:)
That’s quite a relationship you two have, along with the rest of your fur/feather family. 🙂
I loved the way you describe the interactions among you and your feathered flock and I don’t think you’re reading anything into their behavior at all. It’s fascinating to realize the similarities and yet always keep that respectful “otherness” between species. Not to mention Gutsy9 was well-named! 🙂
Who would have thought that a Gutsy-9 would have developed such human traits, she is acting just like a teenager, she needs you while pushing you away at the same time. She is amazing. 🙂
what beautiful photos!!!
What a beautiful blog. Filled with life and love. Thank you my friend!
Such a lovely post! They really do look like they’re having a social get together.
We have a pomeranian(sp???) and chihuahua stray that we took in. He barked too much and had too much energy, and neighbors on the back street let him keep running to our house when the windows were open and I was cooking supper. Then they told us that if we didn’t want him, they were taking him to the pound, but the pound was putting most chihuahuas to sleep, because they had too many of them. What can I say? We kept him. And we love Chewy, but he’s jealous of EVERYTHING. He attacks John’s feet when he brings me a cup of tea at the end of the night. So I understand about Gutsy. It’s hard to feel someone might be your new favorite, even though Chewy loves the 4 stray cats who’ve started begging at our house:) He’s a generous, insecure dog:)
It’s tough being a peahen Mom!
Reminds me of our Ellie. So precious. Enjoy. R
It is funny how our pets can zero in on a specific sound and know that a treat awaits them! Love Gutsy 9, this photo sequence, and your telling of the pool party, Julie!
😀
Is there a story to her naming?!
Lovely post. I feel all warm and relaxed now that the meeting is over.
Wonderful story .. and I’m so glad that you listen to your heart when it was about G9. I’m sure you can recall how moody you where as a teenage girl. It’s a truly lovely story …
G9 actually reminds me of you in many ways!
You mean I put my beak into everything. Thank you very much – I take that compliment!!!