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Wednesday 26 March 2014

A Post for Penny - Wednesday 26th March 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Today's post is written with a heavy heart, because yesterday we lost our beautiful Buff Orpington hen, Penny...

Many of you were already my blog friends when we brought her home for the first time, along with our Speckledy, Lacey - to join our girls Bella and Cara. All four hens are looked on as quite robust breeds, expected to live a good number of years (our lovely Bluebelle, Buffy was 5), but it was soon clear that Penny, had major problems in the egg producing area and we only ever had about five normal eggs from her and somehow, I knew that we wouldn't have her for as long as we would expect.

Baby Penny on her first day in the garden, August 2012 aged 12 weeks


She had her little operation last year and had been fine ever since; Tom and I keep the hens as pets, we aren't bothered by how many eggs we get and to be honest, I was happy as long as Penny wasn't laying, because whenever she did it stressed her. She showed signs of being poorly at the weekend, but she was still eating and looking good - there was just something not right. I was home on Monday and she seemed better again: I checked her for obvious signs such as being egg bound, but all seemed ok. Yesterday morning she didn't want to come out of the nest box, so I took her out whilst I did my daily clean, gave her a nice long cuddle and put her back, leaving water and the lamp on. I can tell you that yesterday at work was hard, because I just knew what I was going to come home to...

I've never shared this on here before, but I do get times when I feel very low. I have lived with it since I was a teenager and never let it overcome me; it has occurred a bit more often since we lost my Mum in 2007, but having the hens with their funny little characters and antics in the garden is a massive boost to your wellbeing. Of all our hens, Penny, our big bundle of honey coloured feathers was the biggest 'therapy' of all.

If I sat on the bench in the garden, she would come up alongside, look up, jiggle up and down and I would pick her up and cuddle her - she would happily sit on my lap for as long as we both wanted. Any of the others could have just jumped up, but Penny was too big for jumping.


helping me choose a blog candi winner last summer


Just last week, on my birthday I was playing about with 'selfies'..



She was bottom of the pecking order, with Lacey next..Bella and Cara will peck Lacey if she annoys them, but she doesn't care and just comes bouncing back. I noticed quite early on that they didn't bother to peck Penny much, she just stayed out of trouble and minded her own business.

So, Penny, I want to thank you for all those cuddles and the immense pleasure you gave us in your short life. I hope you are now at the Rainbow Bridge, scratching away happily with our other girls, Buffy, Willow and Martha..sleep peacefully Babygirl


Penny, June 2012 - March 2014
Sorry for such a sad post today, but I know that you have all followed my hens and their garden antics with me, thank you for stopping by,

Love and hugs,
Carole X

28 comments:

  1. Aww!! Carole (((((hugs)))))
    Hope you are feeling a bit better today.
    I know your hens mean so much to you, you will miss her.
    I get low days during the winter and take Vitamin D which I find helps.
    However "cuddles" certainly help

    Patricia xx

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  2. Oh Carole, how sad! It has been obvious to all your followers that you truly love your chicken family, and the way you talk about Penny made me aware she was probably your favourite. Take care and keep your chin up! Love and hugs from Christine xx

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    1. Thanks Christine, we shouldn't have favourites, all four of them are much loved, but Penny was the one who came for cuddles and definitely preferred human company, so yes, you're right, she was X

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  3. Very sad to read your post today Carole, so sorry about the loss of your Penny. I know how much your hens mean to you & Tom & that you will miss her very much. Lovely memories & photos of her to look back on, I'm sure writing your blog & sharing with us all will help too.
    Take care, lots of hugs
    Amy x

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    1. Thanks Amy, yes writing the blog did help a lot..see you tomorrow X

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  4. Morning Carole,
    Very sad for you, to lose a pet is terrible. I'm sure you will miss her dreadfully. Take car.
    Lydia
    X

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  5. Carole, I am so very sorry, my heart breaks for you. They bring so much into our lives and it is such a big loss when they are gone. I just hope your others can help you to heal. Hugs,
    Donna

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    1. Thanks Donna, that's the problem with animals isn't it? They capture our hearts and leave us too soon..yes we still have the others to love and make us chuckle - X

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  6. Carole my heart goes out to you, I know how it is to loose one of the ladies, we lost a great fun loving hen only weeks ago, she would be in the house before you knew it trying to steal the cat food, she to loved to be picked up and cuddled, sending ((((((hugs)))))) Beth and Anna send them to as they also love there hens and get upset when one dies. bye, Bye, Penny . Hazel xx

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    1. Thanks Hazel, although we love all our pets, it's always the ones - as with your lady, that seek the most human contact, who tug at our heart strings most and Penny was just that. I think you need to own hens to really realise what great, fun pets they are, don't you? Hugs back to you, X

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  7. Oh Carole, I am so sorry for your loss, it is hard to let go of furry cuddly friends. Don't let it let you down though, you have all your bloggy friends sending you cuddles and hugs. Take care of yourself dear. ~Big hugs, ~Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane, yes I am so grateful to be friends with all of you :) x

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  8. Dear Carole,

    I'm sorry your heart is heavy today. It is never easy to loose a friend! I will be praying that Jesus will fill your heart with His love and peace today.

    Sending BIG (((Hugs)))

    Patti

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    1. Thank you so much Patti, she was such a character who literally followed me everywhere when I was in the garden, just like a puppy. X

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  9. So sorry to hear about Penny today Carole, I know how much all the hens mean to you. Lovely post today though, with some beautiful photos and happy memories.xx

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  10. Oh Carole, I am so very sorry to hear about Penny. I have loved hearing your stories about the hens and especially about Penny and I know how much they all mean to you. So, so sorry my friend. Your post today is heart rending but beautiful and a lovely tribute to Penny. Please don't feel sad for too long, I am sure your other girls will rally round and help to cheer you up again. I too, have low periods and I do understand how that feels but just remember that IF Penny was suffering, she no longer is, so that has to be a good thing. Take care my friend. Big hugs, Anne xx

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    1. Thank you so much Anne, for your lovely words, XX

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  11. So sorry Carole, I know how much our pets mean to us, Penny was extremely lucky to be part of your family, such wonderful photos for you to treasure. xx

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  12. I'm so sorry for your loss Carole, this has really saddened me so I can only imagine how you must be feeling. I'm so grateful that you've shared your stories and pictures of Penny with us, she was so beautiful and seemed to have such a lovely, friendly personality too, I know you'll always treasure those memories of her. I understand what it's like to go through lows and how much our fluffy friends can help us through them, so I will be thinking of you and sending you love.
    Rebecca.
    X

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment Rebecca x

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  13. Carole I am so sorry to fear about Penny....people who don't have pets sometimes don't understand when our beloved pets pass away but I do and my heart goes out to you,,,,sending you a big blogging hug

    Anne

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  14. Sorry to hear about Penny, I know how sad it is to loose a beloved pet, we sadly lost our 12 year old dog last month and we still miss him. I also have 5 hens and a month after buying them last years we lost one that was egg bound, and they all have their own little personalities. Thinking of you and sending you love. Gail

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  15. Thank you Gail, I am so sorry about your dog too..both Tom and I had dogs as kids and they were both 15 when they passed. It is so hard at the best of times, but after 12 years they truly are family members, sending hugs back X

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