Gawd, helluva day so far. I scraped the children out of bed this morning,they were pretty grumpy. When I finally ushered them downstairs I found a kind gift of a mouse in my office, (thank you so much cats!) Then on opening up the chickens I found we had a death in the family.
Naughty Norah died last night. She was a funny little thing, always scruffy, determined, up to no good. When we got her almost a year ago she was the first of our battery rescuees to investigate the fields and always last to come to bed at lock up time, hence her name. She preferred the company of the horses than her fellow chooks. She was a real character.
I'd noticed that her vent was sore on Sunday. I duly bathed her in warm water and applied Vaseline and each day she looked better and better. I suspected she was egg bound. Yesterday I called my husband in Germany to say that she looked lots better. She died in the night.
The children are sad. I'm more philosophical: She was rescued from certain death, delisted from a battery hen farm. She's had one year with us scritching and scratching around The Larches, she didn't seem to be in pain and she died in the coop with all the girls. I'm glad she came to live with us.
This morning I've thoroughly cleaned the coop, given all the girls and Rooster their 6 week dose of mite powder and laid down new soft shavings. Back to egg production I say.
Tonight the 7yo, the 5yo and I will preside over a sombre burial. Rest in peace Naughty Norah
I'm sure in Hen Heaven she will find a coop with no gates.
ReplyDeleteOh how sad. But I know she would have been very happy with you for the last year, the place is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Norah. We lost Beyonce, one of our lavender Orpington chicks, last week (and no, I didn't name her!) I hope the burial isn't too heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteJames: I think you are spot on James... she's probably with Laura our other lovely hen who was taken away by a badger.
ReplyDeleteTania: Exactly.
previously (very) lost in France: Not too bad but the 5yo was inconsolable later remembering his grandpa who passed away a year ago. These things play on children's minds don't they?
ReplyDeleteAw - bye chook.
ReplyDeleteI feel we have a fish funeral on the horizon. I feel a great viking burial would be appropriate. (Wouldn't actually be the first viking fish burial I would have performed.) Either that or my fairies may have to get to work again and do something sneaky and leave a delightful explaining note.
Hope you all recover soon!
MadameSmokinGun: Will you be wearing your tin hat with the horns and the fake plaits again?
ReplyDeleteIt's always sad when you find them dead. I always immediatley blame myself for my poor hen keeping then panic the rest will die too. This then galvanises me into bringing out treats and such... I begin to feel that perhaps my chooks look forward to a death in the family so to speak. I pray they don't do it deliberately...
ReplyDeleteTattie: I have guilt, glad to hear it's rife with hen keepers... xx Loved your post - A 'Must Read' I feel. Have you posted it on British Mummy Bloggers?
ReplyDeleteThey know when they are rescued. and I'm sure the time at Larches is all she will ever remember, her "lifetime" was at the Larches!
ReplyDeletenatural selection: I think you are quite right, that's how I feel.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a secret camera in my house?
ReplyDeleteSo sad... I cry and mourn for every hen (and roo) who leaves its spirit behind here in our hearts when it crossed the bridge. They are never too small to be loved and to have affected our lives. RIP sweet Norah, you were loved!!
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