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Peace is ill

Photo: Hope and Peace

Photo: Hope and Peace

Peace, the softer one of our new pair of hens is ill.

I found her this morning, feathers ruffled and looking very seedy. Peace is very sweet natured and steady. I picked her up and put her inside my jacket. She cheeped plaintively as I stroked her and carried her up the garden into the warm kitchen.

She is now in the bathroom well away from the Min Pins, wrapped in a large towel. Her temporary home is a big cardboard box with food and water. She was asleep with her head under one wing just before I left for work.

Danny sent a few updates during the day. But when I returned home this evening Peace felt so cold that I filled a hottie just from the hot tap so that she wouldn’t overheat. I wrapped it in newspaper and popped it beneath her hoping that she would settle on a warm spot. She seemed to like this.

Bantams (miniature chickens) are delicate creatures. They don’t do well if they are exposed to cold and draughts. It has been below freezing for the past few nights. If she survives tonight she has a chance but things don’t look good for our gentle and beautiful creature.

Update: I just checked her and she has sadly died. I loved this little hen. She was special.


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29 Comments

  1. ambermoggie

    so sorry to hear about peace:(

  2. Scintilla

    And I was hoping for a happy ending… 🙁

  3. I have nothing to add that hasn’t been said – just wanted to send you my best wishes.

  4. Nothing to add but my condolences. February is always a bloody awful month and I should know cos my birthday’s in it! Poor little Peace.

  5. Oh Fiona, I’m so sorry about Peace. I’d commented before the update on my way to bed as I know you often post late at night. Animals get under your skin so quickly that it doesn’t matter how long or short a time they have lived with you, you still feel their loss just the same.

  6. Terrible news, so sorry for your loss.. RIP Peace.

    Hugs to you & D

  7. Truly sorry to hear your sad news. We’ve all felt a part of her life from when she arrived to her naming at Christmas. You did your very best for her. Keeping my fingers crossed for Hope, also our dear Mrs. Boss. x

  8. kate (uk)

    Birds are very vulnerable to cold, so sorry to hear that Peace succumbed.

  9. So sorry.

  10. Oh Fiona how sad. They are such pretty hens & it’s always hard when our pets die. At least you know she had a happy life with you & a comfortable end – not alone (or maybe being attacked by others) & cold in the hen house. It’s always a comfort to know they’ve had a happy life with you and you’ve done your best for them.

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