Mamma chook died this morning, at about 3am.

Mamma was a lovely black and white bantam, a stalwart broody who hatched just about every chook on this farm. After her last brood was hatched she was quite frail. I takes alot out of a hen to sit for so long with such fierce dedication. They are very very protective of the clutch of eggs and the chickens once they are hatched. Mamma looked wild and was quite the devil during the period of sitting and once the little brood was hatched she never really assimmilated back into the flock. She was bottom chook, so had to fight for every scrap of food and was jumped on by George (macho patriarch of the flock) every five minutes with lots of pecking out of feathers and mating carry on to boost George’s frail ego. Mamma submitted but became very frightened. So we moved her out to another pen where she lived with the ducks for a while, but never really fully recovered. I think this constant rain finally did her in. She was skin and bone poor love. We had her in our room in a warm box for the last couple of days, but she died this mornng. She will fertilise the corn patch and provide food for us in the cycle of life that is the farm.
 
Mamma, we miss your little bantam ways and your fierce mothering love.

xxV