Sharing Space
I guess it’s nice to see big and small creatures getting along but part of me feels bad when the pigeons poop on the backs of our horses. It’s bad enough that the birds act like our barn was built solely to provide them comfortable space to raise families. As they grew more at ease around the horses, I noticed they began to show up to scavenge pellets of feed while the horses were still eating, sometimes even stepping right into the pans.
Now some of the pigeons have started standing on the horses’ backs.
I sure hope the pigeons are eating a fair share of the flies that are always trying to share space with the horses’ faces.
Meanwhile, I’m back to sharing space with Cyndie who has safely returned from a trip to Santa Fe where she and her friends’ visit just happened to coincide with the Ring of Fire solar eclipse. Not bad timing on their part.
I took full advantage of her return to opt out of dog duties for the first time in too many days. Asher made Cyndie walk through the dark last night to the neighbor’s house where, for the third time in three days, he wanted to share space with their [I’ve since learned] cockapoo.
She was very unhappy about that, which was just the way I felt the first two times he trespassed over there.
I’m afraid our plan of allowing Asher the freedom to roam our property off-leash has taken a serious turn in the wrong direction.
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Relative Something 
I can’t believe the Pigeons actually do that to the Horses. That’s gross and not the best way to make friends! Unless, it is..in the animal world.
Catsandcoffee
October 17, 2023 at 1:03 am
The horses seem unbothered by the birds on their backs. Maybe it reminds them of jockeys from their racing days!
johnwhays
October 17, 2023 at 10:15 pm
And with regards to Asher crossing the road: it would be nice if there was some sort of invisible fence product that you could set up to cover the usual crossing spot to give him a jolt when he violates the boundary. He needs to learn to avoid some consequence for the forbidden behavior. It is difficult to break; my dog would actually climb a fence to roam down the alley and then slink home and whine for us to open the gate to let him back in Never did really break him of that behavior until he got too old to climb.
wtbell
October 16, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Yes, I’m assuming we are up against a powerful canine nature to ever train by simple commands to keep him from returning to the neighbor’s property over and over.
johnwhays
October 16, 2023 at 1:13 pm
I know that it is against your “religion,” but country-fed pigeon is quite tasty! A good pellet gun and a steady aim will yield a nice meal!
wtbell
October 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Hahaha! Yes, I can imagine. When we had them, I would be much more open to turning the pigeons into a meal than our bug-eating machine/egg-laying hens.
johnwhays
October 16, 2023 at 1:10 pm