Hello and welcome to The Compost Bin. I'm Compostwoman and I live with my family in rural Herefordshire. We have nearly four acres of garden and woodland, all managed organically and to Permaculture principles, which we share with Chickens, Cats and assorted wildlife. We also grow a lot of our own food, run courses in all sorts of things and make a lot of compost!

I am a Master Composter and have spent more than a decade as a volunteer Community Compost adviser with Garden Organic and my local Council.
I'm a self employed Environmental Educator so I run workshops and events where I talk about compost, veg growing, chicken keeping, cooking, preserving and sustainable living. I also run crafts workshops and Forest School/outdoor play sessions in our wood.

We try to live a more self sufficient lifestyle here, as best we can, while still having a comfortable life and lots of fun.


To learn more about us click on the About Compostwoman tab and remember to click on the photos to make them full size!


Tuesday 26 November 2013

RIP Bunty Hen


RIP Bunty Hen, another of our rescue ex battery hens who lived a life longer outside the cage, with us , than in it. You can read about how they came to us here.

Here is Bunty ( on the right) with her very best friend Titch. Titch was very ill in this picture. It was taken the day she got lost in the wood and, after I found her, she then came inside the house to be nursed for the last 10 days of life. The other hens went out to feed but Bunty stayed with poor Titch and preened her and crooned at her.  These two hens ( plus others, now sadly departed) were in the same rescue crate together when we got them and stayed the very best of friends the entire time they lived with us here.

Once Titch died on 2 Nov Bunty rapidly went into a decline, not ill, but just winding down. I hesitate to say she was missing her friend, but I do wonder if she was, even though she still had Babs and the other girls for company.

 She got very cold a couple of days ago - it was a biting wind and she just stood in the open, not bothering to move to shelter so I brought her in for some warmth and special feeding and cuddles - she perked up the next day and was much brighter and her last day was spent dozing in the sunshine and pecking at Blondin the Cockerel, to teach him his proper place.

But as the sun went in today she had a seizure and was obviously dying, so I helped her out of this life. Sad, but needed to be done so she did not suffer.


RIP Bunty Hen, gone to join her best friend Titch.
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5 comments:

  1. Witch Hazel3 December 2013 at 16:52

    Sorry to hear about Bunty. Helping them along isn't pleasant, but it's the kindest thing you can do. She's a lucky girl to have soent such a large part of her life with you,

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  2. Compostwoman3 December 2013 at 17:38

    In her case it took very little effort :( as she was so weak :(

    I did feel I had done her a kindness, though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. badgerpendous3 December 2013 at 20:54

    Alas... We had a similar situation where one of our hens died and its "best friend" just seemed to peter out and die a few weeks later. She was never the same after the first one died.

    All that said, I enjoy reading about your chickens (and everything else). Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Frugal in Bucks3 December 2013 at 22:18

    You are so kind to give them a second chance at a better life out of the awful cages. What a terrible thing to have to do but it was the right thing. Bless you. X

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  5. Frugal in Derbyshire 3 December 2013 at 22:28

    What a kindness.
    We lost our last rescue last week. I found her dead in a laying box (she had been sleeping in it for a few days, so it was no surprise)
    Gillx

    ReplyDelete

Hello! Thank you for reading my blog and for commenting. I try to reply as quickly as I can and I really appreciate your interest in my life and doings here in The Compost Bin.

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