Never seen anything like this before.

[MDB]

Magpies on my mare. Well flying onto the backs of all three, but onto the legs of one mare, pecking away, then on her back and shoulders pecking. She has been stood for the past half an hour, head down, not moving. Just given her a check over. No wounds but chestnuts given a debridement by magpied. She is now eating hay with the others. Don't know what to make of it.

 

[Surbie]

We have them at the stables too -I saw two pecking the manes of the horses in the veterans field. Didn't believe what I was seeing either, but there is obviously something they like and the horses aren't bothered.

 

[Nasicus]

Obviously found something tasty on them! We get the maggies too on ours, although they tend to just leave blue poops all over their backs from when they've been eating the berries!

 

[MDB]

We have them at the stables too -I saw two pecking the manes of the horses in the veterans field. Didn't believe what I was seeing either, but there is obviously something they like and the horses aren't bothered.

Oh ok. Great. I was so taken aback. It was one thing to be on their backs but jumping up and clingin onto their front legs like it was a tree branch really had me concerned. Another check shows no wounds or anything. Will keep an eye. Thanks

 

[Celtic Fringe]

Ours never seem to mind having birds on their backs and sometimes have poop on their backs or rugs. My friends old horse used to graze happily with a pigeon on board but would have a meltdown if one flew out the hedge when he was being ridden. I put it down to his Irish Draught sense of humour!

 

[milliepops]

When I worked at HAPPA the donkeys used to look motheaten at some times of the year because the birds pecked their coats out They never seemed to mind!

 

[Floxie]

When I worked at HAPPA the donkeys used to look motheaten at some times of the year because the birds pecked their coats out They never seemed to mind!

For nesting? <3

 

[milliepops]

For nesting? <3

assume so. Would have been easier to pick up the hair the horses were shedding when they rolled than pluck fresh from a donkey, I'd have thought... but then I'm not a bird!

 

[Antw23uk]

Ahhh berry coloured bird poo .. I thought my gelding was standing under the overhead cables that go across our field at the wrong time and getting pooed on but maybe its the same as what happened to yours! He's rugged now anyway and I didnt find any wounds!

 

[Antw23uk]

For nesting? <3

But in November? I know they do in spring with winter coats coming out but surely they wouldnt be nest building in November?

 

[Floxie]

No, I doubt the magpies are after fur for nesting in November, my comment was in reply to milliepops'

 

[Sparemare]

We had a magpie kindly picking out the rear hoof of a sleeping pony yesterday.

 

[Landcruiser]

I'm quite squeamish about chestnuts. Go magpies!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Magpies on my mare. Well flying onto the backs of all three, but onto the legs of one mare, pecking away, then on her back and shoulders pecking. She has been stood for the past half an hour, head down, not moving. Just given her a check over. No wounds but chestnuts given a debridement by magpied. She is now eating hay with the others. Don't know what to make of it.

Seen it many times pecking legs of horses asleep - here is one on my late mare

 

[happyclappy]

Seen this so many many times, not usually any harm. Not just my horses. Love seeing it actually, Magpies are not all bad! (but I don't really like them)