My dear old hen, Bella, died this afternoon at 4.5 years of age. She had been running around the garden all afternoon, eating well and enjoying the sun, so I was surprised to find her lying on her side at 5pm when I went out to put them in their pen. She died half an hour later. She had been showing her age lately with a wheres my zimmer? look about her, so I think she must have had a heart attack or stroke. At least she did not suffer for long. I am thankful for all the eggs she gave me during the 2.5 years that I had her. She was one of my first hens, so I wont forget her. I will plant her under my apple tree so she will continue to be productive even in her death. The poor old soul had such lovely feathers even in her last months, in fact better than when she was young. I will miss her.
