Tag Archives: empty nest

And so it goes. Last  spring we lost the last two of our rescue animals who were with us for over 10 years. Cinderella a Muscovy duck had come to us after the fires of 2003. Our barn yard seems eerily empty. Well from previous posts you know I am doing my best to fill it up again.

Friday we picked up another rescue animal from the SPCA, abandoned  in a local park in town. “Of course she can come and live here”

So meet Aflac.

The first day was precarious. The chickens were not sure and quickly formed a band together to investigate the intruder. Aflac, being tame was a little worse for the encounter.

Satchmo and his gang of juvenile thugs attacked her. Holy pterodactyl feet.

We quickly had to re-think the living arrangements. Aflac was given an outdoor nesting box surrounded by a dog x-pen.

Sunday was much better. Aflac had a swim and learned some confidence and preservation skills. So far everything is harmonious.

It helped that our neighbors are cleaning their gardens for fall and the barn yard is a daily recipient of their compost. Mmmm… pea vines with peas still on them, zucchini, corn, carrots: delicious and meant to be shared.

Coming together in community to share a meal is a thousands year old tradition to build understanding and harmony.

After a long day of eating and really getting to know each other, bed and nighttime are a welcome reprieve.

The chickens are learning to roost in the barn and the goats love sneaking into the hay room for their nightly hand fed goat mash treat and a chance to steal some hay.

Scarlett the pheasant still looks longingly at the big world outside the barn yard. I won’t clip her wings again and I know that the call of her nature will come. I just hope that she will know that she is always welcome back, just like any other child who has outgrown the nest and spread its wings to fly.