One of the most interesting things on a farm is observing the relationships between animals, especially between different species.
I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing several interspecies relationships develop – some sweet and some amusing.
Gemma Jane has a thing for mothering adolescent chicks once their mothers have kicked them out of the nest. I was wondering why she had crap on her back each morning, then I found out:
Then there’s Luca and Valentino. They have the ultimate bromance. They play hard and beg to be together. Each morning, Valentino bursts out of his pen and runs to his best friend as if they haven’t seen each other in years.
Even though they communicate differently, play differently, one is vegan and the other has an almost purely meat-based diet they still respect and adore each other. Luca may get stunned by a well-landed headbutt or Valentino may trip when Luca grabs his leg but afterwards you’ll find them relaxing side by side. Luca would give his life for his goat and I’ve seen Valentino square off to roaming dogs next to Luca.
I suck at capturing action shots but here’s some pictures of the pure joy two different species can experience with one another. It’s an appropriate message of love for these times.