We have been in denial for the last two days, but extensive searches have failed to find Billie the Beak. That feisty ex-battery hen, a real character. We will miss her.
Here she is leading her little flock - Little Red Hen and Sick Chick. Billie was always the boss, she ruled their woodland with a very pointy beak, and she wasn't afraid to use it.
She was always the first to greet us when we went into the wood.
This was her usual form of greeting and it didn't matter whether we wore wellies or sandals... she preferred the sandal option.
The other two hens are a little lost without their leader. Because we were working in the gardens today we let the hens out of the wood to join us, they just wanted company... and a few birdy treats from under the apple tree.
Sparky decided to check out the bird boxes and pointed out that this one needs some maintenance. Thanks Sparky.
During my lunch break I nipped up the road to visit Arnold - another shock awaited me... an empty field... no Arnold ... just a lock of coarse, black horse (tail) hair, near the fence.
My heart was in my mouth as I knocked on John's door and asked if Arnold was alright - John came out and shouted for him ... eventually Arnold came out of the inner yard, munching on some hay. Phew! What a relief.
He doesn't look quite as smart as he did at the weekend because he has been rolling in the mud again - but he still looks better than normal. He was a little miffed when I pulled out the camera and made him wait for his carrot. He forgave me, especially when we got to his favourite part of the proceedings, his polo mint.
I took the opportunity to check with John about what type of tree this one is. He confirmed that it is an Ash. The house was built in the 1830's, so the tree may well be a similar age, approx 180 years. It has the typical lattice patterned trunk of an ancient Ash tree. We still don't know whether it is one or two trees though!
'Bye Billie, I hope your end was swift.
Oh, poor Billie..all part of the circle of life, as they say. I'm surprised you aren't a nervous wreck after Billie and the "Arnold incident". Not certain that Sparky's intentions were entirely honourable!!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hi Jane, I am certain that Sparky was looking for mischief!
Deletethere have been lots of chicken thigh recipes coming from my way recently...
ReplyDeleteHi Dom, I reckon old Billie would only have been fit for a stock pot. She was a tough old girl.
DeleteBillie the Beak, we hardly knew ye.
ReplyDeletePearl
Hi Pearl, She was a hen with ... personality. We grew very fond of her.
DeletePoor Billie - I hope her end was swift too. Love the photo of the hens with the daffodils.
ReplyDeleteHi Scarlet, It is amazing how a couple of days of moderately reasonable weather have brought the daffodils out - very cheerful sight!
DeleteOh, poor thing. I take it there was no 'evidence' of a struggle nearby? Vigilance needed if there was Elaine - it'll be back...
ReplyDelete...let me know if you need any trail camera purchase details?
Hi Chris, Just a few feathers, outside the wood. I've checked all the ditches, the woodland on the other side of the road, the fish ponds, everywhere. I'm really interested in the trail camera, but as we are buying the poly tunnel right now, it will have to wait a couple of months. I'm looking forward to seeing the images from yours!!
DeleteBye, Bye Billie. With no apologies to Bye, Bye Birdie.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, We miss the old girl, she had a huge personality.
DeleteWonder what happened to Billie? Hope you find her. At least glad Arnold turned up safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteHi Molly, I fear that Billie is gone for good. The consolation is that she enjoyed several years of freedom after the factory farm.
DeleteRIP Billie-she seemed such a feisty character...
ReplyDeleteHi Green Dragonette, She was extremely feisty, some people were afraid of her, so was my old Toby dog - he always liked to keep her where he could see if she was about to attack him!!
DeleteHi Elaine...oh so sad about your Billie...I lost one last week too. I can't write about it because it is so terrible. "Pretty Woman", my guinea, killed one of the hens.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of Sparky!
For a moment I thought you were going to tell me Arnold was gone too....he is my favorite. And, you have him so spoiled!
Hi Meggie, I am sorry to hear that you have lost one of your hens too. As Jenny says, we love them and the down side is that it hurts when we lose them. I was so afraid when I couldn't find Arnold and finding the clump of tail hair really added to the fear. I can't tell you how relieved I was to eventually hear him clomp around in response to John's shouts! I've visited him today, he is in fine form.
DeleteI worry that your other two hens are subdued because they know what happened to Billie. They were surely there when the evil presence snatched her. What a shame!
ReplyDeleteHi Ms Sparrow, Little Red Hen and Sick Chick are in better spirits today, they are back into something like their old routine of scratching around the woods and then settling down for 'a gossip and a bit of knitting', like they used to do. Thank goodness!
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about Billie. You gave her a happy home while she was with you. The downside of caring about people and animals- you miss them when they're gone. Glad Arnold was OK.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny, Billie love roaming around the woods, ruling the roost - she was so different to the almost bald, skinny little thing that arrived fresh from the battery farm. She had a good three years of fresh air and fun and that is something to be happy about.
Delete