Heidi

We had to say goodbye to another girl today and that decision never gets any easier. Heidi had been with us since 26th October 2014 and was one of a group of five girls that we rescued from the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) in Haslingden. Of that group of girls, there’s only Rosie left and our flock is now down to five; Rosie, Ruby, Sprout, Ellie and Little Pea.

Heidi was a scruffy little hen when she arrived and spent her first week with us hiding in various corners of the run shivering. It didn’t take long for her to re-feather and blossom into a gorgeous, intelligent, confident and rather large girl!

Heidi loved corn and loved jumping so she was easily persuaded to learn a few tricks and would happily land on your knee or arm if she thought there was a chance of a treat. Grapes were always a favourite of hers too and she would give me her absolute, undivided attention if she knew I had any. Heidi was a very intelligent hen who learned tricks very quickly but she also liked to sit on my knee and have a cuddle and a chat about her day.

Heidi spent her last few days happily pottering around the garden, scratching for bugs, enjoying treats and watching the world go by from her favourite garden spot – a hole that she had dug that was perfectly ‘Heidi sized’. It has been a few weeks since we made the difficult decision to have Heidi put to sleep due to her having a very large and untreatable tumour and I still miss her and the cuddles; the flock seems strange without her and I still look for her when I count them into the run. She had nearly two years of freedom and for that I have to be grateful because any time these girls have out of their cage is precious.

Sam x