RIP Elsie

Yesterday we lost Elsie. Despite seeming to perk up once she was at home, she passed away in the night.

Elsie was one of Trixie’s chicks from the same clutch as Gordon, Little Miss, Flame and Smoke. Elsie was initially very timid and spent much of her time sitting on the perch in the new coop, keeping out of the way. With Gordon in his new home, she began to be braver and quickly scaled the new pecking order. Her transition to the top hen was accompanied by the development of a stroppy attitude towards any hen who tried to get in her way. But with me, she was always friendly, running to the front of the coop to see me. I confess, it was often difficult to get into the coop as she kept trying to get through the door!

As her final act of kindness, she kept Gertie company, encouraging her to eat and get off her perch. I’ll miss Elsie, she was such a big personality in the New Coop.