Saturday 26 February 2011

Bye Bye Purdy

A sad start to the day here. I let the girls out to free range, and six eager beaks started snaffling the lawn. I assumed that Hilda and Purdy were laying. I was right about Hilda, but sadly I found Purdy dead between the roosting bars. With a heavy heart, I extracted her from her uncomfortable resting place. A brief examination proved that she was without injury, and she had shown absolutely no sign of illness. I take comfort from the fact that her end was swift and apparently pain free.

She must have died during the night. The rest of the flock were extremely noisy this morning, but I put it down to spring feistiness. I now suspect that they were trying to tell me something. As I cleared the coop, Maeve stood in the pop hole watching me intently. I doubt that chickens can really comprehend their own mortality, and certainly the heartless harridans must have walked over their deceased flockmate to exit the coop for breakfast this morning. But her body was unmolested by inquisitive pecking, and no one had pooed on her. That just about adds up to respect as far as chicken loyalties go.

Farewell, Purdy Pants. I hope that your year with us was a happy one.

7 comments:

  1. Poor Purdy, poor chicken lady!

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  2. I'm sorry to hear about Purdy's sudden death. I know her year with you was the best a chicken could have though. It's hard to see their busy little lives leave us. You left a mark for Purdy Pants, by your insight and observation. I fully agree with you in your next-to-last sentences: "But her body was unmolested by inquisitive pecking, and no one had pooed on her. That just about adds up to respect as far as chicken loyalties go."
    It's easy to visualize Purdy, Buffy and Hayley off in Valhalla, industriously scratching away in lush green fields. We'll see all we love there one day, human, and animal and plant.
    In chicken love,
    Laura Brooks
    @justgotlayed

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  3. So Sorry, my Tikka went the same way last month :(

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  4. I'm sorry, I know it hurts ♡

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  5. Such a lovely post. Farewell, Purdy.

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