How Do You Solve A Problem Like Priscilla?

Sung by Tasty and Delicious, the Greek Chorus at Primms Springs Farm

How do you solve a problem like Priscilla?
How do you catch a bird and pin it down?

How do you find a word that means Priscilla?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to teach her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a bird upon the land

Oh, how do you solve a problem likePriscilla?
How do you hold a big bird in your hand?

How do you solve a problem like Priscilla?
How do you catch a bird and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Priscilla?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!



Many a thing you know you'd like to teach her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a bird upon the land

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Priscilla?
How do you hold a big bird in your hand?

How does one deal with a problem like Priscilla? Well, you spend 3 months caring for her and making sure the harsh winter doesn't turn her into a Peahen Popsicle treat for the coyotes. You worry when she is gone for longer then a day; fretting when the temps are below 20 degrees; feeling relieved when she shows up on the front door. Calming down your usually sweet tempered spouse when she roosts on the cars. Promising your usually sweet tempered spouse that you will pay for any damage to his Mini-Cooper convertible top! In the meantime, you let the world know that you need a home for this big, beautiful bird. State and local wild life agencies ignore your emails and phone calls. But, your friends on the neighborhood listserv never let you down! They spread the word...Before you know it a wonderful big hearted woman says, "I will take her!" Then the unthinkable happens! It rains, turns to sleet and the temperatures drop to sub freezing...The next morning Priscilla arrives at the front door bleeding...she has frozen to the tree limb and cut herself as she tried to fly down. You fret and worry. Then a call comes from a saint. Her name is Sharon, she lives on a farm, she loves peafowl, they have a pen, there are peacocks, they have everything Priscilla could ever want. They are excited, thrilled to add her to their family. This is right, this is the place. The big-hearted woman agrees that this is right. Our big beautiful bird will have a home, be loved, be with other peafowl, be safe and maybe have chicks. This is the right course of action. So we set about to catch her. My dear, sweet wonderful husband of thirty incredible years figures out the hows and catches her on the first attempt.

So, how does one solve a problem like Priscilla?
We take her to the country....

Last week we began feeding Priscilla in a cage.
Wednesday evening Mr I had tied a string to the cage door and sprung the trap!
We covered the cage with a nice warm blanket and she slept in my Subaru!
The next day we drove to the country.
The only problem was the peahen poop odor.
Birds eat and eat and poop and poop.

We arrive at the farm and see Priscilla's new digs.
The pen is a two room affair with netting on the roof
to keep them safe inside and predators out.
The roosts have heat tape to protect their tootsies.
They are free to walk about the 200 acre farm when not penned.
There are half a dozen Indian Blue Peafowl.
Priscilla F Peahen is an Indian Blue Peahen.

She is released into an empty pen so everyone can adjust to her.
Clever girl~she spies the other peafowl.

"You ARE leaving me here?" she seems to be asking me!
Or, maybe it's a big thank you!

Hello there, Handsome!
Mr Peacock is interested!
Of course he is~She's a beauty!

She is chortling.
I can't describe it, but I think it's a joyful hello sound!

Please if you enlarge any, this is the one!
My bird is happy!
So am I!

You already figured out
that this big beautiful bird has wormed her way into my affection.
I will miss her, but I am thrilled she has a home and a real peahen life.
The 'burbs ain't no place for her!

UPDATE: Sharon called and Priscilla is doing well. She and the 'Captain' (Mr Peacock' as named by Annie/Transplantable Rose) are now in the same cage. It may take longer for the other peahens to welcome her!

Gail