Henrietta Chicken Bottom arrived on my birthday in May 2019. She was a rescue, and ex commercial hen who had been been using for egg laying and at 17 months was deemed “uneconomical to keep”, so discarded by the commercial farmer.

She had a pronounced limp (which never went away) and a wonky beak, she definitely wouldn’t have won any prettiest hen contests, she wasn’t the most adventurous of the girls, and to begin with she was quite suspicious of humans.

She was however the Leader from the start, but my dear sweet girl was a very benign dictator. Once the initial pecking order was in place, she maintained it with just a look or a gesture. She was patient and gentle with her flock, she watched over them whilst they dust bathed, only relaxing if she knew I was there taking over the protective duties.

She was the first to welcome both sets of new girls when they arrived, checking them over, letting them know she was in charge firmly, but gently. Accepting them into the flock and shepherding them around with the other girls.

It took her a while to accept me, but over the last year she loved nothing more than sitting on my lap and softly singing her happy little song to me.

Henrietta proved to me that good Leaders don’t have to be the loudest, the bravest, the cleverest or the prettiest. What they do have to do is care about the ones they are responsible for. Henrietta protected her flock, she looked out for them and kept them safe. She passed away last night in her sleep at four years old, surrounded by her flock, exactly as she would have wanted.

They will miss her presence deeply, and so will I.

Little Ivy Berry bird sadly passed away this week. She was only with us since December last year and she’s never been 100%.

Her comb never stood up straight, and she was always slightly slower than the other girls. But do you know what, it didn’t make the slightest bit of difference to the enjoyment Ivy got out of life, and it didn’t make a difference to how much I loved her.

She adored treats, squealing with joy when I brought grapes out and I always knew to get my fingers out of the way (particularly if I had bright red nails).

She was always with her two best friends, Holly and Mistletoe, from the moment we packed the three of them into a box at the rescue centre they’ve never had a squabble, sticking together, learning together and exploring the world together.

When she slowed down more this week they flanked her on either side, sticking close so she knew they were near.

It really doesn’t matter if you aren’t perfect, (no-one is), if you find your flock, they’ll accept you and love you for who you are.

Fly high sweet Ivy, you were a precious soul and you were loved.

Over the last few months every day we’ve been getting one egg from the established birds and one egg from the new girls.

I’ve always assumed them to be produced by Queenie (the youngest of the older girls by a year or so) and Holly (who is still so busy producing eggs she hasn’t yet grown all her feathers back).

This morning when I came out to clean the run and give the girls their breakfast, Princess Layer was no-where to be seen. Despite knowing the run is fox proof this always give me concerns, and if they’re still in the coop that could be a sign that they are ill.

I opened up the coop and sure enough there was Princess cosied up in a nest box. I left her to it, for all I knew she was just having a lie in. But then she started singing an egg song! (If you haven’t heard one they are quite an event).

A couple of minutes later she popped out to greet me (and have her share of breakfast) and there in her nesting box was a very warm freshly laid egg.

We should never make assumptions about productivity or effort based on age, everyone has the ability to contribute, and even old birds have their uses!

The girls have been sharing the run for a couple of weeks now, albeit with a barrier between them to avoid any bullying between the established flock and the new girls (sorting out the pecking order can be a vicious process).

But its been long enough now, they’ve been free ranging together with minimal fuss (which is mainly around anyone getting between Princess and the food), they’ve had time to get used to being around one another, in the same proximity, without being too close.

So this weekend we’re taking down the barriers and joining the flocks. It won’t all be plain sailing, but I think they’ve reach a level of trust in one another to become one flock, (Henrietta, our “mother hen” has definitely accepted them, the others should follow).

Isn’t it the same with people? I started a new job some weeks ago, and I’ve been getting used to a new environment, new colleagues, a new team. Slowly but surely I’m letting my barriers down, as are they.

It might not all be plain sailing going forward, I’m sure there will be some misunderstandings and miscommunication as we learn each anothers ways, but with trust, honesty and openness at the heart of our relationships I’m starting to feel like part of the flock.

Sadly Sweetpea is ill again, it looks like the same issue as she’s suffered with previously, so she’s on antibiotics and some food supplements to build her back up. Hopefully she’ll be back to her usual self in a few days.

Unfortunately because chickens are prey birds they can turn on weaker members of the flock to maintain the strength of the group as a whole. Poor little Sweetie was being bullied by Princess and Henrietta this morning, so I separated her from them in the temporary hospital ward (otherwise known as the dog cage). Where she can eat, drink and rest without being disturbed.

Most of us have people in our lives that aren’t always supportive, its okay to put some distance between you, particularly if you aren’t feeling 100%. Protecting yourself from negativity is always a positive move. So if you have someone who creates negativity, but you can’t cut out of your life altogether, then reduce their impact. Unfollow on social media, restrict contact to when you’re feeling strong and in control, above all be kind to yourself.

