MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

Each time one dies I'm sure many of us think we just can't do this anymore. We do though because all those wonderfull moments that are a particlular gift from chickens outweighs these moments of sadness.

Very well said.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes. It's well worth any sadness. Chickens are very companionable birds.

I'll be a mess the day Mary says goodbye.

I thought I would be a mess when dear old Lilly passed. Then I wasn't even home when it happened. Maybe that helped but with her being over 6 years old it was just easier to accept somehow. I guess maybe the thought of her saying goodbye had rattled around in me as she got older.

Maybe it will be different when Hattie or Aurora say goodbye.

It just seems it is the ones you don't get to spend as much time with hurt more. Gucci nearly broke me when she passed. Mrs BY Bob still won't talk about her without crying.

 

[MaryJanet]

Marans
View attachment 3727459View attachment 3727461

Orpingtons

View attachment 3727467View attachment 3727477

I think that covers them all.

For some reason, my thinking went directly to Phyllis! She's such a show-stopper.

 

[MaryJanet]

I thought I would be a mess when dear old Lilly passed. Then I wasn't even home when it happened. Maybe that helped but with her being over 6 years old it was just easier to accept somehow. I guess maybe the thought of her saying goodbye had rattled around in me as she got older.

Maybe it will be different when Hattie or Aurora say goodbye.

It just seems it is the ones you don't get to spend as much time with hurt more. Gucci nearly broke me when she passed. Mrs BY Bob still won't talk about her without crying.

I think some are deeper in the heart and mind than others.

 

[BY Bob]

For some reason, my thinking went directly to Phyllis! She's such a show-stopper.

Phyllis does steal the show.

If they are buff-laced those polish would look like Gucci.

 

[MaryJanet]

Phyllis does steal the show.
View attachment 3727493

If they are buff-laced those polish would look like Gucci.

View attachment 3727494

They say their rooster carries the gold-laced gene which is expressed in some of his chicks. So Polish chicks could be flat or frizzled, and buff or gold laced. I don't mind which way they go. The chocolate coloured Orpingtons are lovely. I've alway been keen on Marans and will be delighted to see how that turns out. Hopefully there will be at least one or two pullets from six eggs.

 

[BY Bob]

They say their rooster carries the gold-laced gene which is expressed in some of his chicks. So Polish chicks could be flat or frizzled, and buff or gold laced. I don't mind which way they go. The chocolate coloured Orpingtons are lovely. I've alway been keen on Marans and will be delighted to see how that turns out. Hopefully there will be at least one or two pullets from six eggs.

In general, they should all mix well with your current group. You never know with any particular chicken but in general these are pretty chill breeds.

 

[MaryJanet]

In general, they should all mix well with your current group. You never know with any particular chicken but in general these are pretty chill breeds.

Little ones are quick on their feet anyway, so they shouldn't come to much harm.

 

[MaryJanet]

Janet has died.

She slept with Ivy last night and didn't get up for breakfast this morning, so I looked for her and she was snuggled up with Ivy. I put a couple of dried meal worms next to her. Later in the afternoon I thought it was strange I hadn't seen her so I looked and found her remains a few steps away from where she had been sitting.

Here she is shortly after moving in. It was day 1 or 2. Mary had not moved in yet and Jan was flying solo that week.

View attachment 3727027

Then her amigo moved in.

View attachment 3727028

A few months later a street urchin turned up.

Three Amigos.

View attachment 3727029

View attachment 3727030

Around this time, she started feeling a little off.

Dr Mark wasn't able to pin it down on this occasion but she had an overnight stay, a fecal float, an exam. All for free.

View attachment 3727031

Some time later two little puddings joined in and gave Janet a reason to look upon everything with a sense of superiority.



Janet then had a swollen eye which I failed to notice until it was quite uncomfortable for her. She had her eye surgically flushed by Dr Mark and his team. Her eyelid had to be cut open for the procedure and glued together again.

Her eye infection marked the beginning of the end, with several week long treatments of antibiotics and followed by probiotics. We just couldn't crack it and each time her recuperation took longer and failed sooner.

Her last treatment resulted in her poops becoming tiny. That's when I thought no more antibiotics. Something wasn't right and I didn't want to put her through another treatment regimen with its long term recuperation for short term benefit.

Instead I focussed on giving her things she liked like corn and meal worms and cottage cheese rolled in pellets. And salmon and egg. I'm sure the shitty diet made her happy but sicker.

I was lucky to have had such a great hen in my life for so long. She was six. She died on 16/1/24.

An hour ago her friends starting singing for no reason. I like to think they were calling to her as she crossed the Rubicon.

She was a magnificent matriarch who will be much missed.

View attachment 3727034

View attachment 3727037

I buried Janet with 5c to pay the ferryman and some snacks for her journey.

It's a sad day. She was a very good hen. A very good friend.

 

[ManueB]

I buried Janet with 5c to pay the ferryman and some snacks for her journey.

View attachment 3728289

It's a sad day. She was a very good hen. A very good friend.

Saying goodbye is hard. Try to do something nice for you thinking of her .