Unfortunately Chickadee had been unwell for a several months and we
were monitoring her behaviour and quality of life after seeing the vet.
Here you can see Chickadee's comb had gone a bit
black above her beak, indicating underlying illness.
Chickadee had a dirt bath under a tree with Speckles (2IC/second in charge)
by her side. Chickadee loved dirt baths.
We sadly decided to euthanise Chickadee on 19th March 2020 as she
was starting to struggle. This photo was taken on the last day of
Chickadee's life. She looks fabulous in the photo, like nothing
was wrong, but we knew from x-rays that she was terminally ill.
Chickadee was a big, beautiful Rhode Island Red hen with stunning plumage.
Chickadee was 5 years and 5 months old when she died.
She became our pet when she was only 7 weeks old.
Chickadee LOVED cuddles and being patted which she had daily, often
multiple times daily. She was a like a big, brown, fluffy teddy bear.
Chickadee's last supper with Speckles and Frenchy.
Chickadee always looked 'extra large' compared
to the French Wheaten Maran hens.
Frenchy and Chickadee peck the ground.
Chickadee and Speckles hang out in the corner.
Chickadee was the boss of Speckles and Frenchy.
She wasn't a very good boss, but Chickadee's size and age
made her the hen at the top of the pecking order.
Chickadee yawns as the girls hang out.
Chickadee weighed 3.2 kg and she had lovely long, shiny feathers.
She had lots of nicknames including 'BFC' (Big Fat Chicken') and 'Boof Chook'.
Chickadee was a good layer when she wasn't broody or moulting.
Chickadee's egg is the ivory coloured one on the left of the photo.
Speckles' egg is in the middle and Frenchy laid the dark brown egg on the right.
A photo of Chickadee's very last egg in the nest she made in the Taj Mahal coop.
The vet sent us this card after Chickadee was euthanized.
Receiving the card in the letterbox made Lydia cry!
Rest In Peace beautiful Chickadee.
We loved you as our pet and we thank you for the eggs
and joy you gave us. May you forever be a happy hen.