Now avian lockdown is over we’re slowly trying the introduce the Berry birds to the main flock.

Interesting times! The girls are very territorial and will squabble to establish a pecking order. But in advance of anything getting physical there is loads of posturing that goes on.Queenie (part of the main flock) and Ivy (one of the new girls) got a little too close for comfort today (picture 1). Picture 2 shows how Ivy reacted.

When they are intimidated, nervous or downright scared, the hens try to look as large as possible, you can see Ivy has dipped her body toward Queenie slightly, angling herself to look (from queenies viewpoint) as big as possible. She also puffed out her feathers, she wasn’t up for a fight, but wasn’t leaving anything to chance.

Its scientifically proven that when human feels nervous changing our own posture can make all the difference, stand up straighter, breathe more deeply, even do the superhero stance (but possibly not in public), these can all make you feel braver. Try it next time you feel a bit overwhelmed.

Final photo is me doing the superhero pose before a public speaking engagement, I just thought it might raise a smile.

The Berry birds have been with us since December last year, so over 4 months now.

Whilst Ivy and Mistletoe have plumped up and grown their feathers beautifully little Holly Berry is still very lacking in the plumage department.

Every morning from the day she arrived, without fail, this little chicken has presented me with an egg. Neither of the others have produced a single one. (And thats fine by me, its not why we have them).

Whilst her sisters have been processing all the chicken feed, corn, sunflower hearts, sardines and herbs, mixed with water and sunbathing into healing their bodies and generating new feathers, sweet Holly has been producing egg after egg after egg, all that effort means she has nothing left over to heal herself.

I would love her to stop for a while and focus on the rest of her worn out body, but that just not how she’s made.

Please, please make sure you look after yourself first, before you give to others, it really isn’t a selfish act. You are much more able to help others when you are fully well yourself.

(Don’t worry about Holly, I’m making sure she is getting everything she needs).

A friend mentioned today how strange it was that cute fluffy little chicks turn into ugly old hens (she may not have been quite so harsh, but that was the gist) and when I think about it objectively, she’s not wrong.

Now, because my girls are ex commercial hens, I don’t get them as cute baby chicks, they come to me as slightly bald, quite scared, mature hens. I know at that point they aren’t beautiful, but they regrow feathers and their personalities start to shine through.

Some are feisty little things like Gloria, Queenie and Holly, some are sweet natured and gentle like Chickpea, Sweetpea, Ivy and Mistletoe, others are the matriachs, true “mother hens” and protectors of the flock like Henrietta and Princess.

But to me they are all beautiful, their trusting hearts, their zest for life, their inquisitive natures, after all they’ve been through, is truly amazing.

I think that humans are the same, we may make superficial judgements about someone’s looks when we first meet them. But once you get to know someone’s personality don’t you find they get more or less attractive based on their behaviours and attitude?

Physically lovely people who constantly see the negatives, or complain, or gossip don’t seem so lovely anymore. Whilst people who are kind, thoughtful and caring become so much more attractive.

Henrietta has been looking dreadful the last couple of days, her moult is quite severe and it’s making her grumpy.

As the leader she’s usually a benign dictator to the rest of the flock, only giving the briefest of reprimands when absolutely necessary. But this moult has taken it out of her, she’s tired and grumpy, she’s basically had enough of it now.

Its a huge strain on a chicken to regrow feathers, in order for their tiny bodys to make that effort they stop laying for a while and all their resource is expended on growing beautiful new feathers. I help by adding protein to their feed, but ultimately they do all the work.

The good news for little Henrietta is that all her hard work is paying off. Its not really visible yet, she still looks very tatty, but look closely and you can see her pin feathers growing through. In another week she’ll be back to her old self, but with a beautiful new plumage to show for it.

It’s very true that sometimes its darkest before dawn. Sometimes you are working your hardest, giving it your all, and the results don’t seem to come.

Just keep going, hard work and effort will bring results, you might just need to give it a little bit of time.

It’s Miss Henrietta Chicken-Bottom turn to be down in the dumps today. She’s moulting quite badly, which is always a difficult time for a hen.

She’s also got a wonky beak, which makes it tricky for her to eat certainly things and she turns her beak up at the protein-rich sardines and sunflowers hearts which would really help her grow those feathers back.

I was thinking about giving her some nutri-drops for energy as she was looking listless and a bit fed up. (But that involves squirting liquid down her throat which is never popular).As I walked up to the run the others came running (I always have treats), Henrietta barely raised her head.

But the she saw the sweetcorn – her absolute favourite thing in the world!

As I put it down the girls all attacked it with gusto, but Henrietta, despite (or perhaps because of) her wonky beak is most definitely head hen, and she quickly told the others to wait their turn.

She happily and noisily devoured what she wanted, then toddled off giddily chirrupping for a dust bath (the chicken equivalent of a spa day).

Sometimes, when you’re feeling a bit low, you just need to spoil yourself. Have that treat, go on, you know you’re worth it!