Being herd animals, when my young mare's (horse) pasturmate passed on of old age, I fretted for weeks about her being lonely while I contemplated what replacement animal I could get as another companion for her (didn't need another horse, nor "just another mouth" to feed that would have no other use here, didn't need an "escape artist" goat, have no use for sheep or llama, etc etc etc). During those weeks I observed her at first looking at me as that friend whenever I'd go out to feed or do something, and then one day, her having taken to the chickens & Guinea fowl (who's coop is a room in her shelterbarn) as her own chosen pasturemates replacement.
She's been happy with them as that for 3 yrs already now - any they've all accepted her that same way. She likes watching them through the coop door when they're all inside - I even put a window inbetween her stall and the coop for her to look through when she wants. It's not at all uncommon to look out at the pasture and see the flock milling around and under her while she's grazing. And amazingly (to me), she's stood off a coyote - not once, but twice that it showed it's face much too closely around here - making sure that "her" flock were all able to run safely under & behind her into their coop. I've seen what a horse can do to a pestering dog (never saw a dog fly so high and far with just one kick from a horse......the dog luckily survived, and fully deserved that warning!! and NEVER pestered a horse again after that!) - I would not want to be a coyote threatening my mare's "flock's" welfare!
The animal world is pretty amazing........heh, LOL - humans could take a lot of advice from them. :-)
She's been happy with them as that for 3 yrs already now - any they've all accepted her that same way. She likes watching them through the coop door when they're all inside - I even put a window inbetween her stall and the coop for her to look through when she wants. It's not at all uncommon to look out at the pasture and see the flock milling around and under her while she's grazing. And amazingly (to me), she's stood off a coyote - not once, but twice that it showed it's face much too closely around here - making sure that "her" flock were all able to run safely under & behind her into their coop. I've seen what a horse can do to a pestering dog (never saw a dog fly so high and far with just one kick from a horse......the dog luckily survived, and fully deserved that warning!! and NEVER pestered a horse again after that!) - I would not want to be a coyote threatening my mare's "flock's" welfare!
The animal world is pretty amazing........heh, LOL - humans could take a lot of advice from them. :-)
Kate in WI
<< Posted by: "Gina Hall"
Aw, how cute. It is always interesting when animals choose another type
completely to be their companion.
Gina >>
completely to be their companion.
Gina >>
__._,_.___
To post a message to the list go to
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
.
__,_._,___
No comments:
Post a Comment